alliantgroup’s support for STEM education is well-known, even if you haven’t had the chance to read our previous blog post. While it’s easy to understand why you should support STEM, it’s harder to recognize opportunities in your own life to encourage young STEM professionals. For educators whose cirriculae are reliant on specific standards, or which don’t seem to have any connection to STEM, it’s still vital—and possible—to nurture a passion for technical and scientific fields.
Recall that STEM education is all about the interconnectivity of science, technology, engineering, and math. This overlap is the trademark of STEM and serves to set it apart from individual technical or scientific lessons. The goal, then, is not just to teach science, but to teach how science, technology, engineering, and math work together and relate to the real world, the here and now and even the future.
Many STEM supporters have written on this topic, offering a plethora of suggestions for educators to incorporate these subjects into everyday classrooms. One such suggestion by writer and editor Brad Anderson is to build bridges between business leaders and educators. alliantgroup has pushed for these relationships in the Houston community, having hosted a Back to School charity event for Parker Elementary in 2018 and rewarding innovative STEM educators at Houston Independent School District.
Beyond celebrating the importance of technical education, alliantgroup has supported the inseparable overlap of science and the arts. alliantgroup’s Blue Heart Scholarship is not just bestowed on aspiring biochemists. Take a look at our 2018 scholarship winners. One individual, Schuyler Broadway, planned to study at North Carolina State University and earn a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design. How does that relate to a STEM scholarship? As Schuyler’s mother, Liz Broadway, explains, “The technology and the science aspect, I mean, it’s so ingrained in everything now, that I really think STEM is just […] the way of the world. It’s the future.” Fashion design and similar curriculums focus on calculus and chemistry, important components of textile technology.
Brad Anderson also suggests finding unique ways to teach STEM, including lessons outside the classroom and implementation of multimedia. Educators must first understand who they’re teaching and how those students learn best. Often, incorporating technology into everyday lessons is a great start, as is relating lessons to real-world problems and offering hands-on experiences and open-ended exploration. As you likely understand, STEM lessons are, by nature, most successful when done in fun and unique ways! If you’re an educator, look for opportunities in the classroom and the community to explore the importance and beauty of STEM with your students!