STEM is an educational model and initiative that focuses on preparing students to become the best candidates for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It has become an essential learning model in the 21st Century, designed to ready students for the evolving technological landscape.
There are many technologies available to educators to best reach the goals of a STEM-based education. Here are some of the must haves now available:
MIT APP INVENTOR
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/
Teach students to make their own apps. MIT App Inventor is an intuitive, visual programming environment that allows everyone – even children – to build fully functional apps for smartphones and tablets.
LIGHTBOT
http://lightbot.com
LightBot is a puzzle game based on coding; it secretly teaches you programming logic as you play. Students learn to code while having fun.
NASA VISUALIZATION EXPLORER
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov//nasaviz/
For students motivated by space exploration and astronomy, this is the NASA Visualization Explorer—the coolest way to get stories about NASA’s exploration of the Earth, sun, moon, planets and universe delivered to your iOS and Android devices.
DRAGONBOX
http://dragonbox.com
Dragonbox is ideal for children learning math. It harnesses the power of digital tools to create a new, deeper learning experience
KAHOOT
https://kahoot.com/welcomeback/
Kahoot! is an interactive gaming site which teaches digital team-work through a fun, competitive platform. Teachers can create review quiz games on any topic, or search the database for readymade material on a variety of grade levels and subjects.
These are some of the must-have STEM education technologies teachers can use in their classroom to supplement and teach skills in math, science, coding, and digital team work.
What are some STEM technologies you use in your classroom?