Creative Children Can Fall in Love with Science – The Key Is Practical Experience
Guna Joma, head of the AUGT foundation, argues against pitting creativity against technology and calls for hands-on learning to spark lasting interest in STEM among Latvian youth.
Survey Shows Youth Prefer Creative Careers Over STEM
A recent survey by the AUGT foundation indicates that Latvian youth see themselves more often in creative professions than in STEM fields. Meanwhile, international PISA studies show Latvian teenagers are among the most creative in the world. This raises the question: are creativity and technology being unnecessarily opposed?
Hands-On Experience Drives Interest
The author emphasizes that children rarely fall in love with theory before trying it in practice. When a child can use math to calculate real things or create a project through programming, STEM no longer seems abstract. Non-formal education – clubs, camps – allows experimentation without grade pressure and often becomes the first step toward deeper engagement.
Positive Examples in Latvia
The “Start(IT) Technology Library,” supported by the AUGT foundation, lets students work with robots and microcomputers during regular lessons. Teachers report that this sparks genuine curiosity, with students continuing to experiment after class. In Saldus region, teachers collaborate with local businesses to create assignments based on real-world scenarios, turning math and physics into practical problem-solving. At Jelgava Technology High School, teachers blend technology with creative subjects.
Technology Festival in Jelgava on June 6
The article invites families with children to the Children’s and Youth Technology Festival in Jelgava on June 6, where science meets creativity. According to the author, Latvian children lack neither talent nor potential; the crucial factor is fostering interest early and sustaining curiosity as the material becomes more complex.
