STEM SKILLS
By: Sally McClaskey, an OSU Extension Program Manager in Education & Marketing
If you focused on the future of STEM, you will see the “T” in STEM is gaining prominence. Technology proficiency is a core life skill coupled with computing proficiency and programming skillsets. Environmental advocacy groups are also engaging more youth in STEM pathways. The STEM workforce is expected to grow to nearly 9 million by 2022, yet science education has lagged in embracing STEM pathways and career connections. Getting youth inspired and involved at an earlier age in STEM is essential to meeting the skill demands required by today’s workforce. Educators find that exposure to formal and informal STEM learning at an early age is critical to building interest and connections to STEM subjects, but so is retaining that interest throughout their K-12 experience with supporting, mentoring, and building connections and networks that bridge youth to higher educational opportunities and align them with STEM professionals and equipping them for today’s workforce needs.
Photo source: https://www.stemjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ThinkstockPhotos-482461333-1.jpg.
Every state’s department of education lists the learning standards, but there are finally signs of increasing commitments to providing quality STEM education for all students. According to the Ohio Educational Department, increasing STEM is “vital to Ohio’s future economic growth and prosperity, which depends on an aligned education system to support the state’s economic development efforts and that helps all Ohio students become innovators and inventors, self-reliant and logical thinkers and technologically proficient problem solvers. The Ohio Department of Education is a partner in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused on the infusion of high-level mathematics, technology and science into the curriculum, and STEAM, which infuses the arts and design with STEM. Connected work with the Office of Career-Technical Education includes Project Lead The Way, Automated Materials Joining Technology, and equalizing career field enrollment among gender, race, ethnicity, and special populations.”
In 4-H, STEM learning happens in informal settings like clubs and after school programs. And of course, due to COVID-19, both formal and informal education is taking place virtually from many of your own homes!
Today, we launch the Ohio 4-H STEM blog. The goal is to provide resources for families, youth development professionals, educators, and everyone who wants to share research-based activities with youth. In the coming posts, we will feature activities, links to videos and articles, and information you can use about STEM and youth. If you have something you’d like to see featured or have questions about STEM and 4-H, let us know.
Stephanie Kwolek was an American chemist, best known for inventing Kevlar. She said, “All sorts of things can happen when you’re open to new ideas and playing around with things.” Come play with us and learn some new ideas!
Peer-Reviewed by Kathy Blackford, Ashland County 4-H Youth Development Educator, and Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator in Community Development programmatic focus on STEM Education and Career Exploration.
References:
http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/STEM-Science-Technology-Engineering-and-Mathem
https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/education_futures/2018/04/what_is_the_future_of_stem_education.html
