There are quite a few objections to STEM education that teachers express. Here is a list of a few of those objections and possible solutions.
1. STEM education is messy.
Let’s be real. Life is not always perfect. Most things take time and effort and can just be plain messy. By experiencing some mess from project-based learning, students can learn how to best solve “messy” problems. Many experiments that teach STEM the best are often really messy. By teaching students that “messy” is okay, it enables them to explore and discover new ideas and subjects. What kid doesn’t like a bit of a mess?
To solve the messy problem, you can create a designated “messy” area in the classroom in which kids and older students can work on these projects without creating a mess throughout the entire classroom. Students need an area where they can experience and grow through working on projects.
2. STEM is too expensive.
STEM teaching can be very expensive, especially if the school does not have the support of grants or scholarships. However, most schools have a foundation that provides teachers and students with grants. Teachers can also set up fundraising efforts to provide the materials that they need.
There are lots of great, affordable experiments and projects such as paper or straw projects. Providing students with opportunities to design projects by using creative solutions can help students cultivate the creativity necessary for success in the workforce. Students can learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math without spending thousands of dollars. The more creative the solutions, the better off that the students will be.
3. STEM Education can be too risky.
STEM education is different from other subjects because it can involve project-based learning and opportunities to explore the world uniquely and creatively. It teaches exploration rather than rote memorization. It means that students can learn to think outside of the box to form solutions to open-ended problems.
While STEM education can be risky, it seems to be worth it because the students learn valuable skills that are useful in the real world. As long as the students are kept safe when working on the projects (such as not using hot glue guns or soldering), it is a great way to teach students how to build with their own hands
4. STEM education is not focused
To some people, STEM education seems to look like it is not focused. However, as long as the assigned projects allow students to learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, then it is worth it and it is focused.
5. Some teachers who teach STEM don’t have a background in STEM fields, so they shouldn’t teach STEM to students.
While it’s true that some STEM teachers do not have a background in STEM, that does not necessarily mean that they are incapable of guiding students in these disciplines. There are plenty of alternative ways to learn more about teaching STEM, teachers can attend conferences and training sessions to learn about STEM education.
Written by Chelsea Kowal
