STEM Learning
K-12 students spend just 20% of their 16 waking hours in school. More than 80% of the remaining time is spent learning outside of school—at afterschool and summer programs, in libraries, at home, or in the community. When we use these times to engage students in quality STEM learning experiences, their academic performance in school improves. Even more, students in STEM improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills making STEM experiences essential to workforce development. Afterschool and summer programs are a natural space for students to explore, learn, and grow with STEM.
WHAT & WHY
STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. But STEM education is far more than just sticking those subject titles together. It’s a philosophy of education that embraces teaching skills and subjects in a way that resembles real life.
STEM IN FLORIDA
According to the America After 3PM survey, 504,759 children across Florida participate in an afterschool program. Yet, nearly 30% of those youth do not have access to STEM learning opportunities. We want to change that.
RESOURCES
Together with partners, the Florida Afterschool Network has curated a list of available and mostly free resources (organized by grade level) to help OST professionals weave STEM learning opportunties into existing programs.