Exploring STEM as a self-directed learner

No matter what your interests are, you’ll find a way to explore your passions, which is one of the many advantages of self-directed learning. I have always been interested in STEM from a young age, and over the years, I’ve joined many programs, and done a lot of cool things as part of my self-directed learning journey. In this article, my goal is to share my STEM experiences and tell you how you can do the same.

Use The Internet!

Thanks to modern technology, almost anything you could ever want to know is available on the internet, and someone has probably made a 4-hour course on it. There are plenty of tutorials and free resources for learning how to code, how to get into robotics, and so much more. For coding, I recommend freecodecamps.org on YouTube—their courses are extremely thorough and comprehensive, and they teach the fundamentals for just about all mainstream coding languages. For learning 3D modeling, I’d start with TinkerCad, and when you want to take it to the next level, there are free tutorials and guides for Fusion 360 on YouTube. Fusion 360 is free for people not using it for work and students. For robotics, I’d learn how to use an Arduino, and learn C++. The robotics kit linked earlier in the article is a great place to begin and makes learning easy.

Find A Robotics Team

Robotics is one of the most engaging and rewarding areas of STEM because it covers so much. Coding, mechanical engineering, CAD, and more all tie into robotics. I competed in robotics for 2 years, and it was the most fun I’ve had experiencing STEM. I’d recommend looking at FIRST Robotics to find a team near you and then find their contact information. Most teams in FIRST are school-run, but they usually let non-students join. There are also robotics kits, like this one, which is an awesome place to start your journey in robotics.

Join A Camp

Camps are an excellent way to expand your STEM perspective and knowledge. They are also a great way to meet other self-directed learners who share your interests and ideas! Due to the recent pandemic, a lot of camps are virtual rather than in-person, but there are still plenty of excellent STEM options. Camps like Lavner Camps are a great place to start, and they have dozens of STEM courses to cater to almost every interest. Overall, summer camps are an excellent way to learn more about STEM, meet new people, and expand your knowledge for the future. 

Hopefully, this post has given you a few ideas on exploring STEM as an unschooler!