Homeschooling and STEM

How Parents Shape Their Children's Scientific Futures

As a parent, I've always been fascinated by how our involvement in our children's education can shape their future interests and career paths. I recently found a case study by Courtney Gann and Dan Carpenter titled STEM Educational Activities and the Role of the Parent in the Home Education of High School Students that sheds light on this very topic, particularly in the realm of homeschooling and STEM education.

The study, published in Educational Review, examined the teaching strategies used by homeschooling parents for high school-level STEM subjects. The researchers conducted an in-depth investigation of a homeschool community in the southern United States, using questionnaires, interviews, observations, and document collection to gather data from 29 parents.

Here a summary of their key findings:

1. Individualized Instruction: Parents tailored their teaching approaches to match each child's learning style and needs. This often involved a mix of resources like video tutorials, hands-on experiments, and textbook readings.
2. Mastery Learning: Rather than rushing through material, parents emphasized thorough understanding before moving on to new topics.
3. Self-Directed Study: Students were encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, with parents acting more as facilitators than traditional teachers.
4. Collaboration: This took two forms - peer collaboration through co-op classes and clubs, and parent-child collaboration where both learned together.
5. Application and Connection: Parents prioritized helping students see the real-world relevance of what they were learning, often integrating STEM concepts into everyday life.

As I read through these findings, I couldn't help but reflect on my own experiences with my children. While we homeschooled with the help of an online charter school, I've always tried to be actively involved in their education. Like the parents in the study, I found myself naturally incorporating many of these strategies, through their elementary, middle and high school years.

For instance, I remember many special project times, when the kids would come to my home office-workshop and they would each be involved in a project of their choice. These weren't just homework help sessions - they were collaborative learning experiences where we both gained new insights. We'd often end up looking up additional information or watching educational videos together, mirroring the self-directed learning approach highlighted in the study.

Perhaps the most impactful strategy, in my experience, has been the focus on application and connection. Whether it was explaining the physics behind a roller coaster ride at an amusement park or discussing the chemistry involved in cooking, I showed my kids how the topics they found so interesting are a natural part of our daily lives. This approach seems to have paid off - both of my sons have chosen to pursue STEM careers, one in automotive design and restoration and the other in computer science and applied math.

While the study focused on homeschooling families, I believe many of these strategies can be applied by any parent looking to support their child's STEM education. The key takeaway for me is the importance of active parental involvement and creating an environment where STEM is seen as relevant, exciting, and accessible.

As we look to the future, where STEM skills are increasingly crucial, studies like this provide valuable insights into how we can nurture the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Whether through homeschooling or supporting traditional schooling, parents play a vital role in shaping their children's attitudes towards STEM subjects. My personal experience, mirrored in many ways by this research, shows that this involvement can have a profound impact on our children's educational journeys and future career choices.

This past year I was fortunate enough to be introduced to ibrick.online, a pioneer in Lego-based, hands-on, STEM curriculum. Contact me to see a demo and learn how you can subscribe for your 5 to 12 year old(s) today.