Understanding STEM
Jan 8th, 2012 | By admin | Category: Features, Learning KidsUnderstanding STEM
What it Means for Your Child
By Tracey Carisch
These students at the CGLA are all smiles as they learn about robotics.
This four-letter acronym has been quite the buzz lately. Everyone seems to be talking about STEM as it relates to education, the economy and our nation’s competiveness in the global marketplace. But the meaning behind the letters isn’t obvious. What impact does it really have on our economic future? What does it mean for my child’s education? Why does it matter so much? Let’s take a look at STEM and its impact on our region.
What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Any job related to one of these areas is considered a STEM occupation. If you work in medicine, information technology, manufacturing, agriculture, product design, biotechnology or one of hundreds of other fields, then you are a part of our country’s STEM workforce.
From an educational standpoint, STEM refers to using exploratory, project-based learning as a means to building scientific curiosity, math skills and technological capabilities. People often hear the term STEM education and think of vocational training, such as a high school shop class. While vocational and trade courses are certainly one component of it, STEM education is much broader. A STEM curriculum is driven by problem-solving, hands-on learning and real-world application of the subject matter. All students need the critical thinking skills that a STEM education develops.
Why is STEM Such a Hot Topic?
Across the United States, leaders in government, education and business are talking about STEM because they are very concerned. The demand for STEM skills is growing rapidly, but the supply of workers proficient in these areas is shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of STEM jobs will have increased 22% between 2004 and 2014. Today, 15 of the 20 fastest growing occupations all require significant mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete for a job. Yet, our students aren’t coming out of school with the skills needed to fill these jobs. According to the Program for International Student Assessment, American 15-year-olds rank 23rd in math and 35th in science among industrialized nations. At the college level, fewer students than ever before are graduating with science and math degrees. Our students are falling behind in STEM, but our economy is quickly becoming dependent on STEM fields. When our workforce is unable to provide industry with the advanced STEM skill sets it needs, companies will begin looking for more capable workforces elsewhere.
STEM in Our Region
National and local leaders are making significant investments into STEM education programs in an effort to cultivate scientific minds and draw more young Americans toward high-tech careers. In the Chattanooga region, teachers are bringing science and technology to life by incorporating hands-on learning and computer-based tools into their instruction. At Red Bank High School, students learn to use advanced geomapping technology to develop maps of cities around the world and even the moon’s surface. Ooltewah High School’s Engineering Academy exposes students to a broad spectrum of concepts related to engineering careers. The Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy utilizes a full STEM curriculum and requires advanced courses such as robotics for graduation. Throughout our region, educators recognize the importance of developing students’ STEM skills and preparing them to become the workforce of the future.
STEM in Knoxville
Becky Ashe, the principal of the new L&N Knox County STEM academy was the executive director of curriculum and instruction for Knox County Schools. “The students will do a lot of self-identified inquiry. They’re motivated and we can put them out in the field with scientists and with professionals,” she said. The magnet concept means every student will be there by choice. “Whether it’s the one who comes in who wants to be a licensed pipe fitter at a nuclear plant or the one who wants to be the computer scientist programming what’s going to go on in the nuclear reactor, we hope every student leaves prepared to do what they want to do after high school,” Ashe said.
Expanding Our STEM Education
Many community leaders believe much more needs to be done to expand STEM education in all schools throughout our region. The Southeast Tennessee STEM Initiative was developed with the mission to connect, share and expand educational STEM assets throughout this area of the state. This group is comprised of more than 40 partners, including regional K-12 school districts, large and small businesses, institutions of higher education, and community organizations. All of them are committed to spearheading our region’s drive toward STEM education. They hope to build a network of services allowing expertise from higher education and industry to continuously support the needs of K-12 education.
Changing the Equation
In the United States, Change the Equation is a program that mobilizes corporations to improve STEM education for all American students. Championing the policies and programs to improve STEM education at all grade levels and inspire student excitement for STEM careers corporate partners hope to achieve a sustained commitment from public and private sector leaders and representatives. Alcoa is a visible partner in the Southeast Tennessee region supporting STEM initiatives.
A STEM Vision for the Future
With a number of STEM education programs already in place and a strong movement of community support behind this STEM effort, our region is on track to take great leaps forward in the coming years. Students will have more opportunities to learn through hands-on, exploratory projects. Schools could begin partnering in the use of distance learning technology to expand the courses offered to their students. Teachers could collaborate with business and industry professionals to develop authentic, real-world learning experiences for their classrooms. These and other STEM programs will open doors for our children and potentially lead them to careers in STEM fields.
As parents we can support STEM education every day by engaging our children in activities which nurture their scientific curiosity. Encourage them to ask questions about the world and help them research the answers. Read books together featuring scientific concepts and technological discoveries. Cooking, gardening, art projects, small home repairs…. If we take the time to slow down and look at things a little differently, even changing a light bulb can become a STEM-enriched learning experience for our kids.
Websites:
www.knoxcountystemac.knoxschools.org
STEM Science at Home
These are a few great resources for science experiments and activities that you can do with children of a wide variety of ages. It can be as easy as an ice cube or as hi-tech as you want it to be but learning to love science at home can inspire your children to make the most out of the lessons that they experience in school.
