As school districts across the United States reimagine the start to the school year in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, a parent survey by software and technology manufacturer Emerson finds that a vital part of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education is difficult to translate from the classroom to virtual learning: hands-on experience. A significant majority (91%) of parents point to hands-on experience and experiments as key to motivating their child’s interest in math and science, yet less than four in 10 (39%) parents have done these hands-on experiments in the current remote learning environment. More than eight out of 10 (84%) parents say they would be likely to participate in these activities with their children if given directions, materials and a lesson plan.
This interactive teaching method provides a boost in a much-needed discipline: Nearly 6 in 10 parents (57%) say their child is lagging in at least one subject area, and 3 out of 10 parents name math (31%) as the biggest challenge for their child. On the flip side, 31% of parents say their child is excelling the most at English and reading.
“Educators and families are focused on modifying learning environments to ensure students can continue to learn in a safe way,” says Emerson President Mike Train. “We believe companies have a responsibility to offer resources to help support the next generation of innovators. Part of that is continuing to provide avenues for students to engage with the interactive, hands-on activities that inspire a lifelong love of STEM.”
Through its “We Love STEM” initiative now in its sixth year, Emerson is making hands-on activities and experiments with common household items available for families. To help children in its own Missouri headquarters community, Emerson distributed more than 6,000 kits containing instructions and supplies to elementary and middle-school students in Ferguson, Florissant and Jennings school districts.
These STEM activities are designed to help drive continuity in the hands-on education that students would typically receive in a classroom and support to parents. Nearly 8 out of 10 parents (78%) feel equipped to help their child with schoolwork during the pandemic, but many cite additional resources that would help: increased communication with teachers (52%), a better understanding of the subject matter (51%), more access to teaching materials and resources like a computer or internet access (48%) and more time in the day to devote to helping (43%).
For more information, visit www.emerson.com
Also of interest: Can ChE Students Avoid School Daze? Online engineering education during the pandemic only can go so far.
