The Emphasis for STEM in Education

In the early 21^st Century, technology has forced the educational system to focus more attention on disciplines that prepare students for the future and the world that they are going to inherit. Because technology is advancing at an exponential rate, the need for more students to become proficient in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is becoming an important goal for the United States of America’s educational system. These four subjects are known as STEM, and the increasing push to have these content areas addressed more critically is becoming a very important initiative on the US educational landscape.

A major reason why the United States government and the Department of Education have become concerned about improving students’ proficiency in these subjects is the rate at which US students are falling behind the proficiency of students around the world. A 2006 study performed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development revealed among 15 year olds, the United States ranked 25^th in math proficiency and 21^st among science proficiency out of the 30 countries that were used in the study. The United States has fallen further behind according to a more recent study by Harvard’s Program on Education Policy and Governance. The 2011 study, “Globally Challenged: Are U.S. Students Ready to Compete?” revealed the U.S. students’ ranking in math proficiency falling to 32^nd worldwide. In the name of global competition, the initiative to improve our country’s standings in these subject areas has become a major priority. In this technological age, proficiency in STEM subject matter is at the forefront in preparing students for the global economy.

One issue that is plaguing the development of U.S. students’ improvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is that they lack the advanced or even adequate instruction needed to excel in these content areas. The educators of today, suffered from the same problem that is hurting those they are teaching. Without having efficient educators leading instruction in STEM subject matter, current students are becoming less likely to pursue advanced degrees in these areas. The circle continues as the educators of tomorrow are increasingly less likely to become masters of STEM subject matter instruction. With educators unprepared to be able to properly instruct students in STEM curriculum, the students are the ones suffering, and the proficiency levels worldwide are the evidence. Proper training in STEM education methods for educators has become an important issue in American education. Instructors need to be trained in proper methods of STEM education. The federal push for more emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic education must coincide with educators’ ability to effectively instruct their students in these subjects. The cultivation of students’ interest in STEM subject areas needs to begin early in education, and the instructors need to be properly prepared to be able to foster it.

Without proper instruction in STEM subject matter, students are becoming much less likely to pursue advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics related areas. Because of their lower proficiency levels in these areas, students are instead pursuing advanced degrees in other areas. STEM related fields become more important to our nation and its development every day. Technological development and advancement is at the forefront of today’s global economy. As students in other countries obtain STEM related degrees and become more apt to contribute to their nations growth and development, the U.S. needs to explore ways in which it can help keep up in this educational race. Incentives to promote students to pursue degrees in STEM related fields are becoming an important part of U.S. education. Scholarships and grants to students who are interested in advancing their education in these fields are one way the federal government is promoting this initiative in U.S. education.

Budget increases in U.S. education are very necessary ways to address the need for improvement in our country’s growth in STEM education. The state of the economy and budget cuts not only in New Jersey, but nationwide are one problem hurting this initiative. The need for growth and development of our nation’s youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics related fields are very important to our nation as a whole as the world turns to an ever increasingly global economy. The United States’ need to improve their economic standing and reputation as a global leader begins with our teachers, and most importantly with our students’ education.

Harvard Study Retrieved from (http://www.hks.harvard.edu/pepg/PDF/Papers/PEPG11-03_GloballyChallenged.pdf)

OECD Study Retrieved from (http://science-education.nih.gov/SciEdNation.nsf/EducationNeedsYou2.html)