STEM Education as I see it
I believe in STEM education, but not in the way that we see it customarily in the classroom. A latest buzzword, a educational fad, an exclusive club for mathematics and sciences - because that is not what STEM is! STEM is a pedagogy, an infusion of humanities, the arts and sciences together in harmony to create creative problem solvers of the new millennium. STEM is not a class, STEM is a way of thinking and teaching.
In the 21st century, the teacher is almost unnecessary - the Internet provides access to more knowledge than I could ever hope to have in my head, even as I pursue my PhD. The 21st century teacher needs to guide students through the global world to help them find information, analyze and be critical thinkers about what they find. Teachers are not responsible for telling students what to think, but helping them develop skills for how to think critically.
STEM educators realize that there is an infusion of arts and sciences together that develop thoughtful scholars. (Just a note there aren't many STEM Educators according to 100K in 10 - only about 40,000 STEM educators are in the nation.)
I believe that STEM is more than a designation on a school building or program. STEM pedagogy will lead our nation to discovery, invention and innovation. I believe that STEM is the way to cultivate a generation of thinkers and doers that will drive the American workforce and economy to be global leaders. STEM bridges the gap for so many who struggle with traditional classroom methodologies.
If teachers were able to incorporate real world application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics across content areas, I believe that the achievement gap could be reduced among students. Struggling and reluctant learners, are often more eager to work with their hands to solve problem, usually noted for their "Out of the Box" thinking - these students often are the best at brainstorming. These students are an integral part of collaborative teams in the STEM classroom, regardless of curriculum content. Often, these students are dismissed by peers, but in applications of hands on learning, become the assets that teams desire. STEM speaks to the strengths of the kinesthetic learners.
I believe STEM allows the sciences to be multi-sensory and creates meaning for students that is relevant to the world they live in and not just an appearing random arrangement of facts. STEM is accessible to everyone, boy or girl, regardless of economic status. STEM in perfect practice would eliminate the achievement gaps that are devastating and pronounced in our country. In order for STEM to be successful, it needs to be fully integrated into the curriculum across the contents. STEM does not exist in a vacuum, and promotes the high order thinking skills that we expect to see in our future scientists and engineers so that the country can be competitive globally. The United States has fallen behind other developed countries in the area of sciences and engineering, but we are not developing talent in the schools at a young age and spend a great deal of time in fact keeping creativity to a minimum in the classroom in exchange for standardized testing. STEM is also not being equally distributed across the national landscape in terms of how and when STEM is being introduced to students. Most elementary grades are not giving time to development of STEM instruction at all, most elementary students have little or no introduction to formal science instruction until middle school.
I believe STEM allows the sciences to be multi-sensory and creates meaning for students that is relevant to the world they live in and not just an appearing random arrangement of facts. STEM is accessible to everyone, boy or girl, regardless of economic status. STEM in perfect practice would eliminate the achievement gaps that are devastating and pronounced in our country. In order for STEM to be successful, it needs to be fully integrated into the curriculum across the contents. STEM does not exist in a vacuum, and promotes the high order thinking skills that we expect to see in our future scientists and engineers so that the country can be competitive globally. The United States has fallen behind other developed countries in the area of sciences and engineering, but we are not developing talent in the schools at a young age and spend a great deal of time in fact keeping creativity to a minimum in the classroom in exchange for standardized testing. STEM is also not being equally distributed across the national landscape in terms of how and when STEM is being introduced to students. Most elementary grades are not giving time to development of STEM instruction at all, most elementary students have little or no introduction to formal science instruction until middle school.
I Believe. Girls and children of poverty are the most significantly impacted and research shows that the minority groups in schools are dramatically behind their peers. STEM is a way to bridge the gap. STEM allows students to engage at their current level, develop skills they may require for mastery, feel valued for what they already know and foster curiosity in areas that previously may not have been of interest. When engaging students to solve real world problems or asking them to solve a big question, we unlock untapped potential.
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