STEM Education: The Modern Age Learning In Indian Education System

In the age of globalization and a knowledge based economy, technological and scientific innovations have been becoming an integral part of this 21st century. In order to be relevant in the contemporary technology-driven and information-based world, the global economies, including India, are increasingly recognising the essence of STEM education to provide the relevant skills for navigating the complications of today’s world. As per UNESCO, in today’s educational landscape, STEM education is vital in designing a competency-based curriculum, which should be integrated into the regular school curriculum starting from the initial primary level.

Overview of STEM Education

STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, which was coined by the scientific administrations of the National Science Foundation in 2001 in the USA. This refers to the comprehensive approach of studying the mentioned areas, focusing on both theoretical and practical exposure. The primary purpose of this educational system is to build a strong foundation on theoretical knowledge as well as practical knowledge to gain enhanced learning. This study approach is not only related to the memorization of complex scientific theories or formulas, but it fosters the ability to build competencies like collaborative skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which are essential in succeeding in the contemporary evolving circumstances driven by technological advancements and innovation.

Significance of STEM education in India

STEM education does not only emphasise providing knowledge on specific subjects to students but also focuses on creating a mindset emphasising creativity, decision making and problem-solving. The primary factors which influence to build of a strong foundation for this education approach include:

Career growth opportunities

The fastest growing industries at the global level, as well as in India, belong to the STEM fields. There is a high demand for careers in biotechnology, computer science, engineering and data sciences, which leads to the offering of high-paying job opportunities in future. It has been observed that approximately 34 per cent of Indian students prefer to choose STEM degrees to become graduates. STEM education allows students to get access to the required knowledge and skills for excelling in these fields. 

Competitive advantages

In the modern age of globalisation, countries having strong STEM education systems are able to position themselves in a better place to compete with other nations. Therefore, through the substantial investment in this type of education system, India can allow its workforce to be relevant and competitive on the global stage.

Economic development

The disciplines included in this education system are accountable for driving innovation and technological advancements which leads to the acceleration in economic growth. It is important for India to focus on scientific education to develop a skilled workforce that has the potential to drive the technological and economic progress of the country.

Problem-solving 

The practical exposure, along with theoretical knowledge, fosters the capability of analytical thinking and logical reasoning. Students become capable of analysing the problems methodically, identifying the practical evidence and therefore developing the solutions. These competencies are not only essential for getting career opportunities but also in the daily lifestyle.

Navigating global issues

Many of the most prominent issues of the world, including healthcare, climate change, and sustainable developments, need practical, creative solutions. Therefore, it is vital to offer project based learning to the next generation to deal with these challenges efficiently. 

The current landscape of STEM education in India

Initiatives of Government

The government of India has undertaken multiple initiatives to promote STEM in schools. Among these, one of the prominent initiatives is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It provides emphasis on the offering of STEM education on the basis of experimentally based learning rather than rote learning. This also focuses on the reduction of school curriculum to its vital elements to offer practical learning to enhance the creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills of the students.

Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) is another prominent flagship initiative of STEM by the government of India. The ATLs are accountable for developing effective circumstances for school students to get learning on sculpt ideas and innovation skills through involvement in practical activities. These labs have access to cutting-edge advanced technologies and equipment, including robotics kits, 3D printers, and advanced electronics, to facilitate the young students to obtain hands-on learning experiences so that they are able to find creative solutions to the problems existing in the real world.

There are approximately 10000 Atal Tinkering Labs in India which are available across 722 districts of 35 states and union territories. Around more than 1.1 crore students are found to be engaged in ATLs where there are more than 6200 tutors for mentoring. Additionally, more than 16 lakh innovation projects have been created in these labs by young minds. 

Contributions of the private sector

There is a significant role of private organisations and schools in the advancement of STEM education in India. Several schools are observed to be integrating advanced STEM curricula, while multiple EdTech organisations are engaged in offering online workshops and courses as supplements to classroom learning. These initiatives ensure equitable access to modern education among the students, addressing the geographical barriers. 

Issues associated with STEM education in India

Lack of resources and infrastructure 

Several schools lack the required infrastructure and resources for the effective implementation of STEM education. Though the schools in the urban areas may have access to modern equipment and facilities to allow the students to gain hands-on learning experiences, multiple rural schools have been found to be struggling to manage the basic educational resources to provide better education. It is crucial to bridge the gap to ensure equal access to STEM education. 

Challenges in adaptation

Rote learning is regarded as the basic foundation of the traditional education system of India, which has less emphasis on practical application and critical thinking. In order to enable STEM education properly in India, a major shift is required towards inquiry-based experiential learning. This adaptation is found to be quite time-consuming and costly as it requires the adoption of a new curriculum encouraging innovation and advanced equipment and tools in the schools.

Lack of sufficient teachers

The practical based science education must have the availability of an adequate number of well-trained proficient teachers who have the expertise in the relevant disciplines and teaching methodologies. Nevertheless, a considerable gap is present in providing training to teachers, particularly in rural regions. To address this gap, teachers are required to have access to continuous learning opportunities as well as professional development programs. 

Misunderstanding

There is a misunderstanding among educators regarding STEM education that the students are diverted from their regular studies. It is also believed by many of the teachers that students are not able to provide proper concentration on their textbook syllabus in the specified time period. Nevertheless, the perception is completely wrong. STEM learning aligns practical activities with the academic curriculum and, therefore, helps to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge.

Innovative methods related to STEM education in India

Incorporation of technology

The emergence of cutting-edge technologies and tools like augmented reality and virtual reality (VR) are transforming the education system of India. These technologies have significant effectiveness in the offering of immersive learning experiences which contributes to the enhancement of student understanding and engagement.

For example, the usage of VR simulations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi facilitates engineering students to get a practical understanding of the complex structures, machinery and equipment in a dynamic 3D environment. As a result of obtaining these learning experiences, students become capable of visualizing and understanding the complicated concepts of engineering, which can be a challenging task for gaining a comprehensive understanding through traditional textbooks. 

Project-based learning

In project-based learning (PBL), the students are involved in the assessment of real-world issues and problems, which leads to the practical application of theoretical knowledge, collaboration and critical thinking. For instance, students at the Akshaya Patra Foundation are found to be designing and implementing a rainwater harvesting system in a school program. The principles of chemistry, engineering and biology are incorporated in this project, which enable the students to learn the application of scientific ideas to identify the solutions to practical problems like the scarcity of local water.

Flipped classroom method

A flipped classroom structure emphasizes the concept that class time is not suitable for getting direct instructions or lectures. In this method, instructional contents are often delivered to the students outside of class by means of online while class time is used for delivering hands-on-experiences. For example, the flipped classroom model is found to be used at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) for engineering courses. Students are advised to attend the lecture videos at their own premises, while during the class time they have to engage in the lab activities as well as collaborative problem-solving activities. This method allows the students to deeply explore the concepts.

Interdisciplinary Learning

The interdisciplinary curriculum aims to offer a comprehensive learning experience to the students through the integration of multiple disciplines. For instance, an interdisciplinary curriculum was introduced in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham through the combination of computer science, environmental science and biology. Through the usage of statistical models, students are involved in the analysis of ecological data and, therefore, engaged in programming simulations for the prediction of environmental effects. This encourages the students to apply their knowledge across various segments to solve complicated problems. 

Fab Labs

Fabrication laboratories or Fab Labs refers to the small scale workshop, which is accountable for enabling the students to get accessibility to modern technologies and tools that can help them with innovation and hands-on learning. For example, the Srishti Institute of Art, Design, and Technology of Bangalore provides the accessibility of laser cutters, 3D printers, and other cutting edge manufacturing equipment to the students through the Fab Lab. The students are found to be designing and creating prototypes and learning the principles of engineering by means of practical exposure. 

Blended learning

The educational models of blended learning seek to provide flexible and tailored learning experiences through the combination of online resources with conventional classroom instruction. For instance, a wide range of online STEM courses are offered by BYJU, which is one of the leading and largest Ed-Tech establishments in India. This helps the students to make progress at their own pace. These resources can also be integrated by the teachers into their classrooms in supplementation of traditional instruction.

Case studies of the effective implementation of STEM education in India

BITS Pilani

Though Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani is recognised as a higher education establishment, it has developed programs to positively shape the modern age of practical learning in India. These programs aim to mentor the school students, give access to modern laboratories and arrange workshops.

DPS Bangalore

Delhi Public School (DPS), Bangalore, is one of the prominent examples in India of how schools should efficiently integrate STEM education. There is a separate STEM lab in this school, which permits the students to be involved in hands-on experiments and innovations. Coding, robotics and regular STEM fairs are included in their curriculum. 

Kendriya Vidyalaya schools

Students are observed to be participating in community engagement projects like arranging science exhibitors and developing solar-powered devices. The STEM skills and competencies of the students are not only increased with these activities, but also a sense of community involvement and civic responsibility is cultivated among them. 

Avanti Fellows

Among the remarkable success stories in India, the efforts for the enhancement of participation of females in fields of STEM are prominent ones. These efforts intend to minimise the gender gap by means of giving resources, coaching and opportunities for females to engage in STEM activities. For example, Avanti Fellows, a non-profit institution, has considerably contributed to STEM education by providing resources and mentorship to underprivileged girls. With these programs, the organisation has created a network of thousands of girls among whom many of them have found to be pursuing careers and degrees in STEM fields. 

FAQ

Follow us on