An educated STEM workforce is a necessity if we want to be a driving force for innovation and progress, and it’s undeniable that this talent must be molded from the high school and college students currently deciding on a career path. But what if we could create an even bigger impact by engaging this future workforce in STEM education sooner than high school and college? What if we were able to get them excited about STEM as early as preschool?
That’s precisely the idea behind efforts being made by the White House and several different public and private sector groups who believe strongly in fostering the natural curiosity young children already have towards science and exploration.
In an interview with USA Today, Russell Shilling, executive director of STEM in the Office of Innovation and Improvement, explained, “We want to catch kids, basically, before we lose them from science in the first place. A lot of our efforts in the past have been looking at middle school and high school — and our thinking is, ‘Well, what if we keep them interested through the entire childhood experience?’”
Previous research has indicated starting STEM education early can have a huge impact on not just the interest level of students, but the skill level as well.
A 2011 study conducted by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that just one year of early math lessons has the ability to positively change the way the brain approaches problem solving, more so than schooling in later years.
“In spite of many individual differences, a year of schooling does have, on the average, a major impact on brain function and skill,” said Vinod Menon, Ph.D.
In an effort to broaden the reach of STEM education, the Obama administration plans to build research about what types of teaching will work best with younger students, educate teachers and childcare providers on STEM content, partner with museums and zoos to create STEM exhibits and education opportunities for visiting children, and create programs to ensure all students — including those in low-income settings — have equal access to STEM education.
Learn more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/03/01/supporting-our-youngest-innovators-stem-starts-early#_edn1