Jump to content

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Added STEM resource link for audiocubes
Line 149: Line 149:
*On Women in STEM Fields: [http://www.genderchip.org/ "The Gender Chip Project" A documentary by Helen De Michiel]*On [http://blogs.freshminds.co.uk/talent/?p=370 Sir James Dyson's article on STEM students in The Telegraph]
*On Women in STEM Fields: [http://www.genderchip.org/ "The Gender Chip Project" A documentary by Helen De Michiel]*On [http://blogs.freshminds.co.uk/talent/?p=370 Sir James Dyson's article on STEM students in The Telegraph]
*Game-based STEM learning [http://www.globalchallengeaward.org The Global Challenge]
*Game-based STEM learning [http://www.globalchallengeaward.org The Global Challenge]
*STEM learning through sound and music creation [http://land.percussa.com/audiocubes-music-education/ AudioCubes, smart cubes for creating sound, music and visuals]
*The COMETS Initiative: (Career-Oriented Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science) [http://www.ocean.edu/comets.htm The COMETS Initiative]
*The COMETS Initiative: (Career-Oriented Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science) [http://www.ocean.edu/comets.htm The COMETS Initiative]
*Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: [http://www.careercornerstone.org Sloan Career Cornerstone Center] Provides in-depth career information for over 190 fields in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine).
*Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: [http://www.careercornerstone.org Sloan Career Cornerstone Center] Provides in-depth career information for over 190 fields in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine).

Revision as of 16:02, 30 July 2012

STEM fields is an acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is in use regarding access to work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields.[1] The initiative began to address the perceived lack of qualified candidates for high-tech jobs. It also addresses concern that the subjects are often taught in isolation, instead of as an integrated curriculum. [2] Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of the United States.

Definition

The exact definitions of what is within the purview of STEM, and what is excluded, varies from organization to organization. A common definition is emerging, though misperceptions remain. In one survey of teachers, they thought it was a new product on the market, or approach to teaching, and the E represented 'Education' instead of 'Engineering.' Another thought it meant 'stem' as related to biology.[2]

The proponents generally support broadening the study of engineering within each of the other subjects, and beginning engineering at younger grades, even elementary school. It also brings STEM education to all students rather than only the gifted programs. In his 2012 Budget, President Obama renamed and broadened the "Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP)" to award block grants to states for improving teacher education in those subjects. [3]

Examples

An exhaustive list of STEM disciplines does not exist, but the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lists disciplines including:[4]


The National Science Foundation is the only American federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences.[5] It lists its disciplinary program areas as:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Computer & Information Science & Engineering
  • Education and Human Resources
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Research & Education
  • Geosciences
  • International Science & Engineering
  • Mathematical & Physical Sciences
  • Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences
  • Cyberinfrastructure
  • Polar Programs

The Department of Labor identifies fourteen sectors that are "projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy or affect the growth of other industries or are being transformed by technology and innovation requiring new sets of skills for workers."[6]

The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a Occupational Outlook Handbook. STEM fields careers are some of the best-paying and have the greatest potential for job growth in the early 21st century.[citation needed]

Related groups and legislation

American Competitiveness Initiative

In the State of the Union Address on January 31, 2006, United States President George W. Bush announced the American Competitiveness Initiative. Bush proposed the initiative to address shortfalls in federal government support of educational development and progress at all academic levels in the STEM fields. In detail, the initiative called for significant increases in federal funding for advanced R&D programs (including a doubling of federal funding support for advanced research in the physical sciences through DOE) and an increase in U.S. higher education graduates within STEM disciplines.

In 2006, the United States National Academies expressed their concern about the declining state of STEM education in the United States. Its Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy developed a list of 10 actions federal policy makers could take to advance STEM education in the United States to compete successfully in the 21st century. Their top three recommendations were to:

  • increase America’s talent pool by improving K-12 science and mathematics education;
  • strengthen the skills of teachers through additional training in science, math and technology; and
  • enlarge the pipeline of students prepared to enter college and graduate with STEM degrees.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration also has implemented programs and curricula to advance STEM education in order to replenish the pool of scientists, engineers and mathematicians who will lead space exploration in the 21st century.

The NASA Means Business competition, sponsored by the Texas Space Grant Consortium, furthers that goal. College students compete to develop promotional plans to encourage students in middle and high school to study STEM subjects and to inspire professors in STEM fields to involve their students in outreach activities that support STEM education.

The National Science Foundation has numerous programs in STEM education, including some for K-12 students such as the ITEST Program that supports The Global Challenge Award ITEST Program. STEM programs have been implemented in some Arizona schools. They implement higher cognitive skills for students and enable them to inquire and use techniques used by professionals in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical fields.

The STEM Education Coalition

"The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition [7][8] works to support STEM programs for teachers and students at the U. S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies that offer STEM related programs." A list of organizations that are part of the STEM Coalition can be found on its homepage. Activity of the STEM Coalition seems to have slowed since September, 2009.

America COMPETES Act of 2007

The America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) became law on August 9, 2007. The act responds to concerns that the United States may not be able to compete economically with other nations in the future due to insufficient investment today in science and technology research and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development. The America COMPETES Act is intended to increase the nation's investment in science and engineering research and in STEM education from kindergarten to graduate school and postdoctoral education.

The act authorizes funding increases for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science over FY2008-FY2010.

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America have announced the roll out of an awards program in the spring of 2012 to promote more interest and involvement in the STEM disciplines. The NOVA and SUPERNOVA awards are available to Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Venturers as they complete specific requirements appropriate to their program level in each of the four main STEM program areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

Measures

Robert Gabrys, Director of Education at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, articulated success as increased student achievement, early expression of student interest in STEM subjects, and student preparedness to enter the workforce.

Resources

  • National Defense Education Program [9]
  • NASA [10]
  • National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) Education Outreach [11]


See also

References

  1. ^ Kakutani, Michiko (November 7, 2011). "Bill Clinton Lays Out His Prescription for America's Future". New York Times.
  2. ^ a b "STEM Education in Southwestern Pennsylvania page 7" (PDF). Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  3. ^ http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/02/obamas-budget-shuffles-stem.html
  4. ^ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement STEM Designated Degree Programs
  5. ^ The National Science Foundation What We Do
  6. ^ U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration by Jobs for the Future. The STEM Workforce Challenge: the Role of the Public Workforce System in a National Solution for a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce (PDF) April 2007.
  7. ^ The STEM Coalition
  8. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 20798284, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=20798284 instead.
  9. ^ http://www.ndep.us
  10. ^ http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html
  11. ^ http://www.nianet.org/resources/Education/K-12-Education-Outreach/K-12-Education.aspx

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics&oldid=504952870"