STEM
The Push to Improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
March 21, 2008
- Education Detailed State ReportsA special state-focused online supplement to Technology Counts 2008.Education About the EPE Research Center鈥檚 Annual State Technology SurveyThe EPE Research Center conducts an annual survey of technology officials from state departments of education in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in order to compile the latest information regarding state policy and practice in educational technology.States How the EPE Research Center Graded the StatesFor the Technology Leaders section of Technology Counts 2008, the EPE Research Center collected data on 14 indicators spanning three major areas of state technology policy and practice: access, use, and capacity. Data on access to technology were derived from a 2005-06 survey conducted by Market Data Retrieval and from background questionnaires administered as part of the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress in mathematics. Information on technology use and capacity was obtained from a survey of technology officials from state departments of education in the 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted by the EPE Research Center in the fall of 2007.
Teacher Preparation Learning to Teach With TechnologyMore teacher colleges are incorporating technology education directly into math and science courses, rather than offering such training separately.Mathematics Where鈥檚 the 'T' in STEM?Experts debate whether the practical applications of math and science are getting all the attention they deserve.
Mathematics A School Where STEM Is KingA selective, specialized high school in Baltimore uses an interdisciplinary approach that enables students to experience the subjects as a way of life.Education Funding Federal Projects鈥� Impact on STEM Remains UnclearObservers from inside and outside the government have called for a more effective way of judging the effectiveness of the federal role in STEM and for more coordination among those programs.
Equity & Diversity Cultivating a Diversity of TalentA number of programs aim for growth in STEM achievement鈥攁nd interest鈥攁mong underrepresented groups.
Mathematics Competing for CompetenceEducators use student contests in the STEM fields to build knowledge and skills that complement the curriculum.Mathematics The Push to Improve STEM EducationBusiness leaders, governors, and others are urging a redoubled commitment to strengthening U.S. students鈥� preparation to succeed in the subjects known by the increasingly familiar shorthand of STEM.States Tracking U.S. TrendsThe nation as a whole earns a grade of C-plus for technology, with a majority of state grades residing in the C-minus to C-plus range.Assessment States Heeding Calls to Strengthen STEMUnnerved by job losses, weak test scores, and competition from an increasingly skilled foreign workforce, state officials have launched a variety of efforts to improve STEM education.Early Childhood Preschool Play Imparts Math鈥檚 鈥楤uilding Blocks鈥�A pair of New York scholars have a mission: to 鈥渕athematize鈥� preschool.Equity & Diversity 鈥楰inetic City鈥� Web Site Finds Fun in ScienceKinetic City, an online education program, seeks to spark an interest in science among minority and female students through interactive games, experiments, and other activities.Equity & Diversity Finding Kernels of Scientific SenseThe Cheche Konnen Center does research on improving science learning in urban communities, particularly among ethnically and linguistically diverse students.
