In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a technology that promises to increase productivity and economic growth. Its predictive capacity allows companies to analyze large volumes of data more efficiently, significantly improving their results. AI is projected to have a broad impact on GDP, increasing both worker performance and innovation rates and the overall productivity of the economy. Goldman Sachs (2023) suggests that generative AI could increase global productivity by 1.5% annually over the next 10 years. However, to fully exploit its potential, it is necessary to have human capital specialized in STEM.
STEM education not only focuses on imparting technical knowledge, but also cultivates essential skills such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and effective collaboration. In an ever-changing digital world, these skills are vital for young people to adapt and thrive. Companies today are looking for professionals with skills in areas such as programming, data analysis, artificial intelligence and robotics. In this sense, students who develop these skills have greater opportunities for professional success.
However, in Chile STEM skills show significant shortcomings according to standardized tests in mathematics and science. The results of the PISA 2022 test indicate a decrease in mathematics, with an average of 412 points, similar to that of 2008 (411 points). In science, performance has remained almost unchanged over the last fifteen years, with an average of 444 points in 2021 compared to 438 points in 2006. In 2022, only 44% of Chilean students reached a basic level in mathematics, compared to 69% of the OECD average, and just 1% achieved the maximum level (OECD average: 9%). In science, 64% of Chilean students achieved level 2, compared to 76% in the OECD, and only 2% obtained results at the highest levels (OECD average: 7%).
Promoting the use of STEM strategies in school education in Chile is key. At first, it is normal to face resistance to change, but over time, students and the educational community in general become convinced of its importance. In my experience as a teacher specializing in innovation and programming, students learn to think critically, solve complex problems, collaborate effectively, and communicate clearly.
I have witnessed my students become more engaged and motivated, actively participating in practical and relevant projects that capture their interest and make them owners of their learning. As they overcome challenges and solve problems, their confidence grows and they develop a growth mindset, believing in their ability to learn, continually improve, and achieve their goals.
In this context, initiatives that provide access to resources, tools and mentoring, allowing real problems in communities to be addressed through STEM projects, are invaluable. This is the case of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program, which offers students the opportunity to see how their ideas can make a difference in the real world to improve people’s quality of life, increasing their motivation and improving their academic results.
As teachers, we can transform the lives of our students. We must rethink our teaching practices and constantly innovate. Currently, we impact an entire educational community made up of 19 establishments and more than 12,000 students through our Comeduc Educational Foundation, which incorporates innovation as one of its educational hallmarks.
The projection of STEM education in Chile and Latin America promises a future where it is accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic origin or geographic location, where access to them is diverse and inclusive, with equitable representation of women and minorities in these fields. . This type of education is the key to brighter and more prosperous years to come for our students and our communities. It is an investment in human potential and in our society’s ability to innovate and create solutions to live in a better world.
