STEM for a Small World

..also Introduction to Engineering

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for a Small World

• links and commentary to web resources addressing topics that everyone needs to know to be a full participant in the world today and tomorrow.

Says who? Well, a number of concerned citizens who are dismayed by the decline in basic math and science knowledge, particularly in the United States. NASA, for example has a problem insofar as something like 25% of their scientists and engineers are due to retire in the next few years. Finding graduates eligible to fill these vacancies and qualify for the top security clearance necessary to work on defense contracts is problematic already.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - in each discipline

• Basics ideas - understand popular press articles and commentary
  • StemLit0 (newspaper reader)
• General knowledge - follow discussions about new findings in the field
  • StemLit1 (science magazines, educational TV)
• Advanced - understand details of literature in the field of study
  • StemLit2 (beyond mainstream media)

News, information and updates

• Science Geek Girl - regular updates from a professional science writer - always good reading

• New Scientist - interesting science factoids and commentary

Science

general, environmental, earth science

• Open Textbooks - Science
• Young Scientist Competition

Biology and Health

evolution, DNA,stem cells, health - nutrition, cancer, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, malnourishment

• Open Textbooks - Biology

• Open Textbooks - Health

Chemistry

elements, reactions

• Open Textbooks - Chemistry

• Chemical Symbols (Basic)

• Chemical Symbols (Full List)

Physics

mechanics, electricity, magnetism

• Open Textbooks - Physics

• http://physicsforfree.org

• Electricity, Flight, Light, and others

• illustrates different optical illusions and explains them

• keep a submarine balanced while lowering it to the bottom of the sea

• simulations of different subjects. Using simulations is a better way to learn new things because it can deepen people's impression of the subject. It also makes learning become more interesting.

Technology

computer science

Engineering

applied science, innovation

• learning innovation - me, we, process, outcome

Math

arithmetic - decimals, fractions, percent; algebra, trigonometry, calculus

• Open Textbooks - Math

• Basic Math (Pre-Algebra)

• Multiplication Table

• Math animations - Many concepts in mathematics are dynamic, that means books can not explain and display everything you need to understand a certain concept. This animation teaching tool makes things different . It shows every concepts very clear and make it fun. Multimedia demonstration makes it easier for understanding. --XZ

• Khan Academy - math videos

Developmental education

basic skills, functional literacy

Resources

• PLOS Public Library of Science
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS

• YouTube

• Open Textbooks

• simulations - MERLOT

• lesson plans

• homework, exercises

Learn more...

Some suggestions for improving science and math education so they are more engaging

• providing realistic levels of complexity in the learning environment can actually make learning easier: ‘tasks that are thought to be difficult when attempted in a decontextualized environment become intuitive when situated in a larger framework’. Rather than simplifying the environment, the goal of educators should be to aid the learner to function in rich learning environments. ... from http://www.unb.ca/naweb/proceedings/2003/PaperPhelps.html

• The non-linear approach, which moves away from pushing all students through the same content, produceds a learning environment which was relevant and challenging for all students. Students are more likely to be touched by a sense of ‘fun’ and ‘excitement’ in their learning. ... from http://www.unb.ca/naweb/proceedings/2003/PaperPhelps.html