We’ve been hearing about STEM education for quite some time now. Even though we’ve been talking about STEM for a few years, a poll from 2016 found that only 40% of U.S. schools were offering programming or coding classes. In order to successfully implement a program, educators need to know where to focus their time … Continue reading
Research found that boys are 12 percent less interested in STEM careers than last year. The main reason young people aren’t pursing STEM careers is because they feel these careers are too hard. So how do we get students interested in STEM? A good place to start is with the tools used in the classroom. … Continue reading
Last week we shared key takeaways from Microsoft’s Closing the STEM Gap report. Through this report, we learned why girls aren’t interested in STEM classes and careers. So how can districts increase girls’ interest in STEM? Provide exposure to positive role models. Girls expressed that they are more likely to show interest in STEM if … Continue reading
STEM careers are common in today’s world but we are lacking girls in the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of jobs for technology professionals will have the highest growth until 2030. To better understand why girls and women lose interest in STEM subjects and careers, Microsoft conducted research on 6,000 … Continue reading
Remember when students learned from textbooks, videos, and lectures? Today’s classroom looks much different than it did a decade ago. Today’s learners can go to Africa without leaving their classroom or see the inside of a human body. Without a doubt, technology has changed the way students are learning. Big Deal Media conducted a survey … Continue reading
Science, technology, engineering, and math are important topics for children to learn and essential in today’s culture. Through these fields we can help the environment, transform healthcare, and improve our country’s security. According to the Counsel of Advisors on Science and Technology, there aren’t enough students in STEM undergraduate programs in the U.S. to meet … Continue reading
We’ve all heard the “four C’s of 21st century” skills that students need to learn to excel in the future – critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Since schools are evolving criteria to incorporate these skills, there has been an increase in project-based learning, inquiry learning, and an emphasis on higher order thinking over rote … Continue reading
K-12 coding and computer programing has peaked teachers’ interest over the years in many districts. This is partially due to our nation’s need for computer programing graduates for fill jobs. Even with increased interest in computer science among teachers, only 40% of schools teach computer programing. If you’re talking to a district who wants to … Continue reading
According to District Administration, Virginia has become the first state to have mandatory common core standards in computer science education. The standards are a framework for computer science education in the state. There are states with advisory standards, but Virginia became the first to have mandatory standards. Some concerns were raised by the Virginia … Continue reading
