STEM in Canadian Teacher Education: An Overview

Since emerging as a concept in the 1990’s STEM and STEM education has become an area of broad interest in Canada in the past 15 years. STEM programs are well-promoted in science faculties at Canadian universities and associated provincial education programs, raising the question as to the degree to which STEM and courses teaching (about) STEM are present in Faculties of Education in Canada. This chapter presents data drawn from Canadian Bachelor of Education (BEd) academic calendars (n = 56), Canadian academic conferences where research on STEM in BEd programs would be presented (n = 17), and publications from the Council of Ministers of Education to understand what STEM opportunities are available to prospective teachers. Four detailed, narrative descriptions of STEM courses at four faculties of education provide examples of the types of offerings available in Canadian teacher training programs. Overall, we report that in Canadian BEd programs few STEM courses are offered—and even fewer STEM programs—raising questions about the support offered by BEd programs for STEM school initiatives that exist both provincially and federally. Implications of this are discussed.