STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – science, technology, engineering and maths) education is not just about learning maths and other science subjects. STEM develops critical thinking, curiosity, responsibility and decision-making skills in children and young people, helping to prepare them for successful careers in any field. The abbreviation STEAM is also sometimes used, where A stands for Arts. There are several advantages to adding art to STEM, as science subjects can be a bit dry and boring, while art fosters creativity and keeps people interested. A typical example: to develop a computer game, you don’t just need technical know-how; you also need an interesting story and tasteful design.

Recently, virtual reality has also been making its way into STEM education, and you can read a little more about its applications in this article.

Even though professional working life seems a long way off, children need to start developing a passion for STEM at an early age. Of course, not all students will become aerospace engineers, but STEM education is useful for all primary school-age children, whatever their interests. What are the main benefits of STEM education?

Critical thinking skills

Children love to ask questions and explore the world around them. STEM education gives children the chance to explore and solve problems. Paradoxically, STEM fosters creativity and the ability to think “outside the box”. Children of all ages can apply these skills in real-life scenarios to come up with unconventional solutions to the problems they face.

Similarly, using a scientific approach can boost children’s confidence by prompting them to follow precise instructions. A simple science experiment with a magnet and iron filings may be all that is needed to encourage a child both to follow the instructions and to think about why he is taking these steps. These may seem like marginal skills, but they lay the foundations for developing creative thinking, one of the most sought-after skills in today’s professions.

Teamwork and collaboration skills

Working in a group is fun for the children and they can all take responsibility for what they do. However, through group work, children also learn a lot about life. Teamwork encourages children to keep to time and exercise self-discipline. They also learn how a team works and how to deliver results. Children also learn the skills and abilities to communicate their findings to others.

The nature of STEM subjects lends itself to open discussion. These skills are very useful in everyday life, as children are ready to listen to other people’s opinions and ideas. Such skills are also favoured by employers and university recruiters.

Problem solving

Although solving problems in school curricula may seem like a boring textbook exercise, it can be one of the most valuable and exciting skills to learn. STEM education is well suited to such tasks, as the ability to solve a problem is at the heart of every one of its challenges.

STEM activities encourage children to identify problems, hypothesise how to solve them and then test the solutions. It not only develops problem-solving skills, but also perseverance and resilience. The child can use this in later life, learning how to cope with obstacles. Although a small scientific experiment and life decisions have nothing in common on the surface, they both use the same fundamental problem-solving skills to arrive at a solution.

Technology literacy

To get the most out of school, it is increasingly important for children to be able to use technology to access learning materials. When teaching any STEM area, teachers can introduce their class to the basics of technology and provide them with opportunities to learn the latest technologies.

Many schools also engage in practical and creative activities related to technology, such as coding and robotics. By understanding how technology works, children are empowered to become active creators of the digital world rather than passive consumers. It gives them confidence in their digital abilities and the strength to adapt to the changing world of technology in adulthood.

Willingness to learn

STEM education fosters curiosity and a desire to explore in children, creating a lifelong love of learning. By involving children in hands-on experiments, projects and real-life problems, STEM subjects become exciting and relevant. The hands-on nature of STEM education encourages children to ask questions and helps them understand the world around them. By fostering a desire to learn from an early age, STEM education sets the stage for future academic success and personal development.

Key benefits of using VR in STEM education

Given all the above, it is only natural that VR plays an increasingly important role in STEM education. Just to mention a few real-life examples where VR technologies are already being used to engage and educate our children:

• Unique experiences and real-life simulations. Thanks to VR, students can travel to distant planets, visit the depths of the ocean or even take part in historical events. The conventional learning environment can’t deliver. VR simulations allow students to learn from experience and apply what they learn in real life. For example, students can perform surgery in a virtual operating theatre, carry out virtual research in a chemistry lab or design and test product prototypes in a virtual environment. VR simulations give students a comfortable and structured environment in which to experiment. Students can repeat simulations until they master them, make mistakes, learn from them and improve.

• Visualisation of complex concepts and data. Virtual reality allows students to grasp complex concepts that are difficult to visualise in conventional classrooms. For example, students can take a virtual journey through the human body to learn about the complex nature of the circulatory system or observe chemical processes at the molecular level. Students gain a deeper understanding and a better grasp of STEM knowledge by actually experiencing the phenomena. With VR, students can interact with large datasets, for example to explore astronomy, DNA or climate data.
• Interactive and engaging learning environment. One of the main advantages of VR is its ability to provide very realistic simulations and scenarios that allow students to apply their knowledge in practical settings. VR allows students to work in teams, both to explore the surface of Mars and to create and test engineering prototypes. This dynamic and exciting environment keeps students busy, improves their problem-solving skills, fosters collaboration and encourages a general interest in science.
• Shared learning and cross-border connections. Students from all over the world can collaborate on virtual platforms to solve complex STEM challenges. This collaborative method improves communication skills and exposes students to other cultures and ways of thinking. VR offers students the opportunity to interact with experts, scientists and professionals in various fields. Students can go on field trips to scientific research sites and meet professionals from around the world through virtual guest lectures. International links broaden students’ horizons, expose them to different STEM professions and motivate them to pursue their hobbies globally.
• Equal opportunities for all. The ability of VR to address resource imbalances is an important benefit. Students can work in virtual labs to carry out simulations that mimic real-world research in schools that don’t have labs or equipment. In addition, adapting VR for different learners, such as those with disabilities, promotes inclusive STEM education. VR can offer adaptive features and assistive technologies such as text-to-speech, haptic feedback and subtitles that make STEM learning more accessible for students with disabilities.

Challenges of introducing virtual reality in STEM learning

The introduction of VR in STEM education has its own complexities and challenges. One of the key issues when considering the use of VR is the costs involved. The upfront costs of VR technology, including VR glasses, software and content, can be relatively high. However, it is important to see this investment as a long-term investment in STEM education. Schools can reduce costs by partnering with VR equipment manufacturers or leasing. Another thing to consider is technical issues. Schools must ensure that their technology, local area network and other infrastructure can work with VR applications. Dateks Gaming School is equipped with powerful computers and Meta Quest 3 virtual reality goggles that support VR/AR environments and software development in Unity and Unreal Engine development environments, as well as the opportunity to test different games and learn a wide range of gaming experiences.

To successfully integrate VR into STEM education, it is also important to provide teachers with the necessary training and support. Teachers must have the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully integrate VR into the classroom. Professional development programmes, workshops and other support can prepare teachers for this. Schools can share experiences and resources with other educators and institutions.

Last but not least, it is important to align the use of VR to the objectives of the STEM curriculum. VR should be used to improve and deepen students’ knowledge, not just for the sake of novelty. The use of VR can become an essential part of STEM curricula, embedded in existing lessons and aligned to the curriculum.