Why STEM is the Secret Ingredient

STEM isn’t the silver bullet to solve all your problems, but it is the secret ingredient that makes engagement and achievement rise.  In it’s purest form, STEM is a carefully woven blend that creates an authentic learning experience for students…and that’s why it’s the secret ingredient.  STEM combines:

Effective Teaching

Who doesn’t want to be an effective teacher?  With so many different strategies available, there are many ways to create effective lessons.  Since STEM is project-based, it encourages students be active learners and become more independent learners.

High-Interest/ Hands-On Activities

Engaging students is a best-practice strategy that’s practically as old as time.   Anytime students can get their hands dirty (literally or figuratively) the better they will remember and retain the concept. We’re constantly reminding our students to pay attention, participate more in class, and be more involved in their own learning, but how would you do sitting through a 7 hour lecture?  Adding hands-on elements help keep students involved, alert and learning at full capacity.

Real World Problem Solving

I’m sure that you’ve never had a student ask, “Why do we need to learn that?”  Your energetic students hang on your every word of wisdom that you impart upon them during the school day.  But, just in case you might ever get asked this question, with STEM education, you’ll have the perfect answer.  STEM’s roots are planted in the fact that they come from solving real-life problems that STEM professionals struggle with everyday.

Solid Content Knowledge

Content knowledge is certainly an important component and not having an omniscient ability in this department throws a lot of teachers off their game.   With STEM education, as well as all best-practice teaching, it is not necessary (nor is it practical or realistic) for the teacher to be the sage on the stage.  In a STEM education model, researching these nuances and details rests with the students.  It is the job of the teacher to be the facilitator throughout the process and furnish the students with supplies, materials, tools, and resources, so that they can become more self-reliant learners.

Need more tips?  Read Five Easy Steps to Implement STEM