Want to extend your learning beyond the virtual classroom? Find and take advantage of local STEM activities to continue both the learning and the joy outside of school!
Immersing yourself in VR schooling can be an insanely fun and memorable experience where you can encode knowledge by interacting with different activities. However, having time to unplug and ground yourself in the real world can be an incredibly gratifying experience too.
A wonderful way to get in touch with the real world is through your local STEM ecosystem. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM ecosystems are places connected based on their topics where learners can further engage with the subjects of STEM. All STEM subjects are present throughout Optima Academy Online curriculum, but finding your ecosystem can give incredible extracurricular opportunities to students and parents alike. Here are 5 places you can visit in your local STEM ecosystem:
Museums
Cost: 0-$$
Museums are great places of learning, creativity, and curiosity. Find a local museum in your area and see what its specialty is. Ask big questions and see if you can find the answers in the exhibits. Bonus points if you talk to a passionate museum staffer or volunteer about something in the museum. Not only can museums be amazing places to leisurely visit and pick up some new fun facts, but they can also offer amazing educational programming for kids and adults alike (often at little-to-no cost)!
Nature Centers, Parks, and Gardens
Cost:0-$
As a kid, nothing feels more freeing than putting your knowledge to the test in the real world. Coming up with questions to guide adventures outside can be a great way to learn! Some examples: “what does this worm look like its doing?” “Why is that bird building its nest there?”
A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found that if exposed for even just 10 minutes to nature, physiological stress markers decrease significantly. This is a fantastic way to release stressors intermittently while grounding yourself in nature.
Libraries
Cost:0-$
People often perceive libraries as stuffy places where angry elderly women wag fingers at you to ensure silence. However, that is not the case anymore for many libraries. See what events, classes, talks, contests, or activities are happening at your local library. Chances are your membership will be inexpensive and the payoff worthwhile (including many educational and fun opportunities)!
The Zoo or Aquarium
Cost: $-$$
Seeing animals in-person, you cannot help but observe them. Like nature centers, parks, and gardens, this offers incredible questions to prompt any age with. “Why do you think the elephant’s skin is so tough?” “Why are these fish in the same tank but others aren’t?” “What does this animal eat?” The zoo is a great place to let the questions flow and to find answers all around on plaques, maps, or through staff members!
Government Agencies, Places of Work, and Businesses
Cost: 0
This may not have been your first thought when considering your STEM ecosystem, but your local town hall, dentist office, capitol building, coffee shop, pet store or agency (such as the D.M.V.) can all provide interesting learning experiences pertaining to a variety of topics including general “adulting.” If you are curious, reach out to a local professional you trust and have a day shadowing them at their place of work. This is an awesome way to learn, socialize, test a possible job, or navigate the idea of a career.
Conclusion
When trying to find the perfect balance between school and VR, it can be hard to know where to start, but with your custom STEM ecosystem, you can ensure that both parent and kid thrive inside and outside of the headset. Build your STEM ecosystem by choosing which aspect of STEM you want to learn about that day and attend a space that fosters the learning of that branch of STEM. For example, if you want to do activities pertaining to engineering, go to a maker space (a space where tinkering is encouraged). If you want to study geology, go to a quarry or a nature center. If you want to learn more about space, the local planetarium or even a wide-open field in the country can work equally well! Your creativity and interests will drive the creation of your own STEM ecosystem which will be perfect for you to hone your skills in STEM.