Welcome back!

We hope everyone had a great holiday. Please enjoy this week's edition of the STEM Ed Update.

Top Article:

The Worst Possible Way to Push Kids into Studying Science, Math, and Engineering

Washington Post

It's an old debate in education: what skills should we be teaching students? In some circles, it's not a debate at all; President Obama has perennially championed science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as key fields for the economic success and competitiveness of the economy. This, too, is an old faith, one that dates to the Sputnik anxieties of the Cold War.

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

Code And College Readiness Are Reinventing Education

Forbes

At first glance, school appears pretty much the same as it did when your grandparents or parents learned the

'New Math' or headed off to college with a typewriter. Look harder, and what and how we learn and teach is markedly changing.

Read more here.

What's It Like to be a Woman Working in the Energy Industry?

The Guardian

Anyone who has studied engineering at university will know that the vast majority of students are male. This early experience can be helpful in preparing women for a career in a male-dominated industry, and there's no doubt that, even today, working in the energy sector is still largely a man's job.

Read more here.

Why Do Schools Need New Science Standards?

Northwestern University

Children are natural little scientists, questioning everything from why the sky is blue to how an iPod plays almost as soon as they can talk. But the excitement of investigating, debating and figuring out how things work is often missing in American science classrooms, something new national standards are trying to change.
Read more here.

Peek into the Evolution of Medical School Education

U.S. News & World Report

Changes in medical school haven't just been a result of new scientific discoveries. What many prospective medical students don't know is that their education has evolved greatly - and continues to do so.

Read more here.

Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards

National Research Council

The framework for the K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards describe a new vision for science learning

and teaching that is catalyzing improvements in science classrooms across the United States. Achieving this new vision will require time, resources, and on-going commitment from state, district and school leaders, as well as classroom teachers.

Read more here.

From Around the Community

Assessing Computer Science Education

With the current national focus on making computer science (CS) count as a high school math or science credit or as core admissions credit for colleges and universities, the first step is to examine CS assessment landscape in K-12 education.

Read more here.

Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Between 2011 and 2014, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), created easy-to-read briefs on STEM education, by bringing together research and practice of interest to educators, policy-makers, funders, and STEM thought leaders. Topics included: connecting informal and formal STEM education; preparing and supporting STEM educators; college and career readiness; specialized STEM secondary schools; increasing STEM achievement; engineering; early education (prek-3); and CTE pathways/middle-skills education.

Read more here.

STEM in the Digital Age

SMART Competition: Building a Sustainable Future

The SMART Competition is a high school team-based STEM and CTE education program that provides hands-on learning experience and practical investigation of intelligent building design, renewable technology, and the smart grid.

Washington Facts: STEM Edition

Early childhood education received more than a $1 billion increase from federal, private and philanthropic organizations. White House officials said that since 2013, 34 states have increased funding for their preschool programs, amounting to over $1 billion in new state resources dedicated to early education.

Read more here.

Join the Coalition!

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

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

Your organization can also apply to join the Coalition's Leadership Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in 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.

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

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