STEM tools have the power to shape how students develop key skills along with their abilities to learn and grow. Since educators have seen how well they can help students progress and extend achievement in the classroom, they regularly do all they can to maximize the STEM tools they have, including robotics, coding, engineering, and 3D printing solutions. Today's EdTech manufacturers often supplement core offerings with full curriculum guides that may include STEM lesson plans, projects, and more. Designed to help teachers integrate STEM tools, curricula can play a pivotal role in maximizing learning outcomes for all students.
The Benefits of a STEM Curriculum
Like we said, many EdTech manufacturers also offer detailed curriculum and project guides alongside their classroom tools. Besides that, plenty of school and district leaders are now responsible for creating more future-focused experiences. Many of these directly involve kids utilizing some specific technologies while others are still effective without drastic changes. When creating a STEM curriculum, there are some strategies you can use to make it engaging, teacher-friendly, and long term-viable. It doesn’t even always necessarily require a high amount of EdTech tools (you could also potentially get away with going no-tech or low-tech). Students just simply need access to experiences that promote developing core STEM skills.
Using a STEM curriculum across subjects.
STEM projects often involve more than one discipline, like both science and technology, for example. This is a common trait of STEM curricula and an interdisciplinary approach to helping students. The best STEM curricula should expose students to creative thinking and learning, specifically learning by doing. Also, one of the best qualities of STEM experiences is that they help students develop their inquiry skills. Thus, tying STEM learning to the natural curiosity kids have is super effective. Plus, the creative process that students explore through STEM learning helps them boost artistic creation. They can also try out some new kinds of experimentation, explore design outcomes, and ultimately create something tangible.
Features for today's curriculum designers.
Other key characteristics of STEAM curricula are opportunities for meaningful collaboration, an opportunity to increase critical thinking, a unique way to explore problem solving, and, of course, hands-on learning. In collaborating, for example, students can learn to divide up responsibilities, compromise, and hear ideas. In terms of critical thinking, they can systemically think through problems and apply what they learn. They are also simultaneously evaluating the information that is most useful for what they’re trying to accomplish. As for problem solving, STEM learning gives students the chance to try various methods before they settle on what works best. Finally, the hands-on element is perhaps the most important and helps all students learn from experiences (and failures) as well as levelling the playing field among students in diverse settings.
Deploying a STEM Curriculum in Afterschool Programs
There’s not (really) a rule explicitly stating that a curriculum—especially one centered on STEM—must only be part of the school day. Time spent in afterschool programs unlocks all sorts of opportunities for kids to continue or, in some cases, start really developing their STEM skills. Afterschool programs have long been an avenue for educators to enhance classroom content. They can do this by covering the same concepts, building on them, and doing so in a hands-on way. And, when activities and objectives in any afterschool STEM program are clearly fleshed out with a developed curriculum, they're easier for teachers to identify, implement, and measure—ultimately creating greater organization, coordination, and successes.
Honing soft skills and an interest in STEM.
The ideal STEM curriculum in afterschool spaces would allow students to take part in self-guided learning that reinforces academic concepts and helps them build hard and soft skills. Soft skills, like confidence, for example, are also important when it comes to being ready for the future whether students decide to pursue STEM in the long run or not. Fortunately, they could definitely build these skills in afterschool environments, especially when the programming is conducive to that. When they take part in these bonus programs, kids tend to display more of an interest in STEM in general, see themselves as important contributors in society, and value their successes.
Bringing a STEM curriculum to afterschool offerings.
So, how would somebody go about designing this type of program? Creating an environment in which kids can explore self-directed learning activities is a good start. Immersing them into new kinds of activities that go beyond what they would typically experience in school is ideal. Another smart tip is to expose students to a variety of options in the types of activities they'll do. This allows educators to get away from curricular mandates and introduce students to new elements of STEAM. Think about things they likely have not tried before, like robotics or 3D printing. Finally, if you're creating a STEM-based afterschool curriculum, look at what others have done before. You can definitely find useful examples of working STEM opportunities into afterschool learning by tapping your PLN.
Mapping STEM into the Curriculum
There are many reasons that educators should consider developing and implementing STEM curricula in their classrooms. The first is that STEM can be for all students—not just for those who are technologically inclined. It could also help educators improve their teaching and supplement existing instructional models. While even informal STEM experiences can help students, educators shouldn't just throw them in. To help your classroom teachers seamlessly bring STEM concepts and experiences into everyday learning, it can be best to start small. At the core of launching a new focus in classrooms is fundamentally changing your system. So, school and district leaders first need everybody to be on the same page to ensure they have all bought in to this new and promising initiative.
Collaboratively creating a STEM curriculum.
To launch a successful STEM curriculum in your school, there should first be one agreed-upon definition of STEM and what you want your STEM teaching and learning to look like. School leaders should then hand some control over to teachers and empower them to drive successes by working as a team. Administrators and teachers should also work together in deciding on an interdisciplinary approach to integrating STEM or a multidisciplinary approach. An interdisciplinary approach involves integrating STEAM experiences across various academic subjects or in a single lesson. And, a multidisciplinary approach involves using themes in each STEM and core academic course to help students draw connections.
Trying new things in the classroom.
Some top STEM experiences come when teachers try new things. So, adapting to student proficiencies, deficiencies, and preferences is key in STEM learning. Teachers also benefit from the option to shift gears when needed. The term ‘engineering design,’ for example, might sound highly complex to some students and teachers. All it really involves, however, is defining a problem, working to find a solution, and building something. Finally, educators can use STEM experiences to help students see the importance of learning certain things. STEAM professionals use more than technical skills and, as students apply what they learn through STEM experiences, they can better understand why they’re learning it. Just think—breathing new life into learning by introducing a STEM-focused curriculum could help students draw natural connections between what’s important and how to apply it going forward.
STEM Curricula and Makerspaces
If you know anything about makerspaces, you might know that the learning and experimentation is often unscripted and informal. It can be organized, though, and, by combining key STEAM concepts and maker learning, educators can create a whole lot of positive outcomes. If educators want to leverage makerspace learning during the school day, more formal curricular guidelines may help. While this can take away some of the freedoms that students typically have in a makerspace, it could also help create detailed guidelines for them to follow while they learn specific skills and concepts. Plus, creating these types of guidelines is especially helpful for children with behavioral issues or social-emotional challenges. They help teachers reel them in while giving them some of the freedoms routinely found in makerspaces.
Hands-on experiences and STEM exploration.
Rather than just giving students maker tools, like robots or gears, educators could also teach them about these tools while they use them. This also helps educators weave teaching soft skills into their makerspace curriculum while emphasizing the importance of turn taking, communicating effectively, and even following instructions. As with any curriculum, a STEM curriculum for makerspace learning should be designed with intent. Educators must consider the resources available to them, the quantities they'll have (is 1:1 learning possible?), and how they can create collaborative learning. When kids work in groups in the makerspace, they also end up learning a lot more than academic content. They learn the values of teamwork, trial and error, and critical thinking, which they can use throughout their lives.
Technology and MakerEd in the STEM curriculum.
If they choose, curriculum directors can also create a handful of lesson plans rather than an entire year of curriculum. In both cases, it is helpful to include instructions for both students and educators. This ensures they each have clear objectives for all lessons and understand those objectives. They can then tie all these lessons to tons of different topics and both educators and students can always feel free to adapt them and find creative ways to use maker materials to illustrate they understand a certain concept—ideally while still covering the required curriculum. Also, technology is a key component in many school makerspaces and it certainly helps to reinforce important concepts among students, so it might be worthwhile to start to build a makerspace curriculum, keeping in mind that it can eventually become more robust.
Teaching Coding with a Curricular Approach
All STEAM experiences are beneficial for students but they're even more effective when they’re structured and part of the curriculum. Teaching coding, while important, is much more effective when educators have the proper tools at their disposal and know how to tie them to their curricular requirements. While there are coding curricula out there, specifically those that pair with certain STEAM tools, educators tend to struggle when trying to create their own and may not want to commit to something external. The curricula that tech professionals are creating, however, evolves regularly and, though not always, it could be free. Companies like Ozobot and iRobot Education, for example, offer curriculum (below) in their class packs or separate.
How to create a coding curriculum.
Having a member of your school or district who is capable of creating a coding curriculum would be very valuable. Chances are, if this is the case, you are probably aware of that person or this person has already volunteered. If not, it might help to share a district-wide memo to see if anybody could give it a try. In most schools, there isn't an official coding curriculum in place, however, despite the continued demand for more skilled computer science professionals. But, with the simplicity of modern coding tools, it's easier to teach computer science as early as the elementary level. Again, children could still learn these skills when coding on their own but a structured set of activities and objectives, however, definitely helps their development in the short and long run.
A STEM curriculum focused on coding.
To bring a structured coding curriculum into your school, there are different approaches, like researching previously created curricula for certain tools or programs. Also, teachers could tap their networks and ask other educators or administrators what has worked. It’s also effective for administrators to have faith in the students receiving the curriculum and involve them in this process. They can give valuable insight and even help to improve that process. Administrators could also ask teachers and parents how to tie it to classroom and real-world content while promoting fun. Chances are someone’s parent might have some experience in this area. So, while linking STEM learning to curricular standards can be challenging, it's also rewarding!
Some of today's most trusted STEAM solutions also include a curricular component. For more curriculum tools designed for easy implementation in your classrooms, click below. For the latest EdTech, STEM, and 21st century education news, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Like us on Facebook, too, or subscribe to our newsletter for announcements on our latest product offerings!
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