Success in the 21st century requires a number of key attributes—some of which can be learned and some of which cannot be taught. Students can (and should) learn technical skills throughout their early education, but how can we teach them the most important skills like creativity and innovation? Keep reading.
The Most Important 21st Century Skill
Of all the skills teachers want their students to learn, all the traits they are expected to have in order to succeed, there’s one that’s overlooked all too often. It’s one that they’ll undoubtedly need and people who possess this elusive quality are well on their way to success in today’s world. We’re talking about creativity. Book smart just simply doesn’t always cut it anymore and the people who will decide students’ futures—their employers—are seeking innovative ideas and innovative people. Technology in the classroom allows creativity to flow, but can we actually teach kids to instinctively be creative? Is there a final exam teachers can give to determine their creative levels?
In order to be as creative as possible, everyone, including students, needs to be open to new experiences and methods of carrying out old ones. Creativity often lies in experience—and in the case of building it in students, that experience is hands-on learning. EdTech tools like the Makey Makey or littleBits kits (just to name a couple) provide kids with the tools they need to supplement the creative ideas they have in their minds. Much of their creativity is just acting on their ideas, but technology in the classroom aids this development and the results often speak for themselves. Kids as young as five, six or seven years old—with the help of educational technologies—are able to tinker and toy with their projects to create works that are truly original and build in them important skills.
The best part about fostering and encouraging creativity in the classroom is that there are no wrong answers. So much of education, for as long as we can remember, has been the administration of the same test to every student. The problem is, however, that not every student learns in the same way. Why should they be tested in the same way? Exams hinder creativity because in order to pass, students need to supply a RIGHT answer even though they may be able to come up with a brand new question to set off deeper thinking among the class. The opportunity to be creative, we think, leads to much better learning experiences and the regular use of technology in class is a highly beneficial vehicle students can use to find their creative genius.
Robotics' Place in STEM Education
STEM education is the future. There remains little doubt about that among some of the brightest minds in the education world as well as the country. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts and hands-on learning with technology are taking over in 21st century education. One area of focus—and one of the most popular trends— is the regular use of robotics in the classroom. Robotics has definitely emerged as a subgroup of STEM, an area of focus that has resulted in increased student engagement and an increasing interest in pursuing a related career.
One reason that learning through robotics is so popular and useful is that there are so many resulting avenues for children to explore. Building and improving robots essentially requires group collaboration, design and practicing math formulas—all of which are key STEM skills that are needed in today's workforce. Perhaps most importantly, students gain invaluable coding practice by creating their own versions of code for their classroom robots. Lost in the hours of in-school fun is the fact that today's world is filled with a surplus of STEM jobs and an increasing lack of career-ready students to fill them. Much of the focus (some of which has come from President Obama) on increasing STEM education has been on middle and high schools, but, recently, that intent has begun to spread to early elementary schools as well.
Robots can be used for learning in all levels of education and are easy enough to incorporate into almost any classroom. For elementary students, who are just beginning to learn by reading, robots offer a way to work through problems visually and experiment with the concepts they are learning. Today's generation of students were raised on technology, so they have no fear when it comes to learning with cool tools, so teachers should look to take advantage of that every time they can. One way for them to do this is through robotics competitions. Trust us, there are PLENTY! Robotics competitions are generally held for middle and high schoolers and are a fabulous way for them to develop teamwork and exploration skills beyond the classroom. If you think it's time to let robots into your classroom, there are plenty of easy ones to start with as well as many support platforms online and on social media. Letting kids lead the robot transformation in the classroom will surely empower them!
Getting Students Interested in STEM Education
As we have said (many times now), STEM education is key for today's students to set themselves up with favorable opportunities in the future. Some kids, however, just don't like science and math, don't have an interest in technology or don't see the need to become the next great engineer. Sure, they could go on to enjoy a whole lot of success by pursuing any number of other fields, but the fact remains that their chances for success are noticeably improved in a STEM field. So, how do we get kids interested in STEM? Of course, teachers can't just force it on them—that would push them even further from it. There has to be a way...
One of the greatest benefits of a STEM career is the financial security it will provide, but that's usually not a great selling point to young students—yet. The best approach for youngsters is probably to immerse them directly in STEM and make it fun. Competitions, such as science fairs, are the perfect way for students to develop skills and seek innovative, tech-centered solutions to problems that have been plaguing society. Many scientists and workers in the science field credit their experiences early on in their education, including science fairs, for getting them interested in STEM and motivated to succeed. Teachers can get their students interested in the sciences by providing them with hands-on lab activities that excite and spark the creativity inside of them.
Project-based learning with EdTech tools or in groups (or BOTH!) is another fine way to get passive students engaged. In PBL, students actually get to try things themselves and see how they work (or don't)—the best part of learning for many. Oftentimes, these projects have real-world connections, which is very important in STEM education since these students will be tasked with solving real-world problems before they know it. Presenting material to students in words they will understand and in a context they can appreciate will definitely gear their interests more in the right direction as well. Whether it's an in-depth research project or just a small group exercise, STEM education is the future and we can only hope that more of today’s and tomorrow's students gravitate toward a future in science, technology, engineering and math.
Drones Could Soon Invade Schools (In a Good Way)
What was one of the most popular new technologies of 2015? Drones. And, while they buzz like bees do, they are much more powerful than their name suggests. In fact, many of the most innovative innovators are trying their hardest to find a way to incorporate drones into education and many EdTech enthusiasts are excited about the possibilities. Since hoverboards don’t seem to be working out too famously so far, perhaps we have moved on to the next fad in technology. Could drones in the classroom actually become a popular and viable learning method, though?
If you’re wondering, the thought of educational drones has not died out yet so far in 2016. In fact, one school district recently received a grant that provided them with funding for an unmanned drone to be used in the classroom. While the possibilities are pretty limitless, the district is in the midst of researching the best ways for students to use the drones and other video technology in the curriculum as early as next year. The idea is that drones offer some of the newest technologies around, so students should be using them to better prepare them for the future. Drones have great potential when it comes to video production classes as well as video editing and offer students the chance to get first-hand experience with innovative technology in school.
Not only will students get to use and become familiar with more than one form of technology, they will be able to apply their knowledge almost immediately. Drones may also provide students with the context to support their learning about key concepts like exploration and directional thinking while some of the more creative uses for drones include projects that center around teaching kids about problem solving and critical thinking. Since drone technology has improved and costs have shrunk to make their demand more common, drones have begun invading the market as an educational technology rather than a stealth technology. From capturing video to delivering packages, drone technology has many creative and functional uses, including the niche it may be carving in education.
How to Make STEM Fun for the Younger Students
When you think of STEM education, you may instinctively think of high-tech science projects that require goggles and other protective gear. While that certainly is true, there are a lot of other things that qualify as relating to STEM. A lot. Kids as young as kindergarten can engage in rewarding STEM exercises simply by painting a circuit or playing the piano—the possibilities are endless and they are truly beneficial for them in the long run. Jobs in the STEM fields are likely going to provide workers with the best careers in the very near future, so it’s important for educators to get them interested in the field as early as possible. By making STEM fun and appealing to students’ interests and abilities, they’ll become more engaged, learn on deeper levels and have more fun in school.
When you take the time to think about it, it’s actually pretty important that lessons in the STEM subjects have an element of fun so that students are more likely to pick up an interest in these more difficult areas of study. The best way to have fun in STEM learning is simply to get hands on! Experimental learning that yields real applications is much more exciting, memorable and beneficial for kids than sitting at a desk all day. Or, if you’d like, try taking a field trip and bring some EdTech along with you. When students are able to witness real, working STEM applications outside a classroom, it usually has an impact on them and helps them realize how important STEM learning is to their future.
Competitions are also a fun way to get kids engaged and more excited about science. Since kids are naturally competitive, their desire to outdo their friends will hopefully lead to better retention of the most important STEM concepts. Promise the winning team a reward and they’ll definitely be engaged! When not competing against each other, group collaboration is a great route to take as well. When students share ideas with each other (establishing a line of communication), their creativity naturally increases. Kids will love this because it affords them the opportunity to be social while still learning. Plus, as long as they are learning concepts and collaborating with some EdTech tools, it doesn’t hurt to have them team up!
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