Submitted by Jennifer Chevalier for Puget Sound e2 Young Engineers
At e² Young Engineers, we care about STEM education, two words that are shaping the future. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a buzzword in teacher training, PTA meetings, political discussions about the future of education, and even on television. James Brown, the executive director of the STEM Education Coalition in Washington, D.C. has said that the future of the economy is in STEM- that’s where the jobs of tomorrow will be. The US Department of Commerce has reported that STEM occupations are growing 17%, while non-STEM occupations are growing at 9.8%.
The Robots Are Coming
Automation in the service and logistics sectors is inevitable. It can already be seen in restaurants, as patrons become comfortable paying the bill on tablets at the tables, self-ordering kiosks at fast-food restaurants, and burger flipping robots. And it’s not just restaurants. Amazon uses more than 100,000 robots throughout its warehouses. Two years ago, Lowes introduced its Lowebot. Robots and computers are being used for simple tasks across the nation.
But First Young Engineers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that employment in STEM-related occupations—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—is expected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012 and 2022, an increase of about 1 million jobs over 2012 employment levels. With this growth, schools need to prepare students to move into a market that is changing quickly. It’s not an easy task.
Teachers work hard to balance preparing students for high stakes testing with teaching them subject matter. With so much importance placed on testing though, students are often being taught to be testers instead of thinkers. Creative thinking and problem solving often get left behind as students say, “Just tell me how to do it so I can pass the test.”
Learn To Enjoy Learning
STEM programs are about more than preparing for future jobs, though. Children enrolled in these enrichment programs, like ones offered by e² Young Engineers, find that learning isn’t just about taking a test. As they build a model with Legos or K’Nex, they are able to apply new concepts, helping them learn critical thinking skills that can be applied anywhere. Students are encouraged to become creative thinkers and problem solvers with hands-on activities. They learn to take pieces of information, whether they be related to engineering, physics, robotics, or even math, and break them down into their individual components, then create something new in a safe, encouraging environment. Students at e² Young Engineers learn to enjoy learning for the sake of learning- not just to pass a test.
Learn more at the Puget Sound e2 Young Engineers website.
About the author
Jennifer Chevalier has been an educator for almost 30 years. She is the owner of Puget Sound e² Young Engineers, a program that offers enrichment programs in mechanical engineering, robotics and science for students starting at age 4, workshops for all ages, and birthday parties.
