Sparking an Interest and Filling a Gap 3 tips for encouraging an interest in Science, Math & Technology by Erica Yaeger
1. Visit your local science center!
Research demonstrates that learning science and math is enhanced through experiential learning opportunities. There are several re- sources in the Metroplex that provide hands- on activities designed to inspire discovery and innovation. Learn about gasses while concocting liquid nitrogen ice-cream. Experi- ment in nanotechnology while extracting DNA from strawberries. These activities can trigger those “aha” moments.
ap. It is a strange, little word, yet it signifies infinite possibility. Definitions range from a break in a barrier to an interruption of continuity to a conspicuous disparity.
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At a time when technological innovation increasingly drives global economic and cultural development, our students are turning away from careers in science and engineering, which is creating an alarming gap in our country: a gap that local informal learning organizations such as the Museum of Nature and Science and Sci-Tech Discovery Center are trying to bridge.
In the U.S., our children’s deficiencies in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM fields, have been described as a national crisis. According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in these fields has declined by 18% in the past 20 years. Within a decade, 90% of the world’s scientists and engineers will be originating in Asia.
This increasing demand for scientific literacy is exactly why it is critical to spark interest and help equip our area’s future workforce with essential skills in science, math and technology. Here are some tips on how you can encourage your child.
14 North Texas Kids • July 2011 •
www.NorthTexasKids.com
2. Maintain a positive attitude toward science and math.
Science Geek. Math Nerd. It is no wonder that children develop a negative attitude toward these fields. As a soci- ety we need to work harder to change these attitudes and it can begin at home. Be inquisitive together. Show your child that science can be cool by demonstrating your own enthusiasm, even if it is feigned!
3. Point out career options.
Young people who are inspired by these experiences are more likely to choose science and technology based ca- reers. According to research conducted in 2000 as part of the National Educational Longitudinal Study, individuals who expected at age 13 to have a science career were two times more likely to graduate with a degree in life science and three times more likely to earn a degree in the physi- cal sciences or engineering. Introduce your children to your friends, neighbors and co-workers who utilize math and science skills on the job in order to show them the relevance.
Erica Yaeger is the Executive Director of Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco and the mom of two budding scientists.
http://www.mindstretchingfun.org
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