This article is very interesting. As someone who works at a national non-profit in the STEM education field, I am happy to see that the President has announced that there will be more that $250 million (more than double the amount that Obama announced in November) in private investments to help attract and prepare new teachers for STEM. The money will also help to improve instruction in STEM by teachers that are already practicing.
The article notes that the government can not address the STEM problem alone. Therefore, a partnership between the federal government, companies, foundations, nonprofit groups and science and engineering societies will work with young people across the United States to excel in STEM. However, I think that the partnership should include other entities such as post secondary institutions (both two-year and four-year colleges) with science and engineering programs. These schools prepare students for careers in engineering and would know what is needed for them to succeed at the post secondary level.
In addition, education graduate schools would also be able to further assist in developing adequate professional development of teachers in the STEM areas.
I would also like to see more involvement from the multicultural STEM nonprofits and foundations. As the demographics of the country continue to change and Latinos become a dominant portion of the population, it is important that education to workforce development program include and reach out to all cultures.
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Is it a STEM problem, or is there a more pervasive and insidious problem driving the STEM problem? I wrote a quickie blog post that calls into question how successful a STEM push can be without focus on reading/literacy.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if by investing so heavily in STEM if we'll actually see the achievement gap widen, further separating those who can barely read, for example, from those who are already at grade level but maybe needed a little nudge in the STEM direction.
It definitely isn't a STEM problem. Its an overall education problem. Students aren't prepared to enter STEM majors because the courses that they are taking in high school, or lack thereof. Many of these courses are required for them to enter a four-year college (i.e.: 4 years of science, 4 years of math, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can push STEM without focusing on reading/literacy. How would scientists and engineers do their literature reviews? Or convey their ideas to the rest of the world? Reading/literacy is fundamental for all majors.
I think that if we continue to push STEM, we need to do also ensure that students are college ready as well (not only STEM ready).