The STEM project team as a student-developed learning environment: The urgent need for teamwork capability in the 21st century economy

Global competitiveness based on technological innovation has led to an increasing emphasis in education systems at all levels of the STEM fields-learning the content and methods of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The assumption seems to be that competitive advantage in business and industry is based on employee mastery of STEM knowledge for innovation. However, educators seem to be missing the importance of the immediate work team environment as the context of innovative thinking and of the competencies making that possible through learning, collaboration, communication, and creativity. This chapter builds a case for educators to deliberately work at developing those competencies at the team level throughout all levels of the education system. Teamwork leverages the knowledge and skill of team members for innovating to solve complex problems.