DoD STEM Blog

Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) partners Sinclair Community College (SCC) and Central State University (CSU) launched their inaugural summer academies in June with the goal of introducing middle and high school students in the Dayton, Ohio, area to college life, both in general and as it relates to STEM instruction.

The NCWIT AspireIT Toolkit includes ways to design engaging and inclusive computer science experiences for K-12 students, with a focus on broadening the participation of girls, women, and underrepresented populations, including military-connected students.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST^®) enthusiasts came back strong at the FIRST in-person championship in two years. Student teams used technology to build robots that help solve transportation challenges, including remotely operated vehicles and autonomous delivery systems.

Hawaiian students developed a board game to raise awareness of environmental concerns in their community. The project incorporated all aspects of STEM + English and helped them learn native Hawaiian language and cultural practices at the same time.

All students, regardless of ability, have the potential for success in all aspects of the school system. All students should be included in STEM education and given the opportunity to thrive. Too often students with labels are considered “less than” and therefore marginalized to classroom settings where they are not challenged with a rigorous STEM curriculum. This is not fair to students, schools or to society as a whole.

Robotics programs offer students an exciting glimpse into the teamwork required to make a robot work. Working professionals often credit their middle or high school robotics team participation in sparking their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

Building high-quality STEM learning projects can be time consuming for teachers. DoD STEM Teacher Ambassador Laura Drager details how the Dayton Regional STEM Center offers a treasure trove of hands-on projects sure to create excitement in the classroom, and sneak in solid learning too!

How can educators engage students in STEM and help them become the diverse workforce that will move our country forward?

In 2001 the National Science Foundation introduced the acronym “STEM” and started a national conversation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Other iterations are STEAM, to include the arts or agriculture, or STREAM to include reading. I propose that one vowel is noticeably absent: “I” for inclusion.

Converting to teaching virtually is time-consuming. Teacher planning and preparation to make the shift can take a lot longer than expected. Baltimore City Public Schools is using Google Classroom as its learning management system for student access to lessons and materials. Teachers work with Google Workspace, which includes Jamboard, a free interactive whiteboard that includes tools for writing and drawing.

Citizen Schools’ Catalyst program pairs mentors from diverse backgrounds with students to engage in meaningful real-world, problem-based projects that bridge gaps in education so that all students can succeed. In order to imagine themselves pursuing a career in STEM, students need to have authentic experiences, see diversity in their classrooms and be exposed to STEM career pathways.

Efforts to create a computationally literate population are taking hold. In the United States, K-8 teachers are expected to integrate computational thinking so that all students gain experience solving problems through computer automation. This blog post provides background information on computer science education initiatives and offers four guiding principles to ease the minds of non-computer science teachers as they prepare to integrate computer science into their curriculum.

Higher level courses such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes can serve as a catalyst to enhance student achievement, confidence and motivation as well as seed overall better outcomes beyond high school. They can also serve as gatekeepers and rob many underrepresented students of opportunity. One determining factor is making sure all students feel welcome and like they belong.

Teachers are like CEOs of multibillion dollar conglomerates with one employee: you. Teachers need support. “Kitchen Chemist” Jonté Lee shares how to find and invite partners to support schools and school districts.

Twitter can be an excellent way for STEM teachers to find a like-minded community. DoD STEM Teacher Ambassador Genevieve Esmende shares anecdotes and advice for using Twitter for finding ideas and professional development opportunities.

Learn how and why Twitter can be a great collaborative tool for educators. Taren Long recently embarked on a Twitter journey after organizers of a professional development conference requested her social media handles. Long quickly learned that Twitter is an effective platform for finding and sharing inspirational ideas in education. Twitter is also an avenue to contribute—via tweet, ideas, questions and experiences—and gain feedback from a wider professional audience.