The appropriate STEM educational goal should be to maximize the extent to which the learners develop expertise in the relevant subject, where expertise is defined by what scientists and engineers do.
the value of the educational experiences should be measured by their effectiveness at changing the thinking of the learner to be more like that of an expert when solving problems and making decisions relevant to the discipline.
David Brooks argues that meaning and moral value are losing out in a world of 'me me me'. A witty and powerful look at how we can improve ourselves in the ways that really matter.