We know that teachers and educators can make big impacts. According to Zippia,
- the average teacher will impact more than 3,000 students over the course of their career
- 88% of people say that a teacher played a significant role in their lives
- 87% of people wish they’d told their teacher how much they appreciated them?
If you are someone who wishes they’d thanked a teacher, why not show them your appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week? This annual week-long celebration is a time to come together to let teachers and educators know that we will stand with them so that every student who has a teacher feels respected and supported. This year, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 8-12.
Why is thanking and supporting teachers so crucial? Unfortunately, the same Zippia article above suggests there is a growing concern over the number of available teachers to meet the needs of K-12 students in the US. The student to teacher ratio has fallen from 15.9 in 2000 to 14.3 in 2019. While this smaller ratio is of course advantageous for students, keeping up with this demand is where the challenge lies. A 2016 estimate suggests that the U.S. demand for teachers will outpace its supply by more than 100,000 by 2025, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic such as teacher burnout had not even yet been factored into this number. Unfortunately, 44% of teachers will quit their jobs within the first five years, with many leaving the industry altogether.
Why is attracting or retaining teachers difficult in the US? While 60% of teachers report their work to be fulfilling, they are often dissatisfied with the working conditions and the pay. Teachers report poor preparation in their early years as a huge risk factor for them leaving, but even experienced teachers have cited lack of ongoing support from administrators as a reason for exiting. Additionally, compensation for US teachers remains highly debated, as teachers in Canada, Europe, and Australia are reported as making more than the average US teacher.
Why Teachers for Engineering
As the facts above demonstrate, teachers can make a significant influence in the career and future of a student. This can include helping to influence a student to pursue more learning opportunities, higher education, or a particular career path. A great teacher can help turn textbook words into a real-life practical application, where a student feels aligned with and excited about what they are learning.
When it comes to fostering a career in engineering, there are still many barriers and challenges that we see today. Unfortunately, many stereotypes around engineering are still embedded in the collective. One is that students need to be math or science experts in order to pursue engineering. While many engineering disciplines do require a foundational understanding of math and science, the equation to attract students can often be flipped. Many teachers are making a difference by providing a realistic or hands-on activity earlier on in the learning process. This lets the student get excited about a project-based learning opportunity that they can see, feel, and experience, which can then serve as motivation to take a deeper dive into the textbook concepts.
Other stereotypes still include being of the typical gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background in order to pursue an engineering field. Thankfully, these stereotypes are being brought down all over the world with the help of STEM advocates including teachers and educators. Similar to the previous example, teachers can provide engaging and practical engineering activities that can generate both a strong engineering interest and a sense of empowerment in any student.
Even when not teaching specific engineering concepts, teachers can still be influential in developing engineers. Despite the many technical aspects of engineering, we must remember that on a much higher and simpler level, engineers are simply problem solvers trying to make the world a better place. The Engineering Design Process consists of various stages including envisioning, planning, executing, and evaluating, then repeating that cycle as necessary. Though intended for engineering solutions, this process can actually be applied to a variety of subjects, even as early as the preschool years. Simply by providing an environment where students can think creatively and critically and encouraging failure in the name of progress, teachers can help plant the seed of an engineering mindset across all areas of the classroom, no matter the subject.
Show Your Support for Teachers
Let’s all do our part to show our teachers that we support them and value their presence in our lives and the lives of our children. The National Education Association is encouraging all of us to publicly acknowledge our support for teachers by simply using the hashtag #ThankaTeacher and the “Dear Educator” graphic on all social channels throughout teacher appreciation week. If you are a parent of a K-12 student, don’t forget to thank your children’s teachers. Contact your school or district PTA/PTO for ideas on how to get involved in this week, and check out this article from PTO Today for fun ideas.
If you are a pre-university teacher or educator looking to teach engineering concepts, TryEngineering is here to support you. We have plenty of resources to make teaching engineering fun and engaging. For example, our peer-reviewed lesson plans can be used or as a complete learning experience for students or as an extension activity to your subject matter. If you are looking for resources to help you motivate your students to a career in engineering, then check out this TryEngineering article on DiscoverE’s Messages Matter. This resource can help you find the right talking points when communicating with students and their parents about a career in engineering. Looking for inspiration from other STEM teachers? Be sure to check out the 2022 IEEE Pre-University STEM Summit on demand. This summit features Dr. Ioannis N. Miaoulis, a visionary leader in STEM education, Dr. Christine Cunningham, who discussed the engineering mindset, and practicing K-12 teachers, Elizabeth Alves, Josh Burker and Jason Erdreich who provided participants with concrete examples of engineering lessons in the classroom, and challenged us to include all kinds of learners in engineering lessons.
Thank you teachers for all that you do!