Preparing the Next Generation for an AI Future: Why STEM Learning Beyond the Classroom is Essential

As the national conversation accelerates on the urgent need to equip young people with artificial intelligence (AI) skills and literacy, one critical piece is often overlooked: the vital role out-of-school-time (OST) learning will play in shaping how young people understand and engage with these emerging technologies. 

STEM jobs are growing at twice the rate of non-STEM jobs, with 65 percent of today's youth expected to face careers that don't even exist yet in sectors like technology. And yet only a small fraction of young people across America have access to the hands-on STEM experiences outside of school that are proven to help them explore, navigate and prepare for tomorrow’s careers. 

We’re working to change that at STEM Next by rapidly expanding high-quality STEM learning in afterschool and summer programs across the nation to reach millions more youth. This effort is key to helping America’s youth confidently adapt to rapidly evolving technologies and thrive today and tomorrow, no matter what comes next.

Why STEM Outside of School is Critical 

Afterschool and summer programs create immersive STEM experiences that go beyond what’s possible in a typical classroom. In these informal environments where failure is embraced as part of the learning process, kids can take risks, get creative and solve problems with friends. Research shows these deeper engagements with STEM outside of school are highly effective at equipping young people with essential skills, while helping them build confidence and support systems to help them navigate their journeys in STEM. 

Workplaces today are and will continue to be dominated by a need for these durable skills, with problem-solving, resilience, creative thinking and social influence projected as most paramount for future success. According to the World Economic Forum, 40 percent of core job skills will change by 2030 as a result of technological advancements and demographic shifts. With 63 percent of employers navigating talent shortages as tech continues to evolve at a galloping pace, demand for skills like AI literacy is at an all-time high.

We are excited and encouraged by the current focus on expanding AI education for America’s youth. We are keenly aware that the current focus on AI literacy and AI education is largely focused on in-school opportunities, yet 80 percent of a child’s waking hours are spent outside of the classroom. 

As we have learned through our successful and ambitious efforts such as the Million Girls Moonshot, the out-of-school field is a perfect place to test and scale innovative strategies to get kids excited to learn new skills. Outside of the formal K-12 system, afterschool programs can try out-of-the-box ideas to be as engaging as possible for youth, which is why they're so effective and innovative.

How STEM Next Helps

STEM Next supports the out-of-school field to guide the quality of STEM programming, scale effective practices, and train staff consistently across the country to help them confidently guide youth toward STEM futures.

Our latest effort, the Institute for a STEM Ready America, helps afterschool and summer programs integrate career exploration into their curriculum, aligning what youth learn today with the innovations shaping our world—from biotechnology to artificial intelligence. Leveraging our partnerships with leaders across sectors, we’re working to engage at least 20 million youth in STEM over the next five years.

Within the Institute, STEM Next is focusing efforts on artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and emerging tech fields in the Center of Excellence on Next Level Tech. This Center serves as a virtual hub, building national partnerships, offering immersive career exploration, and preparing youth as the next generation of STEM talent. 

We are working with partners spanning public and private sectors to bring AI to the out of school time field, developing AI literacy and navigation tools that are specifically tailored to youth in afterschool and summer programs. These tools facilitate durable skill development, including how to harness the power of AI to create solutions. Through these efforts, we aim to make STEM career pathways, particularly those influenced by AI, widely available and accessible to youth in every community through local out-of-school programs. 

Our goals are to ensure: 

• Young people understand what artificial intelligence (AI) is.

• Young people know how and when to use AI responsibly.

• Young people understand how and when AI can contribute to solving challenges that relate to their personal interests and career opportunities.

• Adults who support youth understand the impact of AI on the future of work and work opportunities.

As AI continues to evolve, the key to future job security and success lies not in competing with AI, but in learning how to work alongside AI. Investing in AI education, STEM learning, and lifelong skill development will ensure that today’s youth can thrive in an AI-augmented workforce, possessing the skills needed to remain resilient, adaptable, and innovative.

By expanding access to out-of-school time STEM learning and pairing with high-quality AI literacy programs, we can bridge the skills gap, prepare young people for future careers, and ensure that they have the tools to navigate an ever-changing workforce landscape.

👉 Learn more about how STEM Next is scaling STEM learning across America at STEMNext.org.

👉 Interested in partnering with us? Contact us at partnerships@stemnext.org.

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