Meet Giovana, a STEM Brasil student
“STEM Brasil provides us the opportunity to perceive learning differently.” – Giovana Pontes, student at a STEM Brasil participating School in São Paulo, Brazil
Among other reasons, Giovana likes STEM Brasil because she believes that the hands-on program establishes a direct connection with reality – unlike other methods that, according to her, don’t connect directly with her daily life.
For Giovana, a learning method that really gives results is where there’s a balance between theory and practical activities, besides the importance of having a contextualization of what is being taught and the implications that the subject brings to our lives.
“STEM Brasil provides us the opportunity to perceive learning differently, via hands-on activities apart from theory. Oftentimes we can’t see with the theoretical approach how something is applicable to our daily lives. Through practice, we can learn how to use it and realize that the understanding of that subject is important,” says Giovana.
Giovana also mentions the example of one of her favorite subjects, Physics. “We constantly don’t link how something applies to our life. It is through practice that we can really understand the utility of what is being taught and how a certain situation happens in our day that we don’t even realize.”
What is STEM?
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. Science is everywhere in the world around us. Technology is continuously expanding into every aspect of our lives. Engineering is the basic designs of roads and bridges, but also tackles the challenges of changing global weather and environmentally-friendly changes to our homes. Mathematics is in every occupation, every activity we do in our lives. By exposing students to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts, they will develop a passion for it and hopefully pursue a job in a STEM field.
