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by **Paul** Wed 08 Nov 2023, 4:50 am

STEM/STEAM Day
Children are significantly better off with strong science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics skills.

STEM/STEAM Day falls on November 8. There’s no way around it: children are significantly better off with strong science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics skills. That’s why STEM and STEAM education programs are so important. It’s undebatable that these subjects push society forward, and these programs help to find fun and engaging ways to teach them to students, which is all worth commemorating. So, on November 8, we celebrate STEAM/STEAM Day!
To celebrate this day, support the education of students pursing STEM subjects by learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics scholarships offered by institutes around the world.

HISTORY OF STEM/STEAM DAY

Studies in the early 2000s revealed that U.S. students were not achieving in the STEM disciplines at the same rate as students in other countries. The report predicted dire consequences if the country could not compete in the global economy as the result of a poorly prepared workforce. Thus, educators focused attention on science, math, and technology research; on economic policy; and on education. U.S. prosperity seemed to depend on it.
A 2006 study later showed that a comparatively large proportion of students underperformed in these subjects and that the country ranked near the bottom on assessments of scientific competency and knowledge.
The international comparisons fueled discussion of U.S. education and workforce needs. The bipartisan congressional STEM Education Caucus noted: “Our knowledge-based economy is driven by constant innovation. The foundation of innovation lies in a dynamic, motivated and well-educated workforce equipped with STEM skills.”
Further research uncovered the needs of school systems and guided the development of appropriately targeted solutions. The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, a philanthropical organization based in southwestern Pennsylvania, found that U.S. educators were unsure of the implications of STEM, particularly when scientific and technological literacy of all students was the goal. Educators lacked in-depth knowledge of STEM careers, and, as a consequence, they were not prepared to guide students to those fields.
The findings from several studies on educational practices encouraged U.S. state governors to seek methods to lead their states toward the goal of graduating every student from high school with essential STEM knowledge and competencies to succeed in postsecondary education and work. Six states received grants from the National Governors Association to pursue helpful strategies
Growth in America’s STEM jobs in the first decade of the 21st century tripled the rate of growth in non-STEM jobs. However, racial and gender gaps remained a problem. Employers continued to struggle with the need for qualified STEM workers.

STEM/STEAM DAY ACTIVITIES

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Find out which hobbies of yours are rooted in STEM subjects

Whether it's astronomy, computer gaming, woodworking, photography, or sudoku, chances are that many of your favorite activities have roots in STEAM subjects.

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Brush up on your own STEM related skills

If there's one thing that's great about living in today's day and age, it's our access to information. There are hundreds of courses online that could help you brush up on your STEAM skills, many of which are offered free of charge from the world's best institutions, like MIT and Harvard.

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Donate to your local STEM programs

Teachers everywhere struggle to stock their classrooms with all the materials they need to teach their classrooms, but you can help. If your child has "outgrown" some of their old supplies — whether that be an old calculator, a set of art supplies, or a retired protractor — a local school could probably make good use of it.

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WHY WE LOVE STEM/STEAM DAY

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It promotes important subject areas

In the coming decades, automation will play a major role in shaping the job market. Trucks will all drive themselves, store checkouts will all be staff-free, and many common jobs today will no longer exist. However, it'll be a lot longer before automation eliminates most of the jobs that come out of STEAM fields, so promoting these subjects is crucial to having a healthy workforce moving forward.

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It creates a fun learning environment

Everyone can remember a math class that they struggled through, not because of the material, but because of how it was conveyed. A focal point of STEM and STEAM programs is to make sure that lessons are compelling, relatable, and fun for students.

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It strengthens our country

Countries that place an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics are the countries where innovation happens — plain and simple. Any nation that seeks to be, or to remain, a world leader would be wise to have strong, compelling programs in place that help teach these subjects.

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