A Step Towards Making a Difference in STEM Classes

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In 2009, the Obama Administration announced the Educate to Innovate initiative as a way to provide “students at every level to with the skills they need to excel in the high-paid, highly-rewarding rewarding fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)” (The White House). Part of the President’s goal is to support or recruit real world experienced teachers in the hopes to form creative, hands on teaching methods; elements that are crucial to a student’s success in STEM subjects. Jobs in computing, engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics are projected to grow in demand within the next decade. Consequently, Obama also aims to encourage more students to get involved in science degrees. However, nearly half of the students with ambition of futures in science, switch majors. In an effort to improve the way science is taught, teachers should interest students with current research topics to equip them with real world critical thinking skills and focus more on a student’s success in these areas and less on test scores.
The strenuous difficulty of STEM courses is the most prevalent reason why students give-up on their science degree. Students become discouraged when acknowledging the grades received in discussion based classes like history are much higher than classes genetics classes which are memorizing facts and test oriented. Critical thinking skills are vital in these fields of study, and while learning what previous scientist have accomplished is important, it isn’t the best way to achieve the ability. More hands on projects lead by real world experienced professors would keep students interested and inspired. Claudia Dreifus asked nineteen students, scientists, and educators how they would improve the way sci...

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...physics, and especially chemistry can over-tax and discourage us, but it’s an extremely awarding degree. Science is intimidating and is often taken for granted, but science, technology, engineering, and math are essential to the advancement of humanity. Some see Obama’s Educate to Innovate as hopeful wishing. Experienced teachers teaching current topics in science and providing students with more hands on opportunities in a definitive step in the right direction, but more has to be taking into account in order truly tackle the obstacle.

Works Cited

Dreifus, Claudia. “Ideas for Improving Science Education.” nytimes.com. The New York Times. 2 Sep. 2013. Web. 10 May 2014.
“Educate to Innovate.” whitehouse.gov. The White House. Apr. 2013. Web. 10 May 2014.
Horn, Elaine J. “What is STEM Education?” livescience.com. Live Science. 11 Feb. 2014. Web.
10 May 2014.

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