Top 5 Reasons Why High School Educators Need A High-Impact STEM Program

With technology and engineering jobs on the rise, high school educators can no longer ignore the value of developing a solid and multifaceted STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program for the whole school. Although NSHSS and its partners commit to supporting the success of today's scholars, we also passionately assist educators with exclusive NSHSS benefits. 

STEM education exposes students to possible career paths and opens the door to viable STEM scholarships. This article examines the top five reasons educators need hands-on experiences in a broad range of STEM classes, clubs, and other programs that advance all high school students regardless of their interests and future aspirations.

1. STEM teaches valuable problem-solving skills for STEM and non-STEM jobs.

STEM coursework prepares high school students who plan to go into STEM careers, making them top candidates for STEM scholarships available through NSHSS. However, STEM courses teach every student how to solve problems through logical, systematic approaches that will help them succeed in any field. It challenges them with diverse projects and hands-on assignments to first identify the problem's root, propose a hypothesis, test their theories, gather their data, analyze trends, and finally, present a workable solution. Students who don't go into STEM careers gain valuable insight from experiential learning that builds their confidence in solving any problem, including the non-scientific variety.

2. STEM classes enhance communications skills with unique experiences in teamwork.

Since technology today allows coworkers to collaborate in-person or virtually, teamwork is a critical skill to succeed in most everything from securing full-ride STEM scholarships to your dream internship at a tech or Big Four firm. STEM classes regularly involve students in team activities that teach them to work together in large groups of people with diverse backgrounds and personalities, whether hands-on for a laboratory assignment or virtually on an engineering problem. These challenges not only build collaboration skills but active listening and formal presentation expertise as well. These skills are essential for today's scholars to make the best of the benefits of NSHSS from high school to college and beyond.

3. STEM programs teach students how to cope with change confidently.

Considering that many high school students experience anxiety and stress when dealing with change, STEM classes provide them with the necessary coping mechanisms to learn new skills and learn from the setbacks. STEM coursework builds the confidence to pursue competitive STEM scholarships like a pro and deal with failures with resilience and flexibility. Adapting to uncertain times, new environments, and uncomfortable situations through STEM classes make for the well-rounded students colleges love. They're crucial to unlocking once-in-lifetime opportunities offered through  NSHSS that students might be reluctant to pursue otherwise.

4. Comprehensive STEM high school education, including curriculum, clubs, and other programs, prepare students for STEM scholarships for college, careers, and life.

Educators must understand that STEM education prepares students of every level and interest by exposing them to STEM-related subjects and hands-on experiences. Afterward, students who might have otherwise felt unqualified could develop a genuine interest and pursue STEM scholarships for college and, later, a job in a STEM field. Whether or not that happens, students will enhance their high school education with a STEM curriculum, clubs, and other programs and be better able to face the challenges of the considerably information-based, highly technological modern world in whatever profession they pursue. Non-STEM scholars, for example, will have an easier time making the most of the benefits of NSHSS, from career networking to top-tier internships to overall personal growth when grounded with STEM skills.

5. Finally, educators can emphasize the importance of technology skills in enjoyable and effective ways with STEM.

The everyday life tasks of attending classes, collaborating with coworkers, and socializing with friends, require basic technical skills. Teachers can present STEM education even to the most reluctant students as essential to success in 2021 and beyond. While the aim is to spark the student's interest in STEM fields to pursue STEM scholarships and a STEM job in the future, STEM can likewise expand the high school curriculum and extracurricular activities in fun, engaging, and life-changing ways. STEM can be a blast when teachers take the proper steps to make it entertaining and rewarding.

While there's a great deal of buzz about STEM right now, a STEM education along with discovering the benefits of NSHSS membership can provide today's scholars with lifelong skills to be tomorrow's leaders in any field.