STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) is a crucial component of education for the next generation of learners. A solid grounding in STEM helps develop critical thinking skills, and for kids who show passion for STEM, it can help land them in some of the highest-paying jobs of the new economy.
However, teachers who teach STEM subjects face a tough challenge in integrating STEM education into the remote classrooms necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. When students are getting most of their instruction via a screen in a plastic enclosure, it can be hard to provide the engagement that’s so important in establishing a deep appreciation for and facility with STEM subjects.
How can teachers ensure that students are getting the STEM education that they need during this difficult period? Here are six ways that STEM instructors have been stepping up with remote learning.
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Help parents keep up with what their kids are learning in STEM classes.
Parental involvement is an important part of any educational process for children, and teaching STEM is no exception. Thus, it’s important to establish a strong parent-educator connection when teaching STEM subjects virtually. Parents need to be kept informed about topics covered in class and how to effectively reinforce this content outside of class.
Many teachers encourage parents to work on STEM projects with their kids at home. Be sure to give parents help in selecting appropriate projects and in connecting them with key content from class. Remember that for more complex material in the higher grades, parents may not necessarily have a strong grasp of the material themselves, so be prepared with resources that parents can use to improve their understanding of what their children are learning.
Take advantage of the many free STEM teaching resources available.
One great thing about the movement toward greater STEM education is the increased number of resources available for teaching students STEM concepts. Numerous websites offer free STEM instructional resources developed by professional scientists and educators. These activities are available through a variety of sources, from museums to universities to education nonprofits.
The range of tools offered is impressive, from digital learning platforms to hands-on activities that minimize the need for screens. A great place to start exploring is the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Their offerings include a frequently-updated collection of short science lesson plans called the Daily Do, plus virtual workshops for educators and a variety of other resources.
Focus on communicating key concepts.
Teaching STEM subjects through virtual platforms can be frustrating because it may not offer the opportunity to delve into a subject in-depth. That’s why it’s important to keep expectations realistic and focus on proficiency in the core tools and ideas of STEM. It’s OK if students don’t retain every detail, so long as they grasp the foundational ideas.
Exit tickets are a tool that many teachers find effective for evaluating students’ retention of core material. These mini-assessments are typically designed to be completed in a short time right before the end of class and are required to be turned in before the student leaves. Many educators choose not to grade exit tickets, using them instead as a method of ongoing, low-pressure communication with students.
Meet kids where they’re at and help them explore their interests.
Students will always be more eager to learn when subjects are taught in a way that’s relevant to their lives and their interests. Many of the interests common among today’s kids actually can provide strong lead-ins to teaching STEM subjects. A student who enjoys video games, for example, might enjoy learning the basics of programming, while one who’s into music might find the physics of sound and pitch to be fascinating.
Of course, not every student will share the same interests, and this kind of customization also requires some curriculum flexibility that not all educators have. Whether or not you can incorporate these lessons into core classroom content, it can be especially helpful to connect with parents about them and brainstorm ideas to encourage STEM skill development at home.
Be prepared to offer extra help.
Some students will need extra help with STEM subjects, especially during remote learning. It’s vitally important that they get this assistance so that they don’t fall into the trap of believing that they’re naturally bad at science or math. In truth, any student can master most important STEM concepts, but they need encouragement and intervention at key points where some kids fall off-track.
Keeping virtual “office hours” is a key step for many teachers to ensure that students can get help when they need it. This time for extra help might not just be for content questions, either. Some students may need help troubleshooting technical problems or opening up about difficulties they’re having with remote learning in general. The more an educator can address a student’s needs holistically, the more tailored and relevant the help that can be offered.
Build for the future.
STEM proficiency is likely to play a major role in many students’ future careers, so it’s important to communicate its relevance to the 21st-century world of work. Talk about STEM jobs and what they do. Spend some time asking kids about their career interests and explain how they could use the skills in the jobs they want to do.
Even better, try bringing in a speaker from a STEM field such as a pharmacist, engineer or programmer. One advantage of virtual learning is that it’s never been easier to have guests! The more kids see of the real world of STEM jobs, the more appreciation they’ll gain of how wide the applications of these concepts can be.
The pandemic has created all kinds of new teaching challenges for educators. But fluency in STEM subjects is too important to allow it to fall by the wayside, and teachers, parents and students alike must step up to the challenge.