Design of STE(A)M Learning in the Context of Modern Technologies

Contemporary societies demand competencies that extend beyond traditional literacies and basic technological skills. Mastery of complex systems is achieved through the use of critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, alongside with technological fluency. STEM, extended with an A to include any contextually relevant discipline, provides a dynamic framework for cultivating these core competencies. Emerging fields, such as microtechnology, nanoscience, and artificial intelligence (AI), demonstrate how modern technologies can enrich interdisciplinary learning, yet they remain largely absent from curricula and overlooked in schools. This chapter traces the evolution of science education from Science and Mathematics through STEM toward STE(A)M and sustainability. It illuminates, with four concrete examples, how competence-based backward design integrates contemporary technologies, including AI, into situated, interdisciplinary learning. Through this approach, STE(A)M experiences prepare learners to tackle complex, real-world challenges and to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future.