STEM initiatives in schools — Why do we need to collaborate now?
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In the ever-changing dynamic world, the importance of STEM education comes to the forefront across all realms of the educational landscape. The emphasis on the importance of making our school infrastructure adaptable to implement STEM education cannot be even more stressed.
Why is everyone talking about STEM education in India?
Historically India has been the learning ground for some of the greatest minds in Technology and Innovation. APJ Abdul Kalam, Satya Nadella, and Sundar Pichai to Homi Jehangir Baba have all learned the dance of numbers from India. With the trend moving towards artificial intelligence, and machine learning, automation is everything and everywhere. However, India’s STEM-skilled manpower seems to be the slow-piercing needle given the rich legacy of its technical talents.
With the demand for STEM-skilled jobs on the rise, it is important for the democratization of STEM across all social and economical communities of India.
How can STEM education be implemented in schools across all economical setups?
1. STEM Toys
STEM toys and experiments for children across all age groups stimulate thinking and learning which can enable their critical and reasoning skills. Play-based education can certainly improve their decision-making ability. With the focus of government initiatives like Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on innovation, key concepts, ideas, applications, and problem-solving, it is evident that India’s long-term educational goals overlap with STEM education.
2. Teacher and Master Teacher Training
STEM education involves interrelated skill development across all the subjects under the STEM umbrella. Teachers and master teachers need to be trained in this space to be aware of when and where STEM-related activities are carried out along with practical material for easy adaptation. Organizations such as Tan90 are pioneers in the space of teacher training for STEM education.
3. Create awareness among Parents
The biggest investors in the child’s future are their parents. This anchor needs to be made aware of the impact of STEM education in the future and how it will impact career and job demands. Parents are imperative in the child’s support for them to be able to continue with their aspirations to become skilled in this space. Conducting workshops and seminars for parents in STEM education can garner their buy-in for implementing STEM in classrooms.
4. Be a learner ourselves
Lifelong learning is the key to excellence and growth, especially in the current world where change is inevitable and rapid. As school leaders, it is important for us to learn about STEM education and be updated about it on the global front. It then becomes an easy way to also educate other stakeholders about the same. With many self-learning platforms available, one can easily learn about STEM education.
Solving real problems using STEM
STEM education must be implemented and adopted by all schools in India. Its rapid growth and demand have impacted the way we see education as a whole. Children are interacting more with technology through gadgets these days, that is what the future will be all about. Upskilling children from a really young age in these STEM-related skills and concepts will enable them to be innovators to solve real-life problems in the future.
India is a country with a high pool of technical knowledge and pioneers it is of paramount importance to begin speaking more about STEM education. STEM education must become more of a passion than just a mere subject for learning, this is when we know that it has truly achieved its purpose.
