Cultivating STEAM teachers: A regional resource-based model for normal university students in Chongqing

The cultivation of innovative talents with interdisciplinary skills is a central goal of STEAM education, and the success of STEAM education hinges on the availability of qualified STEAM teachers. This study explores how to integrate STEAM awareness, understanding, and curriculum development into the teacher education and major course learning system of normal university students in Chongqing, China. Drawing upon the region's rich resources, the study proposes a three-level STEAM teacher training model. At the macro level, the model advocates for a collaborative educational ecosystem involving government, schools, businesses, and society. At the meso level, it presents a 4-year curriculum model that progressively cultivates preservice teachers' interdisciplinary thinking, integration skills, and pedagogical competence. At the micro level, the model explores effective pedagogical methods and strategies for implementing STEAM projects in real-world teaching scenarios. This regional resource-based model offers a “Chongqing plan” for training STEAM teachers and ensuring a sustainable supply of innovative talents to support the region's economic and social development.