In a typical K-12 U.S. classroom, one teacher instructs about 15 to 25 students per class, but cannot possibly divide his or her time evenly among all learners. Some excel, some pass, some are left behind. Enter education technology (or “ed tech”), the much-touted panacea for all that befalls the American teacher. Hailed as the “great equalizer” for its ability to provide universal access to information via the Internet, ed tech has been, in practice, more hype than reality.
Know what it takes to grow U.S. innovation? Prove it.
August 18th, 2012 by Brad Graham
The question of how to grow U.S. innovation and, in so doing, sharpen the nation’s competitive edge is one for which there are myriad answers. Is the solution improving the patent laws, changing the immigration laws, upending the educational system — or, perhaps, all of the above?
Posted in: Economy, Education, Immigration, STEM
Has America Really Underinvested in Science Education?
July 28th, 2012 by Brad Graham
On Global Public Square last month, Fareed Zakaria made the case that the U.S. economy is struggling in part due to poor investment in science. He based this conclusion on two claims: First, that federal research and development (R&D) investment has declined over the past several years and, second, that American students have fallen behind in science education.
Big Brain Club Helps Youth See that “Smart is Cool”
June 14th, 2012 by Rich Feller
Is it cool to be smart? Well, youth are often peer pressured into “dumbing down” their own intelligence in order to be socially accepted. Dom Testa and his foundation, The Big Brain Club (BBC), has developed a number of innovative classroom programs and maintained a network of empowered students, parents, and educators in order to break down the walls standing between the under-achieving student to the well-rounded student. In conjunction with being an online community, the BBC is an in-school program partner, resource center, and agent of change. Some of the areas they promote are writing tips and exercises, articles and essays, and the assistance in publishing student works.
Posted in: Education, Middle-School, Publishing, Writing
Report Emphasizes Demand for STEM Degree Holders
May 9th, 2012 by Brad Graham
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics indicates that jobs in STEM fields will grow by 17% by 2020 compared to non-STEM jobs at 14%. Despite an increase in the amount of college degrees, particularly in women, this research shows a decline in STEM degrees from 1985-2009 from 24% to 18%.
STEM Education Statistic
October 14th, 2011 by Noah Clark
I’ve seen statistics about STEM Education before, and they all say the same thing; we need more of it. I found this statistic particularly interesting off of this website filled with statistics:
Major Corporations Promote STEM Education
June 6th, 2011 by Noah Clark
Major corporations, such as Dow Chemicals, Aerospace Industries Association, and others are promoting STEM education because they see the need for teaching students STEM to make sure we have enough STEM educated people in the workforce. Read more here.
Understanding the Basics of STEM Education
May 10th, 2011 by Noah Clark
This website talks about the importance of STEM education, how to integrate it into the curriculum, the benefits of STEM education, and the responsibilities of teachers.
