The traditional system of education laid emphasis on rote learning and scoring high marks in the examinations. With the technological advancements, STEM education has been introduced in schools as a part of the curriculum to bridge the gap in education.
What is STEM education?
- STEM learning refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
- In STEM education, these subjects are taught in combination with one another instead of being taught in isolation, which is the case in traditional forms of education.
- STEM education focuses on experiential learning and makes the kids active learners rather than passive ones.
- In reality, all the subjects taught in STEM education are interrelated to each other.
- Be it any object, it is impossible to fit it in any one STEM subject. All subjects are intertwined with each other.
- STEM learning involves following a hands-on approach while teaching the kids.
- Logical analysis, critical thinking, experiential learning, and project-based approach form the foundation of STEM education.
Why should STEM learning be embraced at home?
It is true that kids learn and develop STEM habits in the school classroom. However, they spend 80 percent of the time at home with their family. This is where parents can help children to improve and enhance their STEM learning even further. Kids would be more comfortable performing hands-on STEM learning at home rather than the formal setting in school. Kids enjoy experiential learning more when their parents actively participate in the same. This helps enhance their cognitive skills.
How can parents encourage and support STEM learning at home?
Developing a STEM learning environment at home
- For children to perform STEM learning activities, parents need to ensure that they have a separate space at home dedicated to it.
- The STEM learning area at home must be a quiet place where the child can focus and concentrate on the experiential learning process.
- The area for STEM activities must be comfortable for the children. Also, the parents must be able to keep a watch on the child’s activities and help him/her if needed.
Teaching STEM using household objects and performing home activities
- Since STEM education is being taught to children within the formal academic classroom setting, it is tough for them to realize and understand how STEM concepts are related to day-to-day life.
- This is where parents can help promote STEM learning at home by allowing their children to participate in various household activities.
- By participating in cooking, children get to know about STEM concepts like mathematics and science.
- Measuring and adding various ingredients in cooking is an effective way for them to understand mathematics. Also, cooking helps them to know how chemical reactions take place, which makes them understand the concepts of boiling, cooling, evaporation, etc.
- Playing with various toys like vehicles enables them to understand concepts like speed, engine, pulley, fulcrum, and lever.
Encouraging kids to learn coding
- Coding is a key aspect of STEM education that is being taught in various schools in India.
- It has become an integral part of the STEM curriculum and makes the children prepared for the future.
- Coding skills are extremely important and parents need to encourage children to learn them.
- ‘Scratch’ is a free child-friendly coding tool that can be easily used by children aged 8-16 years to create their own games, animations, and stories using a block-based Scratch programming language.
Use Do-it-yourself (DIY) STEM education kits
- Using DIY STEM kits at home is an effective way to promote STEM learning at home.
- These DIY kits provide a hands-on learning experience to the kids.
- Children have a lot of fun while performing the STEM activities through these DIY kits.
Considering the increasing demand in the STEM field, at present and even in the future, it makes sense for parents to encourage STEM learning at home. This will help generate interest in the minds of young learners right from a tender age. It is the right time for you to train your children with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data science, and more. Explore our courses designed for all age groups to start your kid’s career in the STEM field today.
