With a rapidly growing interest in AI, STEM subjects are becoming more prominent each year. More and more people seek higher education and even future careers in this field. Notably, the recent global pandemic only proved the necessity of digital advancements, engineering, and medical expertise. Thus, it is only natural to get curious about STEM.
At the same time, if you’d like to pursue a career in this field, you have to pay attention to the latest trends. Alongside the growing popularity of STEM, the competition among applicants is increasing as well. Hence, if you’d like to be at an advantage, take notice of these six trends that you should keep an eye on this year.
STEM Subjects in Early Education
It has been discussed for some time that STEM education has to be introduced early. Thus, students would not be intimidated by these subjects. For once, they have more chances to pursue science seriously, become professionals at https://writemy.com/, and secure a niche for themselves in the lucrative market.
For the longest time, subjects like physics and biology were seen as something too hard to grasp for elementary school. However, this approach created an issue where students are reluctant to get into science, seeing it as something difficult. Therefore, starting with STEM as early as possible will encourage the development of a needed scientific mindset.
So, if you are passionate about STEM, consider looking into the methodology for teaching it to children. Whether as a researcher or as a future teacher yourself, you will not struggle with occupying a relevant field in the STEM community.
Toys to Learn STEM
Since STEM is going to become a part of the earliest stages in education, toys to develop a scientific mindset will be more than entertainment. There is nothing new about toys that help encourage a child to think about how to solve a STEM-related problem. But in the upcoming year, they are likely to appear in kindergartens and elementary schools.
Since AI has become an inseparable part of our lives, it will make sense to teach children the basics of electronics early on. And toys like marble-powered computers or coding cars help teach the principles of coding subtly. Thus, a kid learns the logic behind algorithms without even looking at the screen.
Play is a huge part of early education, and STEM is not an exception. Thus, toys are one of the best ways to encourage kids to think like scientists, starting with the simplest mindset changes.
Transition to STEAM
It is no wonder that science and arts are interconnected. Drawing requires a great deal of geometry, and music is no stranger to physics. Thus, arts presence in STEM was only a matter of time.
The STEAM initiative has been circling in science education for some time. With the rapid development of technology, the need for such professionals as graphic designers is only getting bigger. Thus, such an interdisciplinary approach will encourage students to combine their many interests in one career.
Besides, science subjects will benefit greatly from having an influence on art basics. For example, the presence of art in STEM can contribute to the following:
- Enhancement of motor skills
- Boost in creativity
- Advance problem-solving skills
- Improvement in overall academic performance
Thus, apart from becoming a well-rounded specialist, the student develops an encapsulating approach both to arts and to science. And that results in a unique mindset regardless of the chosen major or career path.
Robotics Competition
The one thing to pay attention to is the growing popularity of robotics competitions. Nowadays, you do not have to be a part of an engineering program to participate in one. The growth in high school participants has been overwhelmingly high in recent years. Students are encouraged to engage in problem-solving through robotics.
There are even competitions for six-year-olds with LEGOS to teach them about the basics of robotics and stimulate teamwork. Notably, it also aligns with the trend of early STEM education. Therefore, consider paying attention to your local robotics competitions and try your luck. You might even discover a passion that you haven’t thought about.
Inclusivity
Another significant change in STEM education is mindfulness toward inclusivity. It has been proven that a child of any gender, race, or physical ability can participate in STEM and be successful in it. Science does not have to be overwhelming, nor should it be gatekept. Thus, to get more people interested in STEM, it’s important to be inclusive.
That means creating a welcoming environment for a student of any background and searching for learning methods suitable for diverse student groups. For instance, teaching methods in STEM for students with disabilities is a whole separate topic in science education. So, do not sleep on the opportunity to improve the situation.
More of E-learning
Recent years have forced people to turn to online learning platforms and methods. Despite some controversies evoked by E-learning, it has been proven to work. Notably, best paper writing services have received no fewer orders, and no academic years were lost. Hence, it is highly probable to see more eLearning methods in traditional learning environments.
Even before the global pandemic, universities have been using tons of technological advancements in classrooms. For once, your math assignments will not be written by hand anymore. And most of your homework is uploaded to the virtual learning environment of your university. Even your lab work is heavily dependent on computers.
Moreover, in recent years STEM subjects started using specially designed software. Apart from obvious coding assignments, there are also programs to work with projects on DNA cryptography. Thus, it is only a matter of time before this software becomes essential to the curriculum.
Wrapping Up
And here you have it. Pay attention to the growing popularity of STEM in early education and E-learning methods and materials. Look into toys for learning STEM and the inclusion of arts. Finally, don’t miss an opportunity to participate in or learn more about robotics competitions and advocate for inclusivity in STEM learning.
