Business Helps Fund STEM Programs for Millions of Children

Business Helps Fund STEM Programs for Millions of Children

“Bertram says, “We are a business and if we don’t have a sustainable business model, we can’t provide the service to schools.”

Most of the organization's revenue comes from fees for service and product sales. PLTW’s online store sells equipment and supplies that teachers and schools can use for teaching science, technology, engineering and math—STEM skills.”

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STEAM and STEM Both Gaining Traction, But is One Better?

STEAM and STEM Both Gaining Traction, But is One Better?

“…leaders in a community rich with culture started to decry to promotion of the left brain over the right. The concept of STEAM—adding an ‘A’ for the Arts—gained figurative steam as an enhancement, if not an outright alternative, to a focus on formulas. In a world of virtual reality, won’t there need to be as many animators as coders? In a world where people hopefully live active lives into their 90s, won’t you need fresh ideas in the medical world as much as a background in biology.”

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Is How Economics is Classified Hurting Students?

"Universities are now changing the federal classification code of their economics majors from one for general economics (45.0601) to econometrics and quantitative economics (45.0603) in order to give their students this option. Econometrics and quantitative economics happens to be the only field of study taught at economics departments that the Department of Homeland Security considers a STEM field"

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The Future of STEM Education

The Future of STEM Education

"Over the last decade, companies have been experimenting with innovative ways to engage students in meaningful STEM learning. Thankfully, several of these companies are getting it right. The perennial technology giant Sony is doing an amazing job of advancing STEM education by persuading students to start solving problems via science. Sony's KOOV Educator Kit is an all-in-one coding, robotics and design kit that combines digital coding with physical building to teach the next generation of problem solvers and innovators."

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Boeing Donates Big to Dean Kamen's FIRST

Boeing Donates Big to Dean Kamen's FIRST

"'Whether they’re solving technical challenges in the classroom or putting their skills to work at a FIRST competition, it’s remarkable what these young minds are capable of creating,' said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. 'Boeing is committed to supporting STEM programs like FIRST through employee volunteerism and charitable grants. By exposing students to STEM subjects and experiences and teaching them how to apply what they’ve learned in real and relevant ways, we hope to inspire future generations of dreamers and doers.'"

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Disney is Helping Boost the Country's STEM Education

Disney is Helping Boost the Country's STEM Education

"The company will give the grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), a nonprofit organization that offers young people support and essential skills to help them reach their full potential.

The donation is expected to help grow the group's national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum, and establish new STEM centers of innovation in a dozen communities, including Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington, DC."

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Women and Girls are Still Trailing Behind In STEAM Education

Women and Girls are Still Trailing Behind In STEAM Education

"As a member of Algeria’s first-ever robotics team, the 18-year-old spent months designing a machine that can clean polluted water—or, at least, clear a replica of a river littered with colored plastic balls.

Sara had never studied robotics, nor did she have experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. But alongside her peers in Algiers, she built a working, remote-controlled robot that they successfully launched at the FIRST Global Challenge, an international high school robotics competition held in July in Washington, DC."

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UN Wants More Women in STEM Education

UN Wants More Women in STEM Education

"The United Nations has urged governments to invest more in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for females, as International Day of Women and Girls in Science was marked on Sunday.

According to Unesco, less than 30 percent of researchers in science worldwide are women. Moreover, only around one in three female students in higher education selects STEM subjects."

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Putting Tech in the Classroom

"Technology's integral role in education is evident, for example, in the growing focus on content and not just hardware. Yes, there remains the issue of getting devices into the hands of all students. But as mobile devices become more ubiquitous, attention is shifting to what runs on them — to creating and identifying effective online curricula and learning-based apps and games.

The good news is that some of the solutions we're seeing developed are undeniably powerful, innovative, research-based programs that open a world of learning opportunities for students. But there are still many dangers and potential conflicts, not the least of which is that it's often big corporations bringing those opportunities into the classroom."  Click here to learn more