A Teacher's Guide to Taking STEM Education to the Next Level

As a teacher, you're always looking for ways to enhance the educational experience you offer your students. One way to do this is to give them more material focused on STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Discover the benefits of STEM education and get tips on incorporating more STEM into your classroom below.

Understand the value of STEM

There has been an increased focus on STEM education in recent years—and for good reason. Students who are proficient in STEM topics will have many lucrative career opportunities available to them in the future, such as:

• Dentists

• Health Care Professionals

• Engineers

• Scientists

• Agriculture

• Statisticians

• Architects

• Computer Technicians

• Welders

• Machinists

• Manufacturing Technologists

Getting kids interested in the right topics at a young age is the first step towards a successful future.

STEM education is valuable even if a student chooses to pursue a different career path that isn't STEM-specific. STEM learning teaches important life skills like curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. These traits can prove useful in both professional and personal contexts.

Enhance your own STEM knowledge

If you're going to teach your kids STEM topics, you need to be well-versed in them yourself. For some teachers, the prospect of providing lessons on issues they aren't "experts" in can prove daunting. Don't let the fear of the unknown deter you. Continuing education can help you get the skills you need and may even help you command a higher salary down the line.

Look for online programs that will allow you to continue teaching while earning a degree. Western Governors University provides an online Master's in Education that can be a good first step. With online learning, you'll enjoy greater flexibility, determining when and where you complete your coursework.

Create a lesson plan with STEM priorities

Once you have the knowledge you need, you can start looking for ways to insert STEM into your teaching. It all starts with the lesson plan. Writing out your lessons in advance will help you define concrete objectives for each one. What do you want students to take away from each session in your classroom?

Classcraft provides a comprehensive guide to how to write an effective lesson plan and offers a free template to help you get started. Start by asking key questions like who your students are, what they already know, and how you can best get them to learn. You can then accurately determine kids' needs and plan your resources accordingly.

Brainstorm outside-of-the-box lessons

Part of the challenge of STEM education is making it accessible to every type of student. For a more all-inclusive approach, try to think outside of the box when planning STEM lessons. Not every kid learns well from simply sitting and taking notes about a topic. The STEM Laboratory has a list of activities to get you started, like creating a cloud in a jar to learn about condensation.

You might also consider getting students engaged by moving your learning outside of the classroom. There are many ways you can use the great outdoors to teach STEM. For example, you might take a trip to a park to learn about plants and animals or grow your own garden to better understand biological processes like photosynthesis.

Invest in the right tools to help

As you craft your STEM lesson plan, make a list of materials and resources you'll need. The right tools can help make STEM learning more fun and engaging. NextWaveSTEM® provides turn-key solutions for teachers, including ready-made curriculum and tools. They focus on providing a real-world connection, making it clear how STEM is applicable in everyday life.

These kinds of programs provide clear guidance for teachers, saving time and stress in lesson planning. They also connect you with valuable resources, such as STEM equipment kits. Finally, they offer professional development programs to help you take your STEM teaching to the next level.

 Tackling STEM education as a teacher can be daunting at first. However, there are many resources available to help. Putting some effort into your STEM teaching will help your students in many ways, making it well worth it.

For more STEM-related professional development tips and tools for teachers, contact one of our partnership managers at NextWaveSTEM®.

Written by Eleanor Wyatt