STEM Integration Revisited

STEM integration is no longer a specialized educational reform but a global movement toward educational models that emphasize interconnected knowledge and real-world relevance. Originally driven by a combination of calls for interdisciplinary learning, innovation agendas, and economic imperatives, STEM integration has matured into a rich and evolving area of educational practice, policy, and research. This chapter revisits and extends the foundational work presented in the first chapter of the Handbook of Research on STEM Education (Volume 1) by Moore, Johnson, and Glancy, which synthesized the conceptualizations of STEM integration. This updated chapter captures the evolution of STEM integration by first examining how STEM integration frameworks have shifted and expanded, and second, exploring the implications of these framework shifts for student learning and educator implementation.