STEM Skills for Social Science Educators

STEM skills help social science education make their teaching more effective. It is important to social science educators, including the incorporation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in education. For example, educators may use raw data to illustrate social & economic trends. They are able to teach students how to read data presented in graphs and charts. Using GIS educators are able to present maps and demonstrate trends, such as migration & changes in population. Educators certainly are able to incorporate basic coding and digital tools that help–oriented students build simulations using real data. Using STEM will facilitate educators to make their instruction more interesting and relevant to their students. It also help students work on problem-solving skills and learn to think more critically. In addition, STEM can help educators connect classroom learning to real-life issues and prepare students for their future careers.

Introduction:

STEM is not limited to engineers and scientists; social science instructors also need to know how to understand data, use technology, and think analytically, if only because students will benefit. Whether it’s being able to interpret population density maps or analyzing election results, STEM skills provide students with an expansive way to approach the world they are in. This paper examines how professors can or bring STEM practices into their social science classrooms and, more importantly, why they should.

What Are STEM Skills in Social Science?

Why STEM Skills Matter for Social Science Teachers?

Benefits: better student engagement, deeper understanding, future-readiness

Relevance in topics like civics, geography, history, and economics

Practical Ways to Use STEM in the Classroom

1. Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Utilize real-world data such as census data, elections results or climate statistics to have students analyze trends. Ask students to create charts and graphs using programs like Excel or Google Sheets to visualize changes in economy or population. Help students learn to think critically about comparing sources and questioning reliability of data.

2. Mapping and GIS Tools:

Familiarize students with the concept of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) when analyzing migration, urbanization or environmental issues. Have students use tools like Google Earth or ArcGIS to map historical events or trade routes, they could even map the change in land use over time. Encourage students to create story maps to embrace the ways geography and narrative history can be mixed.

3. Digital Simulations and Games:

Utilize online civics simulations like Civics where students can see how government and the legal system works and functions in practice. Conduct mock elections or a model UN debate using digital tools to take students through real-life decisions in a very stimulating and relevant way. Students can still create simple simulations of historical events using online platforms like Scratch or Tynker.

4. Coding and Technology Integration:

Teach students basic coding to model a social system or simulate the outcomes of a historical event. Use a tool like Canva or Piktochart to give students an outlet to create infographics that explain historical or economic concepts. Have students use AR/VR apps (for e.g. – Time Looper, Civilizations AR) to allow for virtual field trips to historical sites.

5. Problem-Based Learning and Engineering:

Assign authentic problems (for example, develop a layout for a city based on people and resources). Use the engineering design process to address problems like traffic congestion, housing projects, or disaster response within a geography or civics framework. Promote cooperative group work to use math and social science data to design a better community.

Challenges in Using STEM

Merging STEM with social science classrooms can be effective but has challenges.

Lack of Teacher’s Training:

One of the challenges can be teachers have limited training with digital devices or data analysis. Many social science teachers come from non-STEM backgrounds and often don‘t know where to start. Some of the solutions are to provide professional development workshops around how to use data and digital devices, or schools may consider teaming up STEM and social science teachers to share tools and practical skills.

Lack of Technology:

Another challenge could be technology may not be readily available to use, especially in schools with less resources. Teachers may also be able to solution this by taking advantage of free or low-tech tools and practices, such as Google Sheets, Google Earth, or printed materials with data sets or maps. They may also suggest students to work collaboratively in groups, just sharing devices, during the hands–on, activities.

Time Limitation:

Another challenge is the time limitations or teachers hurriedly want to cover everything. The solution is to start small with STEM-related activities—whether they are short data interpretation activities or short map analysis activities—to substantively engage with what they are already using. Eventually, the small, anecdotal and commonplace activities can add up and be developed into authentic learning experiences that are richer in content and project-based inquiry.

How to Overcome These Challenges

Here are three concrete ways to tackle the possible difficulties when infusing STEM into social science practice:

Start Small and Use Free Tools

Take Small Steps and Use Free Resources There won‘t be very many obstacles if you start out slowly and minimally by graphing some population data or looking at maps in Google Earth. For example, you can chart add the population of nation–states in a free and accessible platform, like Google Sheets, Canva, or iCivics, with minimal confusion for you and your students.

Seek Collaboration and Peer Support

Collaborate with Colleagues to Share Resources and Rely on Peer Support You can set up a collaboration with a STEM teacher or a tech teacher(s) that you develop a lesson with or, at least, materials/resources to help you. Finding ways to use peer mentoring and informal teacher communities similarly to collaborative learning with students is a great way to build confidence and collaborative strategies.

Join Training Programs and Online Communities

Participate in Training Programs and Online Learning Communities Take advantage of some free and short training courses related to digital literacy or GIS in education – like short online courses or webinars on platforms like Coursera and Teaching Tolerance, or, engage in short training with your local professional development provider.

Online training programs on stem

Here are five reputable online training programs that can help social science educators integrate STEM skills into their teaching:

1. Learn STEM–Course in STEM Innovations and Online Learning – Free:

This course provides educators with access to presentations, tools, and results, teachers can use this for innovative ideas in STEM education and online learning. The course is designed to allow for future ideas in STEM education. learn-stem.org

2. UpEducators– Program to get certified as a STEM Teacher

The 2-month live interactive program will get teachers acquainted with and sharpen skills in robotics, coding, and STEM teaching methodology with endorsement by STEM.org. This program is designed to upskill teachers with new-age skills.

3. Alison – Free Online STEM Courses

Alison has a variety courses for various areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) at varying levels on a range of topics. These courses will assist educators in expanding their STEM knowledge and classroom methods. Alison

4. edX – Learn STEM with Online Courses and Programs

edX provides several varieties of edX online courses to gain skills in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Educators can easily enhance their ability to teach STEM based on their own education history and STEM major and/or degree. edX

5. FutureLearn – STEM Teaching Courses FutureLearn has several online STEM teaching courses which will allow educators to discover how to teach science, technology, engineering and maths. FutureLearn‘s courses are designed to allow teachers to enhance teaching methods.