Hands-on, experiential learning is a teaching approach that emphasizes active engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Educators can provide students with a more engaging and relevant learning experience by incorporating these real-life engagements. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of hands-on, experiential learning in STEM education.
Engagement and Motivation
Hands-on, experiential learning provides students with the opportunity to apply STEM concepts in real-life situations. This helps to increase their interest and excitement in these subjects. Students are more likely to be engaged in learning when they can see the practical applications.
Learning by experience requires students to actively participate in the learning process rather than passively receiving the information. This type of learning is excellent for critical thinking since they need to analyze and apply what they learn. Involving your students in STEM learning helps them develop thinking skills like analyzing and problem-solving.
Hands-on experience learning provides a supportive environment for students to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from their failures. This helps encourage their growth mindset. So rather than being discouraged by a failure, they have a mindset of growth where failures are opportunities for growth and learning. Overcoming the fear of failure helps increase students’ confidence and motivation in STEM subjects.
Improved Student Understanding and Retention
What is the point of learning if students can’t see how it applies to real life? This is where hands-on learning helps students apply STEM concepts to real-life situations. Hands-on activities take learning beyond rote memorization and how to apply STEM concepts and use them to solve problems and answer questions.
STEM concepts should be presented in a real-life context. For example, helping students build a budget and applying it to their daily lives. Students learn when they see the relevance of what they are learning. Often, this results in greater retention of STEM knowledge and skills.
Another benefit of hands-on experiential learning is that it helps students gain a deeper understanding and retain STEM skills. Students actively engaged in the learning process are more likely to remember what they learned.
Skills for the Real World
Engaging students in the STEM learning process through learning activities help them apply these concepts to real-world situations. Teaching students how to analyze information helps them develop and implement solutions and to evaluate their effectiveness. They can transfer these problem-solving skills to a wide range of real-life situations which can help them succeed in both their academic and professional lives.
Experiential learning often involves group work. This type of learning helps students develop collaboration and communication skills such as active listening, compromise, and teamwork. Each of these skills is essential for success both inside the classroom and outside as they move into more professional settings. Group work skills are important to help students succeed in a wide range of STEM careers.
As students are involved in experiential learning, it encourages them to think outside the box. They will also learn to consider multiple perspectives and solutions. This helps them develop their creative and innovative thinking skills. As the world of technology rapidly changes, students should learn how to use these experiences to adapt to these changes.
Career Preparation
The benefits of hands-on experiential learning in STEM education provide students with a glimpse into the real-world applications of STEM. This type of learning helps students see the connections between what they are learning in the classroom and how STEM is used in various industries and careers. Experiential learning encourages students to understand the relevance of STEM and increases their interest in pursuing STEM careers.
One of the most fun aspects of hands-on learning is the opportunity to use tools and technology. Teaching students what it is like to work in a STEM career helps them develop a passion for the sciences. It will also help students to make informed decisions about the STEM fields they wish to pursue.
All this exposure to STEM learning helps students gain a better understanding of the types of jobs that are available to them. Through experiential learning, students identify their interests and strengths, which helps support career exploration and pathway development.
The Benefits of Hands-On Learning in STEM Education
The benefits of hands-on, experiential learning in STEM education are clear, and it is time for educators to take action to incorporate more hands-on experiences into STEM education. This can be done in a variety of ways.
1. Incorporating more hands-on activities and projects into the STEM curriculum.
Educators can incorporate more hands-on activities and projects into their lesson plans to help students apply STEM concepts. These activities can range from simple experiments to complex design challenges.
2. Encouraging STEM professionals to get involved.
STEM professionals can play an important role in providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. For example, they can visit schools to talk about their jobs, provide demonstrations and activities as well as serve as mentors for the students.
3. Partnering with STEM organizations.
Schools and educators can partner with STEM organizations to provide these learning opportunities for students. These organizations can provide resources, materials, and expertise to support hands-on STEM learning in the classroom.
As we move into the twenty-first century, STEM subjects are becoming essential for students to learn. Getting familiar with technology and learning to use and create it opens a wide field of jobs. Here at 21stCentEd, we are passionate about helping young people prepare for a bright future in which their STEM skills will help them find jobs that will be relevant in this digital age.
