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How the STEM Literacy Education Helps the Children with Special Needs Effectively For the Future

7th December 2020

Today, we all are in the STEM generation whose all-inclusive purpose is totally different than a traditional educational approach. Nevertheless, the growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is wide ranging but we have seen that students with special needs have been left out of the discussion. In most of the cases, students with special needs have been understated in STEM fields for numerous years. Therefore, the necessity for providing the special education teachers with the special needs teacher training to advance the results for special needs students in STEM areas is imperative.

Before anything, let’s just understand what STEM education is:

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics = STEM

Well, the STEM education is an experimental learning method to science, which emphasises the tender of different scientific as well as mathematical impressions in real-life circumstances.  The method can prepare the next generation to meet the needs of the business – problem-solving assistances with quick and money-making solutions.

The fundamental elements of STEM education comprise –
 

• Robotics
• Information systems
• Free open-source software
• New technological applications
• Electronic appliances
• Engineering design processes used in a transdisciplinary platform along with the basic concepts of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and information technology

The 5c’s of STEM Education

Well, STEM education is a full research-backed program built on the principle of 5c’s –
 

STEM education is not only helpful for those students who are pursuing professions in science, but also for the special needs kids who could be taught to solve any problem in a methodical approach.

You maybe thinking how is it possible? Keep on reading to find out your answers!

Here are some reasons why the STEM education is effective ---
 

• Ensures the information and technology literacy that serves the purpose of being creative
   
• Makes the learning more interesting with the amalgamation and the incorporation of the real-world scenarios
   
• In the STEM education, the students can recount the perceptions that are being taught to examples from the practical lives
   
• Safeguards the interconnection of technology along with mathematics with other subjects
   
• It is a research-backed curriculum
   
• Encourages the experimentation along with teamwork
   
• Builds resilience
   
• Teaches problem-solving aptitudes
   

There are many more benefits, the above-mentioned ones are some of the most important ones. Generally, by the age of eight years, most of the children advance their interest in technology, nevertheless the transition from a user to a visionary mindset happens in a long process.

Why STEM Education is Necessary for the Early Years of Education

Well, the development of the brain is the most dynamic thing that happens in the growing years during a child’s lifetime. Consequently, it is the best time to familiarize the basic STEM education to aid their curiosity by promoting the growth of assessment plus analytical skills. It is well-known that children learn best by playing – be it different board games, or magic-tricks, or something like that, children learn about a lot of things via playing. This play practice advances their brain flexibility for life-long learning which is crucial for STEM education.

Children get introduced to new words while engaging in STEM experiences that further enrich their vocabulary. Moreover, the primary introduction to new different words connects to different concepts that aids them to master higher-order thinking. Generally, most institutes start STEM education at the elementary level or later and a lot of it is connected with robotics and coding. However, one of the foremost encounters is that the special needs teachers at this level are not well-trained or well-equipped to start this form of education, also they need proper resources as well. Subsequently, it becomes problematic for them to take over this category of education.

Parents play a major role in shaping their kids’ learning process and in the case of children with special needs, they have to give their 200%. Well, the STEM based education can happen at home as well. The training is definitely needed with the help of special needs courses be it online or offline.

Well, today’s generation of children’s future depends on STEM education and we stand within the fourth industrial revolution. We are seeing artificial intelligence, robotics, technological goods, internet and many more things that were being considered impossible during earlier revolutionary periods. NOW they don’t! Similar changes are happening in educational processes as the covid-19 situation has changed a lot of teaching-learning approaches.
 

Well, we understand the fact that the scenario is quite contrasting if we talk about the special education and special needs children. However, we would like to recommend you to incorporate the STEM education while teaching the special needs learners. As a 21st century special needs teaching professional, you need to support them and learn new techniques that can be learned from the special needs teacher training.

Developed countries across the world understood the significance of STEM based education for kids in early years. They are also considering early STEM education to be made vital for economic development to lead the global competition going forward. The special needs children also deserve to get the equal education as each and every child is special and unique. It has been established by the numerous researches that hands-on learning boosts academic success rate of kids.

What do you think?