STEM course

It is recommended that primary school students start with graphical programming and gradually transition to hardware control, robots, VR/AR, AI art, etc. While enriching knowledge and practical abilities, they should also focus on cultivating students' innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities. The key to STEM learning is hands-on practice and project-based learning.

1. First, you can take an introductory course on AI art and music creation to explore the application of artificial intelligence in artistic creation. This helps stimulate students’ creativity and introduces them to artificial intelligence

2. Then you can take the LEGO SPIKE programming course to deepen your understanding of programming and robotics concepts by operating LEGO hardware. This will enhance hands-on skills.

3. Then you can try the Maqueen Plus x Huskylens artificial intelligence course to learn how to apply artificial intelligence technology to control smart cars and consolidate knowledge through practical projects.

4. After studying the above programming and robotics-related courses, you can start taking VR/AR creation and experience courses to learn about virtual reality and augmented reality technology and their applications.

During this process, students can also take some pure hardware courses based on their interests, such as the AIOT intelligent Internet of Things system course and the STEM Explorer sensor scientific experiment tour to broaden their horizons and improve their ability to comprehensively apply STEM knowledge.

ChatGPT and introductory courses on generative AI and Chatbot design can be taken as electives, suitable for students who are interested in artificial intelligence applications.

1. Introduction to Graphical Programming
   Starting with a graphical programming language such as Scratch is the most friendly starting point. Through the drag-and-drop building block programming method, you can intuitively learn the basic concepts of programming, such as sequential execution, conditional judgment, looping, etc., laying the foundation for further learning. It is recommended to take the Scratch AI preliminary course first.

2. Hardware programming practice
   After mastering the basic programming concepts, you can try to use programming knowledge to control hardware, such as LEGO SPIKE, Maqueen Plus smart cars, etc. Through hardware programming, you can deepen your understanding of programming concepts, improve your hands-on practical skills, and learn some simple electronic and mechanical knowledge.

3. Python programming advanced
   After learning graphical programming, you can transition to the text programming language Python. Python syntax is concise and friendly, suitable for getting started with programming, and is widely used in fields such as data analysis and artificial intelligence. Learning Python can open up a broader world of programming. It is recommended to study ICT Python course.

4. Artificial intelligence direction extension
   If you are interested in artificial intelligence, after mastering the basics of Python, you can learn some artificial intelligence applications, such as AI autonomous driving, intelligent Internet of Things, AI art creation, chat robots, etc. This will help understand the application scenarios of artificial intelligence technology and stimulate interest in learning.

5. Apply what you learn and do projects
   The ultimate goal of learning programming is to solve practical problems. Therefore, in the process of learning, it is very important to do more project practice. From small to large, from simple to complex, choose some projects of interest to implement, find problems and solve problems in the projects, only in this way can you truly improve your programming skills.

Learning programming is an extension from the introduction of graphical programming, to text programming in Python, to the direction of artificial intelligence. Combining theory with practice, learning by doing, learning by doing. And in the process of learning, computational thinking and logical thinking skills are cultivated, which will last a lifetime. Schools can provide students with such a stepped path to programming learning to help them grow step by step.

STEM education is important to children's growth and future development because it helps cultivate children's innovative abilities, practical skills, teamwork spirit, and ability to cope with future challenges. STEM education not only teaches the core concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but also encourages children to think across disciplines, solve problems, and apply what they learn to the real world. Through STEM education, children can better understand current affairs, think critically about issues, and develop innovative thinking to prepare for the future workplace and society. In addition, STEM education can also maximize children's career potential, because the basic knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is critical to various industries and can help children cope with the changing career needs of the future. The importance of STEM education lies in cultivating children's innovative abilities and practical skills, and laying a solid academic foundation for them to cope with the challenges of modern society and the future.

1. American early childhood STEM education research report [1]:

   • Young children need adult guidance and support to deepen their experiences with STEM.
   • Encouraging young children to express and communicate their ideas is key to STEM learning.
   • Adults’ attitudes and views towards STEM will affect children’s learning abilities.
   • STEM education should be culturally diverse and inclusive of young children of different genders, races, and backgrounds.

2. Children make excellent STEM learners [2]:

   • Young children are capable of STEM learning and can develop science, technology, engineering and mathematics abilities through play and exploration.
   • Young children show their interest and ability in STEM subjects through activities such as stacking building blocks, solving problems, observing and experimenting.

Children in primary school are very suitable to start getting exposed to STEM education. Here are some relevant reasons and research findings:

1. Cultivate curiosity and problem-solving skills: STEM education can stimulate children's curiosity and cultivate their problem-solving skills and creativity[1]. Through STEM education, children can learn to observe, predict, experiment and collect data, thereby cultivating their scientific thinking and problem-solving skills[2].

2. Build foundational knowledge and skills: Early STEM education gives children the foundation for learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics[2]. These foundational knowledge and skills will help them succeed in more in-depth STEM studies in the future.

3. Cultivate interdisciplinary abilities: STEM education is not just about teaching science and mathematics, it can also help children develop interdisciplinary abilities, such as critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills[2]. These abilities are important for children to succeed in school and in their careers.

4. Cultivate future employment needs: The demand for employment in STEM fields continues to increase, and cultivating children's STEM abilities can lay the foundation for their future career development.[1].

STEM education does not necessarily require children to have a strong mathematical foundation. The purpose of STEM education is to integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics and cultivate children's innovative abilities, practical skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Although mathematical foundations may be helpful in some STEM fields, STEM education focuses more on cultivating children's exploration spirit, cooperation ability and innovative thinking, rather than relying solely on strong mathematical foundations. Therefore, even if children do not have a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, they can still benefit from STEM education and develop interests and abilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The core of STEM education is to cultivate children's comprehensive skills and ways of thinking, rather than just limiting the basic requirements of mathematics and physics.