Why is STEM Important

Young Engineers is passionate about STEM so it is probably worth thinking about what STEM means. The Scottish government defines STEM as follows:

• Science enables us to develop our interest in, and understanding of, the living, material and physical world and develop the skills of collaboration, research, critical enquiry and experimentation.
• Technology covers a range of fields which involve the application of knowledge and skills to extend human capabilities and to help satisfy human needs and wants, operating at the interface of science and society. This covers business, computing science, chemicals, food, textiles, craft, design, engineering, graphics and applied technologies.
• Engineering a specific branch of the technologies, draws on scientific methods and knowledge to address and solve real-world problems.
• Mathematics underpins all of STEM, this includes numeracy, and equips us with the skills we need to interpret and analyse information, simplify and solve problems, assess risk and make informed decisions

We are all surrounded by technology. From our smartphones and tablets to electric cars and wind turbines for renewable energy, the 21st century is driven by developments in engineering and technology. In a mere 25 years the internet as become a central part of our daily lives. We use space based GPS systems to drive from A to B and anyone can get their own DNA sequenced. As our young people grow up in this world it is becoming increasingly important that we find ways to help them engage with subjects and topics in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Issues such as sustainability, managing the planet’s resources and using renewable energy appropriately are all challenges that can benefit from the work of mathematicians, scientists and engineers across many disciplines.

Here at Young Engineers we want to encourage children to embrace STEM at an early age. By working with primary school children we help them develop a better understanding of technical ideas and to grasp difficult concepts in a more seamless and natural way. By utilising the Young Engineers proprietary model plans designed by professional ICT experts, Engineers and Architects, our classes and workshops take STEM concepts from the textbook into an imaginative, 3-dimensional, hands-on learning experience. Young Engineers classes provide a learning environment where children are educated and empowered to develop their skills and abilities in critical thinking, creativity, organisational skills, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Our programmes are positioned to support and enhance the Curriculum for Excellence and specifically the Technology and Expressive Arts elements, while also investing in the development of the STEM skill set for children of the 21st Century.

We can work with school teachers to determine which of our educational learning themes will most appropriately demonstrate core STEM concepts within the existing curriculum for Primary and early Secondary aged children. Each of our LEGO® construction models comprise at least two levels of difficulty specifically designed to cater to the different abilities of school students.

In addition to our LEGO based programmes we will soon be launching two new programmes, the first offering Robotics and Coding experience and the second Electronic Engineering, both tailored to students at National 5 level