5 Ways Parents Can Support STEM Learning
As a teacher the role I played in getting my students excited about science, technology, engineering, and math was really clear — it was at the heart of everything I did. As a parent, one might think that role is a little less defined, but it really shouldn’t be. Whether we have had positive or negative experiences with math and science, we have to put on a happy face and really dive into with our kids. We have a huge impact on our own children’s success in those fields and as the world continues to evolve, it will be increasingly more important that future generations are able to think critically and solve problems persistently and empathetically. This post original appeared on Edmentum’s Discover Blog.
Sarah Cornelius
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is becoming more and more important – and with good reason. These are necessary skills in today’s tech-savvy world, and they represent a pathway to some of the most in-demand jobs that our economy has to offer. How can you help encourage (or spark) an interest in these fields with your child? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist, surgeon, or coding guru to do it! Take a look at these five simple tips to engage your child in STEM learning outside of the classroom.
1. Encourage questioning
Is your child always asking “why”’ and “how”? That’s a STEM mindset—and it can be the beginning of a drive to solve important challenges like protecting our environment, curing diseases, or engineering new clean energy technology. Even if the questions seem relentless at times, embrace this curiosity. Take the time to explain the things that you understand, and when your child poses a question that you don’t have an answer to, look up the answer together (and model good research practices in the process). Who knows—it may spur some new interests for you too!
2. Give educational programming a try
TV and movie time doesn’t have to be mindless—there is plenty of entertaining programming out there that is strongly related to STEM fields and educational in the process. So, the next time you and your child are browsing Netflix together, give the “documentaries” section a look. Long-running programs like the History Channel’s Modern Marvels, PBS’ NOVA, and the Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth are tried-and-true favorites with hundreds of episodes covering a variety of topics, such as civil engineering, space exploration, and evolution. If those shows are a little too much to hold your child’s interest, there are also plenty of kids’ and primetime television shows that have more of a STEM theme than you may expect. Sid the Science Kid is a great option to spur a science interest in early learners, while shows like CSI or Numb3rs, both of which focus on real-world applications of forensic science and math to solve crimes, can spark an interest for older students.
3. Visit a science museum
What better place to allow your child to get up close and hands on with science than a science museum? And they’re not difficult to find. There are over 150 science centers around the U.S., and about one third of those even have areas designed specifically for children six years old and under. These museums typically include a variety of exhibits that explain complex and fascinating science and technology concepts in creative and accessible ways—giving visitors the chance to run their own experiments, play with gadgets, or check out live and video-based presentations. So, plan a weekend outing to your local science museum, or check out this list of the 10 Best Science Centers, and think about working a visit into your next family vacation itinerary. Most of these institutions have great websites with additional resources, activities, and ideas to inspire STEM interest as well.
4. Seek out STEM extracurriculars
Extracurricular activities, even for young students, don’t have to be limited to sports or performing arts—there are plenty of STEM-based options too. There are numerous science fairs and engineering design competitions that self-directed students can seek out. For students wanting more guidance or a social aspect, math and science competitions are hosted across the country by various organizations (like Science Olympiad). Think of these competitions as a team geography bee for math and science, complete with practices to prepare. The FIRST Robotics and Junior FIRST Lego® League programs have also grown very popular in recent years. These competitions challenge teams of students to solve real-world science and technology problems by building robots with the mentorship of an industry professional. It’s projected that over 400,000 students in grades K–12 will participate in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) programs during the 2015–2016 school year.
5. Make career connections
One of the most important actions in fostering an interest in STEM is showing children where it can lead them. So, make an effort to expose them to different options for a career in STEM. If you’re in a STEM field yourself, bring your child to work with you one day. Have friends or family members in a STEM field? Ask them to talk to your child about what their jobs are like, or even set up a job shadow if your child has a strong interest. There are also programs available in many school districts to match students with mentors or internships in various job fields, including STEM ones. If you’re unsure of where to start looking, Pathways to Science maintains lists of STEM internship programs for K–8 and high school students.
Want to learn more about the importance of STEM education? The U.S. Department of Education has a number of great resources on STEM programs and initiatives. Interested in finding out more about how Edmentum’s online solutions can support and supplement STEM learning? Check out our brochure on Strengthening STEM Education!
For More on parenting and STEM, check out:
- 5 Math Activities to Do with Your Kids Before School Starts
- Do Your Kids Need to Learn to Code? YES! But Not for the Reasons You Think
- How To Raise A Wild Child: The Art And Science Of Falling In Love With Nature
Sarah Cornelius is a Digital Marketing Associate at Edmentum. Follow them on twitter @edmentum.
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STEM Learning
If we want a society and culture that work for everyone, we need innovation in our relationships along with innovation in the STEM fields and STEM education. As an educator my worry is to build caring (educational or not) relationships with my students in order to improve their curiosity and research skills. There are ideas, concepts, and practices in the maker movement that help me to improve the participation of my students in the creation of shared knowledge. I mean the idea of remix, share designs, open tools, the constructionism, the community, the philosophy of DWO, etc. But there are several attitudes that are not helping me at all, for example, the need for the latest super powerful technology gadget as the main concern, the vision of technology like exclusively functional(not poetic) and the focus on the product forgetting that in learning the thing that really matters is the process.
Eli Richardson
It's great that you talked about how parents can help their kids learn about science-based topics. My sister's having trouble with her daughter's learning skills. She said that her daughter is not interested at all in science or math. That's why I think this article could help with my sister's problem. Thanks for the tips about trying educational streaming out.