We’ve all heard about the different ways STEM education can benefit today’s students; that’s because technological innovations are rapidly increasing in our world every day. Whether young students know it or not, STEM has grown to become part of the next generation’s future. That’s because STEM has started to play a major role in students’ day-to-day lives. What about students with special needs — like autism and dyslexia — and other learning disorders? Can special education teachers make a difference in their lives, despite their learning disabilities, and is STEM education still beneficial to them? The answer is yes!

According to the National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health, students with disorders like autism are more likely to choose a STEM career field than some of their other classmates. However, within the same study, 50 percent of students — without learning disabilities — also reported losing interest in their STEM pursuit for a number of reasons. Whether or not students felt disconnected with the material, we might never know. But one thing is clear when employers look for candidates — they typically look for the same traits: individuals who pay attention to detail, are loyal and are reliable.

Helping students with learning disabilities understand the importance of STEM education can sometimes be tricky. So, how do teachers integrate STEM education into the classroom? Well, here are three ways educators make the connection between the two:

Make Special Education Project-Based:One of the most influential approaches to both STEM and special education is project-based learning. Through this teaching method, educators can serve as classroom guides as students make attempts to solve problems and make logical decisions to help them reach their own conclusions. So, as students begin to use their knowledge, teachers can take this opportunity to help students make a new discovery and apply it to the assigned projects. This is what will help them learn the necessary skills to progress.

Why should teachers rely on project-based learning?

Well, project-based learning gives students with learning disabilities the opportunity to strengthen their thinking skills and become more involved in the project while still helping them build social skills. Project-based learning also helps students with special needs and disabilities find their own entry point rather than trying to replicate the work themselves. That said, when students are placed in mixed groups, each child will in one way or another find ways to improve on their strengths and contribute to the team. It will also teach students the importance of group work as they work collectively to reach the end goal.

Help Students Learn From Experience:When it comes to teaching STEM to students with special needs, incorporating activities that students can relate to and working with parents is everything. That’s because the resources used for raising children with special needs and disabilities are the same ones that can be used to improve a child’s education.

With that in mind, by implementing experiential learning methods in a STEM classroom catered to students with special needs, instructors can allow their students to use their knowledge from previous learning experiences to build upon and increase their knowledge. Organizing students into groups, for example, can also promote team-building practices that mimic experiences that can only be found in the real world. The best part is once students complete their task, they can then be given the opportunity to reflect on their work. This also gives students who are constantly struggling with the opportunity to catch-up by reflecting on their learning.

Turn the Tables: One of the best ways to teach and implement STEM education into the classroom environment is by flipping the classroom. Within this type of environment, teachers assign lessons to their students to finish at home — rather than in the classroom. The point of operating under a flipped classroom is to help students rely on experiential learning. During this practice, teachers are able to work with students who struggle on a personal level and help them have a deeper understanding of the STEM-based curriculum.

The flipped classroom approach also gives instructors the opportunity to spend more time with students by reinforcing what they might already know and finding ways to explain the new material. Supporting special needs children in class while they’re completing their homework can also help boost their self-confidence and ease the feeling of being overwhelmed. Teachers who work with special needs children have a much greater responsibility than those who don’t. Fortunately, by integrating the methods listed above, they can give students with learning disabilities the opportunity to grow while blending STEM and special education lessons together.

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H. Davis is a writer whose passionate about K-12 education and loves exploring various ways to make learning a fun experience for everyone. If you can’t catch him online, you might be able to spot him out and about reading up on world news. Follow him on Twitter at @Davis241. Thanks!