FEATURE
Our Children | Fall 2021
The growing need for STEM education
By Heidi Tattrie Rushton
Will our kids be equipped for the workforce of the future?
T
he fields that make up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) are growing quickly, however, multiple studies are predicting that by the time this cohort of elementary and junior-high school students graduate high school, there may be a significant gap between what they’re learning and what they need to know in order to succeed in future STEM-based careers. Sarah Ryan is program director for Brilliant Labs in Nova Scotia. This organization is a not-for-profit, hands-
on technology and experiential learning platform that “supports the integration of creativity, innovation, coding, and an entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms and educational curricula.” Ryan says the projected labour shortage is an issue locally and globally. It affects most of the current STEM fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, cyber security, and aerospace, plus emerging fields like quantum computing. She’s already seeing change
happening in public-school curricula through an increased emphasis on digital skills and computational thinking, which is the core mindset needed for success in computer programming. “Computational thinking begins with pattern recognition and logical reasoning, no devices or screens required,” she explains. “Digital skills are being recognized as invaluable and are being supported through projectbased and hands-on (lessons) to better engage students in developing these skills
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