STEM Ed. Report: Teachers Key to Reform
A major new consensus study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, underscores the vital role of teachers in creating the hands-on, multidisciplinary STEM education for every student envisioned by the Next Generation Science Standards. The report also calls for more creation and sharing of free educational materials so teachers no longer have to spend hours each week searching for curriculum.
Filed under: For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, K-12 Education News, Special Features | Comments Off on STEM Ed. Report: Teachers Key to Reform
Tags: Education Policy, Engineering Design, National Academies of Sciences, NGSS, Public Policy, Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center, STEM education, STEM equity
Spatial visualization – the ability to imagine objects from different angles – is a key STEM problem-solving skill that varies widely by gender, race, and cultural background. Yet it’s rarely taught. The University of Colorado-Boulder’s College of Engineering developed an inexpensive training program that closed STEM performance gaps so well it’s required of all incoming engineering students. The curriculum is now available for free online so any school can advance STEM equity. 
Think it’s impossible to inspire more women and minorities to succeed in engineering? ASEE’s panel of professionals have proven otherwise, and shared ideas about how teachers can help keep their students interested in a STEM career – and learn that failure is part of the design process – at NSTA’s 2018 STEM Forum in Philadelphia.
