Mining and evolutionary trends of STEAM research topics based on the dynamic topic model

Abstract With continuous innovation in global education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education has gradually become a critical driving force for educational progress. While numerous studies have explored specific aspects of STEAM, a comprehensive analysis of its core topic knowledge structure and topic evolution over time remains limited. To address this gap, this study employs the Dynamic Topic Model (DTM) to extract and analyze topics in STEAM-related literature from the Web of Science database, aiming to assess thematic evolution and development trends in STEAM. The study identifies five major research topics in the STEAM field: teacher roles and teaching practices, student learning and skill development, interdisciplinary integration of STEM and the arts, creativity cultivation, and social equity and diversity. The dynamic topic evolution analysis indicates that since 2023, discussions on teacher roles and teaching practices, as well as creativity cultivation, have increased significantly, marking a notable shift in the focus of STEAM research. Based on thematic content analysis, the study further outlines future research directions in the STEAM field. This research not only provides valuable insights into the thematic evolution of STEAM but also offers targeted recommendations for future research and educational practices. These insights can assist global education policymakers and practitioners in optimizing strategies to promote students’ comprehensive development. To the best of our knowledge, this study is among the first to systematically examine the core knowledge topics of STEAM research and identify future research directions in this field.