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This book presents an overview of the methodological innovations and developments present in the field of STEM education research as well as providing a practically orientated resource on research method design more broadly. Featuring a range of international contributors in the field, the book provides a compendium of exemplary innovative methodological designs, implementations, and analyses that answer a variety of research questions relating to STEM education disciplines. Charting the thinking behind the design and implementation of successful research investigations, the book's two parts present an accessible and pragmatically framed set of chapters that cover a range of important methodological areas presented by active researchers in the field. Ultimately, this book presents a comprehensive resource that explores the act of educational research as related to STEM. By showcasing key methodological principles with guidance on practical approaches underpinned by theory, the book offers scholarly research-informed suggestions for practice. It will be of great interest to researchers, academics, and students in the fields of STEM education and education research methods, as well as educational research more broadly.

Responding to the linguistic and cultural diversity of the U.S. K–12 student population and an increasing emphasis on STEM, this book offers a model for professional development that engages teachers in transformative action research projects and explicitly links literacy to mathematics and science curriculum through sociocultural principles. Providing detailed and meaningful demonstrations of participatory action research in the classroom, Razfar and Troiano present an effective, systemic approach that helps preservice teachers support students'funds of knowledge. By featuring teacher and researcher narratives, this book centers teacher expertise and offers a more holistic and humanistic understanding of authentic and empathetic teaching. Focusing on integrating instructional knowledge from ESL, bilingual, and STEM education, the range of cases and examples will allow readers to implement action research projects in their own classrooms. Chapters include discussion questions and additional resources for students, researchers, and educators.

In the face of complex local and global problems, there is a critical need to prepare PK-12 students to be innovative, resilient problem-solvers and well-equipped STEM-literate citizens. With focus upon integrated content, college and career readiness, authentic problems, and action-oriented pedagogies, integrative STEM education provides a promising approach to address this challenge.Integrative STEM programming with its fusion of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology content and practices may manifest in a variety of ways: Teachers co-plan an engineering design experience within a social studies class. A community business partner offers a job-shadowing experience. Students engage in an after-school program at a makerspace.Educators collaboratively re-envision and interweave STEM across the curriculum.And more... Current and future educational leaders striving to improve STEM programming will find this book to be a useful resource. Its introduction offers an orientation to the fundamental goals, principles, and practices of integrative STEM education. While later chapters delve into the facets of STEM programming and the competencies of STEM leadership which form the foundation of a coherent program. These evidence-based strategies, examples, and resources may provide inspiration to leaders as they initiate and enhance an equitable integrative STEM culture within their school.

Bridging a gap in the literature by offering a comprehensive look at how STEM teacher education programs evolve over time, this book explores teachHOUSTON, a designer teacher education program created to respond to the lack of adequately prepared STEM teachers in Houston and the emerging urban school districts that surround it. Providing a systematic investigation of how prospective STEM educators are cultivated to be subject matter specialists and culturally relevant teachers, the authors of this volume delve into the academic, professional and personal perspectives of teacher experiences to emphasise the impact on prospective and unfurling teaching careers. The topics include the influence of parents, teachers and professors on educator development and how internships function as a form of professional development, in addition to the influence of National Science Foundation-funded STEM scholarships on the careers and lives of the teachHOUSTON graduates. Because STEM education is vital to human and economic prosperity, this volume is of interest to both national and international readers.

Reflecting on Practice for STEM Educators is a guidebook to lead a professional learning program for educators working in STEM learning environments.Making research on the science of human learning accessible to educational professionals around the world, this book shows educators how to relate this research to their own practice. Educators'collective work broadens the scope of an organization's reach, and through this effort, the organization grows its social capital in its local community and beyond. This book offers opportunities to engage in processes that lead toward organizational learning by attending to the professional growth of the educators. Tran and Halversen show how learning together can shape the language and meanings by which educators do and talk about their work to support visitors'experiences. The book provides guidance on how teams of educators can build community as they engage in reflective practice.Reflecting on Practice for STEM Educators will be essential reading for leaders of any organization that aims to educate and engage the public in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It will be particularly useful to educators who work in museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, youth organizations, after-school programs, and nature, science, and conservation centres.

Vol. II: Short-Term Programs features eight OST STEM programs for females from across the United States that run one to three days in length, in most cases, a single day. In this book, the chapter authors describe their programs, the effectiveness of those programs, and practical implications of their program evaluation data. This book series is the first of its kind to offer researchers, educators, school administrators, policy makers, and others detailed insight into the promise and practice of out-of-school-time STEM programs for females. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines play a pivotal role in societal progress and economic prosperity, in addition to enhancing individual lives. However, U.S. students lack strong STEM performance in an international context. The pool of STEM-proficient workers is thus insufficient to fuel the nation, with females being one group that is noticeably absent. Out-of-school-time (OST) programs, which are on the rise, are increasingly suggested as a way to support and encourage underrepresented groups in STEM. Participants in OST programs have shown improved achievement, interest, and confidence in STEM, as well as greater awareness of STEM role models and careers.

In an age where we are inundated with information, the ability to discern verifiable information to make proper decisions and solve problems is ever more critical. Modern science, which espouses a systematic approach to making “inferences,” requires a certain mindset that allows for a degree of comfort with uncertainty. This book offers inspirations and ideas for cultivating the proper mindset for the studying, teaching, and practicing of science that will be useful for those new to as well as familiar with the field. Although a paradigm shift from traditional instruction is suggested in the National Framework for K-12 science, this volume is intended to help educators develop a personal mental framework in which to transition from a teacher-centered, didactical approach to a student-centered, evidence-guided curriculum. While the topics of the book derive from currently published literature on STEM education as they relate to the National Framework for K-12 Science and the Three-Dimensional science instruction embedded in the Next Generation Science Standards, this book also examines these topics in the context of a new societal age posited as the “Age of Inference” and addresses how to make sense of the ever-increasing deluge of information that we are experiencing by having a scientific and properly discerning mindset. ENDORSEMENTS:'This volume takes on one of the thorniest existential problems of our time, the contradiction between the exponentially growing amount of information that individuals have access to, and the diminished capacity of those individuals to understand it. Its chapters provide the reader with an introduction to the relationship between knowledge, science, and inference; needed new approaches to learning science in our new data rich world; and a discussion of what we can and must do to reduce or eliminate the growing gap between the inference have's and have nots. It is not too much to say that how we resolve the issues outlined in this volume will determine the future of our species on this planet.'— Joseph L. Graves Jr., Professor of Biological Sciences North Carolina A&T State University, Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science: Biological Sciences, Author of: The Emperor's New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the Millennium'Big data is not enough for addressing dangers to the environment or tackling threats to democracy; we need the ability to draw sound inferences from the data. Cultivating a scientific mindset requires fundamental changes to the way we teach and learn. This important and well -written volume shows how.'— Ashok Goel, Professor of Computer Science and Human Centered Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology. Editor of AI Magazine Founding Editor of AAAI's Interactive AI Magazine'If you are a science teacher concerned about the implications of information overload, analysis paralysis, and intellectual complacency on our health, economic future, and democracy, then I recommend this book.'— Michael Svec, Professor for Physics and Astronomy Education, Furman University, Fulbright Scholar to Czech Republic

2022 PROSE Award FinalistDrawing on narratives from hundreds of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous individuals, Ebony Omotola McGee examines the experiences of underrepresented racially minoritized students and faculty members who have succeeded in STEM. Based on this extensive research, McGee advocates for structural and institutional changes to address racial discrimination, stereotyping, and hostile environments in an effort to make the field more inclusive.Black, Brown, Bruised reveals the challenges that underrepresented racially minoritized students confront in order to succeed in these exclusive, usually all-White, academic and professional realms. The book provides searing accounts of racism inscribed on campus, in the lab, and on the job, and portrays learning and work environments as arenas rife with racial stereotyping, conscious and unconscious bias, and micro-aggressions. As a result, many students experience the effects of a racial battle fatigue—physical and mental exhaustion borne of their hostile learning and work environments—leading them to abandon STEM fields entirely. McGee offers policies and practices that must be implemented to ensure that STEM education and employment become more inclusive including internships, mentoring opportunities, and curricular offerings. Such structural changes are imperative if we are to reverse the negative effects of racialized STEM and unlock the potential of all students to drive technological innovation and power the economy.

Your essential guide to designing successful training programs.If you're an experienced trainer, training manager, content designer, or curriculum developer, Technical Training Basics will help you tackle the challenges of working with specialized, complex subject matter and in partnership with subject matter experts.Part of ATD's Training Basics series, this complete guide describes the differences between technical and nontechnical training; the principles of gathering information and arranging content for a highly technical course; how to apply specific tools, equipment, and processes in your training; and how to manage your project from designing and developing a pilot course through post-course review.This expanded second edition features new material that focuses on: smaller performance solutions Agile design the learner experience.More exercises, outlines, worksheets, checklists, evaluation forms, and a sample PowerPoint presentation are included to further meet your technical needs.

2020 ASHE Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs (CAHEP) Barbara Townsend Lecture Award2021 Transfer Champion-Catalyst Award from the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS)2021 Outstanding Publication Award, AERA Division J Publication and ResearchOn My Own: The Challenge and Promise of Building Equitable STEM Transfer Pathways is the first book of its kind to provide a detailed, on-the-ground examination of the difficult paths—curricular, interpersonal, and institutional—that students must chart through community college. The book follows 1,670 two-year college students over four years as they begin STEM programs in the Midwest and documents their educational and life experiences as they moved toward, or away, from the prospect of transfer to a four-year institution. Their stories reveal that they were on their own, left to navigate the pathways to transfer without meaningful institutional support.The students pursued one of four pathways, or momentum trajectories: linear upward, detoured, deferred, or taking a break. The preexisting and lasting disparities in their access to education and financial resources, their experiences with teaching and advising, and the conundrum between support from and for family, among others, propelled them onto different trajectories in their quest for transfer. As this book makes painfully clear, the current state of transfer acts as a mechanism that perpetuates and worsens inequities in educational outcomes.As Xueli Wang argues, to cultivate an equitable STEM transfer pathway, culturally relevant and responsive supports that are accessible, welcoming, and validating must be put in place at the institutional level and appeal to the talent, motivation, and unique needs of historically marginalized students. In doing so, postsecondary institutions will be better positioned to fulfill their promise as an equitable pathway to bachelor's degrees and beyond.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is one of the United States'leading federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) agencies and plays an important role in the landscape of STEM education. In 2015, NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) created the Science Activation (SciAct) program to increase the overall coherence of SMD's education efforts, to support more effective, sustainable, and efficient use of SMD science discoveries for education, and to enable NASA scientists and engineers to engage more effectively and efficiently in the STEM learning environment with learners of all ages. SciAct is now transitioning into its second round of funding, and it is beneficial to review the program's portfolio and identify opportunities for improvement. NASA's Science Activation Program: Achievements and Opportunities assesses SciAct's efforts towards meeting its goals. The key objectives of SciAct are to enable STEM education, improve U.S. scientific literacy, advance national education goals, and leverage efforts through partnerships. This report describes and assesses the history, current status, and vision of the program and its projects. It also provides recommendations to enhance NASA's efforts through the SciAct program.

2021 Outstanding Book Award, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)Science in the City examines how language and culture matter for effective science teaching. Author Bryan A. Brown argues that, given the realities of our multilingual and multicultural society, teachers must truly understand how issues of culture intersect with the fundamental principles of learning. This book links an exploration of contemporary research on urban science teaching to a more generative instructional approach in which students develop mastery by discussing science in culturally meaningful ways.The book starts with a trenchant analysis of the “black tax,” a double standard at work in science language and classrooms that forces students of color to appropriate and express their science knowledge solely in ways that accord with the dominant culture and knowledge regime. Because we are in an interactive, multimedia world, the author also posits the necessity of applying what is known about best practices in science teaching to best practices in technology.The book then turns to instruction, illustrating how science education can flourish if it is connected to students'backgrounds, identities, language, and culture. In this empowered—and inclusive—form of science classroom, the role of narrative is key: educators use stories and anecdotes to induct students into the realm of scientific thinking; introduce big ideas in easy, familiar terms; and prioritize explanation over mastery of symbolic systems. The result is a classroom that showcases how the use of more familiar, culturally relevant modes of communication can pave the way for improved science learning.

Libraries have historically played a role as a community builder, providing resources and spaces where knowledge can be archived, shared and created. They can also play a pivotal role in fostering the public's understanding of science and scientific processes. From makerspaces to data visualization labs to exhibits, many libraries already delve into scientific explorations and many more could join them. Scientists often need to include'broader impacts'goals in grant proposals, but they might not know where to begin or feel that they do not have the time to devote to public engagement. This is where libraries and librarians can help. Research in science communication also supports tapping into libraries for public engagement with science. Studies show that it is important for scientists to present findings in an apolitical way—not aligning with one solution or one way of thinking and not being seen as an activist (Druckman, 2015; Jamieson & Hardy, 2014). One of the core tenets of librarians and libraries is to present information in a neutral way. Research also shows that Informal conversations about science can have a greater effect on people than reading about it online or hearing about it on the news (Eveland & Cooper, 2013). Again, libraries can play a role in fostering these types of conversations. Given this landscape, this book will demonstrate concrete ways that libraries and librarians can play a role in fostering public engagement with science. In addition to background information on the current landscape of public knowledge and understanding of science, it will also include best practices and case studies of different types of programming and services that libraries can offer. Often libraries do not jump to mind when people think about science education or science literacy, and many librarians do not come from a science background. Literature on science programming and sharing science is largely absent from the library field. This book will help give confidence to librarians that they can participate in engaging the public with science. At the same time, it will provide a conduit to bring informal science educators, communication officers from universities or research organizations who share scientific discoveries with the public, and librarians together to explore ways to align their work to promote scientific literacy for all. - Demonstrates concrete ways that libraries and librarians can play a role in fostering public engagement with science - Features best practices and case studies of different types of programming and services that libraries can offer - Provides a conduit to bring informal science educators, communication officers, and librarians together to explore ways to align their work to promote scientific literacy

Improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and strengthening the STEM workforce have long been acknowledged as national priorities. Ceaseless efforts have been made to address these national priorities through educational research, innovative STEM education initiatives, and professional development for teachers. Engaging STEM Students From Rural Areas: Emerging Research and Opportunities is an essential reference source that discusses the potential of rural schools to impact the STEM workforce pipeline, as well as Project Engage, an educational program for preparing rural undergraduate students from the Alabama Black Belt region. Featuring research on topics such as the three-pillar approach for preparing tomorrow's STEM professionals, this book is ideally designed for academicians, STEM educational researchers, STEM educators, and individuals seeking coverage on techniques to improve the undergraduate STEM education framework.

Can the culture and language of science be an alienating force that discourages marginalized people from identifying with scientists and pursuing higher education in the sciences? More broadly, does an education system which unwittingly presents science as a distinct culture result in a population susceptible to doubt, confusion, and denial? This volume explores how this'culture of science'is reflected and transmitted in the classroom, and how this can have wide-reaching and often negative implications for science education and science literacy. Well-intentioned efforts to bring hands-on scientific experiences into the classroom must also take into account how students perceive the culture of science. Areas of potential conflict include linguistic and cultural behaviors, misconceptions about science and the nature of science, and, in some cases, religious worldviews. Once recognized, these conflicts are resolvable, and valid methods exist to reduce alienation, broaden participation, and ensure that all students, whether or not they pursue STEM careers, leave school knowing that science is something that they can trust.

The technology revolution has made it critical for all children to understand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) or risk being left behind. Promising Practices for Engaging Families in STEM Learning explores how families, schools, and communities can join together to promote student success in STEM by building organized and equitable pathways for family engagement across all of the settings in which students learn – including, schools, early childhood programs, homes, libraries and museums –from the earliest years through adolescence. This thought-provoking monograph includes three main sections with chapters from leading thinkers in the field: > The first section provides the theoretical and research base for the importance of family engagement in STEM and draws out the challenges and opportunities that exist– from the transmission of adults'anxiety and lack of confidence in their own STEM skills, to inequalities in out-of-school learning opportunities, to biases and misconceptions about the kinds of STEM supports offered by families from low-income and immigrant homes. > The second section builds on this research by presenting success stories, best practices, and approaches to engaging families in STEM. > The final section focuses on how policies at the local, state, and federal level can support the promotion of family engagement in STEM. Taken together, the monograph shows that STEM is a powerful mechanism to connect, engage, and empower families. > STEM provides opportunities for parents and children to spend time together asking fun and meaningful questions that link in-and out-of-school learning. > STEM creates new experiences for families to co-construct and support learning with their children from the earliest years throughout formal schooling and onto college and career pathways. > STEM also presents possibilities for families to build confidence and agency in supporting children's interests; especially those families who might be marginalized because of their economic or language status, race, or culture.

This work describes the application of management theories in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education systems. Two chapters examine STEM education on the K-12 national level and one chapter focuses on the higher education institutional level. All chapters are based on comprehensive research. Thus, it will appeal to teachers, school principals, researchers, graduate students, government policymakers, and all practitioners who care about STEM education in schools, academia and government. In each chapter, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis is used as a managerial strategic tool for the examination of factors that focus either on internal circumstances (strengths and weaknesses), or external ones (opportunities and threats).

This book presents 13 ready-to-use lessons in physical science, life science, and Earth and space science that help educators embed engineering, technology, and science applications into their lesson plans.

Maybe you have a daughter who loves cooking, soccer, and musicals. Maybe she's a social butterfly, an athlete, a fashionista, and a humanitarian who wants to change the world. Be honest—do you think, Well, she's clearly not a math and science kid? Do you assume that certain classes and careers won't appeal to her? Count Girls In challenges these assumptions and presents a totally different way of thinking: there is a place for all girls and young women—not just the science fair winners and robotics club members—in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, if we can keep their (and our) minds and options open and meet them where they are. To succeed in STEM fields today, girls don't have to change who they are. A girl who combines her natural talents, interests, and dreams with STEM skills has a greater shot than ever before at a career she loves and a salary she deserves. Count Girls In encourages parents and other adults to raise authentic young women who have the confidence to put STEM to work in a way that best serves them and their passions. The authors, both STEM professionals, present compelling research in a conversational, accessible style and provide specific advice and takeaways for each stage of schooling, from elementary school through college, followed by comprehensive STEM resources. This isn't a book about raising competitive, test-acing girls in lab coats; this is about raising happy, confident girls who realize the world of opportunities before them.

In this book, the authors examine a series of key science identity-based research models with the goal of discussing the interplay between individual agency and social interaction through the lens of transformative learning. Current identity-based models are critiqued based on the importance given to either social structures and/or agency separately. Following this, a synthesis report on the development strategies of technology education carried out at basic schools in Slovakia (lower secondary education – ISCED 2) is presented. Additionally, the authors discuss the results of a survey done with the goal of finding out the reality of technology teaching at these schools. As the research results show, despite the good intentions of the different strategies, programs and reforms, the technology education at basic schools is on the decline. The next article discusses gender-based segregation and falling recruitment for scientific and technological studies in Nordic countries. This study traced and interviewed students who achieved the best results in the measurement of technological competence twenty years ago in order to examine their progress. In the final study, the book proposes a new vision for science education in the era of sustainable development. The authors discuss how sustainable development goals (SDGs) identify new roles for science and technology to address global and local challenges such as climate change, energy innovation, and biodiversity. These areas of sustainability reveal new horizons for science education by enabling us to approach science learning as a more community-based practice and collaborative way of thinking, beyond classroom-based learning.

Undergraduate research has a rich history, and many practicing researchers point to undergraduate research experiences (UREs) as crucial to their own career success. There are many ongoing efforts to improve undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education that focus on increasing the active engagement of students and decreasing traditional lecture-based teaching, and UREs have been proposed as a solution to these efforts and may be a key strategy for broadening participation in STEM. In light of the proposals questions have been asked about what is known about student participation in UREs, best practices in UREs design, and evidence of beneficial outcomes from UREs. Undergraduate Research Experiences for STEM Students provides a comprehensive overview of and insights about the current and rapidly evolving types of UREs, in an effort to improve understanding of the complexity of UREs in terms of their content, their surrounding context, the diversity of the student participants, and the opportunities for learning provided by a research experience. This study analyzes UREs by considering them as part of a learning system that is shaped by forces related to national policy, institutional leadership, and departmental culture, as well as by the interactions among faculty, other mentors, and students. The report provides a set of questions to be considered by those implementing UREs as well as an agenda for future research that can help answer questions about how UREs work and which aspects of the experiences are most powerful.

This book will examine the problem of under-represented populations (URPs) in the so-called “STEM” fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, this problem is especially acute in computer science. Who are these under-represented populations? What creates them? And finally, why should there be concern about URPs in STEM? This book brings to light the crisis of a dearth of women, especially minority women, in STEM. The text highlights what has combined to create the perfect storm of impending economic stagnation, impoverished populations, diminished innovation, and lack of interest in choosing these fields. The author discusses what must be done to correct this social injustice and stave off losing America's status one of the leaders in technological innovation and economic opportunity.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines play a pivotal role in societal progress and economic prosperity, in addition to enhancing individual lives. However, U.S. students lack strong STEM performance in an international context. The pool of STEM‐proficient workers is thus insufficient to fuel the nation, with females being one group that is noticeably absent. Out‐of‐school‐time (OST) programs, which are on the rise, are increasingly suggested as a way to support and encourage females in STEM. Data collected from participants in OST programs have shown improved achievement, interest, and confidence in STEM, as well as greater awareness of STEM role models and careers. Out‐of‐School‐Time STEM Programs for Females: Implications for Research and Practice features seven OST STEM programs for females from across the United States that run one week to one year in length. In this book, the chapter authors describe their programs, the effectiveness of those programs, and practical implications of their program evaluation data. This book is the first of its kind to offer researchers, educators, school administrators, policy makers, and others detailed insight into the promise and practice of out‐of‐school‐time STEM programs for females.

Educational strategies have evolved over the years, due to research breakthroughs and the application of technology. By using the latest learning innovations, curriculum and instructional design can be enhanced and strengthened. The Handbook of Research on Driving STEM Learning With Educational Technologies is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on the implementation and use of different techniques of instruction in modern classroom settings. Featuring exhaustive coverage on a variety of topics including data literacy, student motivation, and computer-aided assessment, this resource is an essential reference publication ideally designed for academicians, researchers, and professionals seeking current research on emerging uses of technology for STEM education.

In fiscal year 2014, U.S. universities received nearly $25 billion in federal grant funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research. Studies show women are largely underrepresented in STEM fields. Federal agencies are required to enforce Title IX—a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving any federal financial assistance—including at universities they fund. GAO was asked to provide information on federal grant-making to women in STEM. This book examines the extent to which differences exist in federal grant awards between women and men in STEM fields; the extent to which federal agencies enforce Title IX at universities they fund for STEM research; and possible actions federal agencies could take to address the representation of women in STEM research.

This critical examination of STEM discourses highlights the imperative to think about educational reforms within the diverse cultural contexts of ongoing environmental and technologically driven changes. Chet Bowers illuminates how the dominant myths of Western science promote false promises of what science can achieve. Examples demonstrate how the various science disciplines and their shared ideology largely fail to address the ways metaphorically layered language influences taken-for-granted patterns of thinking and the role this plays in colonizing other cultures, thus maintaining the myth that scientific inquiry is objective and free of cultural influences. Guidelines and questions are included to engage STEM students in becoming explicitly aware of these issues and the challenges they pose.

STEM Education for High-Ability Learners: Designing and Implementing Programming focuses on the rigorous articulation of quality STEM education programming to develop STEM talent among high-ability and gifted learners. The intent of this book is to provide a comprehensive resource for educators designing and implementing each of the supports within STEM education by providing a discussion of each critical component for inclusion in a planned, coherent, and high-quality sequenced system. This edited volume provides a cutting-edge discussion of best practices for delivering STEM education by experts in the field. The contributing authors provide a differentiated discussion and recommendations for the learning experiences of gifted students in STEM education programs.

In this book, the authors integrate STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) concepts and the cultivation of young minds in order to be open to innovation. This book uses STEM instruction as blurring the lines among basic subject areas. Often, it's more than integrating science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Ideas, activities, and projects can be integrated with lessons from the language arts to the Arts as well. In this book, STEM is treated as more of a philosophy than a program or a set of activities.

This practical, hands-on guide shows K-12 school leaders how to support STEM programs that excite students and teachers—even if the leader is not an expert in science, technology, engineering, or math. Buckner and Boyd explore ideas for fostering equitable access to rich and rigorous learning experiences, acting as instructional leaders, and building community engagement and partnerships. You'll get advice on creating a structure to help teachers examine, discuss, and improve students'learning experiences. And you'll learn how to support teachers in designing challenging lessons that foster students'curiosity and ingenuity in working on real-world problems. Finally, you'll learn ways you can effectively tap into the wealth of resources in your community to help achieve your STEM vision.

All you need to make the shift to STEM a reality! Now more than ever, educational leaders are encouraged to implement STEM as the foundation for preparing students with the 21st century skills required for college and career readiness. This resource makes the process of shifting to a comprehensive, integrated STEM school or district within reach! Invaluable case studies featuring current STEM pioneers from across the country model how successful, STEM-centered learning takes place. You'll find process-specific best practices and strategies to help you: Understand, create, and lead the STEM change process Transform existing school programs Prepare the school community for STEM and plan for STEM integration Integrate 21st Century Skills, the arts, and humanities Create essential partnerships with business and higher education Includes step-by-step checklists and visual mapping guides for successfully navigating the STEM change process. Use this groundbreaking resource to systematically implement coherent and integrated STEM instruction that transforms learning and prepares students for the global economy! Video and web content also available at http://bit.ly/TheSTEMShift.'Finally! A great book that clearly explains what STEM education is, why we need it, and how to do it well. A must-read for all educators, parents, and policymakers.'Tony Wagner, author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators'Reading Jill and Ann′s column in Education Week has been a critical part of my weekly reading since they′ve begun writing it. I′ve learned a lot from those short snippets, and now it′s exciting to see their expanded thoughts in The Stem Shift. You can′t go wrong by reading anything they write!'Larry Ferlazzo, High school teacher and Ed Week columnist

While the great scientists of the past recognized a need for a multidisciplinary approach, today's schools often treat math and science as subjects separate from the rest. This not only creates a disinterest among students, but also a potential learning gap once students reach college and then graduate into the workforce. Cases on Research-Based Teaching Methods in Science Education addresses the problems currently facing science education in the USA and the UK, and suggests a new hands-on approach to learning. This book is an essential reference source for policymakers, academicians, researchers, educators, curricula developers, and teachers as they strive to improve education at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels.

Year after year, technology advances at an increasingly accelerated pace. In order to keep up with the demands of users and businesses alike, a comprehensive understanding of science and technology must be fostered in the next generation of innovators. STEM Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications brings together an impressive array of research on the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics curricula at all educational levels. This comprehensive reference covers topics of interest for educators and students, as well as industry professionals, computer scientists, and engineering specialists in a wide variety of disciplines.

Librarians can use this book to become leaders in their schools, collaborating with teachers to keep them abreast of resources that will facilitate the inclusion of STEM in the curriculum.Teaching STEM and Common Core with Mentor Text explains the basics of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and shows how librarians can become a key component in STEM education, guiding teachers and sparking interest though the books and technology inherent in their curriculum. The volume offers 20 mentor texts, plus in-depth, collaborative lesson plans linked to the Common Core Standards for K–5 librarians. There are additional lessons for classroom teachers, as well as activities that can easily be done in the library or classroom. Each lesson includes mentor text information, an overview of the lesson, step-by-step lesson plans, assessment options, and extension activities. By implementing these lessons in the library, librarians will be able to cover multiple Common Core State Standards and science standards, and at the same time establish the library as a resource for teaching STEM subjects.

STEM Integration in K-12 Education examines current efforts to connect the STEM disciplines in K-12 education. This report identifies and characterizes existing approaches to integrated STEM education, both in formal and after- and out-of-school settings. The report reviews the evidence for the impact of integrated approaches on various student outcomes, and it proposes a set of priority research questions to advance the understanding of integrated STEM education. STEM Integration in K-12 Education proposes a framework to provide a common perspective and vocabulary for researchers, practitioners, and others to identify, discuss, and investigate specific integrated STEM initiatives within the K-12 education system of the United States. STEM Integration in K-12 Education makes recommendations for designers of integrated STEM experiences, assessment developers, and researchers to design and document effective integrated STEM education. This report will help to further their work and improve the chances that some forms of integrated STEM education will make a positive difference in student learning and interest and other valued outcomes.

Advancing education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in U.S. public schools has been at the forefront of educational issues and a national priority (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2010). Although there is a need for this ambitious initiative, students with disabilities has been left out of the conversation. Individuals with disabilities have been underrepresented in STEM fields for many years. Traditionally individuals with disabilities in STEM careers lag even further behind discrepancies of race and gender in these areas. Therefore, the need to provide general and special education teachers practices and strategies to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in STEM areas is imperative. The nation's changing demographics and continued need to remain globally competitive makes it clear that general and special education teachers need strategies to support, instruct and engage students with disabilities in STEM education. Students in U.S. schools are academically behind their international peers in STEM areas. Currently, the United States ranks 17th in science and 25th in mathematics among other nations (National Center for Education Statistics, 2011). In the field of engineering, college programs in China and India graduated many more engineers than in the U.S. (Gerefii, Wadhwa, Rissing, & Ong, 2008). For example, in 2011, China's engineering graduates totaled one million (Shammas, 2011), as compared to colleges in the U.S. which graduated 84,599 engineers (Deffree, 2012). To address this pressing need to provide general and special education teachers practices and strategies to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this book provides teachers and educational professionals the knowledge, skills, practices and strategies to support learners with disabilities in STEM education. This book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in methods courses in Colleges of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and Institutes of Technology. More specifically, this book provides background information to prepare K-12 general and special education teachers and educational professionals in pedagogy for integrated inquiry-based teaching and learning for students with special needs in STEM concepts. This book will also help to provide: (a) ideas about adaptation to STEM content for learners with special needs to meet student learning outcomes and (b) general and special educators with the knowledge, skills and resources for effective STEM teaching and learning for students with special needs.

The future of American STEM education is here...in every state, there are thousands students that would benefit from science education, if only they had the resources, support systems and psychological ownership. There are brilliant young minds that could be called on to solve a myriad of world problems, earning money and respect in the process. But these students don't see science as a viable option for a life. Or they do but there are no textbooks in the classroom, or the teacher is the fifth one this semester...and he is on the verge of leaving too. If STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers are the future driving force of the American economy; and if only an anointed few American students choose STEM as a career path, where will that leave us as a nation as we strive to compete on the global stage? Will America maintain its position as leader of the free world? Can a country that shuns the word “elite” ever maintain its elite status? Everything we value depends on this; our national security, reputation, and quality of life all depend on our ability to meet the needs of future generations of American workers as they compete for jobs. Jobs that will require problem solving skills, innovation, creativity, scientific literacy, and mathematical knowledge. Jobs that will require Americans who are tops in their fields with expertise, intellectual curiosity, ambition and vision. This book seeks to address these problems, as well as providing an historical backdrop for the discussion of STEM in American schools, race and gender issues, the effects of the standards movement on STEM, and what good teaching looks like in urban public schools. The future is here. Will we rise to the occasion?

During the past few years, groups like the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Center for Education have been placing great emphasis on the significance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. In brief, the US is seen as falling behind the rest of the world in science and technology education. In response, the curricula have been revised in many educational institutions and school districts across the country. It is clear that for STEM to be successful, other community organizations, most particularly libraries, need to be closely involved in the process. Library staff realize the importance of getting involved in STEM education, but many have difficulty finding comprehensive information that will help them plan and successfully implement STEM direction in their organization. This book is designed to meet that need. It is timely and relevant. How to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Libraries is by and for libraries who are involved in contributing efforts into advancing these subjects. It is organized in 9 parts including funding, grant writing, community partnerships, outreach, research, and examples of specific programming activities. Authors are drawn from the professional staffs of educational institutions, libraries, and non-profit organizations such as science museums. The book contains eight parts, each emphasizing a different aspect of how to succeed with STEM. Part 1 emphasizes how hands-on activities that are both fun and educational can be used to further STEM awareness. Parts 2 and 3 contain chapters on the uniting of STEM with Information Literacy. Innovative collection development ideas are discussed in Part 4 and Part 5 focuses on research and publishing. Outreach is the theme of Part 6 and the programs described in these chapters offer an array of ways to connect with students of all ages. The final section of How to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Libraries addresses the funding of these programs. Librarians of all types will be pleased to discover easy-to-implement suggestions for collaborative efforts, many rich and diverse programming ideas, strategies for improving reference services and library instruction to speakers of English as a second language, marketing and promotional tips designed to welcome multicultural patrons into the library, and much more.

Although STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) has been diversely defined by various researchers (e.g. Buck Institute, 2003; Capraro & Slough, 2009; Scott, 2009; Wolf, 2008), during the last decade, STEM education has gained an increasing presence on the national agenda through initiatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Institute for Educational Sciences (IES). The rate of technological innovation and change has been tremendous over the past ten years, and this rapid increase will only continue. STEM literacy is the power to “identify, apply, and integrate concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to understand complex problems and to innovate to solve them” (Washington State STEM, 2011, Internet). In order for U.S. students to be on the forefront of this revolution, ALL of our schools need to be part of the STEM vision and guide students in acquiring STEM literacy. Understanding and addressing the challenge of achieving STEM literacy for ALL students begins with an understanding of its element and the connections between them. In order to remain competitive, the Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy has recommended that the US optimize “its knowledge-based resources, particularly in science and technology” (National Academies, 2007, p. 4). Optimizing knowledge-based resources needs to be the goal but is also a challenge for ALL educators (Scheurich & Huggins, 2009). Regardless, there is little disagreement that contemporary society is increasingly dependent on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and thus comprehensive understandings are essential for those pursuing STEM careers. It is also generally agreed that PK-12 students do not do well in STEM areas, both in terms of national standards and in terms of international comparisons (Kuenzi, Matthews, & Mangan, 2006; Capraro, Capraro, Yetkiner, Corlu, Ozel, Ye, & Kim, 2011). The question then becomes what might PK-12 schools do to improve teachers'and students'STEM knowledge and skills? This book will look at equity and access issues in STEM education from PK-12, university, and administrative and policy lenses.

The success of the United States in the 21st century, its wealth and welfare, will depend on the ideas and skills of its population. As the world becomes increasingly technological, the value of these national assets will be determined in no small measure by the effectiveness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States. STEM education will determine whether the United States will remain a leader among nations and whether we will be able to solve immense challenges in such areas as energy, health, environmental protection, and national security. This new book explores a strategy for improving K-12 STEM education that responds to the tremendous challenges and historic opportunities facing the Nation.

The increased presence of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs and in the scientific workforce has been and continues to be of concern to some in the scientific community. Enrollment of U.S. citizens in graduate science and engineering programs has not kept pace with that of foreign students in those programs. In addition to the number of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs, a significant number of university faculty in the scientific disciplines are foreign, and foreign doctorates are employed in large numbers by industry. Few will dispute that U.S. universities and industry have chosen foreign talent to fill many positions. Foreign scientists and engineers serve the needs of industry at the doctorate level and also have been found to serve in major roles at the masters level. However, there are charges that U.S. workers are adversely affected by the entry of foreign scientists and engineers, who reportedly accept lower wages than U.S. citizens would accept in order to enter or remain in the United States. NSF data reveal that in 2005, the foreign student population earned approximately 34.7% of the doctorate degrees in the sciences and approximately 63.1% of the doctorate degrees in engineering. In 2005, foreign students on temporary resident visas earned 30.8% of the doctorates in the sciences, and 58.6% of the doctorates in engineering. The participation rates in 2004 were 28.5% and 57.3%, respectively. In 2005, permanent resident status students earned 3.8% of the doctorates in the sciences and 4.5% of the doctorates in engineering, slightly above the 2004 levels of 3.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Many in the scientific community maintain that in order to compete with countries that are rapidly expanding their scientific and technological capabilities, the country needs to bring to the United States those whose skills will benefit society and will enable us to compete in the new-technology based global economy. The academic community is concerned that the more stringent visa requirements for foreign students may have a continued impact on enrollments in colleges and universities. There are those who believe that the underlying problem of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs is not necessarily that there are too many foreign-born students, but that there are not enough native-born students pursuing scientific and technical disciplines.

Passion for objects and love for science: scientists and students reflect on how objects fired their scientific imaginations.'This is a book about science, technology, and love,” writes Sherry Turkle. In it, we learn how a love for science can start with a love for an object—a microscope, a modem, a mud pie, a pair of dice, a fishing rod. Objects fire imagination and set young people on a path to a career in science. In this collection, distinguished scientists, engineers, and designers as well as twenty-five years of MIT students describe how objects encountered in childhood became part of the fabric of their scientific selves. In two major essays that frame the collection, Turkle tells a story of inspiration and connection through objects that is often neglected in standard science education and in our preoccupation with the virtual. The senior scientists'essays trace the arc of a life: the gears of a toy car introduce the chain of cause and effect to artificial intelligence pioneer Seymour Papert; microscopes disclose the mystery of how things work to MIT President and neuroanatomist Susan Hockfield; architect Moshe Safdie describes how his boyhood fascination with steps, terraces, and the wax hexagons of beehives lead him to a life immersed in the complexities of design. The student essays tell stories that echo these narratives: plastic eggs in an Easter basket reveal the power of centripetal force; experiments with baking illuminate the geology of planets; LEGO bricks model worlds, carefully engineered and colonized. All of these voices—students and mentors—testify to the power of objects to awaken and inform young scientific minds. This is a truth that is simple, intuitive, and easily overlooked.

Cell phones... airbags... genetically modified food... the Internet. These are all emblems of modern life. You might ask what we would do without them. But an even more interesting question might be what would we do if we had to actually explain how they worked? The United States is riding a whirlwind of technological change. To be sure, there have been periods, such as the late 1800s, when new inventions appeared in society at a comparable rate. But the pace of change today, and its social, economic, and other impacts, are as significant and far reaching as at any other time in history. And it seems that the faster we embrace new technologies, the less we're able to understand them. What is the long-term effect of this galloping technological revolution? In today's new world, it is nothing less than a matter of responsible citizenship to grasp the nature and implications of technology. Technically Speaking provides a blueprint for bringing us all up to speed on the role of technology in our society, including understanding such distinctions as technology versus science and technological literacy versus technical competence. It clearly and decisively explains what it means to be a technologically-literate citizen. The book goes on to explore the context of technological literacy—the social, historical, political, and educational environments. This readable overview highlights specific issues of concern: the state of technological studies in K-12 schools, the reach of the Internet into our homes and lives, and the crucial role of technology in today's economy and workforce. Three case studies of current issues—car airbags, genetically modified foods, and the California energy crisis—illustrate why ordinary citizens need to understand technology to make responsible decisions. This fascinating book from the National Academy of Engineering is enjoyable to read and filled with contemporary examples. It will be important to anyone interested in understanding how the world around them works.

Presents evidence that S/T/S is a successful reform movement in science education.Science/Technology/Society (S/T/S) is a reform effort to broaden science as a discipline in schools and colleges; to relate science to other facets of the curriculum; and to relate science specifically to technology and to the society that supports and produces new conceptualizations of both. S/T/S is also defined as the teaching and learning of science/technology in the context of human experience. It focuses on a method of teaching that recognizes the importance that experience in the real world has on the learning process. And it recognizes that real learning can occur only when the learner is engaged and able to construct her or his own meaning.Science/Technology/Society as Reform in Science Education, is rich with examples of such teaching and learning. It includes impressive research evidence that illustrates that progress has been made and goals have been met. For teachers and administrators alike, this book provides and validates new visions for science education.Robert E. Yager is Professor of Science Education at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.

What makes girls avoid math, science, and technology in school? And what can teacher educators do to help new teachers keep this from happening so that all of our children's talents can find expression? These two volumes provide teaching materials and background information on gender equity for teacher educators in mathematics, science, and technology education and their students. A practical guide, Gender Equity Right from the Start is usable by professors of education for preservice teachers and by staff developers for in-service teachers. By adapting the material for other subjects, it can also be used by teacher educators in content areas other than math, science, and technology. It consists of two volumes: Instructional Activities for Teacher Educators in Mathematics, Science, and Technology contains some 200 teaching activities on the major issues in gender equity, emphasizing solutions and not just problems. Activities take place in out-of-class assignments and field experiences whenever possible to minimize demands on class time. Sources and Resources for Education Students in Mathematics, Science, and Technology contains student materials needed for the activities as well as extensive print, electronic, organizational, and other resources for further information.