The Diffusion of Entrepreneurial Practices at Schools through STEM Education

Abstract

Although not much attention is given in the literature to how STEM and entrepreneur ial practices can be integrated at schools, the previous academic perspectives reflect the desire and the need to investigate new pedagogical models that enhance this incor poration in education because it is never too early to acquire some entrepreneurial competencies (Winkler, Troudt, Schweikert, & Schulman, 2015). In order to achieve the learning goals of in high school, education-through entrepreneurship is emphasized as the main approach of incorporating entrepreneurial practices ( Johannisson, 2010). This approach focuses mainly on the pedagogy rather than the content through imple menting competency-based teaching strategies (Lackéus, 2015). This chapter delivers a detailed review of the literature regarding infusing entrepreneurial practices into STEM education from different angles. The main idea is to encourage students to practice self-employment by leading or engaging in business activities in order to experience an entrepreneurial work position. Attention is mainly given to entrepreneurial com petencies that can be enhanced through this educational implementation. Thus, com petencies developed through the implementation of STEM and entrepreneurial work activities that identify twenty competencies selected to form the student-competency profile, entrepreneurship education (EE) and its teaching approaches, the relationship between entrepreneurship and STEM education, and finally the common pedagogical approaches that support both STEM and entrepreneurial learning are discussed.