Pre-reading
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics. These academic subjects are taught in the education system. There
is more of an emphasis and a push now for students to learn about subjects in
these four disciplines. Science may include classes such as biology and
chemistry. Technology may include computer science. Engineering may include robotics.
Mathematics may include algebra and geometry. STEM disciplines push students to
question and make observations more so now than before in these areas.
I think that STEM education is important because there are
many fields out there that are underrepresented with the amount of STEM
disciplinary concepts they contain. There are many fields that deal with
computer or mathematical operations like programming and even finance. There is
a lack of women in these fields and it is important to increase them in these
workforces. Because things in our world are constantly changing these fields
are becoming more and more important to help find ways to better support the growing
population and in discovering more environments outside this world. Without
STEM, the emphasis on the growth in these industries would not be a prevalent.
STEM needs to be emphasized in the public education system.
Due to a lack of females in this fields, there is a need to have new fresh
minds in those roles to help discover new and more effective possibilities for
people. STEM is what helps human beings advance as a civilization and do things
more efficiently. Without improvements in medicine and technology, we would
still be living in primitive times.
Post Reading
After further research, that there is a lack of diversity in
the workforce (Bidwell, 2015). Women and minorities are very under represented.
In the US, “we do not encourage out female students to pursue career paths in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (Purcell, 2013). In addition, the current
workforce is growing older and this may stunt the growth of new ideas and innovations
to take place. I can see this being an issue because recently I had my boss ask
me to set up his email on his phone because he did not know how; he is in his
sixties. There are other times that I am asked to do something or check something
out on social media, and I have to ask one of my students how to find it, where
is it, or can you show me what they are talking about? I have noticed also that
nowadays a lot of my students are very savvy with their cell phones and cannot
seem to get it from in front of their face. The upside I see to this is any
question that I may have about social media, they can easily tell me. The new
generation is become more reliant on technology and social media and that is
something that the current workforce lacks.
With this current generation being more immersed in their cell
phones, this is something that does not always have to be seen as a negative in
the classroom and can be used to help increase their understanding in a STEM curriculum.
In the article Student Solutions to Global
Problems: STEM Education in South Carolina, students using their cells
phones had been highlighted as something that the teacher can take advantage of
as a resource to help support student learning. Technology can allow the
students to find resources to help them and they can use it to interact with
others and can allow them to get creative like the students in the article that
created a 3D Braille Printer and an app for measuring carbon sequestration.
Though I thought I knew a lot about STEM, there was still
much I did not know. After reading some articles, it seemed that there was
problem with the amount of lack of interest and the growing “age” of the
current workforce in STEM careers. This will possible halt our pace in creating
advancements and when new technology can be available. If us as teachers start
by promoting and building interest from the school years, then there may be
more input, continuing advancements. “As repetitive tasks are eroded by
technology and outsourcing, the ability to solve novel problems has become
increasingly vital” (Deangelis, 2018). STEM subjects teach life skills that
other subjects outside of STEM may not address making them also very important
to emphasis as our students go up the ladder in the public education system.
References
Bidwell, A. (2015). STEM Workforce No More Diverse Than 14
Years Ago. Retrieved from
https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2015/02/24/stem-workforce-no-more-diverse-than-14-years-ago
Purcell, K. D. (2013, March 8). 5 Ways to Get Girls into
STEM. Retrieved from
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/5-ways-girls-involved-STEM-karen-purcell
Mason, R. (2017). Student Solutions to Global Problems: STEM
Education in South Carolina. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/student-solutions-to-glob_b_8591808?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saXZlYmluZGVycy5jb20vcGxheS9wbGF5P2lkPTE4ODM2MTQ&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAF9cU29FAzVjU05rzvzqgfh_Z-i_NGw_JXPFAlV0vUNnp87NuJHoEIsNDBE2wNGHUnAEgLsIoEFJEXm6h6D5neIjB9qWHLhChVE6G3rrGl9XIF2V0htxd5vfI4JVnbs_Rh4IcaTwwt23moDGIUHbNTOETjjDscenxLDfzxN__KO5
Stephen F. DeAngelis, E. S. (2015). Why STEM? Success Starts
With Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving Skills. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/insights/2014/06/stem-success-starts-critical-thinking-problem-solving-skills/
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog about STEM education. You hit on a lot of the key concepts discussed in the texts and videos this week. You are spot on when you say that there are students that are underrepresented in these fields and we do need more diverse ideas to solve today’s monumental issues. We have to prepare students to think creatively and be able to problem solve if they are going to have the skills necessary to acquire a job in a 21st century workforce. The jobs are out there and based on the information we covered, many people are concerned with filling these jobs with skilled employees. We have to create a save environment that is inclusive to all students.
One thing I wanted to mention after reading your post was that I think you have a narrow view of what technology and engineering is in this process. Technology and engineering isn’t just learning computer science and robotics. In these courses, we link ideas like manufacturing and logistics, biology and innovation and we teach students topics like, energy production, product development, graphic design, simple machines and other ideas that don’t fall under the idea of just computers. Technology is everything that is created by humans to control the environment around us. Technology is the desk we sit at and the pen we record our ideas with. Implementing technology into the classroom is more broad than using computer simulations to help students learn.
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post. I think your 3rd paragraph did a great job explaining the importance of STEM education and closing the gender gap in STEM fields. For the sake of progress we must be encouraging every person, regardless of gender, race, economics, and so on, to embrace STEM thinking.
I also think you raised an excellent point about the current workforce getting older. It's so important for us to "keep up" with innovation and change while infusing fresh, new ideas continuously. Kids definitely have their finger on the pulse of new technology, literally, and I know that I've turned to my own teenage children for tips and tricks in hopes of keeping up with the times. There was a teacher at my last school, a sage on the stage, who was very resistant to embracing technology in the classroom. He had filing cabinets full of worksheets that he just copied year after year. For the record, it's much easier to differentiate or modify material that's in digital format rather than blurry, outdated worksheets/articles. His students were often disengaged, and they absolutely came alive when colleagues convinced him to try Kahoot! as a review instead of his old standby worksheets. Too bad this revelation came in the 4th quarter!
-Wenona
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to do something to encourage more women in STEM. This year, I will be teaching an AP computer science class. When I went to the training over the summer, I was one of the only females. However, this training emphasized that the AP class is created to encourage students that anyone can do computer science. This class is targeted towards sophomores, so it is a nice introduction to AP classes. I hope to work more closely with my school's magnet program to recruit more diverse students into computer science and STEM.
As a side note, I wanted to add that my coworkers also come to me when they're having technical difficulties. In my first week, I've already helped a handful of teachers set up their projectors because "I'm young and I'll know what to do." However, technology is always changing. On Friday, I met my freshmen and played a "this or that" game with them. One of the questions I asked was "Snapchat or Instagram?" Apparently, high schoolers don't use Snapchat anymore. I'm not even that much older than my students and I already feel out of the loop!
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteIt is really interesting to read that the STEM workforce may be getting 'old'. The way of thinking needed for up- and- coming STEM jobs is very different than careers of the past, and students need to be trained differently because of this. I do think it is important to teach students to use the technology they have with them all the time as part of their creative process in STEM. It is all about teaching them to use the resources they have and use it to make positive change. Motivating students to put their energy and time into thinking differently and innovating will be easier if we include the technology they are so comfortable with.
-Pearl
Delete