In terms of offering students the experiences and resources they need, equity has emerged as a huge focal point. With equity concerns in education that were exacerbated by the pandemic, school leaders began realizing just how uneven some aspects of learning were for some students. Not every child in every area has access to the same learning opportunities—especially pervasive in STEM education. And, though varying (and sometimes unavoidable) factors create these inequities, they can substantially affect the children involved. Thankfully, many 21st century educational technology solutions now also have built-in features for advancing equity. While remote learning is behind us, we learned so much during that time. It's crucial that both teachers and officials come together to always remember that every student's situation is different. In doing this, it is easier to consider equity factors all the time.
Some have full access to tech tools and the Internet, some learn more quickly than others, and some even have different levels of tech proficiency, which all contribute to positive classroom experiences. At the same time, technology can serve as a powerful equalizer in education that breaks down barriers and strengthens equity. Access to digital resources often helps bridge the digital divide, simultaneously unlocking opportunities for more relevant learning and personalized instruction. By fostering level playing fields, technology ensures that children, regardless of existing socioeconomic factors, can access quality educational content, collaborate on projects, and develop crucial digital skills. This, in turn, will promote a more equitable and inclusive learning environment. And, with fewer barriers, all kids can enjoy success. Explore some of our content below and how it can help advance equity in your school.
As Black History Month comes to a close, we are excited to be highlighting a group of our generation’s most remarkable African American women and men who’ve made impactful contributions and advancements in the STEM world. Plus, we’re celebrating one of our founders and CEO, Rick Fredkin, who’s led our growth into a leading EdTech provider and a certified MBE.
Besides opportunities to participate in something they are truly passionate about, kids can also learn more about things like how esports has become this popular and some of its potential benefits and drawbacks. Also, some of the cons of esports in schools might be fairly obvious but in connecting them to their own personal experiences, students can learn a lot.
Whether it’s within today’s business world, the tech world, the educational world, or in the STEAM world, celebrating diversity and inclusion should be the norm. If we have collectively learned anything within the last handful of years, however, it’s that this isn’t universal. In our contemporary STEM and tech jobs, particularly, we still lack true racial, gender, and ethnic diversity.
Ideally, every classroom lesson plan and all learning experiences would be designed to foster greater equity for every student in every school building. The fact is, however, that each student is unique. Some need personalized guidance and others, in the same class, might do better with independent exploration. All, however, need school officials to keep equity in mind.
While we don’t want to place too much pressure on any educators starting new STEM programs, there are some key suggestions we can provide. The first of those is to decide on and define the direction of the STEM program, including its identity, purposes, and objectives, which often means that the learning experiences should reflect real-world problem solving.
Working with students at Riverside Elementary East, Jennifer has played a key role in starting a school STEAM program that is set to enter its second year. She has helped children in many traditionally underserved categories by committing to increasing equity in STEM learning and inspiring children from all backgrounds to explore STEM opportunities.
Xaviera receives $100 to put towards school supplies every year but, as we know, this isn’t always enough to create impactful STEM experiences. While thankful for that money, she’s also explored STEM grants to further her resources. Particularly as she works to improve her STEAM lab, these new materials will be super helpful for her and her students.
As always, we’re excited to see how the grant will help Bonni and her colleagues realize their collective mission of making greater progress in their STEM education programs. According to her, they’ve spent many years talking about how to evolve their STEM offerings and now find themselves in the right position to truly make it happen for their students.
Whether it’s classroom teachers or challenges students themselves are facing, it’s a different environment when it comes to STEM instruction. Since the value of of these classes lies in their hands-on nature, it’s been quite a physical and mental adjustment trying to provide students with the experiences they need.
Eduporium, a STEM education reseller and start-up in Newton, MA, has received capital from The Boston Foundation. Since applying for the funding about 18 months ago, the final pieces have been put in place to provide the company with additional capital after working with two advisers for a year-long period as part of the Business Equity Initiative.
