This study paper discusses the importance of the STEM education method. There are various apps Associated with them to develop the learning skills of children from early childhood. The key focus is to analyze the significance of STEM education by providing five examples of STEM apps that can be helpful to develop the skills and knowledge of children. This study paper also focuses to highlight the key features and functions of those apps to support children’s learning and understanding of STEM concepts. Nowadays, teachers and parents are focusing more on this concept that combines the education of four disciplines initiated by the “National Science Foundation”.
The rise of the modern era along with innovation in digital technologies has made the concept of “STEM” education more popular and critical than ever. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM education in the early years can enhance ongoing academic success and improve skills and knowledge. Parents and teachers who educate their children through STEM concepts tend to be better prepared for technological-focused equipment and requirements (Li et al. 2018). However, there is some disagreement regarding the concept of STEM education among various lawmakers and educators. Various reports claim that various schools all over the world are facing some critical issues in terms of integrating this concept into their education curriculum. Schools are facing charges, especially in the case of young students.
Figure 1: The consent of STEM education
(Source: “Teaching stem in the early years | Indian Moms”, 2022)
However, parents who are aware of the concept and benefits of the STEM curriculum tend to be supportive. They also encourage the educators to focus on this concept and educate their children using it. There are various tools, mobile applications, and software for STEM education. Parents can use these tools and software to introduce and educate their children on the concept of STEM and literacy from a very early age (Thibaut et al. 2018). Various app developers presently develop tons of mobile apps aiming to provide a better platform to lower the gap between technology and STEM education. There are several benefits of STEM education. Some of them are highlighted in the below section.
Fosters creativity and ingenuity – Creativity and ingenuity can pair with the concept of STEM education. That can eventually lead to new and creative innovations and ideas. The concept of digital technology and artificial intelligence will be meaningless without having creativity and ingenuity. This is the reason teachers and parents are adhering to the concept of STEM nowadays.
Encourages experimentation – Many of the technological inventions that had taken place in the last few decades would not be possible without taking some risks and doing experimentation. The concept of STEM also suggests the importance of science and technology education from an early age (Martín?Páez et al. 2019). Reports claim that many inventors were told that their ideas would not work. However, they keep fighting, learning, and enhancing their knowledge to give their best. STEM education promotes and encourages this type of attitude.
Encourages knowledge application – STEM follows an education method that encourages children to practice such things that can be applied in practical life. This concept motivated the children from an early age as they know these skills that they are acquiring can be applied and utilized immediately. Therefore, in other words, STEM focuses on positively impacting children and their loved ones.
These apps have been developed to encourage children to get more focused on their academic careers by learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math more joyfully and enjoyably. Tons of STEM apps can be found in both Android and Apple stores. These ads consist of introducing kids to new concepts of education through multiple games and activities (Dorouka et al. 2020. These apps also necessarily help the kids to learn the concept of education instead of only reading about them. Nowadays the concept of STEM apps is largely appreciated and considered by a large number of teachers all over the world. This is the reason that app developers are focusing on developing these apps at a large scale. Developers are also making these apps user-friendly. Some of the examples and key features of this type of app are highlighted and described in the below section.
Introducing kids with simple STEM ideas at an early age can set a foundation for better and enhanced learning tomorrow. These types of apps are pushing kids to expand their knowledge, skills, experiment, horizons, problem-solving capacity, and acceptance of failure as a means to be successful in the near future. Whether you are a teacher or a parent, STEM Apps are a great investment in the process of your student’s learning at home and in the classroom (Özçelik, & Akgündüz, 2018). Numerous research confirms the capacity of the human brain is especially receptive to learning Math and logic between the age group 1 and 4 years. The earlier a parent can get their children familiar with these apps the more improved their learning capacity will be. Therefore, parents must be aware of the process to introduce their kids to STEM skills.
Ways To Introduce The Kids To STEM Apps And Skills
Head outdoors: Parents must take their child outside, whether it is a roadside walk or a walk at any playground. Furthermore, they must encourage kids to explore Earth and its nature. For example, parents can hike or walk ok along with their kids on a nice day (Widada et al. 2019). Then they can ask their kids to explain what they are learning or observing.
Build things: Kids can enhance their design and engineering skills by building multiple structures. Therefore, having the child grab some common household items and instruct them to build something. In this regard, LEGO buildings can significantly contribute.
Figure 2: Examples of LEGO blocks used in a classroom
(Source: Teacher uses LEGOs to teach math to schoolchildren. 2022)
Choose games: There are numerous STEM-related gifts and games on the market. From LEGOs to Harry Potter coding kits to DIY robots, these games can enhance kids’ productivity and increase learning skills (Hassani et al. 2020). These types of games are both educational and fun encouraging a foundation for a future love of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Visit a local science museum: Medical research claims before the child learns to read something they tend to learn various things by observing. Hence, visiting a local museum with kids can be beneficial both for the parents and kids to enhance their observing skills (Vareiro et al. 2020). Numerous Technology and Science museums are also offering virtual tours.
There are different kinds of STEM applications available in the market. They are aiming to develop and enhance kids’ learning and observation skills. Five of the apps are discussed in the below section.
This is the most advanced and fun environmental application for all kinds. In the modern education system, this application helps to learn about mathematics, engineering tools, technology, and science. The most attractive part of this application is that it is completely interactive (Çetin, & Demircan, 2020). Children can access this application by following a well-structured path. In this way, this application helps to grow interest in e-learning products or it can be considered a fun learning method.
Smart Tales is an entertaining introduction to the modern education system of STEM subjects. This application focused on young children basically. Using “Story baked structure” is the best potential of this smart application. Also, this learning application has some interactive elements. This application is beneficial to 3-6 years old children. The availability of this application is on Android and iOS platforms which are the most usable and most demanding smart OS in this modern age (educational app store, n.d). There are 50 different adventurous books available in this application with interactive challenges to complete those adventures.
This is a communicative and interactive science app designed to help kids in grades K-5. This application is hoping to encourage kids to go through multiple interactive quizzes, videos, puzzles, and games all centered around Technology and Science topics. Reports claim this is a great app that can be the replacement for a perfect science teacher (Ltd, 2022). Children between the ages group 4 to 10 years old can learn various branches of Science and Technology covered in school.
This is an application focused on developing kids’ coding skills from the very early age of their education. Hopscotch is aiming to provide a platform to learn coding languages. This app allows students to write their courts and programs by empowering them. The app developers of Hopscotch quoted “Students need to be independent readers and can access many levels to solve coding problems. Once these have been mastered students can create their own coding programming stories” (Ltd, 2022).
The Robot Factory by Tinybop is aiming to give kids the opportunity to develop and build their robots in this robot factory. In addition, this app allows children to record their voices and use them as personalized voices for the robot they have designed. This application is available on iPad and iPhones. Children aged between the age group 5 to 7 years can largely use this application for making robots.
STEMWerkz: This app offers a full package of stem topics. There is a quest in this application that uses a defined structure to help and guide children throughout their learning process. The contents in this application are free to access anywhere around the world. Games style activities within this app boost children’s stem learning and city-building knowledge and skills throughout their “Early Years Learning Framework”.
Smart Tales – STEM Learning: EYLF highlights children who have a very strong sense of self-identity and recognition. Smart Tales also focus on this concept. Children can improve their self-identity and recognition power by going through various adventurous books offered in this app. The graphics and animation in this app never fail to be of lower quality.
Tappity Science: This is best for 5-12 years kids. Also, the availability of this application is on the Android and iOS platforms which is a most common and beneficial gesture for the children as they do not need to find out this learning application from any third-party websites. This helps to encourage every kid in terms of learning and growing their concepts of STEM topics. Tappity Science also focuses on the concept of “Developing a sense of belonging” highlighted in the EYLF framework.
Hopscotch: Coding for kids: This app is best suitable for children and kids aged between 9 and upward. Hopscotch is one of the best coding learning apps for kids available in the market. There are various levels in this app to complete (Smith, 2018). It also provides children with better graphics, animation, and a smooth user interface. The best feature of this app is there is no advertisement.
The Robot Factory by Tinybop: Tinybop’s robot building app lets one kid design and build a robot on their mobile devices. Robot Factory is fun from multiple robot-embellishments to building exoskeletons. This app offers creative ways to excite children and enhance their imagination power. There is an option to pick body quotes of robots from a hundred different words. Children can also add color to their robots and their own voices.
Conclusion
This study can be concluded by highlighting the importance of STEM education from an early age. Children who enter preliminary schools must learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to build their future careers. The barriers students face in their college life can be removed with the help of this education curriculum largely appreciated and adopted by many teachers worldwide. There is no doubt that STEM education can make every child a better person and teaches them multiple skills. In addition, education plays a critical role to improve the overall economic development of a county irrespective of its geographical location. In conclusion, STEM education is important to help children worldwide to become world leaders.
Reference
Çetin, M., & Demircan, H. Ö. (2020). Empowering technology and engineering for STEM education through programming robots: A systematic literature review. Early Child Development and Care, 190(9), 1323-1335.
Dorouka, P., Papadakis, S., & Kalogiannakis, M. (2020). Tablets and apps for promoting robotics, mathematics, STEM education, and literacy in early childhood education. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 14(2), 255-274.
Hassani, F., Shahrbanian, S., Shahidi, S. H., & Sheikh, M. (2020). Playing games can improve physical performance in children with autism. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1-8.
Li, Y., Wang, K., Xiao, Y., & Froyd, J. E. (2020). Research and trends in STEM education: A systematic review of journal publications. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), 1-16.
Ltd, E. (2022). Hopscotch App – Free Download – iOS and Android – Educational App Store. Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://www.educationalappstore.com/app/hopscotch-coding-for-kids-a-visual-programming-language
Ltd, E. (2022). Tappity – #1 Educational Science App for Kids – Educational App Store. Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://www.educationalappstore.com/app/k-5-science-for-kids-tappity
Martín?Páez, T., Aguilera, D., Perales?Palacios, F. J., & Vílchez?González, J. M. (2019). What are we talking about when we talk about STEM education? A review of literature. Science Education, 103(4), 799-822.
Özçelik, A., & Akgündüz, D. (2018). Evaluation of gifted/talented students’ out-of-school STEM education. Trakya University Journal of Education Faculty, 8(2), 334-351.
Smith, D. L. (2018). Coding for success. Teacher Librarian, 45(5), 13-16.
The teacher uses LEGOs to teach math to schoolchildren. (2022). Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151213/lifestyle-offbeat/article/teacher-uses-legos-teach-math-schoolchildren
Teaching stem in the early years | Indian Moms. (2022). Retrieved 28 March 2022, from https://www.indianmoms.com/education/teaching-stem-learning-in-the-early-years-of-preschool-education.htm
Thibaut, L., Ceuppens, S., De Loof, H., De Meester, J., Goovaerts, L., Struyf, A., … & Depaepe, F. (2018). Integrated STEM education: A systematic review of instructional practices in secondary education. European Journal of STEM Education, 3(1), 2.
Vareiro, L., Sousa, B. B., & Silva, S. S. (2020). The importance of museums in the tourist development and the motivations of their visitors: an analysis of the Costume Museum in Viana do Castelo. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development.
Widada, W., Herawaty, D., Falaq, A., Anggoro, D., Yudha, A., & Hayati, M. K. (2019). Ethnomathematics and outdoor learning to improve problem-solving ability. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 295, 295.
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