Why STEM Opportunities Are Important for Middle and High Schoolers

There’s a reason why it’s important for students to start STEM early: according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the majority of Americans learn most of what they know about science and engineering as middle school and high school students. 

Engaging students in science and engineering in middle and high school allows them to engage with the world in new ways by providing them with an opportunity to develop questions and establish the direction for their own learning experiences, according to the National Academies. 

That is why starting STEM early is a priority across education, encompassing national initiatives such as the United States Department of Education’s Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students and ranging to how teachers introduce and incorporate these topics in the classroom. 

Engaging students in early STEM activities isn’t solely a task for teachers; colleges and universities, nonprofits, and other organizations play a pivotal role in providing students in sixth through 12th grade with a chance to immerse themselves in STEM. 

For example, Illinois Institute of Technology’s Elevate College Prep is a one-of-a-kind pre-college program that is rooted in STEM and sets young learners up for success in college and their careers through opportunities such as dual-enrollment courses, summer programs, apprenticeships, and multi-year programs that provide students from underrepresented groups an entry point to STEM and the resources to keep them engaged. Illinois Tech also engages community and local schools through events that introduce STEM topics and career paths.  

“It’s an honor to partner with higher education institutions that understand that early access is the key to long-term success when it comes to STEM,” says Tammera Holmes, who founded AeroStar Avion Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit that serves as an educational pipeline for underrepresented groups and has partnered with Illinois Tech on aviation-themed STEM events since 2017.

Three reasons why students should start STEM early: 

1. Enable Analytical and Critical Thinkers

Developing these skills are crucial, particularly as the world continues to shift around us. 

“In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions,” the Department of Education says on its Raise the Bar resource site.

In conjunction with what is taught in the classroom, initiatives such as Illinois Tech’s DevUp Scholars Program, summer programs, dual-enrollment courses, and apprenticeships can help students develop these skills through workshops, college-level courses and other programming that takes place on its campus, and by connecting them with mentors. 

2. Foster the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs

Whether it’s creating initial opportunities in STEM for middle school students or by finding new ways to engage high school students, an education steeped in hands-on science and engineering experiences increases students’ conceptual knowledge and improves their reasoning and problem-solving skills, according to the National Academies’ report, Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center.

“I never had that 100 percent support…as a kid,” says Illinois Tech student King Ankobea-Ansah (Ph.D. MAE Student), who volunteered at the university’s aviation-themed Family Fun Day in October 2022. He added of events such as Family Fun Day: “I believe these experiences will have a compounding effect in the future, and provide an advantage in bridging the minority representation chasm that exists in STEM.” 

3. Provide an Opportunity for Students to Engage in Twenty-First Century Skills

Illinois Tech created its Elevate program to provide its students with hands-on experiences and mentorship so that they can become uniquely career-ready, a blueprint Elevate College Prep works to achieve with middle school and high school students.  

By taking part in these experiences and by starting STEM early, students develop skills in      design thinking, teamwork, problem solving, and global awareness.

“If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEM fields is essential,” the Department of Education says on its STEM initiative site. 

Interested in getting your student started in STEM early? Visit the Elevate College Prep website to learn about all the STEM-focused opportunities that are available beginning in summer 2023. 

Sources: 

STEM Education Teaching and Learning—National Science Teaching Association

Science and Engineering for Grades 6–12: Investigation and Design at the Center—National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students—U.S. Department of Education

Why a tech education is vital in helping kids accomplish their dreams—CyberWise