Welcome!

Please enjoy this week's edition of the STEM Ed Update.

Coalition Update

The State of Play in Engineering Education: ASME & STEM Ed Coalition on EduTalk Radio

Tom Perry, Director of Engineering Education at ASME, and James Brown of the STEM Education Coalition, joined Larry Jacobs, host of EduTalk Radio, to discuss how to get more kids to look into engineering paths when thinking about their future careers.

Listen here.

Top Article:

Republicans Will Control Senate in the 114th Congress

Education Week

While divided government will remain as the White House is in Democratic hands at least until President Barack Obama finishes his second term, the new political calculation in Congress will likely spur movement on education bills, including an overhaul of the outdated No Child Left Behind Act that lessens the role of the federal government.

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

National Science Foundation Releases Data Tool for STEM Education

NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a new online data tool focusing on nation-wide trends in

science, technology, engineering, and math. The interactive, user-friendly tool allows educators, policy-makers, and business leaders to compare a wide range of data from early childhood education to America's workforce in STEM fields. Please find the NSF press release below for more information about the online tool.

Read more here.

Technology Is Bringing Back the Apprenticeship Model. It Just Has a Different Name - Mentoring

Huffington Post

If you do a Google search for "Role Models," you get 5 million results. "Mentor" yields 2.6 million results, "STEM mentors" 1.6 million

and "Apprenticeship" 2.6 million. These words (and concepts) are powerful and relevant as seen by the big burst of recent public interest. We put together a graphic in an attempt to make sense of the mentoring organizations (particularly in STEM) that we bump into frequently. We wanted to compile best practices, lessons learned, latest research stats from these organizations and tease out patterns and recommendations for the field. This graphic below is one of the lenses we used.

Read more here.

Too Many Kids Quit Science Because They Don't Think They're Smart

The Atlantic

For most students, science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM) subjects are not intuitive or easy. Learning in general-and STEM in particular-requires

repeated trial and error, and a student's lack of confidence can sometimes stand in her own way. And although teachers and parents may think they are doing otherwise, these adults inadvertently help kids make up their minds early on that they're not natural scientists or "math people," which leads them to pursue other subjects instead.

Read more here.

Five Amazing Things Engineers Will be Doing in 2025

Angles

When we engage with students at universities, colleges and schools for STEM events we are often asked about our careers, how we

got to where we are and what we are working on now. We also let students know about how to enter the world of engineering. However, increasingly students want to know about what exciting projects they might be involved with in the future.

Read more here.

Feds Want Jindal's Common Core Lawsuit Dismissed

Shreveport Times

The Obama administration wants a federal judge to throw out Gov. Bobby Jindal's lawsuit accusing it of illegally coercing states to adopt the Common Core education standards.

Read more here.

From Around the Community

Kitables: Get Your DIY On!

Kitables is a new startup in Boulder, CO devoted to giving makers the resources, supplies, and knowledge necessary to complete fun DIY projects. They have just launched two campaigns for those interested in STEM projects: one for a DIY Glowstick kit; and the other for a device called the Rubisolver.

Find out more here.

Washington Facts: STEM Edition

Mathematics knowledge acquired in early childhood and early elementary grades is a critical foundation for long-term student success according to a new paper released by the National Governors Association (NGA). High-quality early mathematics instruction supports later learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that U.S. employers are demanding.

Read more here.

STEM: Paths - An Interactive Christmas Experience

We invite you to support and participate in our next event: an Interactive Christmas Experience for children living in DC public housing communities. Youth, parents, and stakeholders will get to enjoy unique interactive experiences with STEM competitions, coaching, teamwork, building, and more. This STEM carnival will include at least 20 educational experiences and will encourage participating youth to choose from a variety of potential STEM careers. The event will also include giveaways of STEM toys.

Find out more here.

Volunteers Wanted for Stamford, CT STEMfest

The Stamford (CT) Public Schools, with support from the GE Foundation and Mill River Park Collaboration, will be hosting the second annual Stamford STEMfest. Located in Mill River Park in downtown Stamford, STEMfest will contain a variety of activities and displays centering around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for students and their parents. This event is free and open to the public.

Volunteer here.

Note from the Editor

We at the STEM Education Coalition hope you have enjoyed this week's edition of the STEM Ed Newsletter.

Remember, any organization may join our team, and there is no cost to become an Affiliate Member of our Coalition. Affiliate members are listed on our website, receive periodic communications from the Coalition on policy matters, and will be signed up for the weekly newsletter.

Members can also join our Leadership Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in the Coalition's frequent interactions with policymakers.

If you would like to join the Coalition at any level, please read our message to prospective members or email us at [email protected].

We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Sincerely,
Taylor Luczak

STEM Education Coalition

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

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