Category: Education

In a job economy driven by rapidly changing technology, it’s more important than ever that our schools foster a love of learning. Starting our students on a steady dose of STEM curriculum in elementary primes them to become the inquisitive kiddos that lead to ambitious adults.

What does STEM stand for?

For anyone who’s seen the term STEM, but kept it on the periphery, here’s a bit of background. The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Recently, a study of the arts was added to the educational model, making STEAM an interchangeable term you might also hear.

In school, STEM or STEAM lessons are taught using an integrative approach that shows how each subject relates to and works with the others. This interdisciplinary instruction also closely mirrors how these concept applications function in the working world.

Educational Benefits of STEM

The sooner our students are exposed to STEM activities the better.  It may be scientific achievements like the first black hole picture or the fascinating technological developments.  Regardless of a child’s interested in a particular subject, we know that during the elementary years a child’s synapses are most impressionable.  Youngsters have an innate drive toward curiosity. STEAM programming prioritizes and encourages this curiosity, making lessons easier to internalize.

By making it accessible to anyone, STEM education benefits everyone in the classroom by:

Reducing lesson and testing anxiety

The principles of STEM diminish stress by putting the focus on the student’s ability to learn and grow, encouraging a belief in oneself.

You can even make STEM learning a daily part of a kid’s day. On this note, watches with calculators are a great option to aid kids in learning STEM by helping them practice mathematical operations, problem-solving, unit conversions, time management, data analysis, programming concepts, and financial literacy.

Making it okay to fail

Our mistakes are powerful teachers. Even STEM leaders of the past knew this.  When the environment is safe and welcoming, students don’t fear punishment of failure and learn to view it as an opportunity to simply explore or try new things.

Prioritizing the 4 C’s

No matter their age, whatever their job title, they’re going to need to know how to interact well with others. STEAM helps develop the necessary 21^st-century learning skills including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.

Helping them apply meaning

STEM curriculum is engaging and motivates students to think through real world-inspired scenarios. Taught in this way, the concepts make more sense and students are able to understand the value and purpose. This depth of knowledge also leads to a greater understanding of each pillar.

STEM Career Opportunities

According to the STEM Diversity at the University of Wisconsin Madison, by 2018, it is predicted that 8.65 million STEM jobs will exist. Nevertheless, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a drastic shortage of almost 600,000 potential candidates for those jobs.”

So, job security is almost guaranteed, but pursuing a STEM career doesn’t necessarily mean students will automatically be chained to a MIT laboratory or relegated to Silicon Valley. STEM is everywhere, permeating just about every fathomable industry.

Contrary to some of the stereotypes, STEM-led disciplines include everything from product development for the fashion industry to healthcare careers like nurses, doctors or medical assistants, and engineers.

One of the fastest growing industries is also creating the great need for training professionals.  A demand for experts in cybersecurity is growing making it a great career choice.

In short, there’s no better way to equip students for their life journey than to turn them into lifelong learners. Once they master this skill, there’s no realm, be it higher education or the real world, which they can’t conquer.

Engaging Activities to Promote STEM Learning

STEM education plays a crucial role in preparing children for the rapidly advancing technological landscape of the 21st century. To ensure that children develop a solid foundation in these fields, educators can incorporate interactive and hands-on experiences in their lessons.  One effective way to promote STEM learning is through science experiments and investigations. Children can be encouraged to conduct simple experiments at home or in the classroom, exploring concepts such as magnetism, chemical reactions, or the properties of light. Through hands-on exploration, they can observe phenomena, make predictions, and draw conclusions, fostering their curiosity and analytical thinking.

Building and constructing activities are also highly engaging for children. Utilizing materials like building blocks, LEGO, or robotics kits, kids can design and build their own structures, machines, or robots. This not only enhances their creativity but also nurtures their engineering and problem-solving skills. By facing challenges and overcoming obstacles during the construction process, children learn perseverance and gain confidence in their abilities.

Incorporating technology-based activities

Technology-based activities, such as coding or programming games, can also captivate a child’s interest in STEM. There are numerous coding platforms specifically designed for kids that offer interactive and gamified learning experiences. Presenting them with challenges like designing a sustainable city, building a bridge, or creating a model of a renewable energy system can stimulate their critical thinking and encourage them to apply their knowledge to practical situations. These activities inspire creativity and innovation while fostering a sense of purpose and relevance in STEM education.

Engaging activities are vital in promoting STEM learning in children.  These activities not only cultivate a deeper understanding of scientific concepts but also foster essential skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. By nurturing a love for STEM at a young age, we can empower children to become confident and capable contributors to the ever-evolving world of science and technology.

STEM vs STEAM

There has been somewhat of a conflict between STEM and STEAM, wherein the latter refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.  Traditionalists believe that adding the “arts” to the education model for K-12 students will dilute the study of the main four pillars of STEM.  Still, no one denies that getting kids excited about science at a very early age is a key to producing more STEM graduates.

Art is one element in early education that makes learning fun as they are introduced to simple STEAM activities.  Linking art to science not only provides an excellent balance to academic life, but it can also encourage students to explore subjects they think are boring.

Allowing students to explore their creatively through art and combining it with science will surely produce more students interested in STEM overall, and not just in early grades.  Proponents of STEAM say this is just one reason the arts are a vital part.

Perhaps even more importantly is that supporters of STEAM believe creativity is an essential part of innovation and development within the scientific world.  It does not only attract young minds to love science, but it also empowers them to always think creatively and believe that anything is possible.  The same is true of kids that code.  Even if they do nothing relating in the field of technology, they gain so many additional benefits through the process of learning how to code.

Ways to Introduce Preschool Children to STEM

Early childhood is a critical period for development, and introducing STEM and STEAM at this stage can have a profound impact on a child’s cognitive and intellectual growth. By providing age-appropriate activities and experiences, parents ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking skills, and lay the foundation for future STEM learning.

Here are some effective ways to introduce preschool children to STEM:

Sensory Exploration

Young children learn best through hands-on experiences. Provide them with sensory activities that involve exploring varied materials, textures, and objects. For instance, they can play with water and containers to understand concepts of volume and capacity, or use sand and blocks to build structures, enhancing their understanding of basic engineering principles.

Nature Walks and Outdoor Exploration

Take children on nature walks and encourage them to observe and ask questions about the natural world. Point out different plants, animals, and their habitats. Engage them in simple experiments, like growing plants from seeds or observing the lifecycle of butterflies, to introduce basic scientific concepts.

Building and Construction Toys

Building blocks, puzzles, and construction toys are excellent tools for early STEM introduction. These toys enhance fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities. Encourage children to build towers, bridges, or simple structures, fostering an understanding of basic engineering principles.

Experimentation and Play

Incorporate simple experiments into playtime to spark curiosity and promote scientific thinking. Have children mix colors to discover how they blend, or float different objects in water to explore the concepts of buoyancy and density. Encourage them to make predictions and observe outcomes, nurturing their scientific inquiry skills.

Technology-Based Learning Tools

Introduce interactive and age-appropriate technology tools that facilitate learning. There are various STEM-oriented apps, games, and educational videos designed for young children. These resources can expose children to basic coding, problem-solving, and logical reasoning, promoting early computational thinking.

Storytelling and Books

Utilize STEM-themed storybooks to make learning engaging and enjoyable. Look for books that explore scientific concepts, engineering feats, or mathematical puzzles in a fun and accessible way. Through storytelling, children can develop language skills while expanding their understanding of STEM subjects.

Explore  Creativety Through Art

As mentioned above, art is encouraged and promoted by many educators as close link to science.  In this way, having kids paint a picture is one of the easiest ways to get preschool ages kids interested in all aspects of STEAM. The mixing of colors to create new ones is an excellent discussion starter about how materials mix to change into new substances.

Role-Playing and Pretend Play

Encourage children to engage in role-playing activities that involve scientific or engineering themes. Provide props like lab coats, magnifying glasses, or tools to stimulate their imagination. They can play the role of scientists, engineers, or mathematicians, fostering an early connection with STEM fields.

By incorporating these strategies, we can create a rich learning environment that cultivates curiosity, critical thinking, and a positive attitude towards STEM in very young children.  Remember, keep the activities age-appropriate, hands-on, and fun, allowing children to explore and discover the wonders of the world around them while developing essential skills for their future.

AUTHOR BIO:

Dave Monaco has worked in education for 24 years and counting. He has put his M.A.T. to great use as the Head of School at Parish Episcopal School and helps Parish live out their mission to guide young people to become creative learners and bold leaders who will impact our global society. With his philosophy to “engage the mind, connect to the heart,” this father of three will continue bringing order to chaos one day at a time.

Teachers have always had to fight for the attention of their students. Not long ago they would only be dealing with gossip, note passing, and the occasional trading card. The latest distraction of the mobile phone in the classroom can often be much more difficult to control.

Some teachers have even reported children watching Netflix in the middle of class. There a varying opinions on what should be done regarding the use of mobiles phones by students.

How UK Schools Approach Mobile Phones

Some countries – notably France – have strict laws against cell phone use in schools. There are no laws in the UK that prohibit children from using them. The decision on how to deal with phones is left to individual schools. It can get confusing and certainly far from consistent. Some schools do ban them outright, and then there are other schools that embrace phones as a teaching aid and encourage kids to use them as part of their schoolwork.

In Shiplake College in Henley-on-Thames for example, children that use their mobile phones between 8:15 and 5:45 are given a detention. The headmaster of the school, Gregg Davies, admits that phones can be a great tool, but he found children were being distracted and even losing their ability to communicate in person. The use of cell phones in school was therefore dropped since the policy was introduced.

Then there is Brighton College, where students are encouraged to play games like Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit during free periods, instead of using their cell phones. The move is an effort to encourage pupils to socialize with each other more without having to use mobile devices. There are also varying bans on phones where certain pupils are allowed them on certain days of the week; effectively weaning students off their phones over time.

How Phones can Help

The reality is that phones aren’t all bad and studies have shown that banning mobile phones can help in education. Students say that having their phones on hand can improve their engagement, motivation, productivity, and creativity. Some teachers also believe that mobile phones can help, and there have been successful integrations into the classroom.

Mobile phones can give students all the information that they could ever need. A phone by itself can educate students and there lots of phone apps that are even encouraged by schools, particularly those that build relaxation skills and help students find resources. The potential for phones as a learning tool is practically endless.

The Law on Confiscating Mobile Phones

One thing to consider is this; who is responsible if a phone is confiscated and then gets lost or damaged? Would it be the teacher who confiscated the phone, the student who brought it to the school, or the school itself?

Legally, the school has indeed taken possession of the phone. However, in the UK, Section 94 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 says that neither the teacher or the school is responsible for loss or damage of items confiscated as a form of punishment. It also provides no statutory liability for items that are lost in other ways.

There are a few caveats though. The disciplinary penalty has to be lawful; it has to be reasonable and proportionate to the “crime”. Schools must also clearly communicate their policy on mobile phones to students. The school can get in trouble if the pupil who has their phone confiscated was not aware this could happen. Also, teachers are expected to take reasonable care to ensure that items they confiscate are safe, such as storing them securely in the staff room. At the end of the day, unfortunately for the students – the law is ultimately on the side of the teachers and schools.

Should Schools Ban Mobile Phones?

Matt Hancock – the Culture Secretary for the UK – says that more schools need to ban mobile phones. He admires headmasters who don’t allow students to use their phones and believes social media can facilitate bullying. Personally, he doesn’t allow his children to own their own phones and use social media, but doesn’t think it is the responsibility of the government to legislate against children using phones and technology. Mr Hancock believes it is up to parents and schools to do the right thing, rather than being told to do so by the government.

Schools are all handling cell phone use in their own way. Some are for them and some are against their use. The Culture secretary himself is against them, but doesn’t plan on attempting to introduce legislation to prohibit them.

Read more about kids and cell phones, including Cell Phone Safely Tips.

Our Wikipedia for Kids search resource is located on the top of our new website for easy access, along with our additional safe search tools. Wiki for Kids is a filtered Wikipedia resource that provides articles in Simple English.  It is similar to Wikipedia’s Simple Edition but with filtered safe results.

The added benefit of our safe search settings is that it removes content that is not appropriate for children and teens. This provides a safe environment to explore any topic freely.

The internet is a very valuable and powerful tool, putting a world of information at our fingertips. The web has definitely changed the world, including the way kids do their research for school, homeschooling, or general curiosity.

We have partnered with the KidzSearch Wiki to safely meet these needs.

Students at home and in school need access to tools that are designed to provide results that are:

• Safe – because potentially inappropriate images and text should be filtered out. Showing only safe images when searching is a no brainer.

• Readable — because it’s good to widen your vocabulary, but new information should also be easy to understand instead of overwhelming for young children.

• Accurate — because if there’s ever a place that attracts misinformation, it would definitely be called the internet.

Those are three of the many reasons why parents and teachers have to do their own research before putting a child in front of the keyboard for some fun, modern learning.

About Wikipedia (Simple English Edition):

Wikipedia is a free open content online encyclopedia where people from anywhere in the world can contribute information on any topic in different languages. Wiki articles can be edited to make corrections as well. The Simple Edition of Wikipedia uses words and grammar that is ideal for children, and also provides a shorter more concise version of the original article.

Wikipedia is not considered a 100% credible source of authority information for academic research, because it has been created as an easily accessible index and/or textual condensation of primary and secondary sources for information about anything and everything.

Since Wikipedia can be updated by any person, at any time, parents and teachers should instruct children to confirm information through reliable sources.

Examples of reliable sources include published works, almanacs, guide books, survey articles, timelines, and user guides. A scholar may also use a bibliography, dictionary, or encyclopedia as either a textual condensation or a secondary source.

With that being said, Wiki for Kids can be a good starting point for ‘easy to access’ child-oriented research. While it’s important that kids use a second source with more authority and credibility on the topic, Simple Wikipedia Edition is also great for young minds because:

• The information you are researching will be there in one easy to navigate online encyclopedia.
• It will definitely help you understand where you can look for more information on that topic.
• Since the language (words and grammar) used is much simpler and easier to understand, Wiki for Kids is ideal for young children who are already learning something new and challenging.

So now that we’ve established the free benefits and expected limitations of Wikipedia, here is some information to help kids explore a topic.

Online Research Tips for Kids:

• Anytime you write or publish information that you found online, you must include a citation for the original resource. Give credit where credit is due!
• Cross check facts using multiple sources, and choose the most reliable source for your citation.
• Avoid downloading any programs or images that you find online until you check with an adult first.
• Learn about internet safety to keep from clicking links to inappropriate sites.
• Advertisements on the internet are deceiving by design. You have not won anything!
• Never give out your personal information on the internet.
• When creating usernames, do not include like your name or birth date. This counts for giving out personal information.
• Embrace safe learning using safe search!
• When in doubt, ask for help!

Conduct a Safe Wiki for Kids search at the top of our website.

You can also use our safe video search.

Policies on the use of cell phones in school vary. While most schools have thorough written policies in place regarding the use of cell phones by students, these guidelines are continually being reviewed, revised and updated on a regular basis for a variety of reasons.  The pervasiveness of of cell phones within every age group makes regulation ever changing.

The other reason why the ideal balance of cell phone use seems to be a moving target is because schools are introduced to new and improved solutions, as seen in other schools*.  But one size fits all does not seem to work. Schools are as individual as the students they service.

Issues Regarding Cell Phones in School

With added cell phone features becoming standard, such as photo and video cameras and recording devices, educators face new issues that did not exist a few years ago. Issues of this nature were first addressed with high school students, and in recent years students using cell phones in middle schools needed guidelines. Today, we see that even elementary schools are now part of the cell phone debate.

The debate over cell phone use in school is no longer about whether or not these devices should be allowed on school premises. The fact of the matter is, parents expect to be in contact with their kids before and after school, as well as during lunch hours for those kids who leave school grounds. The cell phone may also facilitate students in planning after-school work and other activities, such as sporting events.

It is no longer reasonable for educators to expect students to turn in their cell phones at the door and pick them up when school is over. Requiring kids to leave cell phones in the lockers, also increases the risk of theft on a larger scale.

Since students are not prevented from carrying cell phone on their person, the risk of camera phones being used to take photographs of quizzes or exams and transmit them to classmates is of greater concern, not to mention the ability to text or instant message other students. In addition, pictures may be taken at home of notes that can easily be hidden within a phone and later used to cheat on an exam.

Protection of Kids from Cell Phone Abuse

While restricting any use of a cell phone in the classroom is just a matter of common sense, policies around cell phones in school revolve around ‘how to control cell phone use’ during those times throughout the school day when kids are roaming free, such as before school, at recess, lunch breaks and after school class hours.

The fact of the matter is; the smartphone has been an extension of oneself in so many ways, kids and adults alike. How often do we decide to go off the grid and run to the grocery store without our phones?

Camera phones can be used to take embarrassing photographs of classmates in private areas, such as restrooms and locker rooms, and share them with others electronically or posting videos on YouTube. This technology raises legal issues of privacy and harassment.

Cyberbullying also becomes more of an increased issue with access to social media sites, not to mention the distraction that social media and texting can pose to educational process for any child.

Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in School?

Cameras on phones can have educational benefits, giving students the ability to record field trips or school events, to enhance reports with visuals, and to develop photo essays. We have also mentioned the benefit for kids and parents to be in contact with each other, even if to only schedule pick up times.

Smart phones also give students easy access to the internet, which can be a benefit for research (replacing the use of a computer within the school) but can also open up potential concerns about cell phone safety for kids who are out of the watchful eye of their parents.  We recommend the use of our safe search app.

The use of cell phones by teachers is also part of many school policies. The main concern is whether cell phones should be used during school hours for personal business and therefore distracting teachers from their duties. How much of a distraction is it from offering students their undivided attention in the classroom or during the supervision of an exam.

Pros and Cons of School Phone

There was a time when “not in school!” was an important rule set for teenagers or children and their cell phones. Things have changed (rather quickly) and cell phones are now welcome in many schools… with some guidelines, of course.

Why cell phones in school is a good thing:

• Smart phones can help students get more organized in school.

• Bringing a phone to school lets children communicate with their parents if they need to stay after or have forgotten something at home.

• Personal phones can be used in the event of an emergency or accident.

However, there is an even longer list of reasons why cell phones in school is a bad thing.  A few of those reasons include:

Negatives of Cell Phone Use by Students

• Cell phones can be used to cheat in class.

• Cell phones can be a distraction in school, even in emergency situations.

• Cell phones can be used for bullying, including taking inappropriate or unwanted pictures and video.

• It can be very challenging for a teacher or school staff to closely monitor each student and ensure that school cell phone policies are followed.

It is unhealthy for a child or teenager to depend on their cell phone for entertainment, or excessive communication with others when they should be focused on school work. Safe practices while searching the internet are just as important on a phone than when using a computer.

Disciplinary Action for Cell Phone Misuse by Students

Any school policy regarding cell phones in school must also include disciplinary action for various activities involving cell phone use that is contrary to existing policies laid out. There should be set consequences that match the severity of the misuse, as well as reoccurring violations by an individual student or group of students. The most common repeat offense seems to be cell phones ringing in the classroom because a student forgot to turn their phone off.

What Parents Can Do To Teach Teens About Cell Phones in School

Since school policies have approached this topic with an open mind, it’s up to the parents to make sure your child will follow the guidelines. This means showing responsibility when bringing a phone to school. It would be unfair to expect your child to leave their phone at home (since they are allowed in school) and having a cell phone can be helpful in case of an emergency.

Check with the school to find out what the policies are, and use your best judgment to add your own expectations. For example, some schools may allow students to have their phones on during lunch or between classes, and you may not agree with this.

The trick with cell phones in school is that students should not leave valuable property in a car or locker, because it could get stolen. So it is up to the student to be responsible and leave their phone turned off (not just on silent) during class.

So as the parent, you can watch to see how “addicted to their phone” your child is, and at your own discretion determine if the benefits are worth the risk.

*New Innovations to Control Cell Phone Use in School

To solve the problem of phone security, the cell phone pouch is now being used by some schools.  The problems it solves are numerous.

• Phones stay with the student but are locked so student is unable to use it. This gives the child peace of mind that the phone is still safe them.

• Furthermore, phones can easily be unlocked by the teacher if the child needed to access it in the case of an emergency.

• Children who have increased anxiety because of a dependence on their phone will be more relaxed in class knowing their phone is still on their person.

Here’s how the phone pouch works, as reported by NBC News:

Reading Resources for Parents at Home:

What age should you give your kids cell phones?
What to do when your kids are the only ones without cell phones?