STEM Education Is More than a District’s Technology

FOCUS: RURAL SCHOOLING

A well-structured STEM education program has the potential to impact every student in your school district and fundamentally change how they engage with learning.

When implemented correctly, STEM education enhances the interconnectedness of disciplines, sparks students’ learning and bridges the divide between theory and real-world application. Incorporating STEM even in the lowest grades can transform how students learn and positively influence their engagement in school.

Our school district has incorporated STEM into various aspects of the school experience by enabling students to design, create and test through 3-D printing some replacement parts for broken school equipment. By inviting younger students to these classrooms, we expose them to the possibilities of STEM and by partnering with local businesses to design logos, promotional ads and commercials.

In a rural school district where funding is tight, such as the 850-student district I lead, introducing STEM-based instruction is not an easy task. It requires community support, a clear understanding of its positive impacts and hidden benefits, and careful budgeting for startup costs.