STEAM in early childhood education—what does it really look like? How can we move past the idea that STEAM is just about science experiments and tech gadgets and instead see it as a natural part of how children learn and explore the world?
In this episode of The Inspiring ECE Podcast, I sit down with Paula Walsh, an early childhood educator, lecturer, STEAM researcher, and author of Full STEAM Ahead. Paula is passionate about making STEAM practical, playful, and accessible for all educators—because let’s be real, we don’t need to be scientists or engineers to bring rich learning experiences to young children!
We’re talking about:
-
The real difference between STEM and STEAM and why the Arts are a game-changer
-
How STEAM fits naturally into play-based and inquiry-driven learning
-
Simple, everyday ways to introduce STEAM—no expensive resources required
-
Why “unplugged technology” is just as important as screen-based learning
-
How educators can build confidence in STEAM (even if it feels intimidating)
-
Paula’s book Full STEAM Ahead and how it helps educators bring STEAM into their classrooms with ease
This episode is all about breaking down barriers and empowering educators to embrace STEAM in a way that feels fun, engaging, and meaningful.
How to connect with Paula Walshe
Paula's most recent book, entitled "Full STEAM Ahead" is a guide to implementing STEAM in the early years and is also available now from Boru Press here. You can contact Paula or learn more about her work here.
LinkedIn: Paula Walshe
Twitter: @walshe_paula
Instagram: @paulawalshe77
You can also email her: paula.walshe@setu.ie
Guest bio: Paula Walshe is a published author, Assistant Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at South East Technological University in Carlow, Ireland and a PhD candidate at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Her PhD research focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.