S T

Education
Presented by: Katherine Dirksen

Presentation Overview
What is STEM?
Repeating History
Current Buzz
Plan of Action
Boy who cried Wolf
Summary
Reflection
References

Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

Acronym
(2000s)

STEM subjects are ancient and

internationally known and stressed within
education, however, STEM the acronym is
an American phenomenon.

Reinventing
a
Solution
New Look at Continuing
Problem
The surge in academically pushing STEM subjects is the
same, but is being gone about differently.

STEM Phenomenon
The push for STEM subjects within the public schools, in response, to global,
economic threats to the United States

The inadequacy of public education in america has been a concerning issue

for more than 50 years. It has been discussed at length and our country has
endured a cycling pattern of solutions within that time. Some solutions being
more effective than others.
The buzz currently surrounding STEM education is the Obama
administrations idea of finally resolving a 50 year dilemma.
The history of the issue is critical in understanding all perspective
surrounding STEM education.

NDEA (1958)
Direct result of Soviet Unions successful Sputnik launch
in 1957
Considered capable of nuclear attack

Inferior U.S. nuclear intelligence, therefore, no defense

against Soviet Union
Solution
Create a more intelligent generation to ensure effective
nuclear defense capabilities
Filter out Gifted students and provide advanced education
Push the sciences and mathematics
Begin providing federal funding within education

A Nation At Risk (1983)

Unchallenged preeminence . . . is being overtaken by competitors around the world.

others [countries] are matching and surpassing our educational attainments.
Evident by:

Lack of Higher Order Thinking

Decline in Achievement Scored
Increase in Remedial Math Undergraduate classes
Etc.

Describe how computers & innovative technology are penetrating every aspect of
our lives.
Solution

Outlined minimal content requirements

Competitive Teachers Salaries
Higher Standards for College Admittance
Etc.

??? Say anything about program before no child, &

how they are alterations of one another.

PISA & GTI Index

Obama & STEM Push

Result of PISA findings
Foreigners excelling in our colleges
Suffering Areas
Need STEM strong primary education to prepare students for the STEM
curriculums of colleges & universities.

Solution
Need effective STEM educators
Create 100,000 STEM teachers in 10 years

Need to motivate a response

Race to the top offers funding to states that thoroughly demonstrate most effective
education.
STEM Education is the #2 criteria
Slackens standard adherence to schools with real results

Overall Idea

Elementary

Middle

High

Build STEM
Foundation
Build STEM
Career
Awareness

More Rigorous
Implementation
of Elementary
Curriculum.
Build Critical
Thinking Skills

More Rigorous
Implementation
of Middle
School
Curriculum
Prepare for
Higher
Education

Specifics (Find Some for the

rubric)
The hardest thing for me has been trying to narrow the
overall approach to effectively incorporating a STEM
curriculum.
I want to see what this would look like k-12 but all of the
examples that I have found are so different from one
another. Some do not even look too different from what
Ive seen thus far. Technology, Science, and
Mathematics are evident but many only vaguely discuss
engineering. It does not pop up within Curriculum lay
outs.

Is all of this necessary for

American Supremacy?
Some sources say that Big Businesses are behind big
surges pushing STEM subjects.
Smaller wages and benefits when larger qualified pool of
workers

Many are worried that important non-STEM subjects will

be lost.
Forbes magazine acknowledges decline in American
technological innovation, however, claims that or
supremacy is not in jeopardy
Military, commerce, universities, trade, and immigration are
factors also.

Summary
As Forbes says, America is ailing
Below par in international assessments
Not meeting our innovative potential
GTI= Finland is #1

Discrepancies on how to heal America

Push STEM education?
Will STEM education lead to other problems?

STEM subjects