Describe how STEM learning might have particular applications for children with different abilities, and give examples of how STEM learning can be supported for children with a physical impairment, a cognitive or developmental delay, and a social, emotional, or behavioral disorder.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

STEM learning has particular applications for children with different abilities because they may have a special interest in an area that relates to their circumstances. For example, students with vision impairments might benefit from learning about the structure of the eye and how light is refracted through lenses. Students whose mobility is impaired might gain added benefit from lessons about the nervous system, joints, gravity, and other systems and forces that affect movement. One way that STEM learning can be supported for children with different abilities is by providing a range of sensory experiences for students with vision impairments. For example, they can use their senses of touch and smell to classify objects. For children with a cognitive or developmental delay, counting with real objects and gaining one-to-one correspondence is helpful. For children with a social, emotional, or behavioral disorder, classification activities can be used to point out similarities among children and help promote a sense of belonging.