stem: the opportunity, the gaps
TRANSCRIPT
By 2018 there will be ~2 million unfilled
STEM jobs in the US
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/01/30/computer-science-allhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12/educate-innovatehttps://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-stemed-report.pdf
Scientific and technological literacy is needed to lead
productive lives as citizens - a smart consumer and thoughtful
participant in democratic decision making and to making
sense of the world more generally.
http://www.nap.edu/read/18612/chapter/1
Let’s Do It!
50.1 million kids in US Public School K-12
On avg. elementary schools only devote 2 hours per week
to science.
There is no time for fun experimental fun science projects
Most K–12 science and mathematics teachers have taken fewer courses in the
subject area(s) in which they were prepared than are
recommended.
STEM Integration in K-12 Educationhttp://www.nap.edu/read/18612/chapter/1
Survey find that teachers of K–12 mathematics and science lack confidence in their ability
to teach engineering.
STEM Integration in K-12 Educationhttp://www.nap.edu/read/18612/chapter/1
Survey confirms that 70% of US K-12 students would like to
learn to make things with electronics but there aren’t
enough opportunities for them.
BTW, Kids Are Bored In the Classroom
http://www.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/170525/school-cliff-student-engagement-drops-school-year.aspxThe Gallup Student Poll surveyed nearly 500,000 students in grades five through 12 from more than 1,700 public schools in 37 states in 2012. We found that nearly eight in 10 elementary students who participated in the poll are engaged with school. By middle school that falls to about six in 10 students. And by high school, only four in 10 students qualify as engaged. Our educational system sends students and our country's future over the school cliff every year.
There are several things that might help to explain why this is happening -- ranging from our overzealous focus on standardized testing and curricula to our lack of experiential and project-based learning pathways for students -- not to mention the lack of pathways for students who will not and do not want to go on to college.
Afterschool Will Save Us
10 Million Kids participate in afterschool programs
http://afterschoolalliance.org/press_archives/AA3PM-2014/National-AA3PM-2014-NR.pdf
7 Million Kids are getting hands-on STEM learning
opportunities in afterschool programs.
20 Million Kids want to participate in afterschool programs but there isn’t a
spot for them.
STEM Education = Classroom + Afterschool
Buddy Up
Lots of Experts - 20 million STEM experts in the US - imagine if every one of the 20 million kids that aren't in an afterschool program had one of those experts as a mentorLAM - College, Retired, Industry expertsLibrarians are learning, want toTeachers poke head in room after schoolTeachers need to be given more time for PD
Speak The Same Language
Terminology and Jargon can be a barrier to integration across STEM and between in and out of school. for example the word ‘argument’ is used differently in math than science.
Hands-on Relevancy
Many concepts which seem too difficult to get a grasp of in the classroom are a lot easier to understand in the big wide world when they’re set in context, and when the children are more engaged and motivated to understand and learn.More fun for the teacher too.
Encourage Sharing
DIY Girls“The girls talk to teachers a lot about the projects. I think because they get to take them home.”
Demand Professional Development
100kin10We must demand that teachers have more time for PD.Twitter Chats make you think that all teachers are super into STEM. But when I visit teachers inp-person for workshops they are not the same teachers. Twitter Teachers don’t need someone like me. They want all my awesome ideas. Lots of teachers sharing on Twitter, Pinterest..Im not seeing a lot of classroom teachers mingling with out/after school