Even with STEM tools and active learning, students oftentimes fail to feel fulfilled. With career and technical education, however, they’re able to gain skills in areas that can truly help them. CTE is proven to increase positive career outcomes, prepare students for college, and even improve success in other academic areas—not just STEM.
STEM learning experiences can be truly powerful and can help shape how children develop their 21st century skills. And, now, EdTech manufacturers regularly supplement their products with full curriculum resources that may include the lesson plans, activities, and more. Designed so all teachers can lead lessons more effectively, STEM curricula can really enhance learning.
Education in 21st century schools, especially when educational technology plays a role, is very much aligned with progress, growth, and the scaling of programs. Now that the summer is here, it seems appropriate to talk about some of the programs that students take part in outside of their structured school activities, including various afterschool programs and fun clubs.
It’s not just the seasoned scientists and computer programmers who might invent world-changing and progress-focused solutions. In fact, there’s also plenty of inventive kids and teens out there who have left their mark on the world with both big and small inventions, and some have even contributed to key inventions throughout history. So, let’s learn about a few of them.
Diversity efforts, in every area of education and the workforce, should open opportunities for everybody to elevate personal thoughts, talents, opinions, and experiences. As we keep striving to overcome a lack of diversity in the STEM community, it’s crucial across all industries and we believe everyone should be open to discovering new points of view and potential solutions.
Many children love to have STEM experiences in their education and many teachers love creating those opportunities. They don’t typically just fall into place, however, and, like all lesson plans, require careful design. In STEAM education, impactful lessons and activities are almost endless, which often makes it easier for teachers to find or create something that’s relevant.
Since they are so group-oriented, project-based learning experiences truly help students develop more than academic skills. They often learn to build up connections with their classmates, their communities, their teachers, or their work. And, this also helps kids learn to take greater pride in what they are doing, knowing they can positively impact others’ lives and their own.
Afterschool STEM programs and camps have been around for many years, but they are sometimes entirely for child care purposes. Recently, however, we’ve seen shifts in more kids actually wanting to participate in enrichment programs to continue developing various STEM skills outside of the school day. And, the best part is they often truly enjoy these STEM experiences.
STEM experiences can help children thrive in so many ways and teachers are always finding new ideas for improving them. One of the most popular options, of course, is through enrichment programs. The benefits of STEM learning are great but they’re often capped in the classroom, meaning that more school leaders are encouraging STEM participation outside school.
Despite this prominent presence in the real world and elements of STEM in so many of today’s most lucrative careers, not every K–12 student pursues it. More importantly, many students lose almost all interest in STEM before they even reach middle school. So, in a lot of cases, educators have to be proactive to reach kids while they’re in the K–5 grades. So, how can they?
