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Cell Cultures and Plant Cell Cultures and Plant Parts: What is STEM Parts: What is STEM

Anyway? Anyway?

Presentation to Triangle Coalition Annual STEM Education Conference

October 3, 2011

Greg PearsonNational Academy of Engineering

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Seriously!Seriously!

In a recent survey of 5,000 people working in the aerospace industry, 85 percent said they did not know what STEM education is. Most associated the acronym with either plants or stem-cell research.

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But More SeriouslyBut More Seriously

STEM has become ubiquitous in education policy discussions, for good reason. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics:

» Are key to the U.S. innovation engine» Support quality of life» Create economic value» Tie to broader scientific and technological

literacy

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Reality Check on An Accidental Reality Check on An Accidental AcronymAcronym

S T E M

+ + + = ?

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Or is it Perhaps . . . ?Or is it Perhaps . . . ?

S T E M

+ + +

= ?

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Or Maybe Some Version Or Maybe Some Version of This . . . ?of This . . . ?

S T

ME

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And is the “T” This?And is the “T” This?

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Or This?Or This?

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Back to the Future . . .Back to the Future . . .

“By ‘science,’ Project 2061 means basic and applied natural and social science, basic and applied mathematics, and engineering and technology, and their interconnections—which is to say the scientific enterprise as a whole. The basic point is that the ideas and practice of science, mathematics, and technology are so closely intertwined that we do not see how education in any one of them can be undertaken well in isolation from the others.”

-Benchmarks for Science Literacy (1993)

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Typical Education Typical Education Practice vs. the “Real Practice vs. the “Real

World”World”“Although the term ‘STEM education’ is used in national education policy, it is not implemented in a way that reflects the interdependence of the four STEM subjects.”

-NAE/NRC Committee on K-12 Engineering Education (2009)

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What Some (Would Like What Some (Would Like to) Believeto) Believe

Making connections between math and science can improve student learning and interest in both

And/or . . .

Science inquiry provides motivation to learn science and provides a way to make math more relevant

And/or . . .

Engineering and technological design provide concrete application opportunities for math and science

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National Academies National Academies Study of K-12 Integrated Study of K-12 Integrated

STEM Education STEM Education

Addresses the uncertainty about what STEM means or should mean and its value or potential value in terms of student learning, achievement, and motivation and interest in STEM subjects and careers.

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More on the iSTEM More on the iSTEM StudyStudy

Objectives: 1) Create a taxonomy of integrated K-12 STEM education and 2) Propose a research agenda for determining its benefits

Committee: 15 diverse experts across the disciplines, including leaders of statewide STEM reform, district-level administrators, teachers, curriculum developers, cognitive scientists, education reseachers

Funders: S.D Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, NSF, Samueli Foundation, PTC Inc.

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Thank You!

gpearson@nae.edu