The STEM Education Blog

Design spaces, makerspaces, and learning labs are becoming increasingly popular in libraries, schools, and community centers. These spaces create opportunities for students and community members to tinker with new technologies and engage with hands-on STEM activities. Makerspaces are constantly evolving and have changed a lot from the first modern makerspaces that were introduced in the early 2000s.

Career and technical education programs play a critical role in schools. They allow students to gain relevant career skills and create access to new career paths directly out of school. What students glean from CTE, though, is dependent on the strength of the program itself, and COVID-19 has taken its toll on many programs due to restricted space and limited equipment. According to an interview in District Administration with architect Tyler Whitehead, there are many ways educators can reimagine these spaces and help them thrive — even during a pandemic.

Whether you are a teacher facing the challenge of virtual or hybrid instruction, or a parent homeschooling your child, the reality is that remote learning can be difficult. STEM learning can be even more challenging since students may not have equitable access to technologies and devices. In this post, we will focus on ways to incorporate STEM activities at home while maintaining high levels of engagement and learning.

When the pandemic descended in the spring and nearly all schools transitioned online, it was very challenging for educators to pivot without any preparation or warning. Now that we are starting the 20-21 school year, many teachers are finding themselves still online or in a hybrid setting. Are you looking for ways to infuse your online classroom with new ideas and resources? The following list should get you headed in the right direction.

Sometimes it isn’t easy to think of ways to blend technology and the arts in one classroom. However, combining the two can be critical in helping younger students create, communicate, and collaborate, and there are plenty of ideas out there, such as the ones summarized below from STEAM coordinator Ashley Blackwelder, that have worked well for schools to combine these two important subject areas.