STEM: fischertechnik Education knows how

STEM - Subjects with great future prospects

At school and when choosing vocational training or university studies, young people are faced with the choice of which professional/vocational priorities they want to set. In the course of the ongoing digitalisation of all economic processes and the continuing shortage of skilled workers, the STEM subjects open up excellent prospects for a successful professional life. In the following, interested parties can find out what this is all about.

What is STEM?

The word STEM is an abbreviation. The individual letters stand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (MINT: Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften, Technik) The term STEM thus expands the classic school subjects of mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry to include technical and informational fields. Some ministries of education have recognised the importance of STEM subjects and are increasingly equipping their schools with teaching materials and appropriately trained teachers. This is intended to promote the successful teaching of mathematical and scientific content.

Why STEM?

The promotion of STEM subjects at school is intended to help alleviate the acute shortage of skilled workers in the economy. Companies from the mechanical engineering, chemical, energy, aerospace, automotive and electrical industries invest large sums in research and development of innovative products and services and are dependent on recruiting suitable young people. Due to the high demand, there are correspondingly great opportunities for a successful career for young people. Regardless of whether they opt for vocational training or university studies. STEM graduates have the opportunity to pursue very different occupational profiles, for example, mechatronics engineer, IT specialist, information technology officer, IT systems specialist, software developer or network administrator. In addition, classical mechanical and other engineers are of course also in demand. The corresponding support programmes are also intended to explicitly attract young women to these professions in innovative economic areas.

How can I give good lessons? What makes a good teaching aid?

It is important to get young people interested in STEM subjects while they are still at school. They should be encouraged to deal with mathematical and scientific topics. A prerequisite for this is that well-trained teachers and up-to-date teaching and learning materials are available. The curricula and educational standards of the ministries of education have largely replaced traditional frontal teaching with modern forms of knowledge transfer, for example, through work assignments that can be completed independently or in teamwork. Kits and experiments are therefore very helpful in the area of STEM subjects. In this way, pupils can acquire knowledge and skills in a playful and practice-oriented manner. It is also important to incorporate modern digital and interactive elements. Young people who grow up with computers and smartphones are thus picked up in this way. Teaching materials dealers have specialised in selling teaching and learning materials for schools, training, studies and further education. Concepts for special classrooms are also part of the range of products on offer there, in order to enable the effective transfer of knowledge in theory and practice.

Is it possible to prepare students for MINT studies effectively and with fun?

Yes, definitely. The course for a successful MINT study can already be set at school. According to the Institute of the German Economy in Cologne, the commitment of schools beyond the traditional classroom has a significant influence. For example, students from schools that had participated in science competitions such as "Jugend forscht" or the "Physics Olympics" performed significantly better on average in the PISA test. And the scientific competence of young people is also above average when a school sets up corresponding projects and working groups ("science clubs").

The MINT-EC network was founded in 2000 (EC stands for Excellence Center). In the meantime, 316 schools in Germany with around 336,000 pupils and 27,000 teachers belong to the initiative. The MINT-EC schools provide targeted support for young people in all MINT subjects through advanced courses or other offerings, offering them opportunities for experimental and exploratory learning and participating in renowned competitions such as "Jugend forscht".

Once a year, 400 students and 100 teachers from MINT-EC schools in Germany meet for the MINT400 network meeting in Berlin. On two days a varied program awaits the participants. At the MINT400 education market, numerous exhibitors from business and science present study and career perspectives as well as impulses for teaching design. Specialist presentations will introduce various scientific fields and show the current state of research. On the second day of MINT400, students and teachers will attend workshops at scientific institutions and companies. Here, individual abilities and interests are discovered and further developed through personal experimentation.

Learning and researching with like-minded people is fun and creates the basis for later studies. Pupils who have attended a MINT-EC school or taken advantage of other opportunities bring a starting advantage to their studies. Because studying one of the MINT subjects is extremely demanding. For a long time, the corresponding courses of study "shone" with high dropout rates. But in the meantime a rethink has begun, the universities have an interest in getting as many students as possible to successfully complete their studies. For example, the University of Stuttgart offers preparatory courses at the MINT-Kolleg Baden-Württemberg. The aim of participating in a course is to close gaps in knowledge and to prepare specifically for the specialist course.

STEM with fischertechnik

fischertechnik is a leading supplier of construction kits based in the Black Forest. For generations, the modular system has been a popular and recognised teaching aid in the classroom among teachers, lecturers and trainers. fischertechnik creates construction kits for children, pupils and students which are optimally adapted for each age group and type of school. This awakens different interests, promotes talents and encourages sustainable learning at an early stage.

Even the smallest children at pre-school are offered an easy introduction to the world of technology by fischertechnik. The JUNIOR line from the age of three allows first experiences with technology and the children learn motor skills in kindergarten. Large components create motivating and quick design successes. In addition, the little ones learn to concentrate from the very beginning and to solve special problems unconsciously in a team.

Product overview preschool

Curriculum-relevant, technical topics can be found in the school levels of every education system. Whether primary, secondary, university or vocational school - finding the right teaching materials for all school levels is not at all easy. Thanks to the wide range of fischertechnik products, almost all technical topics in the classroom can be covered by the teaching material.

Mechanics, statics, pneumatics, renewable energies, electronics, hydraulics or robotics are only a few examples of important core topics in everyday working life and therefore it is extremely important to understand and comprehend them at an early stage and bring them closer to the pupils in class. The realistic teaching kits for primary and secondary schools allow the relevant core topics to be taken up, optimally promoted and sustainable knowledge to be imparted.

We would like to support teachers in their daily work and ensure optimal preparation for teaching by providing additional materials.

Product overview primary and secondary level

The field of robotics is indispensable for studies and vocational school. STEM courses of study or STEM professions require particularly suitable learning construction kits which convey the various subject areas optimally and practically to pupils and students and support them in their learning. Close to reality, the facts are considered in class and thus understood in a sustainable way. Whether industrial simulations or specific robotics kits - various products help teachers to impart knowledge in class!

Product overview studies and vocational school

Didactic support material, exercises and tasks

On the fischertechnik eLearning Portal, helpful, didactic accompanying materials for the individual learning construction kits can be found. This offers illustrative models and tasks for quick preparation of lessons and contains problems and their solutions, handouts and templates.

To the teaching material

Advantages of the fischertechnik learning kits

fischertechnik training construction kits demand:

... support teachers in their lessons with important STEM topics and enable varied, practice-oriented lessons
... offer a practice-oriented learning concept
... enable entry-level projects up to more complex constructions and issues
... answer difficult questions in the field of science, technology and IT
... have been developed according to educational plans and core topics relevant to learning plans
... promote technical understanding
... promote the ability to work in a team and the sense of responsibility
... support the project and group work in the classroom
... stimulate logical thinking, the ability to understand and creativity