This post was co-written with AEM Early Childhood team member Kathy Thornburg.
How do block-building, water exploration, mapping, and loose parts fit together? They are all part of STEM, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning for young children. In fact, STEM actually describes children’s learning experiences that integrate some or all of those concepts.
Research tells us that young children are natural STEM learners: They are curious and creative thinkers who construct knowledge through observation, exploration and experimentation. STEM learning uses teachable moments and children’s long-term investigations to build knowledge through developing children’s inquiry, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
By nurturing and developing these critical skills teachers can positively influence children’s learning in the STEM disciplines, as well as their attitudes about learning, overall school achievement, and future career choices.
Rand’s blog summarized research on this subject in the brief Integrating STEM Learning in Early Childhood Learning (June 2016). They explained that children’s STEM experiences in early childhood classrooms amount to only about 5% of their time there. Teaching young children skills with a STEM focus may seem overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to begin.
When we thought about STEM instruction, we wondered….
- How do we help children become creative problem-solvers and critical thinkers through their everyday play?
- What are the ways we include technology in our classrooms?
- Do we really have budding mathematicians and engineers in our preschool classrooms?
And… we wondered, “how can we help early childhood professionals find the answers to these questions?”
In response, AEM’s Advancing Early Childhood Innovations team developed a new, FREE online series, primarily for knowledge mediators (professional development facilitators, higher education instructors, education directors, coordinators or managers) to use with their communities’ early childhood professionals. Interested individuals can also view the series for personal growth.
The STEM for Early Learners series is an 11-part professional development series aimed toward advancing instructional confidence and competence in directors, teachers, family child care providers, home visitors, and early intervention specialists and early childhood college students who work with children about 2½ years of age through age 5
If you provide professional development in your community or state, this series is meant for you. You can use some or all of these free materials for training and conferences, you can use them in your early childhood high school or college classes, and you can use them in your early learning facility.
You may be thinking... “I am not an expert on all of the STEM concepts. How could I possibly be in front of an audience pretending I know all about these varied concepts?”
The materials in the series provide everything you need.
What will you find?Each of the 11 modules includes:
- Session Guide
- Webinar Recording
- PowerPoint Slides
- Master Copies of Handouts, Activities, Readings, and Discussion Questions
- Additional Readings for the Facilitator
Each module’s video presentation is narrated by an early childhood STEM expert who, in addition to the content information, guides you through activities during the presentation. These specialists gave their time and knowledge so we could have high quality professional development opportunities on STEM. The modules’ titles, the presenters and their biographies are listed in the STEM Series’ Facilitator Guide. You will be impressed by the range of information and fun activities, all of which are listed in the Session Guide. These resources are housed at the STEM for Early Learners website.
You will also find a comprehensive Facilitator Toolkit that applies to all the modules includes:
- a facilitator guide with objectives for each session
- ideas on how to format each session
- the preferred length of training
- specific materials needed for the topic
The Toolkit also includes additional foundational readings, suggested children’s literature, and websites and apps for children and parents.
Start at the beginning with Modules 1 and 2, which focus on Introduction to STEM and a STEM Environment, then proceed through each of the STEM topics, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. Or skip around and view the modules on the Outdoors, Families or Community. The final module highlights STEM in action in two early learning settings.
This series is a unique opportunity for early learning professionals to access high quality, research-based materials and resources that will expand their confidence in providing young children with learning experiences that stress the use of their high order thinking skills. Work with your professional development organizations to help teachers plan great STEM experiences and build on those important teachable moments to support children’s intellectual thinking.
For more information, contact Sue Mitchell at susan.mitchell@aemcorp.com.
