Ever since STEM was coined by the National Science Foundation in 2001, the U.S. has aimed to expand and improve STEM education. STEM isn’t just a buzzword though, educating our students in STEM has surprising benefits for individuals, communities, and the global economy.
As a result, the value of a STEM education goes far beyond the classroom. It’s so important that there have been national initiatives to increase STEM proficiency among US students.
Besides the obvious technical skills students gain, let’s discuss 10 surprising benefits of STEM education.
What is a STEM education?
STEM is an acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics”. STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that focuses on applying these subjects to solve real-world problems through hands-on, project-based learning. Studying STEM equips students with skills essential for excelling in the 21st-century regardless of whether they go into STEM fields. It also prepares them for rapidly changing technology and advancements in various fields.
Science includes fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. These fields focus on understanding the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis. For students, science encourages curiosity about phenomena and fosters evidence-based reasoning.
Technology includes topics like computer science, programming, digital literacy, and robotics.
In technology fields, students study and application of tools, systems, and software to solve problems. Unlike pure science, which focuses on research and understanding natural phenomena, technology focuses on using that knowledge to create practical solutions.
Engineering teaches the design, building, and maintenance of structures, machines, and systems. Students use their creativity and innovation to address challenges like sustainability and infrastructure development. Engineering has a foundation in science and uses technology, like computer-aided design (CAD), as a tool to solve problems.
Mathematics is the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions. Learning math helps students develop logical reasoning, problem-solving, and quantitative analysis skills as well as understand and apply patterns, data, and formulas. Math forms the foundation for other STEM topics and many advancements in technology, engineering, and scientific discoveries.
STEM education encourages students to approach problems methodically, analyze data, and test hypotheses. This framework of thinking, developed as they study the core disciplines, is then transferable to other areas of life.
The State of STEM Education in the US
The state of STEM education in the United States is important because we need to prepare future generations with technological expertise. Unfortunately, the U.S. appears to be falling behind other countries like Japan and China. The cumulative data points to this including low international rankings in Math and Science, more than 1 million unfilled STEM jobs, and low access to STEM education.
Several factors stand in the way of improved STEM education, such as costs, accessibility, equity, and qualified instructors. Technology and programming are just one example. According to Code.org, only 60% of public high schools currently offer foundational computer science. This is even lower for middle and elementary schools, so students are forced to seek outside activities and classes to learn STEM skills. In other countries, particularly Europe and East Asia, coding is a core topic and students are taught the basics in primary school.
Without STEM education, we experience a skills gap in the workforce, difficulty adapting to technological change, reduced problem-solving, and much more.
10 Surprising Benefits of a STEM Education
Why consider STEM education for your child? Familiarity with STEM topics is beneficial even for elementary school students. STEM activities nurture kids’ curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions, experiment, and discover the world around them.
These surprising benefits make a STEM education worthwhile and important for kids:
1. Build Resilience and Adaptability
STEM projects often involve trial and error. By learning to embrace failure as part of the process, students develop resilience and adaptability. These are the qualities essential for thriving in a rapidly changing world. When met with difficult challenges, STEM students have resilience and are able to keep pushing forward despite setbacks.
In coding, kids build resilience through debugging code errors. They apply a problem-solving and critical thinking framework to find a solution and learn not to give up along the way. Our students take pride in overcoming difficult situations and being successful in the end.
2. Improve Technical literacy
An education in STEM equips students with the foundational skills, knowledge, and the right mindset to engage with technology and its applications. It means kids won’t be scared of technology or be taken advantage by it.
Once our students start to understand coding and how programs work, they are able to see how programming is being used all around them. They approach technology with a better understanding, can type and communicate better, and easily adopt new technology.
3. Prepare for the Workforce
STEM careers often come with competitive salaries and job security. According to U.S. News, eight of the top 10 STEM jobs come with annual salaries above $100,000. Fields like software development, engineering, data science, and biotechnology are among the highest-paying professions globally.
Even without going into a STEM field, kids develop skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork that apply to jobs in any field.
4. Economic Growth and Job Creation
The demand for STEM professionals continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.4% between 2023 and 2033, compared to 3.6% in non-STEM jobs. By fostering STEM education, we prepare students to fill these important jobs while driving economic progress.
Many STEM fields require specialized technical skills, and STEM education aligns with industry needs by teaching students to use professional-grade tools, software, and methodologies. This preparation ensures that students are ready to contribute to the workforce.
5. Drive Technological Advancements
STEM education fuels technological innovation which improves quality of life. Not only that, it contributes to technological advancements from medical breakthroughs to renewable energy solutions. STEM graduates often lead advancements that benefit society as a whole.
With coding, humans have been able to create new technologies like the internet, robots, and artificial intelligence. Our students have all kinds of ideas for things they would like to invent and with the coding and STEM skills, they can do it.
6. Promote Inclusivity and Diversity
Efforts to make STEM accessible to underrepresented groups—such as women, minorities, and economically disadvantaged students—help bridge social gaps. A diverse STEM workforce brings varied perspectives, driving creativity and innovation.
Our students are worldwide and I am always learning new things about their different cultures and interests. Our group classes allow kids to work together and experience new ideas together. Kids are exposed to a diverse range of their peers.
7. Encourage Curiosity and Exploration
Children are naturally inquisitive and like to explore. STEM activities nurture this curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions, experiment, and discover the world around them. STEM is hands-on in nature and encourages kids to
During class, kids are encouraged to ask questions and go beyond the lessons. Students who want to do personal projects can use the CodeWizardsHQ platform to host their files and launch their own programs.
8. Bridge the Gender Gap
There is a large gap between the number of men and women in the STEM fields. Women are underrepresented, holding less than 30% of science and engineering jobs worldwide. Encouraging girls to engage with STEM from an early age helps close this gap, fostering a more inclusive workforce.
More women in STEM as role models will motivate young girls to pursue a STEM education as well. We hire a diverse set of instructors, including men and women, to teach our students, bringing their unique experiences and perspectives.
9. Encourage Lifelong Learning
STEM instills a growth mindset, motivating individuals to continually learn and adapt. This mindset is crucial in a world where technological advancements require ongoing upskilling.
Kids must become lifelong learners in order to work with technology and coding. We teach our students that programmers don’t learn a language and stop learning. The languages themselves evolve and so they must too. Good programmers stay up to date on the latest technology and standards which means a lifetime of continuous learning.
10. Promote Entrepreneurial Skills
Being entrepreneurial is about being a problem-solver, a clear communicator, a team leader, a visionary, taking risks, pursuing a passion, and so much more.
Many STEM graduates have the skills to become innovators and launch businesses that drive economic growth and technological advancement. Besides the technical skills, they also possess the soft skills to build relationships and manage projects.
These 26 reasons learning to code benefits kids also applies to other STEM topics.
Explore Coding as a Part of Your STEM Education
Coding is a STEM topic that gives kids all of these benefits and more. Our students are developing these skills as they learn to code, so they will be well-prepared for a tech-focused future.
If your child is interested in exploring STEM in a fun and engaging way, coding could be right for them. In our top-rated coding program, kids and teens build projects and advance their skills in every class. Elementary school students start their journey with Scratch while middle and high school students learn Python first. Not only will kids acquire pro-level coding skills, they will gain the benefits of a STEM education.
Get to know our top-rated coding classes for kids and enroll today!
