Everything educators do for their students should, in some way, be able to help them succeed in the future. This includes all of the lesson plans they create, the tools they bring into their classrooms, and even the attitudes they show, themselves. It will take a lot for students to fully prepare for a world we’re not too sure of, but one thing is clear. Read on for more.
Modern STEM education is all about giving students the tools to be creative and testing their 21st century skills with challenges that mimic those they will find in the real world. Sure, that all sounds great on the surface, especially to parents, but what exactly does this mean? Well, students need learning experiences that will prepare them.
Since more school systems are transitioning toward offering some kind of CTE program for students in high school grades, it’s becoming even more important they do this the right way. In many places, career and technical education (CTE) is taking off in colleges and universities, but also coming into play even earlier than that by necessity.
Wouldn’t it be nice if students got everything they needed to know perfect every single time? Things would run so much more smoothly and everyone would be happier. Right? Wrong. Yes, failure is an absolutely critical part of student learning especially in many of today’s hands-on, STEM-focused atmosphere and making mistakes helps students grow.
It’s incredibly discouraging, but, for one reason or another, women have not always had the same opportunities when it comes to STEM careers as men. To provide girls with the opportunities they deserve, educators have to get them interested from the onset. Whether it’s during the school day or during the summer, girls need more opportunities.
Students as young as first or second grade are able to experience what it’s like to think like a computer scientist thanks to technology tools that replicate the process in a way that’s introductory and age appropriate. Today, computer science is a necessity and, in schools, its prevalence is finally starting to reflect that.
Last Saturday, we took part in our first ever partner event with the 100 Girls of Code organization and it was fantastically successful! Though we could not be there in person since this chapter is located in Georgia and we’re all just outside of Boston, we were still thrilled to contribute to helping create this dynamic makerspace and learning experience for the girls.
Collaboration and problem solving are an integral component of the modern-day workforce and, for that reason, have become an increasingly common part of modern education. Those who are able to break problems down and utilize a certain way of thinking to solve them while also incorporating technology are very valuable.
As educators, we strive to provide our students with the best foundation for success. But, more importantly, we seek to impart skills that students can tap into throughout their academic and professional careers. The days of rote memorization are long gone. Now, students must learn how to ask the hard questions, solve difficult problems, and be creative.
Students aren’t always guaranteed success by sporting straight A’s on their report cards—they need authentic experiences with real-world projects, coding, and collaborating. They also need to take charge and lead their own learning—and that is why many school districts are ditching the old ways and focusing more on student-led learning.
