STEM-H Education is a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Health sciences with the objective of strengthening problem solving skills.
In the past, these four parts of STEM-H were taught separately and independently of each other, and were rarely introduced before high school. Part of the STEM-H initiative is to introduce science and technology earlier, and provide hands-on learning for students before middle school.
STEM-H Education encourages students and teachers to think about how these disciplines work together. If used consistently, STEM-H Education provides the learner with a critical thinking skill set or “toolbox” if you will, in order to face future problems they might encounter throughout their education and careers.
Politicians point to America's declining math and science scores, employers complain that engineering jobs go begging, and educators are revamping curricula to bolster STEM-H programs. One forgets that over 33% of CEO's of Fortune 500 companies have undergraduate degrees in engineering. The National Science Foundation estimates that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills.