The STEM Journey

There are more job opportunities for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) graduates than any other fields. However, there is not enough information about STEM areas in many countries, resulting in fewer students to study these areas. For example, when someone mentions about Science, students only think of Medicine, Dental, and Pharmacy without knowing that there are many other choices that they can study. When mentioning Technology, students often think of Computer Science and Information technology which limit their choices from many other fields.

According to a U.S. Government, there are over 180 fields relating to STEM, and the list is still growing. For example, actuarial science, medical technology, 3 D engineering, robotics, and marine biology are just a few STEM fields that not many people know but have excellent careers and high salaries.

Today there are fears that robots will take over people jobs and there is nothing people can do about it. The fact is robots are nothing but “smart tools” that people can use, just like automobile or computers. Instead of afraid of technologies, we must learn how to use them to our advantage. Instead of worry about losing jobs, we should focus on creating jobs, especially jobs that pay well. As science and technology are advancing fast, new skills are also emerging quickly. For example, a few years ago no one knows that big data analyst or 3 D engineering jobs even exist. The question is can education system also change fast enough to provide people with these new skills?

To succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) areas, students need to build a strong foundation when they are still in elementary or high school to do higher-level coursework when they go to college. To prepare, students must have basic skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and problem-solving. They should understand the fundamentals of science and math such as biology, chemistry, physics, trigonometry, calculus, and algebra, etc. The common complaint about STEM areas among students is they are difficult. But I found that the reason for the difficulty is the teaching methods of lecturing and memorizing. STEM areas can NOT and should NOT be taught by traditional lecturing where students must read textbooks to memorize some concepts and pass exams. Students cannot learn science or maths by memorizing formula but they must understand the concepts and know how to apply them to solve problems, and it will require a different teaching method.

The traditional teaching method is focused mostly on the “WHAT” where course content has not changed much over the years. But when teaching STEM, we need to focus on the “WHY” and “HOW.” The course must be taught more interactive, with students do the active learning by asking questions, analyze the content, and solving problems. When preparing for teaching STEM class, teachers need to focus on the “why” and “how” of the materials to the students. It is important for getting students motivated about STEM first before helping them to learn the concepts. Students who are motivated will actively engage in class discussion and learn more. Over times, they will not be afraid of STEM areas anymore. Since STEM content can be abstract and difficult, it is important to teach one concept at a time to increase students' retention.

Many students struggle when learning STEM areas as they are worried about failure. It is important for teachers to spend the time to encourage them, and make sure that they have a good foundation to continue at higher levels. When I found some students do not have a good foundation, I encouraged them to take the remedial course to strengthen their basics before continue. While this situation always helps, they do not need to be a bad thing. Students often do not like remedial courses as they equate that with failure. But without appropriate action, some students may drop STEM courses because they think that they cannot succeed.

I always remind students: “Please remember that you are not just a STEM college student, but future scientists, engineers, innovators, and professors. College is the place where you learn and embrace your future. Enjoy this experience when you can and understand that your future is always bright as you look forward to your career. As professors, we are just guides to help you to travel your journey, but you have to walk all the way to your destination.”

Sources

  • Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University

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