Making the "M" in STEM Count |
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By Dr. Randy Guschl, Executive Director, Delaware Foundation for Science and Math (DFSME)
and Dr. Jamila Riser, Executive Director, Delaware Math Coalition (DMC)
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Early math literacy is as important as early reading literacy. Falling behind in math limits the future of Delaware’s STEM workforce. Collectively, we must support STEM equity efforts to bring a quality mathematics education to every student in Delaware.
For over two decades, leaders of the Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education and the Delaware Mathematics Coalition have been advocating for and actively supporting the adoption and skillful use of high quality mathematics and science programs in Delaware classrooms. Access to robust research-based materials is one important aspect of DFSME and DMC leaders’ equity agenda. Rich resources include coherently designed standards-aligned lessons and units. They are grounded in principles of equity and conceptually-centered learning, and build on students’ natural curiosities. They promote meaningful engagement in important mathematics and science content. They inspire a love of teaching and learning the discipline.
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But simply having access to high-quality instructional tools is not sufficient for creating strong, autonomous STEM-ready learners. Structures must be in place to ensure that teachers have sustained content-focused professional learning experiences that help them maximize the impact of the resources they are using. Time must be prioritized for teachers and coaches to engage in intense conversations about their lessons. Promoting ambitious teaching and learning requires routine opportunities to anticipate ways to meaningfully engage students in sense-making, reasoning, and argumentation. Ambitious teaching emphasizes the development of significant conceptual understandings and responds to student thinking (Lampert et al., 2010). Creating competent and confident STEM-ready learners is key in developing student agency and ongoing academic success.
As agents of change, DFSME and DMC leaders recognize the critical importance of building strong systems of support (PK-20) at the state, institution, and classroom levels. Achieving sustained progress as a STEM community relies on our collective efforts to identify and adopt policies and practices that break down versus perpetuate barriers to successful reform. Research shows that early mathematics literacy is a strong predictor of children’s future academic success (National Research Council, 2009). All too often efforts to accelerate students’ opportunities to engage in STEM at the elementary and middle school levels (tracking) result in replicating and sustaining class and income stratifications that already exist in broader society (Burris, 2014). We must rethink this practice. Children from all backgrounds, races, and socio economic levels in our PK-20 system deserve equitable opportunities to engage in high-quality mathematics programs that afford them access to future careers in STEM.
“Failure to invest (heavily) in the ‘M’ in STEM has major
consequences in terms of our students’ future learning
opportunities and careers in Delaware’s STEM workforce.”
STEM careers do not include only those at science and technology companies; STEM jobs also include financial forecasting, marketing analysis, healthcare, and agriculture. To be left behind in mathematics closes doors to these careers and jobs. Today’s STEM community must include direct involvement by the financial, food and agriculture and healthcare communities to underscore why math is so important.
If you would like to learn more about how you can become involved in our efforts to make the “M” in STEM count, please contact us. We are interested in finding ways to garner partnerships that advance our efforts to create stronger pathways to Delaware’s STEM workforce.
Dr. Randy Guschl, Executive Director
Dr. Jamila Riser, Executive Director
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Save the Date! October 8-9, 2021
STEM Equity & Mathematics Equity Conferences
Featured Speakers include:
Dr. Michael Flynn, Mt. Holyoke College
Dr. Ilana Horn, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College
Dr. Amber Willis, TeachingWorks
Berkeley Everett, UCLA Math Project
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DFSME Mini-Grant Awarded to Smyrna High School |
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Angela Kelley, teacher at Smyrna High School, has been awarded a DFSME mini-grant for a compound microscope and stereoscope. The equipment is used to test and analyze water quality. So far, students have tested vinegar eels to water pollutants and analyzed their reactions. Students have also examined microscopic pond water inhabitants as well as strawberry DNA extractions. Class numbers are between 20-25 students per class.
The microscope and stereoscope can be cordless, allowing Kelly to use them throughout the lab and in the field where limited electrical outlets are available. These tools promote next level hands-on learning by incorporating biotechnology in the field of agriculture and natural resource management.
Although this year has been limited due to hybrid and virtual learning, Kelley will incorporate more technical lessons into the curriculum for future microscope and stereoscope field analyses. Students will learn how to use the tools in the Career and Technical Education trade.
Angela Kelley is a Natural Resource Management and Bioethics CTE teacher and FFA Advisor with the microscope.
Do you have a STEM project but are short of funding? DFSME mini-grants are now available. For more info and how to apply, click here.
To help support the DFSME Mini-Grant program, please indicate this program along with your donation. To donate, click here.
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Visit Delaware's 1st Virtual Career Expo on May 19
Teachers can gain Workspace Experience for Grades 7-12
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While students and teachers may be understandably burnt out on remote learning, the fact remains that the pandemic has propelled many aspects of American K-12 education into the 21st Century, albeit in many cases, kicking and screaming.
The nation’s response to COVID-19 had us all cozying up to the “T” in STEM, revealing both its enormous potential as an educational tool and inherent weaknesses when it comes to bridging the digital divide.
Two potential “keepers” that teachers, parents, and students may want to pursue despite their digital fatigue are the JA Inspire Virtual Career Expo and the JA Digital Career Book.
After the live Grand Opening days on May 5 and May 19, the JA Inspire Career Expo digital content is available to students through August 2, 2021. At the Expo, students visit virtual booths featuring Delaware employers. Many booths include videos of local employees talking about their jobs and educational journeys, the culture and values of the places where they are employed, and what they like about their jobs.
In addition to Career Exploration Halls aligned with all of the Career Clusters, there is a Featured Vids Auditorium where students can learn about workplace soft skills. Students can collect documents, videos, and links to employer websites in their virtual backpacks when they find something of interest that they wish to take with them.
The on-demand JA Inspire experience involves an easy prep activity before students enter the virtual expo. The prep activity and the expo are designed to be self-guided or can also be teacher-led with students on their own devices doing their own unique exploration.
Not quite as interactive or dynamic, but packed with links to employers in Delaware and across the U.S. is the JA Digital Career Book. The pilot JA DCB is rolling out now along with JA Inspire to any
7th-12th grade student. Students can search employers by Career Cluster in the career book, which is available at the Junior Achievement booth in the JA Inspire Virtual Career Expo.
Launched in partnership with the Delaware Office of Work-Based Learning and made possible by Presenting Sponsor, NEIL and JA Strategic Partner DuPont; JA Inspire and JA Digital Career Book supporters include several businesses and their philanthropic arms, such as Assurance Media, Bank of America, CSC, Capital One, Delaware Business Times, Delaware Department of Education/Delaware Pathways, Delmarva Power, M&T Bank, Navient Community Fund, and WSFS Community Foundation.
JA Inspire and JA Digital Career Book are free to registered students.
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Scholarship and Grant Opportunities
Application and Registration Deadline: June 11
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To cultivate a rich pipeline of diverse candidates for Corteva Agriscience roles, Corteva announces the launch of the R&D Developing Emerging Leaders and Talent in Agriculture (DELTA) symposium, research grant, and scholarship programs. These programs invite under-represented minority undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs to share their interest and research as well as gain insights into careers in agricultural disciplines, sustainable and reliable food production, and Corteva.
Participants in the symposium will receive a technical overview of the company and a chance to share their own research, network, and develop soft skills that are essential to any industry career. Research grants and scholarship funding for students are also available to selected candidates.
Application and registration deadlines are June 11, 2021, for the symposium and June 15, 2021, for the grant/scholarship.
To learn more about these programs and download the flyer, click here.
To learn more about Corteva Agriscience, click here.
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May 19
JA Inspire Career Expo
JA Inspire and JA Digital Career Book are free to registered students.
June 14-15
Sustainable Choices, Sustainable Watersheds
Applying the MWEE Framework to Food and Fiber
This virtual two-session educator professional development workshop will focus on tools, resources, and ideas that pertain to sustainable choices you and your students can make around food and fiber while using the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework.
Save the Date! October 8-9, 2021
STEM Equity & Mathematics Equity Conferences
Featured Speakers include:
Dr. Michael Flynn, Mt. Holyoke College
Dr. Ilana Horn, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College
Dr. Amber Willis, TeachingWorks
Berkeley Everett, UCLA Math Project
Save the Date! November 4, 2021
7th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards
Apply Now for the 2021 Delaware STEM Educator Awards!
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STEM Legacy
STEM Sustainer
STEM Network
STEM Business
STEM Friends
STEM Gifts in Kind
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Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education
100 W. 10th Street, Suite 612
Wilmington, DE 19801
Tel: 302.397.0034 | Fax: 302.397.0036
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©2021 Delaware Foundation for Science & Math Education
501(c)(3) Education nonprofit dealing with K-16 STEM education in Delaware schools.
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