STEM education is important to your child’s future. In the Measured Progress study, it was found that students who were in STEM classes out-performed their peers in reading and math by a significant margin. This means that if you want your child to succeed in life, they should have access to high-quality STEM education as early as possible.
As the world becomes increasingly tech-savvy, there is arguably no greater need for technicians than now. So why did only 18% of American undergraduates major in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field? Are Americans simply not interested in STEM fields? If you’re concerned about your child’s future chances of success, find out about the benefits of encouraging your child to pursue STEAM education.
A recent report by the Mitre Corporation found that only 18% of American undergraduates major in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) field. The report revealed that approximately 42% of Chinese undergraduates and 51% of Korean undergrads are enrolled in STEM programs.
Although the United States produces more than its fair share of top science and engineering talent, the country imports a large chunk of its technology manpower infrastructure because of the low demand for STEM education among native-born Americans.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that there will be 1 million more jobs by 2018 in these fields than qualified workers to fill them. And that figure is expected to rise by another 3 million jobs over the following decade.
The report also found that more than half of Americans do not want their child to pursue a career in STEM, and only 42% believe STEM fields are vital for America’s future. Although it seems American students certainly lack exposure to STEM, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to be in these fields.
The report found that when American high school students were asked if they wanted a job involving science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), 72% said yes. So why aren’t more of them going into these fields? The answer may very well lie in STEM education in this country. As students progress through school, the report found that many are steered away from STEM classes.
The Time to Act is Now
If you’re concerned about your child’s future chances of success, find out about the benefits of encouraging your child to pursue STEM education. Teachers and parents alike must do what they can to encourage kids toward this type of education.
In 2012, only 13% of U.S. engineering bachelor’s degrees were awarded to American students. Although you can’t force your child into a STEM field, you can expose them to the possibility and help guide their decision through education and example. Show your children that there are many different options for a career, but all of these paths will require education to get there.
If the notion of encouraging your child toward a STEM education seems overwhelming, don’t worry. You can start by encouraging them to think about what interests they enjoy most and how they can apply these interests in a future direction. A good place to start is by giving them books, toys, and lessons that expand their world.
The STEM field is incredibly wide in scope, so it makes sense that students at every level are enticed by the possibilities of these fields. Consider building your children’s interest while they are young and encourage their natural inquisitiveness to grow. Start with a book on basic electronics or space and encourage them to research what they find interesting. Help nurture their interest in coding with properly selected tools, such as Scratch and MIT App Inventor.
These skills will help your child develop a foundation for the type of career they may want to follow later on. Be excited about their interests, rather than steering them away from something you feel is a better choice. Your child may not know what they want to be when they grow up, but an early interest in the STEM field is a great start.
HOW CAN I GET MY CHILD INTERESTED IN STEM/STEAM?
If you’re wondering how to get your children interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), you’re not alone. Nearly 74 percent of American parents admit they don’t know enough about STEM careers to understanding the choices available to their children.
With a growing number of businesses and educational institutions recognizing the need for more workers trained in STEM, it is more important than ever to get your child interested in this area.
If you’re at a loss for what to do yourself, there are plenty of ways to let your children explore their STEM interests on their own. If they love learning about robotics, allow them access to a robot kit during the holidays or birthdays. Be sure the kit includes some options for customizing the robot and adding their own ideas.
Additionally, if your child wants to learn more about computer programming, provide them with a computer that lets them try their hand at it. This can be as simple as setting up a laptop so they can use Scratch or MIT App Inventor to create fun games.
If your child has shown an interest in engineering, you may want to think about setting aside some money to help them put together a project. For example, they could build a prototype for their own invention or create something that is related to their favorite hobbies.
It’s up to each family to determine how best to encourage their children toward STEM education. As long as you give your child the tools to learn, they should be able to develop their skills on their own. You can also work together with teachers and organizations in your community to perfect a plan for reaching this goal.
How to Encourage Your Kids Into STEM/STEAM?
In today’s world of technology and advanced capabilities, it helps to have a solid understanding of STEM/STEAM education. If you’re wondering how to encourage your kids into these fields, take the time to learn about all the different options available. To get started, look for books on basic electronics or coding at your local bookstore and follow up with hands-on learning activities.
When it comes to spark your children’s interest in STEM/STEAM, the possibilities are endless. When you encourage them to think about their interests and what they can do with these interests in the future, you’re helping set them up for success. For example, if your child has an interest in how gadgets work, introducing them to basic electronics will be a great way to help them learn.
Consider These Options For Encouraging Your Child’s Interest In The Stem/steam Fields:
Read books about different career paths:
When you read books with titles such as “Big Machines, Bigger Adventures” or “Flight!” your children will see that there is more to STEM/STEAM than they realized. They may also see that there is more to these careers than meets the eye, which will encourage them to find out more about it.
When you read books with titles such as “Big Machines, Bigger Adventures” or “Flight!” your children will see that there is more to STEM/STEAM than they realized. They may also see that there is more to these careers than meets the eye, which will encourage them to find out more about it.
Encourage your child to reach for new goals:
If your child has had an interest in playing soccer since they were young and they are now looking into continuing with the sport in high school or college, encourage them to set stretch goals. Not only will this be a great way to help keep them motivated, but it may also open up new opportunities for learning about STEM/STEAM with sports-related careers.
If your child has had an interest in playing soccer since they were young and they are now looking into continuing with the sport in high school or college, encourage them to set stretch goals. Not only will this be a great way to help keep them motivated, but it may also open up new opportunities for learning about STEM/STEAM with sports-related careers.
Take time to explore interesting topics:
One of the easiest ways to spark your children’s interest in STEM/STEAM is to explore different topics. For example, if your child loves learning about the ocean and would like to learn more about marine biology, look into local aquariums or zoos where you can take a trip. Learn more about what’s included in these facilities and encourage your children to talk to experienced zookeepers or marine biologists.
Check out a local technology center or college campus — You can also encourage your children’s interest in STEM/STEAM by checking out a local technology center, university campus, or community college. By talking with students about their classes and the different things they are learning, you may be able to find out more about what could be in store for your children when they get older.
Not only are you giving them the opportunity to learn more, but it’s also possible that visiting such places can open up doors for scholarships and other opportunities.
Other than engineering some other uncommon emerging fields are:
1.) Healthcare: Healthcare is a broad industry, but it’s important to know if it interests you. There are many different graduate degrees that can lead to this career, such as nursing and physical therapy.
2.) Teaching: As a teacher in the 21st century, you have access to a number of resources that were once unavailable to students. You can now learn how to teach by taking classes online and working from home. You can also use your degrees in teaching or other fields to make yourself stand out from other applicants for the job.
3.) IT: Today’s workforce is always transforming and constantly changing, so if you’re interested in technology, you should consider an IT career. The skills needed for this profession may vary depending on what kind of job you want, but there are many opportunities as long as they align with your skillset.
4.) Marketing: Marketing is one of the fastest-growing industries in America right now, so it’s no surprise that marketing careers have grown alongside it. Students will be able to explore their options by learning about marketing concepts and understanding how they might apply them in their own lives after graduating from school.
5) Real estate: If you are looking to start your own business, then the real estate field might be something that you want to consider. It’s a lucrative and stable industry that provides a stable job for the future. There are many top companies like Rexez builders that are generating great revenue.
Real estate has been around for hundreds of years – it’s an old profession. In fact, homes have always been one of the top investments for investors; for instance, people mostly search for DHA Islamabad house for sale.
The real estate business is diverse and offers a wide variety of career opportunities. You can work with architects or contractors in order to design and build different types of homes and buildings; or you can pursue a career as an appraiser in order to become licensed and evaluate property values.
Encouraging Your Kids Into STEM/STEAM Can Help Them Succeed!
Taking the time to learn about these fields will also allow you to have a better understanding of which careers are possible for your kids. For example, if they’ve shown an interest in learning more about how gadgets work, encourage them to take a look at technology-related jobs — including employment opportunities as computer engineers and programmers.
Remember that you are your children’s first and best teacher. As you help them develop an interest in STEM/STEAM, they’ll be more likely to use these skills throughout their lives for a greater purpose. Rather than telling them what to do, show them how it can lead to a better job and a much happier life.
Conclusion:
As a parent, you know how important it is to provide your child with the best tools for success in life. STEM education provides an opportunity for children to engage their minds and learn skills that are critical to our nation’s future workforce needs while also enjoying themselves through fun and hands-on learning activities. With so many benefits of STEM education, there’s no reason not give them a chance! If you have any questions about how this can benefit your family or would like more information on where you can find these programs near me, please feel free contact us at LearnObots. We’re always happy to help answer any question!