Schools in five Ohio cities – Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton — are reshaping their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curricula with state financial support. At Cincinnati’s Hughes STEM High School, the result has been what science teacher Ronnda Cargile calls “a total new mind-set,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

“We are really trying to make most of the lessons project-based, so they know that learning is not in a textbook – that people learn so they can be useful in society,” she says. The school emphasizes learning the scientific method in a close group settings, which officials say will help students judge and examine complex situations in a number of settings. The STEM effort movement enjoys support from across the political spectrum, with backers in both major political parties, big businesses, universities, including the University of Cincinnati, and teachers’ unions. Read more

Filed under: K-12 Education News