Social media is a must for America’s STEM future

Social media has become an integral and prevalent part of our society, especially within the younger generations.

Over the last several decades, the United States has declined as an economic and educational global leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). To regain economic success and global competitiveness in these fields, government at all levels should launch campaigns that raise STEM awareness and increase student engagement. Actively leveraging social media channels is one potential path to drive K-12 excitement in STEM education and jobs through challenges.

According to the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council’s (ACT-IAC) Quadrennial Government Technology Review, only about a third of bachelor’s degrees earned in the U.S. are in a STEM field, compared to more than half of university degrees earned in China and Japan. With the decline in K-12 interest and engagement in these fields, the U.S. may likely continue to fall short on maintaining an adequate pipeline of STEM-educated professionals. But just how troubling is this situation, and what does it mean for the nation and our future?

Jobs in STEM are increasing three times faster than jobs in the rest of the economy and as a result, by 2018, the U.S. faces a projected deficit of 230,000 qualified advanced-degree STEM professionals. To remain competitive, the U.S. needs to close the gap between the knowledge and skills needed in STEM, and the number of available professionals to fill those needs.…Read More

Discovery Education offers free STEM camp

In an effort to bridge the equality gap, as well as give kids and teachers an opportunity for some summer excitement, Discovery Education recently announced that the company is offering its science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) summer camp resources for free.

“We know that too often, unequal access to summer and after-school learning opportunities contribute to disparities in student achievement,” said Cindy Moss, director of global STEM initiatives for Discovery Education. “After-school hours and summer months provide rich opportunities to broaden all students’ exposure to the STEM concepts we know are critical for their success in the classroom today and that are vital to prepare them to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.”

According to Discovery’s website, the STEM Camp is a “dynamic series of standards-aligned curricula available at no cost to schools, districts, non-profit organizations, and parents for use as part of summer camps, after-school STEM programs or wherever support is needed.”…Read More

Launching the future of STEM education

Flying cars may just be the future of science, technology, engineer and mathematics (STEM) education, MorningSun.net reports. Students at Pittsburg High School got to be on the leading edge of that trend as PHS, Pittsburg State University, PITSCO Education partnered and collaborated on a study of educational techniques that involved an applied 10-day unit of integrated science, technology and math learning…

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Education, STEM receive boost in federal budget proposal

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) would see a 4.6 percent boost in discretionary funding, to $71.2 billion, under President Obama’s proposed 2014 budget, which focuses on STEM education and emphasizes early education in a proposed partnership with states that would ensure access to high-quality preschools for 4-year-olds.

The budget proposes a “major reorganization effort” that would see ED partner with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies to boost the impact of STEM education investments.

Obama has put forth a recommendation for a $150 million STEM Innovation Networks program, which would create effective strategies to boost and strengthen STEM education, direct $35 million to create a STEM Master Teacher Corps, and allocate $80 million to recruit and train STEM teachers for high-need schools.…Read More

‘STEAM’ education gains momentum in schools

More schools are climbing on board with STEAM education.

For years, educators have been told about the importance of STEM education—for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—in ensuring the nation’s competitiveness in a global economy.

But now, a new movement seeks to amend that acronym to “STEAM”—with an “A” for the arts.

Leading the charge is the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which maintains the website STEMtoSTEAM.org.…Read More

The future of STEM education may be at risk

It’s not every day that high school students get the chance to meet a renowned physicist. But Arkansas high school students spent Tuesday listening to Dr. James Gates, a noted African-American theoretical physicist, talk about his career and the importance of a STEM education, TakePart.com reports.

“There are half of million jobs that can’t find Americans to hire because they don’t have the skills level,” he told the packed auditorium at Philander Smith College in Little Rock. “These are the jobs you most want to have in the future.”

Who could fill those? More students who focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes in high school and college. Gates is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland in College Park but also serves on President Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In that capacity, he advises Obama on myriad topics including the increasing need for STEM education in the United States……Read More

Students’ science proficiency all over the map

Different state standards lead to varying degrees of science preparation.

A series of reports found that K-12 students in many states spend less time learning science and don’t have access to rigorous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses—and that many states have low benchmarks for eighth-grade science proficiency.

The reports come from Change the Equation (CTEq), a CEO-led effort to improve STEM education launched by the Obama administration as part of its “Educate to Innovate” initiative. They examine student performance, access to educational opportunities, and the amount of instructional support that teachers and schools receive in STEM-related courses.

Included are profiles of each state and recommendations for how it can improve K-12 STEM education. Some of those recommendations address the same issues.…Read More

Intel, schools hoping to lure more students into science and engineering

Intel’s Carlos Contreras said they often don’t know that engineering can be a creative process—or even what engineering is.

Would you buy a deodorizing shoe rack? How about one that suggests outfits to go with your footwear?

To a layperson, brainstorming about how to build a better shoe rack might not look like engineering.

But working together to create new things is part of engineering, and Carlos Contreras of Intel said young people need to get that message. He said they often don’t know that engineering can be a creative process—or even what engineering is, exactly.…Read More

Report: STEM education needs more money, support

An annual study reveals STEM educators' opinions on a variety of topics.

The latest in an annual series of surveys about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education reveals that funding remains a barrier to better STEM integration in schools—and that districts need more K-8 STEM education and better professional development to help produce students who are career- and college-ready.

The key challenges facing STEM education include insufficient K-12 funding specifically designated for STEM education (48.4 percent), lacking or inadequate K-8 STEM education (46.5 percent), and insufficient professional development for STEM teachers (46.4 percent), the survey suggests.

The 2012 National Survey on STEM Education is the third in a series of annual online surveys and was written and published by Interactive Educational Systems Design, in collaboration with Daylene Long and Scott Long of STEM Market Impact.…Read More

How corporations can really support U.S. public education

"I have a bold suggestion of my own for how businesses can help improve education," writes Editor Dennis Pierce: "Pay their fair share of taxes."

(Editor’s note: In honor of National Tax Day, we’re rerunning an article that originally appeared last May 31 under the headline “Editorial: God bless taxes.”)

Default Lines column, June 2011 edition of eSchool News—The Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has issued a new report calling for urgent action to improve U.S. math and science instruction.

Called “The Case for Being Bold: A New Agenda for Business in Improving STEM Education,” the report makes a series of common-sense recommendations that reformers have heard before: rethink teacher hiring and training practices, redesign schools for the 21st century, use technology to personalize instruction, create opportunities for local professionals to help teach students part time … and so on.…Read More

Obama requests funding to help math, science teacher preparation

President Obama launches a marshmallow from a cannon designed by 14-year-old Joey Hudy at the White House Science Fair Feb. 7.

President Barack Obama on Feb. 7 called for millions of dollars in new funding to improve math and science education, an effort he said would be crucial to the nation’s long-term success.

Obama said his upcoming budget proposal, set to be released next week, would include a request for $80 million from Congress for a new Education Department competition to support math and science teacher preparation programs. Obama made a similar request to Congress last year, but the measure didn’t pass.

Separately, he announced $22 million in new investments from the private sector to support math and science efforts. Among the organizations committing fresh funding are Google and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.…Read More

$3M gaming project could help spark STEM education

MIT will develop an online multiplayer game for high school math and biology.

A $3 million Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant will help the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Education Arcade build a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) to help high school students learn math and biology.

Part of the grant’s purpose will be to change the way that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics are traditionally taught in secondary schools. Studies indicate that many students fail to remain engaged and interested in STEM education in high school and college, leading to a need for highly skilled STEM employees in the nation’s workforce.

MIT Associate Professor Eric Klopfer, director of the Education Arcade and the Scheller Teacher Education Program, has researched educational gaming tools for more than 10 years. Klopfer created StarLogo TNG, a platform that helps kids create 3D simulations and games using a graphical programming language, as well as several mobile game platforms—including location-based augmented reality games.…Read More