Engineering news
Teachers believe the curriculum is failing Stem careers and that Stem subjects should be taught with more practical examples, in addition to feeling under-consulted by the government, according to a survey conducted by MathWorks, the creators of MatLab.
The survey found that 61% agree that the current curriculum is failing Stem careers, while just 1% strongly disagree. Only 3% strongly agree that they are ‘well-consulted’ by the government on the current Stem curriculum. In the survey, 87% said Stem should be taught with more practical examples to bring the subject to life for students, while 82% also argue for greater creativity in lessons. However, 66% also continue to support traditional learning methods, such as multiplication tables.
When asked about the role of the parent in Stem education, 63% of teachers argue that parents have a key role to play in the development of a student’s interest in a Stem career. When asked about the biggest influence on a student’s career choice, parental approval ranked first. When asked if parents could do more to encourage students to pursue Stem careers, all respondents agreed, according to MathWorks. When questioned whether greater parental collaboration with schools is needed, 76% concurred.
Additionally, 79% believe that students that spend time enjoying Stem-related extracurricular activities are more engaged with Stem subjects in the classroom. This is in accord with a recent survey of Stem professionals carried out by MathWorks, in which 60% said they grew interested in their subject outside of the classroom, having enjoyed extra-curricular activities like the Science Museum with their families.
According to the survey, 55% of teachers argued that students typically start taking an interest in career choices during Key Stage 3 or earlier. This is believed to be the best time to stimulate children to develop an interest in Stem subjects.
Chris Hayhurst, consulting manager at Mathworks, said: “It’s time to enable young children to get hands-on so they can see that computing, maths and physics are very creative as well as technical. We need to engage them in fun applications of the subject to capture their imagination. These early experiences are really important as they feed into the decisions children make about their own study paths.
“Parents, teachers and those in industry are all responsible for inspiring the next generation. Research shows a person’s early cultural references and values affect their attitudes to a subject. If we provide positive experiences and forge deeper connections, we can change attitudes towards Stem in the long term.”
However, the government recently announced plans to invest £12 million to support the teaching of science in schools, as data showed that more than a quarter of teenagers in England are considering a career in Stem.
The survey questioned 150 specialist Stem teachers that teach students between the ages of 11 and 18 years old.