There’s much discussion about STEM, and you might wonder how relevant it is for the twenty-first century.
Education in STEM fields extends far beyond the classroom. It involves implementing a modern learning strategy to holistically develop students and bring them up to speed and industry standards. The main goal is to support students in developing creative and critical thinking abilities, which are highly valued by all businesses and essential for overcoming the challenges of the modern world.
STEM education can give students an edge regarding career prospects, as most STEM jobs require computers and other digital technology in their daily work. Many businesses and organisations also use statistics and scientific methods to test theories and hypotheses.
Read on to learn more about STEM education and how they benefit students.
What is STEM?
What does STEM stand for?
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These four disciplines focus on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking and make up the popular and rapidly growing industry.
STEM education is based on the premise that exposing children to STEM-related concepts will develop their curiosity in these subjects and increase the likelihood of choosing professions in STEM-related sectors.
A lesson in a STEM class is based on finding a solution to a real-world problem with a focus on project-based learning. Integrating STEM subjects help students succeed in college and their future careers.
What is a strong curriculum or approach?
A strong curriculum tracks student growth throughout the year while making the subject fun and exciting through examples and hands-on experiences.
They develop interest and enthusiasm in students not just for learning the basics but also for further studies and exploring career paths.
At Repton International School, we place great importance on a strong science education and aim to help students appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and its contribution to economic success and societal transformation.
The school's educational and recreational facilities also include state-of-the-art Science and Multimedia laboratories. These facilities allow students to engage in hands-on learning and provide the opportunities students need to acquire knowledge and skills while nurturing their interests.
Why is STEM education important?
STEM jobs are projected to grow 8.8% worldwide, a higher rate than non-STEM jobs at around 5%. Education in STEM is also growing in popularity in developed countries like Australia, China, and the United States. Numerous businesses will need to fill millions of STEM jobs soon and will be willing to pay more for qualified candidates to fill these open positions.
1. Innovation and Curiosity
One of the significant advantages of STEM education is its capacity to foster a mind full of curiosity and innovation. Students who take STEM courses are known to think critically and are taught to rely on facts and data. They are encouraged to ask the “why” and “how” questions throughout their STEM education.
They can better reflect what is expected of them in the workplace when a greater emphasis is placed on their capacity for logical problem-solving than memorizing textbooks and regurgitating the answers on an exam.
2. Team collaboration and communication
In a typical classroom setting, students only have two-way communication between their teachers and themselves. They are rarely given opportunities to work with their peers. Teamwork and collaboration are prioritised in STEM education because, in the real world, people frequently need to work in several teams to solve problems and complete projects.
Schools that use the STEM approach teach their students the importance of leadership and communication in working towards achieving common objectives. It helps students eventually develop a sense of familiarity when working in team-oriented environments.
3. Sustainable solutions to modern-day challenges
According to statistics, 70% of today's younger generations are more concerned about the consequences of climate change and global warming than the older generations. STEM education strongly emphasises finding solutions to the issues and problems that society is currently facing.
This approach provides students with the foundation they need to find solutions for sustainable development, enabling them to use environmentally friendly and sustainable methods to solve problems they may encounter and perhaps even find solutions to global issues.
What are the prospects of STEM education?
What is the current level of STEM education in Malaysia?
Malaysia strives to meet the demands of a STEM-driven economy and is aware of the issues that businesses today must deal with. They have implemented the STEM Education programme with the ultimate aim to foster students' interest in STEM fields.
To encourage excellence in science and math among Malaysians, the country established a National STEM Learning Center. This step involves offering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for STEM educators, including formal and non-formal STEM education and activities.
Additionally, Malaysia wants to give women equal opportunities to participate in STEM and diversify male-oriented industries. To do this, the country is working to establish more female role models in related fields to inspire young girls in developing an interest in STEM early on in their education.
So if you want to spur your child to develop an interest in STEM as well, they can benefit early by attending a school like Repton International School that places focus on STEM subjects.
What are the future career prospects?
Engineering, science, and research careers are just a few of the jobs that STEM programs can lead to. STEM professionals are in a variety of fields, including biochemistry and aerospace. Some STEM students also use their technical expertise in politics, law, and education.
1. Computer Science
The demand for bright computer science majors has surged as a result of technological innovation. These students can be majoring in programming for video games, robots, or artificial intelligence. The necessary courses cover topics including data structures and algorithms, computer system principles, and computer organization and systems.
Jobs in the field of computer science sometimes entail using data or programming languages to develop or enhance goods. Obtaining a degree in computer science is necessary for many high-paying positions, such as Software Engineer, Backend Engineer, or Data Scientist. In the US, the basic salary for these positions averages over $100,000.
2. Information Technology
Information technology majors also take classes in interactive design, web application development, organizational communication, and advanced math courses like discrete math and calculus.
IT jobs typically focus more on how computers, their networks, and systems work to ensure that other employees may execute their tasks effectively.
Network administrator, cloud engineer, and database administrator are common positions. In the US, the typical base salary for these positions is over $80,000.
3. Engineering
Engineering is an exciting field that offer students many pursuits depending on their personal or career interests. While most students tend to have studied in a specific field of engineering (e.g., electrical, mechanical, etc.) before taking up a job in the industry, some students have double majors in engineering and a field outside of engineering.
Students can put their knowledge of engineering technology to use in the agriculture, automotive, biomedical, and mechanical engineering industries, all of which have high job demand. The average salary for STEM professionals in the engineering sector is over $102,200, and this figure is projected to rise much higher in the coming years.
Get Premier STEM Education at Repton International School Malaysia
Here at Repton International School, we adopt a STEM curriculum that includes identifying real-world problems, developing hypotheses, and finding solutions through explorations.
Our teaching and learning philosophy is primarily inquiry-based. It is necessary to adopt a modern and practical approach to teaching and learning in which students actively participate in projects and collaborate to solve problems in the real world.
To find out more about how STEM education can benefit your child, book a school tour with us today!