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Top 3 Trends in STEAM Education for 2024

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Thriving in Tomorrow’s Classroom: Top 3 Trends in STEAM Education for 2024

Welcome to 2024, where, despite the absence of a human colony on the Moon (come on NASA!) – we are undeniably living through the future of education with even more emphasis on STEAM education. 

STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) will continue its momentum as an important pillar of K-12 school curriculums around the world to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. However, this journey can be both thrilling and perplexing for parents. 

This blog is your dedicated guide to the latest trends in STEAM education, personalized for parents seeking to empower their children on the path to academic success and future opportunities in 2024 and beyond! 

Wiz Robotics staff picking up robotics pieces

What is STEAM?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. It is a merger of subjects with the goal of developing technical and critical thinking skills for modern learners. 

STEAM education has been – and will continue to be – a hot topic worldwide. Governments worldwide are continuously looking for ways to help students build the solid foundation they need for the future. 

Read more about this on our blog STEM in the Curriculum: 5 reasons why it’s important. 

Why is STEAM important 

STEAM education is important for students as it provides a range of skills and competencies that could easily be adapted across disciplines.

Some of the key reasons for STEAM education include: 

  • STEAM education encourages innovation and creativity. 
  • STEAM education helps to develop science literacy. 
  • There are many transferable skills that students could learn from STEAM education including problem solving, critical thinking, team work, and communication. 

Read more about skills in our blog articles: 

Navigating the digital classrooms

During the last couple of years, digital classrooms have taken off as essential tools in education. The integration of digital tools and online platforms with in person teaching has become instrumental in providing dynamic and accessible educational experiences for students. As a parent, there will be tricky parts as you help your children adapt to the new environment. Let’s delve into the increasing role of digital tools, share tips for success,, and highlight the significance of cultivating digital literacy skills in the modern educational landscape. 

Artificial Intelligence and STEAM Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undeniably taken the world by storm in the past year. We ran a simple comparison of Google trends on the worldwide interests for STEM education vs. AI education and AI has overtaken STEM education. AI will continue to be a trend for education in 2024 and beyond.  

AI has existed for a while but has only become more relevant to the general public with the launch of ChatGPT. Despite some of the debate about AI’s role in education, we believe that it’s an important tool that could help with students’ learning. 

Read more about how AI can supplement education in our blog post. 

We envision a future where teachers and students will be able to embrace AI to supplement education. ChatGPT is a great tool that will be able to elevate the STEM learning experience of students as long as it’s used properly. 

VR & AR for STEAM education 

Technological advancement will continue to push immersive learning as a trend for 2024. Immersive learning involves using technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to create engaging and interactive educational experiences. 

Side note – have you seen the latest Apple Vision Pro? We can’t wait to see how this could be applied for education. 

Immersive learning can transform the way students learn STEAM. VR and AR will be able to let students experience scenarios and apply their knowledge in simulations that would otherwise be impossible in real life. Additionally, it makes learning more interactive and engaging. Students will be able to visualize complex data and tools better with the help of VR and AR tools. 

This is a trend that we are the most excited about and we would love to see more opportunities of applying it in STEAM education. 

Continuous push for STEAM education in the curriculum

Back in 2022, the Government of Ontario revamped high school courses in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), to ensure students are better prepared for the workforce of tomorrow. Updates to 2024 include “a new Technological Education curriculum, beginning with revised Grade 9 and Grade 10 courses” happening in September. 

Source: Ontario Modernizing Computer Studies and Tech-Ed Curriculum to Ensure Students Are Prepared for the Jobs of the Future

Similarly, many other governments around the world are continuing to push for emphasis on STEAM education.

Hear from Wiz

Our team at Wiz Robotics are very excited about these exciting trends happening in the STEAM education space and we can’t wait to share learnings and resources with our students and parents.

STEAM education is important and governments are taking action. The rising trend of mandatory technology courses across various school boards underscores the necessity for students to become more technically proficient. Many parents think that this just means giving students technology – but that isn’t really it. It is teaching students to be software adaptable, being proficient at coding, and learn general math skills and such.

– JF, Wiz Robotics

Tips for success

Navigating digital classrooms can be challenging for parents and students alike but can also be a rewarding experience.

Here are some tips for success:

  • Familiarize yourself with the digital tools and platforms so you can help your children on this journey
  • Digital literacy goes beyond learning about making decisions based on facts and research. It’s a good opportunity to educate your children on online safety, privacy, and instill good habits regarding online behaviour. 
  • Promote self-advocacy with your children as digital classrooms and tools pose a different dynamic as in-person learning. Encourage them to ask questions, seek clarification, and communicate with teachers when needed.
  • Be patient with both yourself and your children as navigating new tools will be a learning process for both of you. 

Still confused about what to do next? 

At Wiz Robotics, we have exciting STEM learning programs to help you get started with STEM education. Our programs offer exciting and engaging hands-on opportunities for students to be equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed.

Try a demo class and see for yourself!

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Competition Education Resources Engineering Stem Education

Top 5 Unique STEAM Careers in 2024

A year ago, we wrote about 5 Unique Jobs in STEM You Didn’t Know Existed. Fast forward to 2023, we now have an updated list of super interesting careers that will make you excited about having a future in STEAM!

STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. If you mix in “Art”, it becomes STEAM.

In the past, STEM fields have suffered from stereotypes partly influenced by media portrayals. According to a study conducted in 2018, negative stereotypes surrounding STEM have actually deterred women from pursuing STEM and being motivated to pursue these fields.

Photo by Desola Lanre-Ologun on Unsplash

Our goal at Wiz Robotics is to inspire future engineers, entrepreneurs & innovators. It’s time to change the how STEM careers have been perceived and motivate the future generation to think differently about the vast number of possibilities that STEM could bring.

Having said that, we are very excited to share with you our updated list of Top 5 Cool STEAM Careers to Consider in 2023!

Pastry Chef

Have you wondered why chocolate needs to be tempered before reaching the most optimal state for eating and baking? Or why adding different ingredients can result in different cake textures?

It’s all science!

Baking is part science, part math, and part art. Pastry chef is the perfect demonstration of a STEAM career that combines STEM, creativity, and art. Getting the most optimal combination of texture, taste, and presentation is not as easy as it seems.

In order to become a pastry chef, you would need formal training through an accredited facility. Some hiring managers might even prefer a bachelor’s degree.

If you are as passionate about pastries (or eating them) as I am, this is a fun and unique career to consider!

Photo by Elevate on Unsplash

Game Physics Programmer

What if I told you that you CAN have fun by studying physics?

A Physics Programmer apply math and physics to the art of game design. They are the ones whose code could enable you to experience shockwaves of an explosion in the game or a car crashing through the waves as if you were physically there in the virtual world.

Physics programmers requires a high level knowledge of physics and programming. They also should have a sense of gameplay and know how to blend in realism in games with fun components.

Being a physics programmer will make your dream of playing games for work become a reality.

Photo by Sean Do on Unsplash

Underwater Archaeologist

What does Titanic, Treasure Island, and Life of Pi share in common? — Shipwrecks!

Underwater or Marine archaeology is a field of archaeology practiced underwater. According to the National Marine Protected Areas,

Underwater Archaeology is the systematic documentation and recovery of information from submerged artifacts and underwater sites for the interpretation of past human cultures. Artifacts and sites, the locations of past human activity, possess information about human behavior in both the nature of the objects and in their exact distribution on or under the seafloor.

In simple words — shipwrecks and lost treasures!

Underwater archaeologists will get to dive deep into the ocean to discover the secrets of the ocean depths and search for shipwrecks and lost civilizations.

There are only around 15 universities worldwide that offer a degree in marine or underwater archeology. Diving training is also a must. Most professionals have a master’s or doctorate in this field.

Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Medical Illustrator

“I love science but I also love art. Is there a job where I can do both at the same time?” YES — Medical illustrator is the answer.

A medical illustrator combines their expert knowledge of health sciences and artistic ability to explain medical principles and theories to the public. Their work may appear in textbooks and scientific journals, including educational materials such as brochures or booklets, video tutorials, and in-person exhibitions.

There are no undergraduate programs in medical illustrations. Professional medical illustrators often earn a master’s degree in medical illustration from an accredited graduate institution. Admission requirements general involve a bachelor’s degree with a major in art and a minor in the biological sciences, or a major in science with a minor in art, is preferred. On top of that, a portfolio of artwork and a personal interview are generally required.

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

3D Printing Engineer

3D technology is becoming a game changer in making technological advances in the world. It’s also one of the rapidly emerging fields.

3D Printing allows engineers to create sometimes extremely complex prototypes efficiently. Being able to understand and know how to operate 3D printing is very valuable.

In order to become one, you typically need a degree in engineering. Some of the more relevant fields are: Materials & Chemical Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering/Mechatronics, and Civil Engineering. However if you are more interested in the design aspect of 3D printing, 3D Modelling/Industrial Design is the degree to go for.

Photo by Tom Claes on Unsplash

A career is STEM is not about doing “boring work in unpleasant settings”. It’s important to show students the diverseness of the industry to get them excited about a future of STEM.

Let us become your partner in STEM education!

At Wiz Robotics, our STEM classes offer exciting and engaging opportunities for students to practice problem solving.

Try a demo class and see for yourself!

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Education Resources Science & Tech

What’s this James Webb Telescope that Everyone is Talking About?

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

NASA achieved an amazing milestone with the James Webb Telescope on Jan. 24th. What does this mean?

One of the biggest headlines in STEM that happened during the past week has got to be the James Webb Telescope.

NASA announced on January 24th that the $10 billion observatory has finally reached its destination after travelling nearly 1.6 million km (1 million mi.) since its Christmas Day launch.

Why should you care about the James Webb Telescope?

The Webb will help us gaze deeper into the history never seen before! We are talking about the very first stars and galaxies from over 13.5 billion years ago.

The James Webb Telescope Explained

Here are some quick facts that you should know about the Webb Telescope:

  • At a cost of $10 billion, the Webb Telescope and its flight was the culmination of 25 years of research and development.
  • It is the largest, most powerful and complex telescope that NASA has ever launched into space.
Artist’s representation of what the unfurled James Webb Space Telescope would look like in space. — NASA
  • It weights 13,700 lbs — roughly the mass of a full-size school bus.
  • At 69.5 ft x 46.5 ft (21 m x 14m), the Webb Telescope is comparable to a tennis court.
  • The Webb Telescope is equipped with a revolutionary set of 18 hexagonal mirror segments. This honeycomb arrangement allows for it to have the largest possible reflective surface area to make observations with the least amount of gap. Read more about the mirrors here and here.
  • The Webb Telescope is so sensitive that it could theoretically detect the heat signature of a bumblebee at the distance of the moon.
  • An international team of scientists, engineers, and technicians from 14 countries spent 40 million total hours building the Webb Telescope.

Fun facts

The James Webb Telescope is supposed to be in service for the next 20 years. Have you wondered how it can stay in deep space for so long?

TIME magazine wrote that:

The telescope was launched with a full tank of maneuvering fuel, enough for it to operate for at least 10 years — not bad, but not nearly as long as the 32 years and counting that the Hubble Space Telescope has been in service in a stable low-Earth orbit, where it needs no such fuel.

So… How is the Webb going to stay in service?

Of course the engineers had already considered this aspect. They had built the Webb with a special refill port that would allow for a spacecraft to come in and fuel the tank.

The catch is — this type of spacecraft doesn’t exist yet and NASA only has a decade to make it happen.

But no need to worry!

The European Space Agency Ariane 5 rocket that launched the Webb placed it on a trajectory so true that the telescope had to use virtually none of its precious fuel on outward-bound course corrections, extending its operational life to what engineers now predict could be 20 years or more.

So there we go! Problem solved.

The first images from the Webb Telescope is expected to come in 6 months or earlier. We can’t wait to see how they look like!

Learn more about the Webb Telescope on NASA’s website.

Is space exploration something up your alley?

The Wiz Prodigy Online STEM Competition lets you develop your skills in coding and engineering while further explore your passion in space exploration!

Each individual or team registration will come with an at-home robotics kit accompanied by the Wiz online learning platform so you can learn to code and build your own robotics space rover.

You can learn more about the 2022 Wiz Prodigy Online STEM Competition directly on the website. Be sure to also check out the amazing Cybertruck creations from the 2021 Wiz Prodigy Competition!

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