What are STEM Clubs?
STEM is an acronym, standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM clubs can be formal or informal gatherings of people who want to work with and learn from other people who are interested in STEM disciplines. In school settings, participants would normally be students, but STEM clubs can be community-driven and headquartered in libraries or other gathering places.
Depending on the specific group, STEM clubs can have different goals and emphases, but the most common elements include:
- building STEM knowledge
- increasing interest among members in pursuing STEM careers and
- allowing students to work on inquiry- or problem-based activities related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
- connecting participants with local STEM employers and industry leaders
In addition to the above goals, STEM clubs provide students hands-on learning that builds practical and leadership skills. In addition, many projects are completed while working with others. By fostering collaboration, STEM activities also prepare students for working in teams as they progress through school and eventually enter the workforce.
They also provide informal learning that can stimulate STEM interest in participants who may not thrive with traditional approaches.
Club Format
The club’s actual format will depend on the participants’ and the sponsoring organizations’ goals. No matter the format, the learning opportunities revolve around activities and programs designed to engage participants in some aspect of STEM. The specific focus of these activities will depend on the aims of the club (e.g., some focus on STEM broadly while others emphasize a specific discipline or activity like coding).
STEM Activities
STEM activities typically fall into one of three categories: single occurrence (e.g., guest speaker or demonstration), short-term projects (e.g., 2-4 sessions) and long-term projects (>4 sessions). Each category often has different, but compatible, goals.
- One-off activities are generally used to engage new or prospective members.
- Guests speakers (e.g., city engineer or college faculty researcher)
- Field trips (e.g., local zoo or manufacturing plant)
- Discussion of recent STEM event (e.g., new technology announcement or discovery)
- Short-term projects will appeal to members who cannot participate consistently but still allows them to work collaboratively and focus on a prolonged project.
- External presentations (e.g., school-wide program or STEM night for parents)
- Electronics projects (e.g., Raspberry Pi-based proejcts)
- Long-term projects are great for building camaraderie and encouraging members to work together on a distant, but attainable, goal.
- Team competitions (e.g., robotics or catapults)