Transforming Korean STEM education through the IoT and AI

Mihyun Son

Chapter 4 in Elgar Companion to Technology Life Cycles, 2026, pp 72-97 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Korea's STEAM education, introduced in 2011 to address the “high achievement–low interest” paradox in science and mathematics, initially struggled with implementation challenges and unclear integration frameworks. The 2020s have witnessed rapid advances in AI, IoT, and big data technologies, which are reshaping the landscape of convergence education in Korea. This study introduces the concept of “K-STEM education” to characterize and analyze these emerging transformations. This transformation reflects three distinctive characteristics: systematic policy-driven integration that moves beyond individual teacher initiatives, universal literacy development focusing on digital, data, and AI competencies for all students rather than elite preparation, and meaningful integration of advanced inquiry tools within authentic problem-solving contexts. The 2022 curriculum revision, introducing subjects like “convergence science inquiry” and “AI mathematics,” exemplifies this evolution. K-STEM represents a departure from traditional subject-based learning toward technology-enhanced inquiry that develops both disciplinary understanding and essential 21st-century competencies. This model demonstrates how national education systems can leverage centralized coordination, robust digital infrastructure, and collaborative culture to create effective STEM integration that prepares students for complex technological challenges.

Keywords: K-STEM education; Convergence education; Digital literacy; Technology integration; Scientific inquiry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035355488
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035355495.00011 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:24281_4

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().