How Kids Benefit from STEM Learning
Disclosure: This STEM learning giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal. I received promotional consideration for this post.
To gain knowledge and be successful in today’s world, it’s not enough to just memorize facts. True learning takes place when people critically think and make decisions based on what they can do with the information gathered. STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, and math) can help students develop these skills. Ths acronym can extend to STEAM with the addition of Arts education. STEM learning revolves around the 4 C’s needed for 21st-century skills: Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
STEM Learning Benefits
- Critical Thinking Skills
STEM learning requires students to solve a problem by gathering and interpreting information. In other words, kids aren’t just memorizing facts for a test and then forgetting about them shortly afterward. They must problem solve and understand the information in depth to arrive at conclusions and solutions. - Creativity and Innovation Skills
When people think of creativity and innovation, they often just think of the arts like writing, music, and illustrations. In fact, STEM subjects require a lot of creativity and innovation skills. There’s not always an obvious solution to a problem, so kids need to think out of the box. For example, if kids want to build a robot that can jump, there’s no manual that can necessarily tell them how to do that with their specific robot. They’ll need to tinker, evaluate, and persist to reach their goals. - Self-Esteem Booster
STEM learning requires setting a goal and taking measurable steps to achieve them. It’s an environment that is supportive of experimentation even if they don’t work out because sometimes the best lessons learned are from failures. When children persist and do achieve their goals, it helps to raise their self-esteem. - Teamwork and Communication Skills
Some people may think that STEM subjects are mainly individual-focused, such as a scientist who works by himself in a lab or a mathematician solving equations alone. Much of STEM learning is in fact project based. As a result, working in teams is essentials, as well as communicating with teammates and teachers through questions and discussions. - Career Opportunities
Technology permeates nearly every aspect of our lives today. Much of the world’s leadership stems from countries who excel in STEM fields. Yet according to the U.S. Department of Education, in America, only 16% of high school students have interest in a STEM career. LiveScience.com says, “The manufacturing sector faces an alarmingly large shortage of employees with the necessary skills [STEM] — nearly 600,000.” In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor states that by next year, nine of the 10 fastest growing occupations (that require at least a bachelor’s degree) will require significant scientific or mathematical training. In other words, job opportunities today and in the future align with STEM careers.
Snapology STEM Learning Experience
Many school systems have embraced a STEM curriculum, but not all do. For those that do, some of these schools don’t have the resources to let children explore STEM subjects in an engaging, interactive manner.
Snapology, education-based resource centers, can fill in these gaps. This nation-wide company teaches STEM learning through play using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex and technology. The centers provide hands-on, interactive activities for children ages 1-14 years. A STEM education can also help to bridge the ethnic and gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields. With all of this in mind, Snapology’s mission is to inspire children to pursue careers in STEM fields by introducing them to these subjects at an early age.
Snapology creates STEM learning experiences through enrichment classes, after-school workshops, summer camps, birthday parties, school field trips, scouting events, corporate team building, and more. They offer year-round programs in schools, community facilities, homes and in Discovery Centers (select locations only).
Snapology Children’s Franchise Opportunity
For those looking to start their own kids education-based business, Snapology offers franchising options with new opportunities in New York. Rated a Top 100 Franchise, Snapology franchises are affordable, flexible, and can provide quick profitability. To learn more, visit Snapology.com.
ENTER THE SNAPOLOGY STEM LEARNING LEGO BRICK SET GIVEAWAY
One lucky reader will receive a LEGO® bricks set of the Snapology mascot Sebastian Gator (for kids 6+). Enter via the entry form below. Open to entrants with U.S. mailing addresses only.
Image credits: Snapology, used with permission
I think STEM learning is important because it teaches motor skills.
STEM learning is important to students for understanding and solving problems, not just memorizing information.
Educating students in all four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — is important because our world is focusing on those areas so much more in every aspect of life. Integrating these areas into play allows children to learn and enjoy themselves at the same time.
i think it’s important because science and engineering are the future!
kayleefaith1228@aol.com
I love that STEM stimulates kids creativity making them more confident in themselves
It is important for a well rounded education
Early exposure to STEM is the foundation for so many fields of study!
It’s important for learning and making you think.
It gets children interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
I love STEM, and think it is very important for kids of all ages.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics—STEM, and therefore, STEM education—are vital to our future!
Kids need to learn how and why things work. These are fundamental skills every child should be exposed to
STEM learning is important because it teaches you to think critically. It is also a lot of fun.
I think that kids should learn it all.
Helps them to be creative and work with their hands. Also many are good for math and science.
It helps kids with creativity.
I think that it’s good to learn because it can benefit the future.
I think STEM learning is important because it teaches real world skills children will need with the technology that surrounds us.
Stem helps kids learn how to create and build and teaches them how to continue exploring new ways to accomplish their build!
I like how it expands creativity and is both educational and fun!
STEM learning helps kids to explore and be able to solve problems!
Technology development in the U.S. Is very important and needs to start the basics of math and science.
It lets kids use their imagination!
I think connecting a fun memory with learning is a great idea.
It is important in order to keep up with technology.
I think science, technology, engineering and math is the backbone of all learning.
STEM learning is so important because that’s where the innovations in the future are going to come from.
in order to keep up in a global economy, our students need to be leaders in science, tech, engineering, and math
STEM is vitally important in today’s world. We homeschool, and preparing my kids for a future where they can thrive involves a lot of problem solving and critical thinking, both of which are key components in STEM activities.
STEM learning helps kids to solve problems and explore
STEM has so many aspects and areas of teaching it is hard to pinpoint just one which makes that the reason I believe children should learn STEM.
We need more kids that are interested in the sciences.
Children need to learn this now. It is part of todays world. I wish they would expanded the studies into more schools.
Anything that challenges a child to think for themselves and look for their own answers is a plus in a world where Google and technology makes things so easy.
It allows kids to learn while having fun and helps them learn how to think through problems.
STEM is important because it’s so critical in today’s world and children need to understand it.
I love stem toys
I think kids learn more when they are having fun.
Children today live in a different world than I did growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. They need to learn at the highest rate possible to succeed in today’s world.
I think it helps with motor skills dramatically.
Helps critical thinking
STEM learning is important because it helps kids see things and solve problems in a different way.
It is important to encourage creativity and learning in a fun way.
I think STEM learning is important because at its core it is about problem solving!
I think STEM learning is very important because you get to learn a variety of sciences which help the world to advance.
STEM learning will prepare our children for the future and their career goals. It engages them and is hands on learning that is also fun. It uses critical thinking which is so vital and useful in everyday life.
It encourages learning and teaches critical thinking!
STEM is important because it can encourage our kids to have an interest in science and math. The toys are educational as well as fun.
Helps kids to see that science and math can be fun and stimulates creativity
Innovation boosts the economy and creates skills that will be important to our future.
Make science and math fun so kids don’t quitbthosevsubjects
It helps expose kids to science and math in fun ways.
STEM learning encourages team work.
It is important because it helps them develop problem solving skills and encourages creativity.
I think it is important to understand how things operate.
I think it’s great to create and explore
Creativity
To help facilitate kids in learning with a hands-on approach.
STEM Learning is so important. I love the confidence it builds in girls!
It’s a great way to get kids to learn and be creative. I love STEM activities and events for my kids! They have so much fun too. Makes them think outside the box.
It’s great for the kids & prepares them for the future! And without our kids keeping up, we’ll fall behind the economies of the rest of the world!
It’s important because not only does it sparks creativity but there is learning involved as well.
I believe STEM learning is critical in real world applications. Helps children learn about subjects they might otherwise not be interested in. And encourages kids to look at problems from different perspectives to find a logical answer.