Though technologies like mixed reality, VR, and AR may initially have been for entertainment or gaming, it didn’t take long to realize that they can also impact education—especially by helping today’s teachers more effectively engage and excite students. So, this week, let’s explore the different forms of immersive technology and how they can help enhance STEM learning.
Besides opportunities to participate in something they are truly passionate about, kids can also learn more about things like how esports has become this popular and some of its potential benefits and drawbacks. Also, some of the cons of esports in schools might be fairly obvious but in connecting them to their own personal experiences, students can learn a lot.
Today’s educators, as we know, are facing plenty of challenges, including, believe it or not, grappling with how to expose students to STEM learning. STEM remains a huge part of the economy and, consequently, it is a large focus in many classrooms but that doesn’t always mean that it’s easy for educators to make it accessible, equitable, and effective for all students.
It’s a broad question and one that will elicit different answers from different people. There are lots of reasons as to why K–12 makerspace experiences provide everyone from kids to experienced manufacturers with excitement, value, and intrigue. And, although the reasoning behind why makerspaces are important are extensive, they usually tie back to a particular mission.
From kindergarten through high school, coding helps all students develop real-world hard and soft skills—even if they are not planning on pursuing a computer science career. Plus, getting started isn’t intimidating either and, in fact, introducing programming often involves some extremely simple CS tools in kindergarten before working in those with more STEM possibilities.
Just as they would participate in traditional school sports, like football and basketball, establishing school esports programs has become much more common with students even leading the charges in many cases. Similar to receiving athletic scholarships to play sports in college, students can now also do the same with esports—just one of the benefits it provides.
STEM and STEAM education, understandably, have plenty in common and educators can use some similar tools and strategies while they’re teaching both. To start, STEAM education involves opportunities for students to add more artistry and creativity to these projects and, by moving from STEM to STEAM, they can learn to display their knowledge using new techniques.
To create environments and experiences that are conducive to helping kids build design thinking skills, there are a few key areas that educators should focus on. Since a K–12 makerspace, for example, is a notably open-ended environment, combining play-based exploration with design thinking could be effective, especially when compared to traditional instruction.
One of the best things about school makerspaces is that so many different events can foster productive learning experiences. Since maker learning is so closely connected to 21st century development, MakerEd activities and exploration remain popular with both students and teachers. So, if you are looking to start a makerspace in your school, what are key things to know?
Not every student learns in the same way, has the same skills as each one of their peers, or can find the appeal in all that their teachers want them to try. Age doesn’t matter because all kids have different preferences when it comes to how they learn. Some want to read until they master the content while others have to get hands-on or try something entirely different.
