At Robobloq we are fully devoted to STEAM education and understand that having a STEAM education can help improve your child’s future. You might have heard of the term “STEAM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) before, but what does this actually mean? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the STEM acronym “was introduced in 2001 by scientific administrators at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)” and was first used to describe career fields in these disciplines or a curriculum that incorporated skills and information from these fields. The goal of the NSF when introducing the term was to promote curriculum in schools that would eventually lead to more professionals working careers in these fields.
As a parent, you might not be too concerned about what job your child will do in the future — maybe you believe it should be their choice to pick what field to work in —but the fact of the matter is that regardless of what career your child one day has, the benefits of a STEAM education almost certainly ensure that your child will have a bright future ahead of them. Although the benefits of a STEAM Education are far too many to list in this article, here are five ways a STEAM education can help improve your child's future
- STEAM Promotes Indispensable Skills
In the middle of the 19th century the percentage of illiterate people in the United States was as high as 80% among some communities. Since then, the number of adults who can read and write in the US has grown to almost 100%. Having the ability to read and write allowed many people in the past to escape poverty and achieve a better life for themselves and their families. Nowadays, this skill is so commonplace that one cannot even imagine an adult who cannot read or write! The same may one day happen with emerging skills such as programming and coding. As these skills become more integrated into our future lives, not knowing how to do these things could be the equivalent of an adult not knowing how to read or write in the present day. A STEAM education that promotes these skills ensures that your child is not left behind!
- STEAM Develops Critical Thinking Abilities
Have you ever encountered the type of really smart kid that couldn’t find their way out of a wet paper bag? As kids become more and more preoccupied with memorizing the information that they learn in school, their ability to think critically is sometimes hindered. An ideal STEAM education balances rote memorization with problem solving skills. Although it is important for a child to know the answers to a quiz or a test, it is far more important for them to be able to address a problem that they have not encountered before. STEAM promotes critical thinking in a way that allows kids to “think outside the box.”
- STEAM Teaches the Value of Making Something
A long time ago, there wasn’t online stores with 24-hour delivery services. Instead, most of the items found in a home were handmade. This meant that most people (especially those without a lot of money) had to learn how to make and fix things. This is a tradition that we have stopped as things have become cheaper and it has become more practical to buy things and throw them away when they break. STEAM encourages kids to build and fix things, allowing them to enjoy one of the great joys of childhood — seeing a creation come to life!
- STEAM Encourages Teamwork
For a long time, education was focused on turning learning into a competitive endeavour. Class rankings and test scores pit students against each other, but we all know that in the real-world working with others is an integral part of success. STEAM education encourages children to work with each other. Whether building a robot together or doing a science experiment with a partner, STEAM education motivates children to find solutions as a team!
- STEAM Engages Students in Fun and Interesting Ways
Being a child can be difficult! Remember all the classes you took growing up? How much of that information do you still remember? What about boring teachers that talk for hours?! Luckily for children today, STEAM education reaches out to children to support their education in a way that is both educational and entertaining! As much as it is important for children to learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math it is more important for children to enjoy learning these subjects! By engaging students in a fun and interesting way, their connection to STEAM becomes one that will stay with them for the rest of their life!
Conclusion
There are many ways to incorporate a STEAM education into your children’s life. Whether you read with them science magazines, add art days into your weekly routine, or buy awesome products such as ours for your child to play with, it is important to make sure that your child has access to a STEAM education!
