According to the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, the nation will need 1 million additional workers in jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) from 2012 and 2022. This data has raised concerns among many, including businesses, that will need qualified STEM workers, and educators, who must train students who will be the STEM workers of tomorrow.
Early STEM education can benefit everyone
Among the strategies to meet this need is an effort to develop curricula aimed at very early childhood learners—that is, pre-kindergarteners. Educators and STEM advocates point to thinking, curiosity, enthusiasm and confidence as characteristics of successful STEM learners. These qualities are inherent in young children, as they learn about the world around them. Early STEM education would tap into and nurture these attributes to develop a life-long affinity for STEM academics.
The first time we did an early childhood strand at the STEM summit, there were a lot of business people there,” said Ruth-Ann Rasbold, early childhood manager for the Head Start training and technical assistance network in Massachusetts, who has been involved in the annual Massachusetts STEM Summit. “What they were saying is these are the people we’re going to be hiring in 20 years. We want to know how you’re going to build a strong foundation for them.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- A new curriculum has been developed to bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to preschools.
- Much of the education centers on hands-on experience.
- This programs help children become critical thinkers while also stressing creativity.
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