IEEE: STEM education boosts Innovation and Creativity in Classrooms

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields are traditionally known for their defined concepts. However, based on insights from top educators and members of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, technology integration in STEM education is helping boost innovation and creativity in classrooms.

John Cohn, IEEE & IBM Fellow, said, We now have instant access to more information, tools and technology than we have ever had. That access allows people to create in ways than we couldn't have imagined just a few years back. Students have more power to follow their interests and passions to shape their education themselves. Professors and students in STEM fields can benefit significantly from this accessibility, and as an engineer it is wonderful to see how the technology we have helped create is helping to create better future engineers.

With all of the extra information and educational material available, one might think that the college degree of today is bound to change or even become obsolete. However, education and engineering professionals believe that employers will still require the traditional college degree.

It will always be necessary for a graduating student to have the standard certification that a traditional degree signifies. The complementary knowledge that comes from the variety of class offerings available via technology will serve as a bonus on a résumé, and will give future engineers a wider knowledge base to be innovative from in their careers.

Flipped Classrooms and Social Networks are enabling broader opportunities for STEM students to learn engineering in unconventional ways.