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 is STEM?
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. learn what our national partners are doing to ignite innovation.
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 by expanding STEM Hubs and the resources they offer to all regions across Florida.
Resources
Together with partners, Florida After School identifies low and no cost resources to help out-of-school time professionals weave STEM learning opportunities into existing programs. the partners listed on this page have been tested and approved by our team to help you excel!
Why is STEM important?
Getting more young people engaged in STEM is essential in part because jobs in STEM continue to grow at rates double those of non-STEM professions. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects STEM occupations to grow by 8 percent between 2019 and 2029, compared to 3.4 percent for non-STEM occupations. Wages for STEM occupations are also much higher than for non-STEM occupations, meaning they provide financial security to individuals from all backgrounds and a pathway to financial independence for students from low-income communities.
Providing greater opportunities for STEM learning isn’t just about preparing the future workforce. As our world continues to rely more and more on technology, we all require a greater level of STEM literacy and fluency to understand how science and technology play a role. Greater STEM literacy also helps prepare students to better understand challenges and issues that affect them and their communities.
Million Girls Moonshot
Florida After School is proud to be a part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next five years.
The Million Girls Moonshot will not only allow girls to envision themselves as future innovators, but it will increase the quality of out-of-school STEM learning opportunities for all young people, particularly underserved and underrepresented youth.
Learn more about the Million Girls Moonshot in Florida here!