3 Reasons Why STEM Education is Important
By: Alexis S.
As years pass, one may notice the advancement of technology in our world. From our cell phones and computers to the technology used to achieve new medical findings. With technology advancing daily, the opportunities for careers in the tech industry have become endless. Of course, tech is only one part of STEM, and for those who are not familiar with STEM, STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. So, why do we hear the word STEM all over the place, especially in education settings? Well, according to The Department of Labor Blog, “there were nearly 10 million workers in STEM” and is “projected to grow by almost 11% by 2031.” One could say STEM is not going anywhere.
Now, with STEM becoming a big part of our world you don’t really see it in the school systems. Listed below are reasons why having STEM education incorporated into the education of young children, K-12, is important.
The Future of The Economy
When thinking about the economy we first have to think about jobs. What jobs are included and referred to as “STEM”? Any job in the engineering, computer, math, and science field is considered a STEAM job. According to the STEM and the American Workforce, “STEM supports two-thirds of the U.S. GDP and $2.3 trillion in annual federal tax revenue.” As we can see the STEM industry brings in a lot of money.
Help develop Critical Thinking
One of the most important things I think about STEM-based learning is the availability to learn how to think. Now, although that seems like something that comes to nature, many people do not know how to think. According to Bright Horizons, “ children need to be able to do much more than repeat a list of facts; they need to be critical thinkers who can make sense of information, analyze, compare, contrast, make inferences, and generate higher order thinking skills.” What this website is saying is that to learn with a STEM-based curriculum, one has to find solutions to problems. Now, children are constantly learning and not everything will come easy to them, which at first, learning with a STEM curriculum may be hard at first but once they understand and build their critical thinking it will become easier.
Hands-on Learning
Everyone has a different learning style such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. A curriculum with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning can help a child “gain a superior understanding of the material” according to The Thinking Kid. Now, what is hands-on learning you may ask? According to The Thinking Kid, hands-on learning is where a “student participates carries out physical activities relating to subject material rather than listening to a lecture.” With this being said, children are actively solving problems, and working through situations with others and or by themselves. Having a hands-on learning experience allows children to retain more information. It also helps them with critical thinking.
After learning a little about how a STEM-based education can help students, what can we do? Teachers you can begin to incorporate fun and engaging activities that include hands-on work. Here are a few activities you can try to incorporate into your lesson plans. Parents, you too can incorporate hands-on activities at home for your children. Here are some At Home Activities approved by teachers. Incorporating STEM teaching and education into your child’s everyday learning can help set your child up for success as they grow older.
Edited by : Amanda R.
