STEM Education for Kids
- by WONDERMOM
- Nov. 1, 2022
What are STEM disciplines?
STEM is an abbreviation in education that stands for Science and Technology. Science and mathematics. As a result of a fall in the number of university students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in the United States throughout the 1990s, there was a severe worker shortage. Aware of the importance of STEM-based careers in the 21st century, government institutions, tech firms, and prominent math and scientific nonprofits collaborated to enhance K12 kids’ interest in and international performance in math and science. This is a quick overview of the history of STEM, particularly as it applies to education. STEM is now a worldwide initiative. Numerous nations, like Australia, the United Kingdom, and even the United Arab Emirates, have implemented programs to assist kids in learning more about vocations in the STEM sectors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Each nation is now developing educational programs and curricula to accommodate the growing interest in these subjects, with the goal of assisting students who wish to pursue jobs in this field.
STEM instruction in Early Childhood Education?
STEM encompasses much more than learning how to conduct a scientific experiment or solve an issue. STEM is about gaining specific skill sets and personality qualities that children might acquire at a young age. For instance, collaboration, teamwork, and communication are essential life skills for those working in STEM-related occupations.
Children spend a considerable lot of time painting and playing make-believe. Educators of young children can introduce creative thought by providing questions based on a drawing that promote creativity and problem-solving. As youngsters construct structures with toys like blocks, they also develop creative thinking skills. In addition, youngsters are experts at learning to collaborate in groups. Taking advantage of this, parents and teachers may build simple, entertaining, real-world tasks for children to explore together.
These talents and methods of thinking are crucial to the development of young children and continue into adolescence and adulthood. I would conclude by emphasizing the significance of teaching young children how to use their hands by fostering the development of fine motor skills such as cutting and pasting. I understand that we live in a technology-based era where many children use iPads and computers, but it is equally vital for children to engage in arts and crafts, which entail cutting, pasting, tugging, and tying to develop fine motor skills – required for STEM vocations.
How should it be carried out? We can examine it from the perspectives of schools, teachers, and parents. Numerous schools, particularly in the UAE, employ teachers from varied backgrounds; therefore, it is crucial for the administration to believe that STEM education is essential for kids in their departments. Teachers will only feel empowered to do more STEM-related activities in their classrooms after achieving this. You do not want an administrator to query a teacher who has already implemented STEM learning in their native country about why they use non-traditional approaches to learning as opposed to worksheets and following a textbook cover to cover. Therefore, it is crucial to have support and “buy in” from the administrator level onward.
Teachers are given with numerous online courses and resources for implementation, including STEM Revolution, the National Girls’ Collaborative Project, and Techbridge. Teachers are also urged to utilize their own imagination and to acquire items from around the house, such as water bottles or coffee filters, that children can use for inquiry. I would strongly suggest this for early childhood educators. We must keep in mind that young children are always learning; therefore, it is a good technique to employ materials from their natural world and have them design and construct with household items. Parents can also do this.