STEM Education Needs More Support

 

STEM Education Needs More SupportThe United States of America has always been the center of STEM education (The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the world and with the present growth in technologies, more attention is required to be paid to its education system in high schools.

The calls to improve education in the STEM fields is not new but it has grown over the years. For example, if in 1980 and 1983 only 35-36 states required students to take a one year course in Science and Math, today 38 states require at least three years of Math for High School graduates.

According to A Nation at Risk, the national commission in education recommends that State and high school graduation requirements be strengthened in Five Basics, by following this curriculum during their four years of study; (a) four years of English; (b) three years of mathematics; (c) three years of science; (d) three years of social studies; and (e) one-half year of computer science.

Whatever the student’s educational or work objectives, knowledge of the New Basics is the foundation of success for the after-school years and, therefore, forms the core of the modern curriculum. A high level of shared education in these Basics, together with work in the fine and performing arts and foreign languages, constitutes the mind and spirit of our culture. The following Implementing Recommendations are intended as illustrative descriptions. They are included here to clarify what we mean by the essentials of a strong curriculum.

Education Week reports that many states realize that the future of their economies hinge on how well their younger is prepared technically.

Strategies that states are pursuing include raising the bar for high school coursetaking in math and science; offering monetary incentives for students to enter STEM fields, including teaching; establishing new schools specializing in STEM subjects; strengthening career and technical education; expanding online instruction, including in advanced math and science; and supporting new approaches to STEM instruction, many involving technology.


Photo: © brewbooks

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