What a STEM Education Really Offers – And Why it’s More Important Now than Ever

As a father with four kids at home during this time of self-isolation and quarantine, like many other parents, in the past few months, I found myself in a surprising new role: Teacher. Also like many, I gained a new appreciation for all that my children’s teachers and teachers across the country do.

To them, I express my unending gratitude. Thank you.

With this new view on my own kids’ education, and with an eye on the daily headlines in the news, one thing has become clear to me: STEM education—the study of science, technology, engineering and math—is more important now than ever.

Consider the number of companies that have pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide vital services during this time: Distilleries, for example, are shifting resources towards producing hand sanitizer. Major car makers, including my former colleagues at Ford, are now producing ventilators. And vacuum behemoth Dyson is also getting into the ventilator game with a new design that the company claims can be made faster than other models.  

I am incredibly fortunate to have studied under some of the greatest STEM educators in the world. As I see these shifts taking place in the world around me, it’s clear that the benefits of a STEM education are exactly what’s enabling the kind of nimble pivots these companies are making to effect change for the better.

With a STEM education, you don’t just learn how to solve math equations, or mix solutions in test tubes, or write lines of code. You gain critical skills, such as:

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a complex subject and varying definitions abound, but in essence, it describes the ability to analyze information and make a reasoned judgment(s) based on that information. Often, and especially in trying circumstances like these, we’re faced with difficult decisions that don’t have a clear answer. And making informed, well-reasoned judgments isn’t just an important ability for the individuals at the very top of an organization; it’s this kind of thinking that helps anyone to be an efficient, highly valued contributor to the organization’s success, whatever the task at hand.

Curiosity

With a strong STEM education, curiosity is celebrated and explored. After all, it’s through curiosity that science, technology, and mathematics have advanced to where they are today—and of course, there’s still much more to explore. Being curious means that you never stop seeking opportunities to learn, and you don’t necessarily accept the status quo. Because of that, curiosity is a cornerstone of innovation. It helps you see possibilities—like, say, spinning up a hand sanitizer manufactory out of a distillery.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is fundamental to math, science, technology and engineering. And it’s a skill that absolutely carries through to any career path—no matter your profession, the ability to approach a problem, apply critical thinking, and find solutions, will be a tremendous asset. Right now, businesses of all stripes are facing some of the biggest problems they’ll ever face, and too often, their very survival depends on it. Having solid problem-solvers in the room can make all the difference.

Adaptability

STEM helps us see the possibilities of how one type of design can be applied to entirely new fields. This is how automakers can become ventilator-makers over the span of a month or two. By teaching our children how to apply engineering and design in new and different ways, they can rapidly adapt to the changes that the external environment brings. One of my favorite quotes, which is frequently misattributed to Charles Darwin but a great quote nonetheless, says, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” STEM prepares us to adapt to changing situations.

Summer may have just begin, but many of us parents are looking forward to the days when our kids are back in school (to be fair, many of the kids are too). In the meantime, there are some great resources out there to help your kids learn some of these basics while under your tutelage. One great example is the STEM Lab on 4-H at Home, an online portal with university-developed activities from across all areas of STEM, several of which were created in partnership with other organizations including TD Ameritrade. Khan Academy also offers a number of videos and STEM-related challenges. These activities, aimed at kids of all ages, are a great way to use this time to supplement their home-school curriculum, or keep them engaged and learning over the summer break. You never know, it could spark an interest in a career in STEM, or at the very least give them a head start on the skills they’ll need to face whatever life throws their way.