|
|
| STEM education |
| By Heike Schneider |
|
|
|
'I caught my favourite Pokémon today. I am off to the Poke-Gym to train it'. These were my friends' last words before he rushed out of the door. I stayed behind and - slightly confused - decided to go to a real gym to train myself instead of some virtual creature. On my way, I could not help but wonder how much our world has changed since I was a child. And for the record, I am really not very old.
I remember taking a book with me on my way to school or on vacation. Today, iPhones, iPads and Kindles entertain us wherever we go. What did I do when my mum insisted that Canada's capital is Ottawa and not – as I was absolutely sure – Montreal? It took a lot of time and exercise during the long walk to the city library to find out that she was actually right. Ask yourself – when was the last time you used an encyclopedia instead of Wikipedia? Isn't it amazing how easily we can access knowledge today? With modern technology it takes us a few seconds whereas 20 years ago you either knew the answer or you had to confess that you are not sure. Today – one sneaky look at your phone and you are the hero of the party. But who actually guarantees that the information is correct? How can I filter 'good', 'false' or even 'dangerous' information?
All this made me think: What skills do children need these days in order to be prepared for today's challenges and to be a literate and responsible citizen? This is the result of my brain storming session:
-
Critical thinking and filtering of information: We are flooded with information on a regular basis. How can we make sure that our children can distinguish between trustworthy and misleading information?
-
Problem-solving skills: Our world moves much faster than a few decades ago. It is important to make sure our children know how to find quick solutions for many small and larger issues along the way.
-
Flexibility and creativity: Our world changes rapidly. For this reason, children require the ability to be mentally flexible and creative.
-
Concentration and focus: On the other hand, it is increasingly hard to focus and concentrate on one thought, task or activity. Ringing phones, buzzing computers and Pokemons behind every corner make the ability to focus essential.
-
Cooperation and Co-construction: Modern technology and globalization are resulting in an increasingly more connected world. These developments require advanced communication and social skills as well as the ability to work in teams and to learn from each other.
Modern education offers various ways for teachers, educators and parents to equip children from as early as preschool age with many of the skills and tools required to succeed in our society. Inquiry-based STEM education from an early age certainly plays an important role in providing high quality education.
Teachers and educators participating in Little Scientists workshops have the opportunity to engage children between 3 and 6 years of age in exciting STEM activities that spark their interest in science and teach important life lessons. Little Scientists workshops provide teachers and educators with a variety of tools and methods in order to let the child's interest determine the outcomes of scientific research. This inquiry-based approach enables children from a young age to take responsibility, to cooperate with their peers, to learn from others and to find solutions independently. In this way, children – and adults for that matter – continue to develop their social, research and information-processing competencies when undertaking scientific research together.
One example recently discussed in our Little Scientists workshop ‘Engineering - Forces and Effect' gives insight into everyday discovery and invention in early childhood settings. "In summer, the plants in the centre were very thirsty and a few children decided to water them every day. Initially, the children were really excited about this task until they realized that the next sink was meters away from the flower patch. What could be done to make the watering more efficient and fun? Over the course of the next few weeks, the children collectively and – more or less – independently developed different ideas and constructed models for carrying devices, water tanks in the garden and a DIY garden hose. After the planning phase, some of the ideas were implemented and one of them – the carrying device – is still used on a daily basis!"
24/7 availability, information overload, virtual reality and other rapid global changes might seem daunting to some of us. However, high quality education with a strong emphasis on inquiry, self-confidence, independent thinking and cooperation can be a key to an open and internationally connected society. These developments can be the chance to tackle some serious issues and bring mankind closer together.
Before I stepped into the gym, I thought: 'If these little scientists can find a way to efficiently water their plants, they will find solutions for much larger problems along the way.'
In case you are interested in learning more about the Little Scientists initiative, finding out how to register for upcoming workshops or on how to become a network partner, contact the Network & Project Coordinator Heike Schneider via email heike@littlescientists.org.au For some initial information please also visit our homepage www.littlescientists.org.au.
|
|
|
|
|
