Engaging the Next Generation in STEM

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What did you dream about becoming when you grew up? Many children daydream about STEM— science, technology, engineering, and math — without realizing the potential that their dreams have to change the world.  Our guest today knows the importance of transforming those childhood dreamers into the problem-solving engineers of the future.  Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Marsha Tuft, retired engineer, author, and STEM enthusiast.  As a fellow ‘failed retiree’ Marsha now</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">volunteers her time to inspire and encourage others to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM fields). </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On today’s podcast, you will learn:</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How to engage kids in STEM</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Start early</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">— elementary school-aged kids are the ideal age group. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Make it fun by designing experiments that connect with kids interests — anything from how bicycles move to how butterflies fly is the perfect place to get started. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Address the curiosity factor in all that kids experience and dive deep into helping them find answers to their questions. </span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Teaching kids to learn from what you don’t know</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Increase exposure to a variety of things that kids may not know they like until they try it. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Everyone is born with an innate desire to create — explore it and enjoy it. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">