Representation
"It doesn’t matter how many times I explain it—my students just aren’t getting it. I’ve tried rephrasing, breaking it down step by step, and even using examples, but they still seem confused. I can see the frustration on their faces, and I’m starting to feel it too. It’s like there’s a disconnect between what I’m saying and what they’re understanding, and I’m not sure how to bridge that gap."
Representation is a barrier for many
Many teachers report the “lightbulb moment” as one of the most rewarding parts of their job. On the flip side, it’s endlessly frustrating when it seems like students will just never get it.
This is particularly true in STEM, and leads to lower participation rates in the field.
Why are more people not pursuing STEM degrees? It’s not because they’re not useful. In fact, 77% of Americans recognize the usefulness of STEM degrees. Most Americans believe that STEM degrees are too hard.
What does "too hard" mean?
What does “too hard” mean? It could mean a few things:
The skills are too difficult
Complicated vocabulary
Excessive knowledge to memorize
Abstract concepts
We don’t want to lower standards or expect less of students. In fact, one could argue that STEM itself is not difficult: monkeys have a superb sense of physics as they are launching themselves across tree branches and plants can detect fine chemical imbalances in the environment.
However, learning STEM is difficult for many. Luckily, there are ways to design STEM learning that will help students learn more fluently.
