Project Based Learning – More Than Just Academics

In order to succeed in today’s era of technological evolution, students must have skills and knowledge beyond their academics. Project based learning (PBL) provides a comprehensive understanding of subjects and concepts. Students can apply the learnt concepts to real-life experiences and gradually move towards innovation through all-around enriching education.

At the core of project based learning:

Active & engaging learning 

Since students are allowed to explore and experiment, PBL provides active and engaging learning. Students get a deeper knowledge of the subject when they are studying. In addition, students are extremely likely to retain the knowledge gained this way. Besides, students work in groups or alone which develop in them confidence and self-direction. Thus, PBL provides a better opportunity than textbook-centered learning.

Also read : How to Promote STEM Education in School?

Research skills 

During the course of project completion, students get into some kind of research alone or with group. This gives an opportunity to students to hone their organization and research skills, enhance their communication skills, and often provide them a chance to see the positive effect of their work on the community.

Meaningful evaluations 

While traditional curriculum evaluates students on the basis of written reports and exams from a few fixed recited theories, PBL evaluates students on the kind of projects they take. Therefore, this kind of evaluation is more meaningful to them and also inspire them to pursue a carrier in subjects they are really interested in.

Failure imparts experience 

Students are afraid of failing their exams and it can affect their grade. However, there is nothing like failure in project based learning. Projects provide real-life experience and every failed experiment lays the foundation of success. PBL is also an approach in STEM education where students learn through experiments and use scientific tools and equipment for research and development.

In India, project-based learning is at the core of STEM education and also gains backing by the government. StemBridge Labs, a vendor to establish Atal Tinkering Labs, provides necessary tools to schools selected for the lab. Thanks to the encouraging efforts by the government that schools are adopting STEM based curriculum to spark students’ desire to research and explore.

Reference Link:
 
http://stembridgelabs.com/blog/project-based-learning-more-than-just-academics/

STEM Education – Nurturing Young Scientists

STEM education fosters curiosity and instills a love for learning in children. The sooner children come across disciplines, the faster they grasp concepts. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math often has a variation with the STEM e inclusion of Arts. It then takes the form of STEAM Education to ensure positive mental health practices among elementary students.  

When children are introduced to STEM at an early age, they develop a lifelong love for learning. We are living in a world that is constantly advancing in the fields of science and technology. Everything that we use is based directly or indirectly on some forms of technology. In this scenario, students must come out of the traditional learning systems and make a move towards innovation. In order to make this happen, they must have a keenness to learn. Without a passion to learn, students will have to struggle in the real world. And, elementary age is the best time to instill that drive and passion to learn.

Elementary students have immense curiosity and fondness for learning new things. With year it gets lost in traditional education. On the contrary, STEM education in elementary school drives curiosity and generates in them a thirst for knowledge. Gradually, students develop a passion to create something new and learn from innovation. These skills provide them with the much needed background to tackle challenges of higher education. No matter which area they explore, their drive and passion will ensure a path to success.

Also Read : Integrating STEM in Traditional Curriculum

STEM doesn’t affect the regular curriculum, instead imparts skills for better planning and using creativity to solve challenges. This interdisciplinary way of learning is not only limited to geeks in lab coats, but has benefits for everyone. STEM is all around us and it’s for everyone, and more benefiting than one can think:

• Its real-world inspired, engaging and motivating
• Students develop a sense to apply learned concepts to solve real-life challenges
• It uses sense and allows students to do so
• It’s creative and there is nothing life failure, but each failed experiment is a lesson to learn
• STEM requires students to develop teamwork and collaboration which helps forever

To make STEM education an integral part of traditional curriculum, StemBridge Labs provides the necessary tools and support to schools. Their endeavors are to benefit children from elementary STEM programs.

For more Information about STEM Education Please Visit here

STEM Education in India – Paving the Way for Our Girls

The ‘Make in India’ initiative by our honorable Prime Minister intends to make our country a prominent manufacturing hub of global standards. This requires creating a vast pool of highly skilled workforce who can adopt modern practices around innovation. Intelligent quotient of our youth plays a remarkable role here.

India’s academic institutions are adopting the best practices to enhance the skill level of students. Major emphasis is put on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (termed together as STEM) to create highly skilled graduates who can lead India to innovation. Since this pedagogy is relatively new, there are many challenges that the education industry has to face in enhancing the popularity of STEM education in India. One of the biggest challenges is to encourage the participation of girls in STEM based curriculum.

Also Read : STEM – Being a critic of Indian Education System

A nation’s socio-economic growth is possible only when both men and women show equal participation in the development process. Non participation of women in the technological innovation can create a disturbing imbalance which is not good for the society, the country and the women themselves.

The traditional patriarchal society always envisions women in some gender defined roles which leads to a deeply biased workplace. This contribute to women leaving jobs not only in STEM disciplines, but other streams as well. In fact, most of the girls do not even get a chance to pursue the basic education. Further, girls hardly get involved into any research or scientific based job as their families pose a restriction. While they favour boys and willingly invest in their education, they expect girls to stay behind doors and plan to save for their dowry.

Amidst everything – family responsibility, maternity break, safety concerns, longer working hours for research, etc. – impose restrictions on them. Since STEM education in India is more of a boy’s club, the working pattern favours the same. It’s time to modify this traditional culture and create flexible spaces to accommodate more female STEM aspirants.

StemBridge Labs believes that every child is equal and must be given equal opportunities to succeed. Educational institutions, government agencies, and society must work together to encourage more girls to actively participate in STEM.

Reference Link:

http://stembridgelabs.com/blog/stem-education-in-india-paving-the-way-for-our-girls/