A strong STEM education can open doors and improve equity of opportunity for traditionally underrepresented students. Supporting STEM classes is particularly important today, as the
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics reported in 2021 that 36.8 million people, 24% of the U.S. workforce, are employed in STEM careers. And demand for STEM occupations is on the rise.
However, many underrepresented students still face serious barriers when trying to enter a field like science or mathematics. Poor representation means some students may be less likely to engage in STEM classes, while those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds may struggle to attend extracurricular classes and events.
Overcoming barriers in STEM is instrumental for underrepresented students. Tutors can aid nationwide efforts by leveraging insights from research on diversity and inclusion while embracing tools like virtual reality (VR) that can boost participation and raise interest in STEM. This can help eliminate persistent inequities, like gender inequality, and support efforts to create a more fair and inclusive future.
Identify Diversity and Inclusion Issues
Historically women, certain ethnic minorities, people living with disability, and folks from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented and less likely to participate in STEM education. This sentiment is echoed by an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report titled “The State of the Sector: Diversity and Representation in STEM Industries in the U.K.” which discovered that 65% of the STEM workforce are white men. That same report also found:
- Less than a quarter of STEM workers are women.
- Black and minority ethnic men are 28% less likely to work in STEM than caucasian men.
- Due to fear of discrimination and prejudice, 29% of LGBTQ+ people surveyed have avoided a STEM career.
- Disabled people represent just 5% of the STEM workforce.
These statistics underline the reality that more must be done to boost participation and inclusion in STEM. Making STEM more equitable is important for all industries, as applications in software development, AI testing, civil engineering, and more will become skewed by bias without proper representation of all people.
Boost Participation and Generate STEM Interest
Tutors can help kids of all backgrounds become comfortable in STEM and increase their interest by accounting for the reality that many children feel excluded during typical classes. Adjusting lesson plans to include role models that resonate with them and encouraging them to engage with STEM education in ways that might have been missed.
As a tutor, you can boost diversity in STEM today by:
- Facilitating project-based learning to give students hands-on learning during tutor sessions;
- Using tutor sessions to engage students in open-ended questioning and critical thinking;
- Creating engaging lesson plans like having students create experiments to test their hypothesesand develop their own insights;
- Foregrounding the contributions of important STEM role models like Ada Lovelace and Jacky Wright;
- Utilizing helpful online resources on NASA, the National Science Foundation, and STEM Learning.
These actions, ensure all of your students regardless of their representation in STEM fields are adequately equipped to feel they have something to learn and offer in these fields of study.
If you’re keen to embrace new technologies, try supporting underrepresented students by utilizing new education tools like VR to generate interest in emerging STEM fields. You can use VR to bring education to life by:
- Facilitating immersive learning experiences that show your students virtual laboratories and experiments;
- Taking students on virtual field trips to augmented versions of otherwise unaffordable places like London’s Science Museum or the Kennedy Space Center;
- Tapping into existing software like Google Expeditions or Alchemy Immersive.
Regardless of how you choose to spark interest in STEM fields, be sure that your students have the tools they need for success including laptops, headphones, and books. To further inspire them, consider gifting students personalized supplies like planners, journals, calendars, and desk organizers. Generating excitement around a subject with fun stationary and accessories encourages students to take ownership of their resources and learning.
Address Gender Equity
The APPG report highlighted that less than a quarter of the STEM workforce are women. This is a serious social issue, as without proper representation new technology, medicines, and scientific research are almost certain to feature gendered bias. Gender bias is particularly problematic in AI, as without proper representation algorithms can be built that reinforce sexist stereotypes and misogyny.
Adequate representation of women can also make AI more effective. This is illustrated by researchers like Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, who noticed that a computer vision model could not recognize her face and struggled to register the faces of other Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) women with darker skin. These insights highlighted the racist, gendered data that the algorithms were trained on and raised crucial questions about how AI platforms were being developed.
Prioritizing student welfare and well-being also plays a vital role in promoting gender equity in STEM education by addressing the unique challenges faced by female students. Providing access to mental health support, mentorship programs, and safe learning environments ensures that all students, regardless of gender, can thrive. These efforts help break down stereotypes and systemic barriers, fostering equal opportunities for success and educational empowerment. It can also benefit the larger community, both socially and economically.
As a tutor, you can enhance gender equity by tackling biases in your workplace or classroom and advocating for women and girls who show an interest in STEM but feel excluded at school. You should also aim to partner with providers who have a clear stance on equality and should report any instances of gender discrimination while at work.
The Power of Tutors
As a tutor, you have the potential to combat exclusion and help students overcome stereotypes by creating an inclusive learning environment. You can also make STEM education more enjoyable for students who struggle to engage with traditional learning resources like worksheets and textbooks. Science tutors are uniquely positioned to aid students who are falling behind in STEM. Take the time to connect with the individual you are tutoring, and use tutoring best practices like:
- Gather feedback from the students to understand where they are struggling;
- Work in 20-30 minute segments to improve focus and concentration;
- Correct any misunderstandings you spot and make time for open-ended questioning;
- Provide feedback to parents and students so they can work on their weaknesses outside of your sessions.
Taking these steps will help underrepresented students connect with learning materials and may help them look forward to STEM tutoring sessions. You can give children who struggle in STEM a much-needed confidence boost by answering their questions and providing individualized feedback.
Slowing things down and making STEM fun is particularly important when working with students who don’t think STEM is for them. By getting outside and showing students real-world systems, like aquatic ecosystems in nearby gutters, streams, ponds, and lakes, you can demonstrate how interactive and engaging science can be. This bolsters students’ self-confidence when interacting with other scientific processes in the world around them.
Conclusion
Tutors can empower underrepresented students and meaningfully improve participation in STEM by offering learning opportunities that overcome barriers like income, representation, and stereotypes. Even simple changes to your lesson plan, like including a short segment on prominent women in STEM, can enhance participation. If you’re still struggling to engage students, consider using emergent tech like VR classes or hands-on experiences to pique your student’s interest and help them see that STEM can be fun.