As educators keep moving from “traditional,” teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning environments, we’re realizing the importance of integrating STEM into curriculum. Research shows that the pandemic emphasized the need for access to STEM resources, with 77% of the world saying that a strong STEM education is crucial.

Effective STEM instruction requires frequent opportunities for students to engage and learn. Project-based learning (PBL) provides the contextualized, authentic experiences necessary for students to build STEM skills.

I speak from experience when I say that it’s incredible to see what our students are capable of. I’m proud to share that my student, Anika Chebrolu, won this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge for their invention, “Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Her project used in-silico methodology for drug discovery to find a molecule that can selectively bind to the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an attempt to find a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic.

True to the ethos of project-based learning, Anika’s project applies critical STEM-thinking to a global issue top of mind for many. PBL is all about mixing different disciplines and subjects together in a way that guides students to think about real-world issues while developing thoughtful solutions rooted in 21st-century skillsets, like STEM, multimedia, and digital technologies.

“I’ve had an interest in STEM since childhood, and have always received support from my family and teachers,” Anika explained. “In school, I found my interests nurtured by my educators, who challenged and supported me in my endeavors both inside and outside of the classroom.”

PBL helps students make crucial connections between subjects, and how what they’re learning is applied in the real world. This is especially appropriate in STEM education, where foundational concepts guide the problem-solving process.

Read the full article about new ways to engage students in STEM by Shannon Robinson at Getting Smart.