Provide hands-on experience

  • 5 minutes

Girls who participate in STEM clubs and activities outside of school are more likely to say they'll pursue STEM subjects later in their education. Almost a third (31%) of girls surveyed participate in extracurricular STEM clubs and activities. Compared to class instruction, these activities tend to be more hands-on and practical. That kind of exposure has a profound impact on how girls feel and what they know about STEM subjects and careers.

Lessons and classroom tools have been developed that are low-cost, highly effective, and engaging.

Infographic showing middle school girls who participate in STEM clubs/activities are more likely to say they'll study STEM subjects in high school.

Link to text version of infographic

Hacking STEM activities provide opportunities for learners to build low-cost solutions like anemometers using craft supplies and a little technology. Depending on access to other technology like Arduinos, learners can easily analyze results using data science techniques with provided software with some well-written technical instructions.

Educators looking to connect STEM to concepts like transmitting data and the internet have learner teams make a Morse code machine and interpreter. Here, learners use easily accessible maker content to demonstrate how transmitting signals works.

Screenshot of the Hacking STEM homepage.

Minecraft Education provides opportunities for learners to virtually build sustainable homes and cities and even export that content into a mixed reality tool like Paint 3D. Schools with Office 365 accounts may already have access to Minecraft Education licenses or may need to purchase licenses to provide engaging, immersive work for learners.

Additionally, learners can use MakeCode with Minecraft Education to program an agent to construct a sustainable building, very much like using artificial intelligence and programming robots.

There’s even Computer Science curriculum for educators. Learners design in teams and collaborate on their solution. This way, the whole class is doing more hands-on learning and is more engaged in making.

Pause and ponder

How does hands-on learning using Hacking STEM or Minecraft Education provide context to solving real-world problems?