When a test at school revealed that his then 6-year-old son was intellectually gifted, David Stewart knew he needed to find a way to foster young Nathan’s academic attributes.
The gifted designation wasn’t a complete surprise. Other adults had suggested to Stewart that Nathan seemed exceptionally bright but it was someone at the school who pursued the matter and assessed the boy’s mental aptitude.
Determined to make sure his son would make the most of his abilities, Stewart began a search for a program that could both engage Nathan and challenge him. He found it through DiscoverSTEM, a program that encourages young people to think in innovative ways and conjure new inventions and ideas.
DiscoverSTEM works mostly with students older than Nathan was at the time, but also offers a program for younger children called CLAIM. Those letters are shorthand for the program’s longer official title: Critical Thinking, Logical Reasoning, and Abstract Thinking for Developing an Innovation Mindset.
The more Stewart learned about CLAIM, the more he decided it was what he was looking for and he put in an application for his son. Soon Nathan was spending time at DiscoverSTEM where, even at his young age, he and other students were presented questions that required them to dig deep to come up with answers,
Technically, there were no right answers. Instructors expected the students to generate creative and innovative ideas to solve the problems they were presented with. Nathan points out, though, that although there were no right answers, to be considered an acceptable answer, the ideas had to be at least theoretically possible, such as addressing world hunger by air dropping food into struggling areas.
Another aspect of CLAIM was that students were required to make presentations, which delighted Stewart because communication skills are critical no matter what career a young person eventually chooses to pursue.
Nathan participated in CLAIM for two years. Now, at age 8, he has moved into the DiscoverSTEM Innovation program, which is for young people ages 8 to 16. It’s a six to eight-month course divided into two parts. The initial Foundation course trains students to think like innovators and problem solvers, helping them build the skills they need to do research and to innovate. In addition, they learn about patents. In the second part, the Implementation Course, the student takes the skills they developed and put them to work. They identify a real-world problem and they come up with solutions. Those solutions are just notions about what might work. The students are expected to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of what they are proposing.
One of the things about DiscoverSTEM that Stewart is especially impressed with is how the facilities are designed. He expected a typical classroom setting, but DiscoverSTEM tosses traditional classroom layouts out the window. Instead, Stewart says, the classroom environment lends to creativity. Instead of desks lined up in rows, students have more relaxed seating arrangements and can gather in groups as needed. There are tables students can write on as they figure things out, and of course there is plenty of high tech.
“It’s a comfortable environment and I think that's important,” Stewart says
If other parents expressed an interest in DiscoverSTEM, Stewart says the first thing he would do is ask them a question: “What is your child into?”
That’s because the program would not be the right fit for everyone. Nathan enjoys playing with Legos, has an interest in computers and computer programming, and almost certainly will pursue a career in science or engineering. For Nathan, DiscoverSTEM was the right choice because it meshed with his interests and his aptitude.
But if a child isn’t as captivated by science or enchanted by innovative thinking, and would just as soon be outdoors on a soccer field kicking a ball, then perhaps not.
“If they have a science mind, a creative mind, then this is perfect for that,” Stewart says. “Where else are they going to learn critical thinking and presentation skills at this young age?”