STEAM Teacher Education and Learning with Emerging Technologies in the Digital Age

The accelerating pace of digital transformation in education, including the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, is reshaping traditional pedagogical practices into interactive, student-centered learning environments. In this evolving landscape, learners are no longer passive recipients of information but active participants, co-creators, and collaborators, engaging with digital tools to explore, construct, and communicate knowledge. At the same time, science educators face increasing demands to develop and apply pedagogical, content-specific, and context-sensitive digital competencies, including the ability to integrate AI in the classroom effectively. Aligned with these developments, Finland’s national STEM strategy and implementation plan highlights high-quality, research-based teacher education as a cornerstone for advancing equitable and engaging STEM learning across formal, informal and non-formal education. The strategy emphasizes cross-disciplinary approaches, such as integrating arts and design with science and mathematics, as key to fostering critical thinking, creativity, and motivation among learners.