First Education News

What Is STEM?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A strong, positive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) identity is a predictor of future career choice in a STEM field. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives.  It is about learning how to solve problems, be creative and innovative, think logically, and understand the world a bit better. These are valuable skills and habits of mind for kids to acquire, no matter what they do in life. A curriculum that is STEM-based has real-life situations to help the student learn. Programs like Engineering for Kids integrates multiple classes to provide opportunities to see how concepts relate to life in order to hopefully spark a passion for a future career in a STEM field. STEM activities provide hands-on and minds-on lessons for the student. Making math and science both fun and interesting helps the student to do much more than just learn.

What is the Importance of STEM?

The need for workers in STEM-related jobs would be an estimated 8.65 million across the globe. Nearly 80% of the jobs that will be created in the next decade would require a skill in Science and Mathematics. Despite having the skill, the exam focused education model has limited the Indian students when it comes to innovation, problem solving and creativity. This is where STEM plays its part and fills in the talent-gap.

According to the Labor Statistics Report, the bulk of STEM careers would be

• Computing- 71 per cent
• Traditional Engineering- 16 per cent
• Physical Sciences- 7 per cent
• Life Sciences- 4 per cent
• Mathematics- 2 per cent

STEM jobs do not necessarily require or even a college degree. Less than half of entry-level STEM jobs require higher education or bachelor’s degree. 

Why increasing demand in STEM?

As mentioned above, the need for STEM level jobs are increasing and the situation worldwide is such that the number of STEM jobs is growing at a fast pace, surpassing the number of STEM graduates.

Research has shown that children develop an interest in the STEM at an average age of eight. This is because of the fact that they are fascinated by technology, gadgets and various other devices. However, the transition from being a user of technology to an innovator rarely takes place, if at all, is a very slow process. The link between engineering-technology-entrepreneurial development is clearly missing in India. It is important that the schools are provided with the necessary resources and tools to build the craze for STEM into their curriculum and making it fun, inspiring the next-gen.  

“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” 

Who benefits from STEM?

STEM education helps to bridge the ethnic and gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields. Initiatives have been established to increase the roles of women and minorities in STEM-related fields. STEM education breaks the traditional gender roles. In order to compete in a global economy, STEM education and careers must be a national priority. Each and every decision made uses an aspect of STEM to understand the implications.

STEM education in school is important to spark an interest in pursuing a STEM career in students. However, teachers do not carry the whole burden of STEM education. Parents also must encourage their children to pursue STEM activities and increase awareness and interest at home and in extracurricular activities of the merits of STEM education.

Programs outside of school can help children to see that STEM is more than a class to finish. Having activities that show real-life implication of STEM can pull together the ideas presented in school and help to show how they benefit our society and even our world as a whole. Children can see that what they are learning now is pertinent to their future and the future of the whole world, creating an interest often lacking when learning new concepts that do not seem to carry real-world application.

How is STEM taking shape in India?

The career, though in its inception is bringing a lot of innovation in the Indian education sector. The innovation taking place with regard to STEM is as follows (As reported by TOI)

• The education sector is looking beyond smart classrooms towards hands-on learning and STEM enhancement on their current information and communications technology and smart class platforms.
• Many STEM companies are working with schools to help them set up STEM centers, tinkering labs with upcoming technologies like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.
• The government is looking to help educational institutions to upgrade their library infrastructures with more engaging learning assets and management tools, and implementing Learning Management Systems, assessment systems, language labs, library management system, gamification, etc.
• New ‘entry level’ coding devices are coming to market that provides schools with the ability to teach simple coding and bring STEM to life in the classroom

Conclusion

Our future in STEM seems bright. The world is going to need more and more workers with the skills to identify problems, visualize and create innovative solutions, and constantly improve on those solutions. Encourage your children. Challenge them. Involve them in thinking like engineers. It’s our job as parents to encourage our children to try their hands at STEM subjects, whether they simply want to boost creativity in daily life or begin the track to a promising STEM career.

And be sure to include your girls! They have as much grit, determination, and smarts as your boys. Your children can be among those who change the world for the better.

While there are many challenges ahead, the scope of the STEM in India Education can be seen as a game changer for not only the job-seekers but also the young minds who are going to be the next- generation innovators.