The Roots of STEM Success: Changing Early Learning Experiences to Build Lifelong Thinking Skills

January 1st, 2018 | RESEARCH

This position paper, co-authored Center for Childhood Creativity's Director Elizabeth Rood and Director of Research Helen Hadani, details the importance of exposing children ages 0-8 to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences. The review of more than 150 empirical studies led Rood and Hadani to conclude that, despite what has been previously thought, modern research supports the understanding that children are capable of abstract thinking and STEM-learning from infancy, beginning before their first birthday.

The Roots of STEM Success, authored in support of classroom teachers, informal educators, experience designers, and families, offers six research-backed findings to be considered when redesigning STEM education. These findings show that formal education, informal education, and at-home learning all need to be re-evaluated for the ways in which they can help support our youngest learners to build STEM knowledge. The paper also shares practical tips for how adults can introduce children to STEM-based experiences as part of daily life.

Document

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Team Members

Helen Shwe Hadani, Author, Center for Childhood Creativity at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Elizabeth Rood, Author
Amy Eisenmann, Contributor
Ruthe Foushee, Contributor
Garrett Jaeger, Contributor
Gina Jaeger, Contributor
Joanna Kauffmann, Contributor
Katie Kennedy, Contributor
Lisa Regalla, Contributor

Funders

Funding Source: Private Foundation
Funding Program: Thomas P. Murphy Fund at the San Diego Foundation

Related URLs

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Tags

Audience: Educators | Teachers | Elementary School Children (6-10) | Evaluators | Families | Learning Researchers | Museum | ISE Professionals | Parents | Caregivers | Pre-K Children (0-5)
Discipline: Education and learning science | General STEM
Resource Type: Report | Research Products
Environment Type: Afterschool Programs | Community Outreach Programs | Exhibitions | Informal | Formal Connections | K-12 Programs | Media and Technology | Museum and Science Center Exhibits | Museum and Science Center Programs | Pre-K | Early Childhood Programs | Public Programs | Summer and Extended Camps