How Robotics in STEM Education Is Teaching a New Generation of Automation Engineers
As technology continues to advance, we rely on robotics for surgical procedures and now for teaching STEM students. Technology provides a smooth transition from an education to a career in the sciences. Read more about robotics in STEM education below:
The Importance of a STEM Education Today
Despite some contrary public perceptions, mathematics and science skills have a growing necessity in our education system. The STEM fields train electrical, mechanical and chemical engineers and computer science and controls engineers. STEM education allows the future workforce to keep innovating, particularly in manufacturing and other production processes, so as a country, we can keep competing on the global stage.
STEM jobs are in demand everywhere, which is why more students need to pursue an education in this valuable collection of industries. Some of the top reasons that education in the sciences benefits students are that it:
Fosters ingenuity: Students become engineers because they enjoy problem-solving and thinking creatively. The ingenuity of our leaders in STEM has led to developments in automation technology and robotics.
Promotes resilience and adaptation: With trial and error being integral to STEM education labs, students learn to be open to new ways of conducting operations for the most effective results. All students can benefit from having a growth mindset and being able to adapt to each assignment.
Encourages teamwork: Students collaborate to find solutions and isolate data in STEM classrooms. When they join the workforce, they must remain highly collaborative with the communication skills needed to work with a team.
Increases technology skills: STEM education gives students the practical experience of working with technology, quickly becoming standard in various industries.
Leads to rewarding work: Students have ample opportunities after graduation from a STEM program to find a role that best suits their skill set.
Challenges Faced in STEM Education
A prevalent notion is that the new directions of STEM careers will result in a decrease in jobs as automation technology makes manual tasks less vital to workflow. Although we face increased demand for positions in STEM, the idea that the sciences lack opportunities has led students to question if the STEM fields would lead to fulfilling future careers. Many studies conducted on companies integrating new robotics, AI technology and other forms of automation show that robotics create highly efficient work environments, requiring less demanding operations from employees.
What more do schools have to do to involve students? How much of this comes down to community engagement or changing the perceptions of STEM education? Some of the challenges students and educators face, as identified in the State of STEM report, include:
Diversity: While equity is important for STEM in many ways, population statistics show divides in gender, race, disability and student financial status. As institutions work towards equality and achieving a balance, STEM also continues to improve.
Preparation: Education and employers need to adapt to the newest generations and the latest technology on the market. The reality is that more workers will need to fulfill STEM roles in the future, so educational institutions should prepare their students using the most advanced technology possible.
Pedagogy: Classroom pedagogy should align closely with the theories of best practices in STEM to provide an adequate foundation for students interested in STEM careers.
Perception: STEM programs tend to be rigorous, which gives students the expectation that obtaining their education will be a difficult process.
To increase the prevalence of students wanting to fill the open STEM roles, institutions offer robotics degrees in STEM education. Robotics and artificial intelligence are popular with current college-aged generations, who feel comfortable working with technology.
The Importance of Robotics in STEM Education
To address the question of why robotics is important in schools, let's examine how the rapid increases in technology have positively impacted the STEM education system as a whole. Working with robotics gives students a hands-on, engaging and fun experience as they apply abstract concepts through class exercises in automation. Below are some of the ways that robotics has transformed STEM education:
The curriculum is more engaging with STEM robotics technology. Key information in lectures accompanies practical exercises, making lessons more memorable.
Recent innovations in robotics make STEM education inclusive and affordable. Whereas older automation technology models were more expensive and less accessible, robotics is slowly becoming more widespread and accessible.
Robotics allows for the creation of a scalable curriculum. For example, even young children can learn about robotics with the appropriate technology aids.
Students enjoy positive employment prospects. Degrees in robotics and STEM lead to careers as automation engineers and many other growing industries.
Robotics is an increasingly important technology in the education of the next generations. We are still seeing the changes unfold across college campuses and workplaces, such as in the medical, automotive and energy industries
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Getting More STEM Students Interested in Careers in Manufacturing Automation
The manufacturing industry has many vital positions and promotion opportunities for students with educations in STEM. Some ways to get more students interested in manufacturing automation include:
Investing in education: Invest in robotics for STEM education programs and classrooms. Having more exposure early in their education will familiarize STEM students with the manufacturing industry. They might find that they enjoy working with robotics, which will encourage them to pursue a career in automation later.
Changing perceptions: Change the “image” of a typical manufacturing facility to one that’s innovative, cutting-edge and state-of-the-art. Manufacturing has a reputation for being tedious, but many operations involve creativity and critical thinking when directing or diagnosing machinery.
Challenging stigmas: Change the stigma of apprenticeships and vocational training. Students will respond well to opportunities for growth and practical, hands-on teaching experiences. Training should be closely supervised rather than impersonal, which will ensure that students feel valued and confident in their work.
Providing demonstrations: Show students how fascinating manufacturing automation can be with live demonstrations. One of the most effective ways to generate interest in robotics is to bring automation into the classrooms. You can help students learn about the processes and also clear up any misinformation they might have.
Promoting early education: Promote learning in k-12 institutions as well as colleges. High school students are highly curious about technology and will soon decide on their career paths. Younger students who are taught about manufacturing automation will have more time to consider turning their interests into a career.
Genesis Automation Provides STEM Education Mentorship for the Community
Work with Genesis Automation for custom automation solutions. We can discuss ways to automate your assembly process and test your products with our custom solutions that we will install in your facility. Genesis Automation also offers robotics programs to local students.
