{"id":588,"date":"2013-01-23T17:32:30","date_gmt":"2013-01-23T17:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rosarioconsulting.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=588"},"modified":"2016-12-05T12:41:25","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T12:41:25","slug":"reflections-on-stem-education-in-us-have-we-lost-our-focus-as-a-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/reflections-on-stem-education-in-us-have-we-lost-our-focus-as-a-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on STEM education in US: Have we lost our focus as a nation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Freflections-on-stem-education-in-us-have-we-lost-our-focus-as-a-nation%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-590\" title=\"Moon Landing\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing.jpg\" alt=\"Moon Landing\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing.jpg 500w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/moon-landing-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>President John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962, at Rice University, Houston, Texas<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>President Kennedy&#8217;s challenge to the United States helped launch our nation into one of the most exciting seasons of growth in science, engineering, and technology. \u00a0 This was a season of bold national leadership. \u00a0 \u00a0As a young American citizen, I am proud to live in one of the greatest nations on earth. \u00a0 Why? \u00a0 It&#8217;s a nation where people can dream big and make it happen.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a01969, the United States landed on the moon. \u00a0 \u00a0In 2013, how is the United States leading the world in science, technology, engineering and math(STEM)? \u00a0 \u00a0What is our bold national mission that captures our imagination and challenges us to become better people?<\/p>\n<p>Last night, I had the great pleasure of attending a panel discussion hosted by the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aiaa-atlanta.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) of Atlanta<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0The panel explored our national challenge of inspiring young people to become great US \u00a0scientists, engineers, and technologists. \u00a0 \u00a0Yes, We still have US based innovators like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The US, however, can expect to lag behind other nations in innovation and technology because we have failed to inspire the next generation to care about our craft of science and engineering. \u00a0 This issue has a direct local impact on stimulating job growth and our economy.<\/p>\n<p>The STEM education panel included thoughtful community leaders from Middle GA.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dr. Wade Shaw \u2013 Dean of College of Engineering, Mercer University \/ Academic Perspective<\/li>\n<li>Joe Marks \u2013 Director Material Systems, TIMCO \/ Local Industry Perspective<\/li>\n<li>Maj. Gen. (Ret) Bob McMahon \u2013 CEO, 21st Century Partnership \/ Military Perspective<\/li>\n<li>Melissa Spalding \u2013 Director of Education, Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins \/ Non Profit STEM Proponent Perspective<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Gilda Lyon \u2013 GA Dept. of Education, STEM Coordinator \/ Academic Perspective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, how do we inspire young people to care about STEM education? \u00a0 Why should they care? \u00a0 I wanted to share some of the key insights I took from the panel.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Where are our heroes?<\/strong> \u00a0General McMahon challenged our nation to find people who can be heroes in science and technology. \u00a0 \u00a0In 1969, astronauts were seen as mentors and role models for generations of US innovators, scientists, and technologists. \u00a0 Who are the great role models for students today?<\/li>\n<li><strong>How can industry support STEM education?<\/strong> On average, students do not feel that science\/engineering is &#8220;trendy&#8221; or cool. \u00a0In some cases, students fear the responsibilities associated with STEM skills. \u00a0The panel encouraged industry to partner with local schools or youth mentoring organizations. \u00a0 Ideas discussed included shadow programs or speaking in local schools. \u00a0 Young people need scientists, engineers, and technologists from their community to be mentors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Attack the STEM education issue from an emotional point of view:<\/strong> Dr. Shaw made a great comment about engineering marketing. \u00a0 As we market our craft of engineering to others, we often focus on the &#8220;widgets&#8221; that we build. \u00a0 \u00a0Look at the cool &#8220;X&#8221; we built! \u00a0Don&#8217;t you want to do this too? \u00a0 \u00a0Dr. Shaw suggested that we need to help young people see the profound social impact engineers and scientists have on ALL aspects of our lives. \u00a0 We need to communicate to our nation that STEM education can have profound positive impacts on our communities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inspire young people early and often:<\/strong> \u00a0Melissa Spalding suggested that a key time to inspire young people is not college or high school. \u00a0 \u00a0We need to inspire students to consider STEM education as early as 4th grade to middle school. \u00a0 These are critical times when students start to decide what they will enjoy in their life time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Project based learning and simulation:<\/strong> \u00a0 Melissa challenged teachers to inspire students using simulation and project based learning. \u00a0 \u00a0What if students could pretend to be engineers and scientists? \u00a0 The panel acknowledged that the average teacher would be challenged by this goal since teachers are experts at teaching and not a technical craft. \u00a0 I believe this is why great collaboration between industry and institutions of education is critical. \u00a0 How can scientists and engineers support our teachers\/students with fun and engaging learning experiences or simulations?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>I love General\u00a0McMahon&#8217;s central question during this discussion: \u00a0&#8220;Have we lost our focus as a nation?&#8221; \u00a0How do we encourage the type of leadership that encourages our students, teachers, and nation to thrive?<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Related posts<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Behind the scenes with NASA: Conversations with Sally Ride, Mars rover drivers, and more\u2026\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=494\" target=\"_blank\">Behind the scenes with NASA: Conversations with Sally Ride, Mars rover drivers, and more\u2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Critical review of Seth Godin\u2019s essay on \u201cArt and Science and Making Things\u201d\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=479\" target=\"_blank\">Critical review of Seth Godin\u2019s essay on \u201cArt and Science and Making Things\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Students Becoming Teachers\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=381\" target=\"_blank\">Students Becoming Teachers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"5 fun learning experiences with Legos\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=305\" target=\"_blank\">5 fun learning experiences with Legos<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Ananth Pai: engaging students through scalable game based curriculum\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=231\" target=\"_blank\">Ananth Pai: engaging students through scalable game based curriculum<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/200269514651132840\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com\/upload\/266908715387533552_NWAbuMR3_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"2456\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;\">Source: <a style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.edutopia.org\/stw-college-career-stem-infographic\">edutopia.org<\/a> via <a style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;\" href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/bisgovuk\/\" target=\"_blank\">BIS<\/a> on <a style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;\" href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\" target=\"_blank\">Pinterest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Freflections-on-stem-education-in-us-have-we-lost-our-focus-as-a-nation%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2190,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588\/revisions\/2190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}