STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education focuses on setting up young children for success. In addition to bringing students closer to STEM fields, it helps develop valuable skills applicable to various non-STEM-related careers. We’ll take an in-depth look at why STEM education should be introduced early on for children and how it positively impacts future learning.
The Benefits of STEM Education
STEM education promotes the development of invaluable life skills in several ways.
Learning Through Hands-On Experience
STEM activities involve countless equations and calculations, but they also challenge and inspire learners in other ways. Many STEM tasks in childhood education revolve around hands-on activities that call for collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
For example, NASA’s list of STEM-related classroom activities is full of practical projects that are both fun and engaging. In addition, educators can adapt many projects to suit the learning levels of their students, while some activities cater specifically to first-graders.
No concept is off the table with STEM learning. For example, young children can learn about the solar system using string and beads and understand which equipment is necessary for outer space missions. Teachers can even use the inner workings of rockets to explain Newton’s third law of motion.
Sounds exciting, right?
But STEM activities are more than just DIY tasks to pass the time. This experiential approach translates well into adulthood, enabling people to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world issues.
Even if learners decide not to pursue a career in science or mathematics, they’ll have a broad range of capabilities to help them navigate modern life.
Improves Motivation Through Gamification
As we mentioned, STEM education makes learning fun, but it’s a far cry from mere child’s play. Instead, it relies on gamification to boost learner motivation, fostering curiosity, creativity, and determination.
Implementing gamification into the classroom gives education a practical dimension. Regardless of the subject matter’s complexity, educators can find new ways to create interactive and exciting content. While some STEM activities appear as little more than games, they tap into the many principles of psychology that increase engagement.
Consequently, they hold learners’ attention better than traditional teaching methods and are more likely to spark motivation and drive self-learning.
One of the simplest ways to gamify classroom activities for young learners is roleplay and adding competitive elements. At first, students will strive to outperform their peers.
Then, their focus shifts inwards after a while, and they’ll aim to outdo themselves. This motivation extends to all trajectories of their lives, not just their educational journey.
Another advantage of gamifying education is that it helps young learners feel good about themselves. Whenever we reach a milestone or complete a difficult task, our brain rewards us with a dopamine rush. This neurotransmitter improves memory, and the pleasurable reward helps children connect positive emotions to their schooling.
Improves Memory Retention
Research suggests that STEM education can significantly increase memory retention.
Although more studies are required to address the research gap, experts believe the early introduction of STEM-based activities can significantly boost knowledge retention rates.
While traditional learning has historically favored tasks revolving around repetition, STEM education uses more engaging methods. It breaks down complex concepts into bite-sized lessons students revisit during their educational journey.
Young learners can hone their critical thinking skills in their downtime through interactive classroom and homework projects. Even when faced with non-STEM-related issues, children retrieve information gathered from their lessons.
Facilitates Language Development
Before they enter the education system, children use language to connect to their loved ones and communities. It’s both a cultural tool and cognitive ability that can open the doors to acquiring more knowledge and varied skills.
Although skeptics fear introducing STEM concepts early on will fly over children’s heads, that’s not the case. Instead, young learners broaden their vocabulary and learn to hold conversations about different subjects.
Moreover, they become well-versed in various communication methods and learn to articulate their thoughts in a clear and well-organized manner.
Effective communication knows no cultural boundaries. Wherever their professional or personal path takes them, students will have the language tools to burst through any barrier they encounter.
Promotes Collaborative Learning
STEM activities are rarely solitary. They’re usually group tasks that bring learners together, encouraging them to work as a tight-knit unit. As a result, students feel involved, heard, and appreciated.
But that’s far from the only benefit of collaborative learning. It’s instrumental in teaching children how to evaluate evidence, respond to challenging problems, and gather and process information.
Additionally, many STEM tasks encourage learners to innovate through collaboration. Whether part of a science fair or a classroom competition, students reach innovative solutions more quickly as a team. Collaborative learning is also excellent for helping children improve their overall performance.
For example, a child struggling with a specific subject might feel embarrassed about their perceived shortcomings in a traditional learning setting. However, when they work closely with their peers, they’ll see what they can do differently to achieve better results.
Moreover, effectively collaborating with others is crucial to long-term success in later life. Whether drafting a business proposal with coworkers or pulling an all-nighter with college roommates, team players fare well.
Sets Children Up for Success
One of the primary reasons why STEM education should be introduced early on for children is to help them find jobs quickly when they enter the workforce.
Although many educators have advocated for the STEM approach for years, there’s still a considerable gap in the market. Few workers and students have the knowledge and skills required for positions in STEM fields. As a result, employers are ready to pay a hefty sum for qualified talent.
Unlike professionals in other areas, automation doesn’t threaten those specializing in STEM nearly as much. Instead, it provides opportunities for growth and promotion.
In addition, as technology continues to evolve, companies are likely to seek out even more cybersecurity, information assurance, and other IT professionals.
STEM Education in Practice
Despite its numerous benefits for childhood learning, introducing more STEM-based approaches into the classroom can be challenging. Fortunately, both parents and educators can take simple steps to allow young learners to thrive.
What Can Parents Do?
You don’t need a STEM background to develop and nurture your child’s interest in science.
A walk in the park or through the woods brings them closer to nature and can awaken their curiosity. Moreover, it provides ample opportunity for exploration and is an excellent introduction to physics or biology.
When you’d rather stay in, cook a meal with your youngster and teach them about measurements. After a few at-home cooking classes, try to explain basic chemical reactions. Your child will soon realize that following a recipe is similar to conducting a chemistry experiment, calling for caution and precision.
What Can Educators Do?
Teachers of all subjects should adopt a more Socratic stance in the classroom. Instead of laying out all the facts, present students with questions about specific concepts. Urge them to retrieve previously learned information to come up with viable explanations.
In addition to hands-on activities, facilitate retention through collaborative experiments.
Of course, listen to your student feedback. To become future innovators, they need to feel that their opinions matter from an early age.
STEM Education—Helping Young Learners Create a Better Tomorrow
STEM-based programs abandon traditional teaching methods and opt for more practical activities. Through thorough hands-on tasks, children have more control over their educational trajectory from an early age.
But perhaps the most crucial reason STEM education should be introduced early on for children is to create a better future.
While we may be unable to solve many of the world’s problems, STEM education could turn the tide. Through gamification and collaborative learning, STEM programs may allow the innovators of tomorrow to make the world a better place.
But before we get there, we have to start at the beginning. And that’s early childhood education.
