Book Review: “World Changing STEAM: The Heart of Design Thinking in Silicon Valley” (2019)

This is a review of a Japanese book co-authored by Mariko Yoshihara-Yang, Ph.D. and Rie Kijima, Ph,D., titled “世界を変えるSTEAM人材：シリコンバレー「デザイン思考」の核心,” published by Asahi Shinsho on January 30, 2019.

It is a simple, and an important book, committed to getting right to the heart of its subject: STEAM educations and personalities.
What makes it a page-turner is the passionate clarity of its message:
Innovation = Empathy
STEAM = The New Humanism.

The primary purpose of this book is to suggest STEAM education in Silicon Valley as a model for Japan to consider, in order for to approach its future appropriately.

The following is the overall summary of the book, as I understand it.

Since the age of Industrial Revolution, the world has been focused on STEM education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The progress in these areas of studies are easily quantifiable, encouraging competitions between nations and institutions.

STEAM introduces a new, less easily definable component to STEM = the Arts.

The book lists various arguments that have been made to add the arts to STEM.

• Artistic skills, such as “instinctive understanding,” “dealing with abstract concepts,” “multi-dimensional thinking,” “physical cognition” inspire and strengthen STEM studies.
• Thinking and working beyond the boundaries of disciplines traditionally considered separate activates learning and activities in all areas.
• Abandoning perfectionism, embracing the process, enhancing broad-mindedness in STEM which has traditionally been goal/result oriented.
• Observations have been reported on artistic activities improving ability to concentrate, memorize, study, with more curiosity, and better communication and collaborative skills.

The book uses stories to illustrate the historical background behind the genesis of STEAM (Bauhaus movement and its aftereffect), successful STEAM personalities in Silicon Valley (John Maeda, Ge Wang, Yoky Matsuoka, etc.) and schools that incorporate STEAM as its core educational vision (Ohlone Elementary School, Nueva School, Innovation Laboratory, etc.).

STEAM education utilizes project-based, problem-based learning that require students to use Design-based active learning.

STEAM personalities apply design thinking to seek out ill-defined problems in order to address them in creative, humanistic ways.

Design thinking is a process that clarifies “WHY,” “WHAT,” and “HOW” of creative endeavors. The process is applicable not only to tangible products but also to experience, and concepts. In short, it is an attitude, a way of living.

STEAM is free from conventions. It uses flexible but tight-knit network to earnestly tackle problems that may not have answers, in order to cultivate abilities to approach this increasingly complicated modern world.

STEAM is the new humanism. 
STEAM’s goal is to clarify and to insist on our humanity, in the age of AI.

I would like to conclude this review by translating what was a defining section to me from the book.

“The twenty-first century finds us in the world of unprecedented changes. Everyday, scientists and engineers are making mind-blowing progress. In the meantime, our real goal is not to develop a new product in order to beat our competitions, or to fill this world with new technologies.  Our real mission is to create a kinder world for everyone we share it with; To make things that is truly helpful for everyone; To keep insisting on our humanity. STEAM humanists lead their actions with their passions, while continuously pursuing excellence in their expertise. They are the leaders who show us our ways in this age of post-IT society, in the twenty-first century.”

The book assures me that my mission as a musician has been right all along.

It is inspiring, and encouraging.