“I really wish we didn’t have to take a math classes in college,” said Eva. “The ideas are all hard for me to understand. It’s like my brain doesn’t work that way.” Eva is like many college students, woefully unprepared for college math and classes that involve math. Many teachers witness this struggle within their classroom and students, requiring future changes to be made. However, the field of education is constantly evolving. Whether it is because of the introduction of new technology or even new ways of teaching itself, teachers need to be innovators. A new initiative in the teaching community is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); it will better prepare children for higher education and future high paying jobs.
STEM education is vital to the future success of America’s economy and its future workers. “STEM job creation over the next 10 years will outpace non-STEM jobs significantly, growing 17 percent as compared to 9.8 percent for non-stem positions” (Why STEM Education Matters, 2011, para. 1). Many companies are resorting to outsourcing the technology and engineering part of these jobs. “Google, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, and other major tech companies -- insist businesses cannot find the skills they require in the domestic labor market and need access to a bigger, global pool of STEM workers” (McSherry, 2013, para.11). However, if the domestic pool of these workers were greater, then companies would no longer be required to import them. A reevaluation of the level of education that students are leaving American high school with is taking place. Innovative changes made within the schools will hopefully bring the U.S. up to the level of education global workers are receiving, but we must begin when child...
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...or a recovery of the jobs that were previously outsourced to be done by Americans for America, facilitating economic growth and prosperity.
Works Cited
Why Stem Education Matters. (2011). U.S. Commerce Department. Retrieved from http://www.nms.org/Portals/0/Docs/Why%20Stem%20Education%20Matters.pdf
MCSherry, J. (2013). 2013 Ineeting Engry Survey: Pressure Up, Salaries Down. Electronic Design, 61(11), 26. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/detail?sid=1e76bc50-b47d-4907-9b94-55898d5dcddb%40sessionmgr115&vid=5&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=f5h&AN=91103806
Moomaw, S. (2013). Teaching STEM In the Early Years: Activities for Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. St Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
What is the most important scientist in human history? Some people many instantly think of Albert Einstein who is famous for his work with the theory of relativity. Or of Isaac Newton who came up with the theory of gravity. Few will think of Marie Currie for her work with radioactivity or of Rosaline Franklin who discovered that DNA was shaped in a double healix. These women’s work are immensely important. Without their work in the field we would know significantly less about radioactivity and the structure of DNA. Since these women’s work drastically changed and improved science then why aren’t more girls choosing career paths in STEM fields?
As a middle school math teacher in Chippewa Falls, WI, Steven Reinhart often found that even his extensive planning and detailed lessons yielded less than high achievements from his students. He wanted to know why, that no matter how perfect his lessons were, his students’ level of achievement was so low. It even caused him to question his own methods of teaching. So Reinhart developed an idea to commit to gradually changing his ways of teaching by 10% each year. With the goal of simply teaching a single topic in a better way than the previous year, he “collected and used materials and ideas gathered from supplements, workshops, professional journals, and university classes” to achieve this goal (Reinhart, 2000).
Froma Harrop’s essay New Threat to Skilled U.S. Workers is a detailed and factual essay about the mystery of job-outsourcing. She also mentioned the long-term effects of the issue on our economy. Harrop’s audience for her essay leans towards skilled U.S. workers who are unaware that many jobs are moving overseas, but includes young college students as well. At the beginning of the essay Harrop immediately starts with an account from Alan Blinder, a Princeton economist. She describes his great displeasure after hearing how enthusiastic U.S. executives were while discussing job-outsourcing. Another pertinent piece of information included in Blinder’s account was his prediction that a great amount of jobs would be lost in the near future. “We speak of computer programing, book-keeping, graphic design and other careers once thought firmly planted in American soil” (Harrop 130) Harrop’s use of other sources helps give more credibility to the essay; however, it can decrease the complexity. Aft...
The math/science program at PWC Governor’s School presents challenging learning opportunities and well as motivated classmates and professors that can further my curiosity and devotion for the mathematical and scientific world around me. It also withholds a window of opportunity for me to move closer in attaining my career aspiration. In return, I can provide collaboration, leadership, and most importantly, an intelligent mind capable of creating pioneering, innovative, and inspiring ideas. Together, the students/faculty of PWCS Governor’s School and I can collaborate to form the most ground-breaking solutions.
The United States is a country that thrives through technological advancement. The wealth and success of this nation is dependent on providing every child, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, with the opportunity to obtain technological skills that are essential for a successful future. Unfortunately, educational funding for technology has failed to take precedent. In realizing that, the question then becomes, how is a country expected to thrive from the use and advancement of technology, when failing to properly train future leaders? Funding must be provided for schools to purchase technological equipment, such as computers, in order to ensure that each child has an equal chance to thrive in a country that is defined by its advancement in technology.
In this interview I conducted with my host teacher at Benton STEM Elementary, I talked about the various ways that she explores strategies inside her classroom for how students are provided access to mathematical learning experiences. My host teacher has been teaching elementary education for eleven years now and is currently teaching 2nd grade. Talking with her about the various methods that she uses in the classroom really informed me of how I want to teach as a future educator. When conducting the interview, we talked from the differentiation practices that she uses in her classroom when teaching mathematics. I will be connecting this interview to chapter 5 by Jo Boaler that I read on tracking in the mainstream classroom and how students mathematical abilities are affected by this.
Steen, Lynn Arthur . "Integrating School Science and Mathematics: Fad or Folly?." St. Olaf College. (1999): n. page. Web. 12 Dec. 2013..
College preparation is not the only area in which schools are failing students. According to Achieve, Inc. (2005), 39% of high school graduates in the workforce say that they have deficiencies. When asked about being prepared for future jobs, forty-six percent say that they are deficient in the skills needed. These shortcomings in the education system will escalate when in the next 10 years, 80% of job openings will require education or training past the high school level (Achieve, 2010). One third of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree. Lower educational attainment is a national problem. Competing countries now boast more workers with associates degree...
Have you wondered what would be the best degree to have in your life? The STEM vs. Humanities argument is a decades-long debate, but in this new era, the answer is quickly becoming clear. The STEM field is rapidly growing, with new and innovative advances. STEM degrees are becoming increasingly useful for young adults, far ahead of humanities and liberal arts degrees. STEM majors make more money, are better employed, and are better educated and prepared for work. STEM graduates are making nearly $16,000 more than their liberal arts counterparts and are more likely to hold a full-time job. The job market for STEM fields is also favorable for young adults, with the unemployment rate of STEM majors being a full 1.6% lower than the unemployment
STEM, also known as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is the field that is advancing at a rapid rate. Within STEM, there are many occupations across the four fields. As years go on, more and more people start to have a growing interest in STEM, but this can’t be said for women. Women almost take up half of the workforce, but when it comes to STEM, women only take about 24%, almost half of the women aren’t participating in STEM. The numbers continue to get worse. From 2000 - 2009, the numbers have remained at a constant 24%. At this rate, employers could potentially see a decline in women’s representation, but there have been efforts to change this rate (Beede et al par. 6). This could mean disastrous problems in the world as more problems will arise and there’s nothing to be done because companies are non-diverse and
With this promise came serious concerns over education taught students ranked 28th in the United States out of 40 other countries in Mathematics and Sciences. 80% of occupations depend on knowledge of Mathematics and Science (Week and Obama 2009). In order to ensure that educators have enough money to fund the endeavor to be more competitive with the rest of the world in Mathematics and Science, President Obama will increase federal spending in education with an additional 18 billion dollars in k-12 classrooms, guaranteeing educators have the teachers, technology, and professional development to attain highly quali...
In the United States, many lack the skills necessary for college. Unfortunately, the education system fails to prepare some of its students for work or higher learning. Despite these circumstances, teachers and bureaucrats seek improvements to obtain higher success. In spite of the pressure for success, the current situation is not yielding the desired results. Moreover, in the recent State of the Union Address in early 2014, President Barack Obama stated the need for improved education, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM fields. Yet, what should reformers pursue? Researchers have observed recurring problems to direct the improvement of education. The information presented, particularly over the past ten years, has revealed a need to involve the students that lag the most. Education risks excluding k-12 boys and minorities, as well as remedial education collegians, in higher education.
This class has opened my mind to the incredible impact that STEM Education can have on our society. I do not work in an institution that has a STEM program. I work at a preschool; this makes my practice of any type of STEM program extremely limited. However, it is a private school. All my students come from households where one or both of their parents are professionals. These professionals want their children to be academically prepared for school. This means we must academically, mentally, and emotionally prepare them for their future schooling. I teach my students how to be a functioning participant in a classroom while exploring mathematics, science, art, history, literature and pre-writing. Puzzles, counting, shapes, measuring, etc. are on the daily agenda. Science is a huge part of our curriculum. Science in the
Rosalind Brewer is the Chief Executive Officer of Sam’s Club. However, many do not know that her undergraduate area of study was chemistry. After graduating from Spelman College in 1984, Brewer took a job as a chemist with Kimberly-Clark, working in a lab. (Daniels). Five years later, she made the transition to the business side. She worked at Kimberly-Clark for twenty-two years. She gradually became the president of the global nonwoven fabrics business. In 2006, Walmart invited her to head stores in Georgia. Brewer benefited the business by raising their profits and eventually became president of Walmart’s United States East business unit. She was responsible for more than one hundred billion dollars in revenue (Daniels). She is now one of the nine executives who report directly to Walmart’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael T. Duke. In 2012, Brewer was named one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes magazine, which is a highly respectable title. Brewer does not ignore her STEM background. She credits her chemistry degree with sharpening her analytical skills and helping her to stand out in the business world. Individuals entering the workforce can expect to move throughout various job and career fields over their lifetime. Knowing how to learn and think critically is becoming more important than learning a particular occupation, or vocational training. A STEM education combined with a liberal arts education can open doors to multiple job and career opportunities, as well as prepare workers for an ever-changing job market.
The National Science Education Standards have set the standards for teaching science. Under Program standard B the standards discuss the best ways children learn science. Program standard B states ì the program of study in the science should be developmentally appropriate, interesting and relevant to students lives: emphasize student understanding through inquiry,, and be connected with other school subjects.î This sums up what teachers need to be doing un their classrooms to teach science. The traditional textbook only and work sheet teaching of science is clearly not recommended with inquiry and hands on experiences. Standard B shows representations of methods to use not only in the teaching of science but other subject areas.