Will Adults Shaping Kids' STEM Futures Please Stand Up…to Be Rewarded
CSIRO
Key points
Young people need a diverse skill set to prepare them for jobs that might not yet exist.
We share key tips for adults to help young people build 21st century skills.
Applications are open to be recognised for engaging Year 5-10s in STEM.
As technology advances and new challenges arise, the demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills will keep growing. For instance, Australia needs 650,000 more tech workers by 2030. We need a solid pipeline of STEM talent to keep up with a rapidly changing world, and our kids need to be equipped to navigate this future.
It's easy to think that the role of teaching children STEM lies solely with schools. Australia's teachers are working hard on this front, but they can't do it alone.
As STEM professionals, parents and members of our communities, we often underestimate the impact we can have on young people's learning, skill development, interests and career ambitions.
"I didn't know you could fly drones for a job!" is a common phrase from Young Future Shapers when they meet Amanda Meys, CSIRO's Chief Remote Pilot.
You cannot be what you cannot see
"The more that young people are exposed to the possibilities in STEM, the more likely they are to develop an interest in it," said Amy Boulding, Program Manager for CSIRO's STEM Together program.
"Every time we take our Young Future Shapers on a STEM camp, they meet a professional in a field of study they never knew existed and a portion of the group walks away considering a whole new career path," she added.
They simply need someone to show them what a real career in STEM looks like.
It's why volunteering for programs like STEM Professionals in Schools can be so valuable to students and rewarding for those working in STEM.
A conundrum for parents
Research shows that parents have the strongest influence on a student's subject and career choice.
Understandably, when it comes to supporting their child's study and career path, some parents may feel like they don't know where to start.
The world, the work we do and how we do it is changing so rapidly. We are trying to understand what fields are evolving, fading or emerging. It may be hard to give a child study and career advice when it's not clear what occupations will be on offer in their future.
Jen Malone: parent, founder of the Young Astronauts Club and Adult Future Shaper
Building a future proof skillset
What is clear is the need for '21st Century Skills'. These are transferable skills that are highly valued in a world where adaptability is key. Skills like problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, teamwork and resilience are naturally strengthened through STEM study.
Best of all, you don't need a specialist STEM or education background to support kids' STEM interests, skills or learning.
Jen Malone is a great example. She's a mum from Far North Queensland who noticed her daughter's growing interest in space, so she founded the Young Astronauts Club.
She was surprised when around 65 students from local schools joined. They meet online and in person to research topics together and hear from guest speakers. She shows how parents can foster curiosity and teamwork by taking an interest in what their child is into.
We recognised her as an 'Adult Future Shaper', alongside others working in their communities to help students to build confidence and skills with STEM.
With the $3000 support package she received, she could have chosen an experience to build her own STEM capability, with a trip to a conference or support running a STEM event. Instead, she chose to spend it on resources for the Club. They now have a collection of space-themed activities to spark curiosity, including an International Space Station Lego set and an inflatable moon.
Five tips to build 21st Century skills
We asked CSIRO's STEM Together team for their tips to help young people build their skillset for the future:
Celebrate the wins and the misses: Encourage them to challenge themselves and see failure as an opportunity to build skills, learn from mistakes and build a growth mindset.
Let them find out: Instead of just answering their questions or responding that you don't know, encourage them to research the answer or enjoy finding it out together. This builds their curiosity, confidence and problem-solving skills (and your mentoring abilities.)
Prompt them with curious questions: Use additive, subtractive or combinational thinking to spark curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. "What superpower would you have to improve the world?", "How would your life change without the internet?", "What if our dog had thumbs?"
Let them hypothesise: Before showing them something new, ask them to predict what will happen and why. Later, ask them why they think it happened the way it did. It creates a safe space to make observations and get it wrong. Predicting travel times or the total cost of the family grocery shop can make mundane tasks more interesting.
Acknowledge the behaviour, not the outcome: Celebrate their courage at trying new things and their effort, not just what they achieved at the end. If they've worked towards a good grade, acknowledging them with "well done, you've worked so hard!" can be more impactful than "well done, you got a great mark!" It helps them to build a growth mindset, value persistence and foster a love of lifelong learning.
For more handy STEM-career resources, information and programs for parents and students, check out our With STEM You Can site.
Adult Future Shapers can be parents, educators, STEM professionals, youth activity group leaders and other members of the community.
Calling Adult Future Shapers
If you or someone you know helps young people in Years 5-10 to strengthen their confidence, capability and connection with STEM, we want to know about it.
CSIRO is looking for its next cohort of Adult Future Shapers to reward.
They'll access individualised success plans, virtual events and a bespoke support package worth $3000 to help them or their community take their interest in STEM further.
Applications close on 5 December.
STEM Together is powered by CSIRO and BHP Foundation.
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