Virtual STEM Resources For High School Students

Self-Learning STEM Toolkit For High School Students

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The Importance of Giving Students E-learning Resources 

• Demonstrating a subject’s relevance and real-world application.
• Creating enjoyment in learning.
• Fostering relationships with peers and educators.
• Struggles with barriers to success which can be:
  • Lack of technology to participate in resources.
  • Receiving support when unsuccessful.
  • Adapting to online reading strategies which differ from traditional reading and comprehension.

High School Student Self-Learning STEM Resources 

Online Learning Platforms 

• The Khan Academy offers self-paced learning materials that are available for free for high school learners. To complete courses, students earn mastery points for different concepts presented for their area of study. Students can also complete a course challenge that identifies which concepts they have mastery of, and which topics they may need to continue studying. There are also videos and other supplementary learning materials. Among the many classes that students can take to supplement their learning or develop their knowledge, there are many STEM-focused courses.
• Khan Academy science classes include:
  • High School Biology
  • High School Chemistry 
  • Organic Chemistry
  • High School Physics
• Khan Academy math classes include:
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Trigonometry
  • Precalculus
  • High School Statistics
  • Electrical Engineering
• Khan Academy Computing lessons include:
  • Hour of Code
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers and the Internet
  • Computer Science
  • Pixar in a Box
• EdX offers courses that are built with a focus on gaining experience, practicing and demonstrating knowledge, and applying the information you learn to the real world. Of the many courses that edX offers, a sample of their STEM courses for high school students includes:
  • Computer science courses
  • Data science courses
  • Electronics courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Math courses
  • Physics courses
  • Science courses
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers MIT Open Courseware classes that are available for free for students. You can select the courses by topical interest. Courses typically range from undergraduate to graduate level, though there are some courses available specifically for high school level learning. 
• Udacity offers some courses for free, but others do come at a cost. You can explore their course catalog for an in-depth review of their offerings, or look to each specific school for specialized classes per industry including:
  • The School of Artificial Intelligence
  • The School of Autonomous Systems
  • The School of Cloud Computing
  • The School of Cyber Security
  • The School of Data Science
  • The School of Programming and Development

Digital and Video Lectures

• YouTube has an extensive library of videos where students can search by topic. YouTube also hosts specific channels such as Talks at Google and YouTube Learning where students can browse curated content from industry leaders and professionals. 
• Ted Talks hosts a variety of content that is created by industry leaders, scientists, and those with a unique background in research and application. You can browse Ted Talk content by topic, or find unique curated content such as Talks by brilliant women in STEM.
• Teachthought offers a range of digital lectures and courses available for free on their platform. You can search their library of 100 science lectures, all organized by area of study. This includes general science studies, science and engineering, biology and medicine, chemistry, physics and astronomy, earth and environment, technology and computer science, science and the future, and science and business.
• The Great Courses Plus offers a free trial to access hundreds of courses and lectures across a diversity of subjects including science and mathematics. Lectures can be downloaded to watch on any device at any time. 
• The Sugar Association offers STEM and STEAM resources that include lessons, videos, blogs, and articles available for free on their website.
• NASA hosts a channel on YouTube that offers a curated variety of video content that explores astronomy, space, planet earth, and space exploration. 

Online Study Guides

• AP Biology Study Guide
• AP Calculus AB/BC Study Guide
• AP Chemistry Study Guide
• AP Computer Science A Study Guide
• AP Computer Science Principles Study Guide
• AP Environmental Science Study Guide
• AP Psychology Study Guide
• AP Physics 1 Study Guide 
• AP Physics 2 Study Guide
• AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Study Guide 
• AP Physics C: Mechanics Study Guide
• AP Statistics Study Guide 

STEM Education Apps and Programs

• The University of Colorado Boulder hosts PhET interactive simulation labs with more than 160 interactive simulation options available for free. Students can browse various interactive simulations in the following areas of study:
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Math
  • Earth Science
  • Biology
• iNaturalists is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. Students can use their own devices to record observations, share with other participants, and collaborate and discuss findings. Findings are also shared with data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, making this digital program a real-world application of science.
• Photomath is an app that is designed for learners to scan mathematical problems by using a camera on a mobile device. The application can check your work for any issues, and offers step-by-step explanations and animated instructions to support learning. The app also includes a smart calculator as well as the ability to use and explore graphs to interpret or find solutions to equations.
• Arduino Science Journal is an app that allows students to turn their handheld device into a scientific tool for documenting, researching, and recording projects and experiments.
• Earth-Now is an iOS and Android compatible app created by NASA to support student learning through visualizations of global climate data from Earth Science Satellites.
• Frog Dissection is an app available for a low cost on iPad devices that offers a digital alternative to dissection in the classroom. The app mimics lab experience with virtual tools, a virtual specimen, and detailed instructions for completing the procedure. 
• NOVA Elements is a free app offered by PBS that allows students to study and experiment with elements, their unique properties, and how they interact when combined. Alongside the interactive periodic table, the app includes a two-hour NOVA program titled “Hunting the Elements.”
• Simple Physics is an iOS app available for a small fee. The purpose of the app is to explore physics via complex structural design and blueprints. Once created, designs can be simulated. Students can use features such as slow-motion to see how designs fail or succeed to continue improving their designs. 

Virtual Stem Activities

• Fiveable hosts community events that support the student community with live discussions and forums, coworking sessions, and global chats.
• Students with an interest in visiting science and technology museums and centers now can do so virtually and for free. Consider the following virtual activities, tours, and experiences:
  • The Ecotarium Museum of Science
  • The Virtual Science Center
  • The Oxford Museum of Natural History
  • Koshland Science Museum
  • The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
  • The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
• The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE) offers an assortment of virtual STEM activities and readings. 
• Smithsonian Open Access provides free virtual access to images, platforms, tools, and over 3 million 2D and 3D items from their collection. 
• The After School Alliance offers programs, curriculums, and activities that students can participate in after school in summer programs. 
• Project SYNcERE offers support and activities for underrepresented students to participate in and learn more about STEM education and career opportunities. Project SYNcERE offers two specific virtual programs; ENpowered, and E-CADEMY.
• STEM Like a Girl provides a variety of programs that are focused on creating engagement and opportunities for young women and girls. Some programs are in-person, while others are completely virtual.

Additional STEM Resources for Students

• The Generation Google Scholarship awards select students with $10,000 for the school year. The program is open to applicants that meet minimum qualifications and is focused on providing support and access for students of minority groups and women. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student who is seeking a bachelor’s degree or higher, and must be studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• UNIGO regularly updates and hosts scholarships and scholarship searches for students from high school age to those seeking higher education. 
• Fastweb offers a list of available scholarship and internship opportunities for students 
• Spectra is a comic book series that engages students with storytelling and teaches about physics.
• Textbook Revolution offers free educational materials that were created by teachers and professors. Some books may be available as PDF files, while others may be viewed as e-books on platforms like Amazon. Students can search for free books and textbooks by using the site.
• Free Tech Books offers lists and links to free books that are technology-based and cover advanced topics such as engineering, math, and computers.