The future of STEM education might not be the mystery we think it is. In the past year, we’ve seen educational practices evolve from the classroom to WiFi. Even our jobs are online, it’s almost impossible to imagine a world “back to normal”. From women breaking barriers, to project based learning, and equity, STEM education is changing for the better. Many would agree, the best thing to do is always move with the wave of time or else you’ll get left behind.
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
Access to STEM
E-learning environments create the space for students to concentrate on their own interests, as well as tear down barriers so STEM students can pursue their dreams in the future. For example, Zoning Laws;
“Senior research analyst, Jonathan Rothwell found that housing costs an average of 2.4 times more—close to $11,000 more per year—near a high-scoring public school than near a low-scoring one.”(2)
Zones often cause high achieving, but low income students to miss out on the rigorous and quality education they deserve. Ideally, learning online serves as a solution for students in the future to attend a school that challenges them. The idea that a student from a low income family can attend a public school in a more affluent neighborhood is great for the future of STEM. It promotes equity and access for minority students. We at NSTEM believe all students from K to Career deserve the opportunity to learn in environments that best suit their needs. Partner with us so that your students have access to our resources that will inspire and recognize their excellence.
Representation Matters
Often many new college students don’t feel fully prepared for their coursework. On top of that, many STEM graduates don’t feel ready for the real-world. If students continue to learn outside of the classroom, through project-based learning, they would be more prepared for STEM education. In addition, the increased support and encouragement would create a higher chance of young women pursuing STEM education as well.
But then you might ask how do we ensure engagement and retention in an online environment? How can we make sure the students are getting all they need to acquire a quality STEM education in the future? Through Hybridization of course;
“I anticipate that more federal resources are allocated to school districts to offer 1:1 tutoring to students. This may assist with mitigating learning loss. It will provide more support for students who are struggling in the online environment. [1:1 tutoring] will help schools support educational equity by creating greater access to services that previously were only available to families that could afford it.” says Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director, Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (1)
Schools will look into joining organizations such as NSTEM. We allow students to dive deeper into their learning through real world experiences. We prepare them for STEM educations with internships, scholarships, and project-based learning, so in the future, their dreams turn into reality. Jobs will also begin to seek professionals that provide better representation to our minority student populations. When young people get the chance to see professionals that look like them achieve what was once impossible, everybody wins.
Putting The A in STEM!
Now we shouldn’t neglect our extracurriculars. The Arts and physical activity are major components in the future of STEM education. A student’s performance and mental health are both necessary to thrive in the world of STEM. Prepare to see things like; virtual recitals, educational toys, and video game systems that provide social, physical, & emotional learning support in the future. According to India Today, “An Indian Augmented Reality Company, PlayShifu is revolutionizing the world of tomorrow by providing educational play experiences for kids today. This allows kids to build STEAM and other foundational skills such as analytical thinking, logical reasoning, creativity, and more”.(3)
Photo by XR Expo on Unsplash We all know our world is evolving and it’s survival of the fittest. Founder of KidWind, Michael Arquin, reminds us that our future STEM educators as well as our students need to be able to understand and adapt to the changes our economy is going through (1). Soon everything will be connected to the internet, Robots will be everywhere, and our every move will be analyzed. It’ll be the future soon, so we need both our children and their educators to know what is going on. Because No matter how the world changes, we want our kids to be the ones making it happen. Join us today!
Written by Ambrea Johnson
Bibliography
- “29 K-12 Edtech Predictions For 2021”. Edtech Update, 2021, https://www.edtechupdate.com/2021/trends/?open-article-id=15186559&article-title=29-k-12-edtech-predictions-for-2021&blog-domain=eschoolnews.com&blog-title=eschool-news.
- “Study Links Zoning To Education Disparities”. Education Week, 2021, https://www.edweek.org/leadership/study-links-zoning-to-education-disparities/2012/04
- Today, Education. “3 Major STEM Learning Trends To Look For In The Next One Year”. India Today, 2021, https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/3-major-stem-learning-trends-to-look-for-in-the-next-one-year-1751142-2020-12-19.
- Galvis, Natalia. “10 Trends And Predictions For STEM Education”. Robotlab.Com, 2021, https://www.robotlab.com/blog/10-trends-and-predictions-for-stem-education.