Art: Steam Education Concepts for 21ST Century Skills

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to present the application of art and STEAM Education concepts to be in consistent with and as a preparation for the 21st century. These include science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. It originated from the concept of STEM Education, which is an integration of 4 subjects, namely, science, technology, engineering. and mathematics to create a body of knowledge which can be applied to develop skills to solve problems and create new things. Through the learning by doing approach to working and living in the 21st century, art has been integrated as another element of this combination. The nature of learning management has steps and methods involving defining problems for students to investigate, search for answers, look for cause and effect in solving problems and take action to create works or perform various activities in order to obtain answers or ways to solve problems, in correspondence
with the age and development of the learners. This enables the learners to develop thinking process skills, questioning, reasoning and understand the answer through activities with things around them for learners to develop abilities and skills to be prepared for living in today’s world with diversified career opportunities and for the challenges of the future. To allow students to adapt to changes in the 21st century, three skill sets are found to be essential, namely, Learning and Innovation Skills, Information, Media, and Technology Skills and Life and Career Skills. These are, therefore, important principles for the development of students and the country in the future.