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November 30, 2012

STEM News for Educators

Education

Study links mobile-device use at school with greater STEM interest
Middle-school students who use tablet computers, smartphones and other mobile devices for schoolwork are more likely to be interested in subjects such as science, technology, engineering and math and say they learn better using this technology, according to a survey by MIT's Center for Mobile Learning at the Media Lab and the Verizon Foundation. "Our research supports the fact that mobile technology can inspire and engage students today," said Rose Stuckey Kirk, president of the Verizon Foundation. T.H.E. Journal (11/29)

Draft common core science standards to get a second look
Proposed Common Core State Standards for Science have been through one round of public comment and scrutiny, and the next draft version is expected to be released in early January 2013. Among the concerns with the first proposal was that it lacked attention to computer science. The organizations involved in the process plan to have the new science standards finalized by March 2013. Education Week/Curriculum Matters blog (11/29)

Charging higher tuition for non-STEM majors raises questions
To boost the number of students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math degrees in Florida's universities, a governor-appointed task force has recommended that students in non-STEM fields pay more in tuition than those majoring in STEM subjects. Tom Auxter, a philosophy professor at the University of Florida and statewide president of United Faculty of Florida, suggests in this opinion article that this plan isn't likely to produce a significant increase in STEM majors, but it could damage core curriculum programs. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (11/30)

Business

Group encourages industry, schools collaboration on STEM
The Research and Development Council of New Jersey has taken on a new mission to bolster science, technology, engineering and math education at the college level and to encourage businesses to take a leading role in that effort. "All of our members have their own STEM higher-education programs, but we wanted to come up with a platform to promote them all, so we've become a one-stop shop for companies, teachers and students to look up those programs," said Kim Case, executive director of the council. NJBIZ (New Jersey) (11/29)

Trends

Community colleges becoming major source of job skills retraining
Rather than focusing primarily on serving as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year university, more community colleges are reportedly emerging as important institutions for technical training as part of the retraining of adults seeking career changes. The U.S. Department of Labor has budgeted $2 billion for community colleges to help expand their job retraining programs. Time.com (11/28)

Universities are spending more on engineering research
Funding for engineering research at the university level increased 7.7% during fiscal 2011, reaching a total of about $10 billion, according to a new report issued by the National Science Foundation. Of all the engineering disciplines, electrical engineering received the most research and development funding in 2011. EE Times (11/29)

ACTE News

The VISION is on!
Maybe you couldn't join us in Atlanta for CareerTech VISION 2012, but you can follow the daily action with VISIONblog, and check back each evening for a Storify account of the day's action!

Learn more about ACTE ->

SmartQuote

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief."

--William Shakespeare,
British playwright

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