STEM
Pondering Urban High School Improvement
“We want people to be perplexed—to embrace the paradox of starting new schools,” said Larry Rosenstock in the opening to the A+ Urban High School Summit in Denver Wednesday. As usually Larry has a rich list of quotes on the subject.
EdTech 10: Spirit of Youth
Shakespeare, who would’ve celebrated his 449th birthday this week, famously noted that April puts “a spirit of youth in every thing.” The Bard was right. (One of our Smart Teachers even celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday with her class.) We’re seeing lots of new ideas springing forth in k-12 and…
Movie Review: Why are America’s Students Failing at Math?
It is not a difficult question to answer, a lot of students hate math. I know “hate” is a strong word, but when some children are asked about math, they start to sweat, shut down, and avoid math at all costs, due to negative experiences in the past.
Blended STEM: Project Lead The Way
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a leading provider of STEM curriculum for U.S. secondary schools. PLTW is launching an elementary program, a computer science strand, and improving its blended STEM offering with updates to the online and hands-on learning experience.
Aerospace Scholars Offers Blended STEM Experience
While demand for engineers in the workplace is growing, student interest in the STEM field is declining. In particular, students who enter high school interested in engineering, tend to become disengaged in the field as they approach graduation. An educational program located in Washington State hopes to stop that trend by engaging students in the STEM field in new and interesting ways. The Washington Aerospace Scholars Program offers an innovative approach to STEM education by combining online and applied hands on learning.
Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Engineers
The infusion of entrepreneurship into engineering programs at Lawrence Tech, Detroit, was supported by a grant from the Kern Family Foundation. According to Jim Rahn, president of the foundation, said Lawrence Tech “really embraced the program making it mission central.” Their goal is to prepare students “not only to compete within an industry but to lead it.”
Infographic: The Value of a STEM Education
This great infographic from Edutopia highlights the value of educating students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. US students are slipping behind other countries on assessments like PISA in STEM categories while 80% of fast growing occupations will require these skills.
Product Review: Cyber Science 3D
Cyber Science 3D offers a wide variety of 3D and 2.5D (more about that in a minute) manipulable anatomical models. The range of models available is impressive, including chemicals like acetaminophen and adrenalin, cells, mammals, fish, dinosaurs, invertebrates, plants, earth science models like a volcano and a geyser, planets, and mechanical elements like a satellite and a turbine engine.
PLTW Chooses Instructure for Active STEM Learning
After two successful data startups Josh Coates turned his attention to another category with a capabilities gap--learning management systems. I caught up with Josh at SXSWedu earlier this month.
Hacking the Scouts
In the world of DIY, “hacking” is the idea of taking something and modifying it to fit your needs. With the spread of maker culture (think Maker Faire, makerspaces, or the proliferation of knitting clubs), many parents have found benefits beyond the ability to build Arduino-based gadgets. They’ve found a way to engage with their kids in “STEAM” – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math – while at the same time building their kids’ confidence, resourcefulness, and ingenuity.