Almost 25 years ago, scientific administrators at the U.S. National Science Foundation started using the acronym STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — to refer to curriculum that integrates knowledge and skills from those fields.

STEM education is an integrated, interdisciplinary and student-centered approach to learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, collaboration, computational thinking, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and design thinking.

Since the concept took root in the early 2000s, educators have looked for unique ways to introduce and connect the subjects in exciting ways, and students have often found those types of lessons more engaging than typical classes. Around 2012, the acronym shifted slightly and now is often referred to as STEAM, to include an A for Arts.

Kid’s Innovation Playground, a STEM education program for children in the Slippery Rock area, will get a Neighborhood Assistance Program grant of $81,000 to add 24 additional classes and increase its Tech Tinkering drop-in program by three hours per week to serve more than 500 children and young people.

Lorraine Shaffer, executive director of Kid’s Innovation Playground, said the money will help expand engineering programs to students in grades eight to 12. There will be new engineering programs, drone lessons and, potentially, a Lego robotics club.

“We’re expanding into older kids and expanding to teach them engineering automation,” Shaffer said. “We’re only able to service about six to eight kids, but we’re hoping the money will double the number in the fall so more kids can do things.”

According to Kid’s Innovation Playground, children in rural Western Pennsylvania, specifically in a 30-mile radius of Slippery Rock, do not have opportunities for STEAM education and experiences outside of school. The grant aims to provide more STEAM activities to the Slippery Rock area.

The assistance program is operated by the state Department of Community and Economic Development and provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities.

STEM and STEAM education aims to prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including offshoots of these main fields of study — chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, geosciences, life sciences, mathematics and physics/astronomy.

— KL