We’re using STEM education as a dynamic platform for social-emotional learning and virtue development.
Written by Caitlin Hayes, middle school science teacher and aerial drone coach, St. John the Apostle School, Diocese of Richmond, [email protected]
In today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated world, the need for emotional intelligence and virtue-based formation has never been greater. Catholic schools are uniquely positioned to respond—not by rejecting innovation, but by infusing it with mission. At St. John the Apostle Catholic School, we’re using STEM education as a dynamic platform for social-emotional learning and virtue development, proving that coding and compassion are not mutually exclusive.
STEM as a Pathway to Belonging and Growth
When students join our Aerial Drone Team or participate in engineering challenges, they’re not just learning about flight, physics, or algorithms—they’re learning about perseverance, collaboration, and humility. Each drone launch or failed prototype becomes a moment of reflection: How did I respond to frustration? Did I honor my team’s contributions? What virtue do I need to grow in to try again?
Students begin to see that innovation requires patience (fortitude), troubleshooting requires honesty (integrity), and working in teams demands charity and respect. These aren’t just “soft skills”—they’re gospel values in action.
Technology Anchored in Human Dignity
We explicitly connect our use of technology to the dignity of the human person. Whether we’re learning about the ethics of artificial intelligence, building projects that serve the environment, or creating assistive technology prototypes, we ask students to consider this: Does this invention serve the common good? STEM becomes a lens through which we teach ethical decision-making and stewardship.
In one unit, students designed water filtration systems for global communities, linking the lesson to Catholic Social Teaching on the preferential option for the poor. In another, students flew drones in simulation of search-and-rescue missions, contemplating how engineers and first responders live out the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Virtue, Vocation, and Vision
Beyond technical skills, our program fosters discernment. We tell students that discovering their God-given talents in STEM may point to their vocation—whether as future engineers, educators, or ethical innovators. We don’t just ask, “What do you want to be?” We ask, “Who is God calling you to become?” In our classrooms and after-school programs, I’ve witnessed students who struggle in traditional settings come alive when piloting drones or coding with purpose. This growth in confidence is not just academic—it’s spiritual. It reminds us that formation of the whole child means unlocking every student’s potential with love, challenge, and faith.
