LUMA Centre Finland is a long-time member of the “International Dialogue on STEM Education” (IDoS) network. The network has published a new white paper “Early STEM Education in the Digital Age” that shows how digital tools can improve STEM education for young learners. It presents research findings and best practices from six of the world’s leading STEM Education organisations (the “IDoS peers”) and provides clear recommendations for weighing up the benefits and risks of using technology in early education.
“Are technologies making us dumber?”, “Are technologies good tools for learning?”, “Why are we seduced by the screens?” Questions like these dominate the debate on digital media in early STEM Education. Conflicting theories, myths, and polarised opinions make it increasingly difficult for educators and decision-makers to choose how, or if, to integrate these technologies in pre-school learning or the classroom.
“Are technologies making us dumber?” Paper debunks myths about digital media
The white paper offers six recommendations to advance early STEM Education with digital tools. The authors suggest a “pedagogy first” approach, whereby the teaching methods and learning objectives drive the use of the tool, not the other way around. Each recommendation is backed by practical examples from the network members.
“We aimed to dispel the myths that present digital tools as either the ‘demon’ or the ‘saviour’ of education,” says Dr Elena Pasquinelli, Head of the Research & Evaluation sector at the French Fondation La main à la pâte and the leading author of the paper. “The truth is, digital tools are neither – as our research in this field shows. Their effectiveness depends entirely on how they are used by pedagogues.”
Six recommendations to advance early STEM Education with digital tools
- Integrate technology with purpose: Justify digital tools based on clear learning objectives in STEM Education.
- Prioritise pedagogy: Effective teaching methods must drive technology use in STEM – not vice versa.
- Enhance, don’t replace: Use digital tools to complement real-world STEM learning.
- Prepare for success: Invest in teacher training and infrastructure for effective digital integration that benefits all.
- Empower digital literacy: Transform STEM Education to navigate a rapidly changing world.
- Use evidence-based practices: Leverage research to enhance STEM Education and effective teacher training.
A resource for policymakers and educators in Finland and worldwide
The IDoS peers provide practical guidance for policymakers and other educational stakeholders by showcasing examples of high-quality technology use in daycare centres, classrooms, and teacher training. In their paper, they also outline how they have integrated digitalisation within their own organisations and expanded their STEM Education programmes through digital advancements.
Dr Barbara Filtzinger, Head of Education at Siemens Stiftung says: “Our experience in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and now in India shows that digital technologies are deeply embedded in cultural practices and create new possibilities for collaborative learning and knowledge exchange. We engage with communities, teachers, and parents to co-create Open Education Resources that are free and can be easily adapted to meet the needs and contexts of students around the world. In the paper, we share best practices on how extensive teacher training and providing access to digital learning materials are preparing our next generation to thrive in a future characterised by digitalisation”.
