Blog 18: Third Answer

How best can an organization like FIRST keep students K-12 interested STEM?

Answer 3: One of the best ways FIRST can keep students in K-12 interested in STEM is by working toward promoting better more effective teaching in schools.

1. Students lose interest in Mathematics because of something known as Math Anxiety which in laymans terms is anxiety over not understanding math and in turn deciding to ignore math leading to a further misunderstanding of the subject.  For example, if you had trouble in Mr. Hedman's class and you didn't seek help then and you never learned the topic, you won't be good at physics now which will cause you to be left even further behind.

2. Good classroom teaching fosters lifetime curiosity and pursuit of STEM topics and undergraduate studies and K-12 learning are inexplicably linked to one another. To foster K-12 STEM interest is to create STEM majors in college.

For example: If we had an awesome robotics program at the school, i would be more likely to become an engineer major in college because of what i learned in robotics. 

3. The focus falls on the teachers to provide engaging and smarter lesson plans that foster a yearning in students to learn and to do this we must first educate these amazing teachers in school so that they may one day pass on their passion to their students.

For example: if Isabel continues on the path of becoming a math teacher as her senior project entails, then she will take her passion and bring it to the school she will eventually teach in and inspire kids to be more interested in Math.

Sources: 

Advisory Committee. "New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in STEM." NSF.gov. National Science Foundation, 3 Oct. 1996. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.

Fairweather, James. Linking Evidence and Promising Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Undergraduate Education. N.p.: Michigan State Univeristy, n.d. Print

Committee on STEM Education. "Federal STEM Education 5 Year Plan." Whitehouse.gov. Committee on STEM Education, May 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

National Science and Technology Council. "COORDINATING FEDERAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION INVESTMENTS: PROGRESS REPORT." Whitehouse.gov. National Science and Technology Council, Feb. 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2014

National Science and Technology Council. "THE FEDERAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS(STEM) EDUCATION PORTFOLIO." Whitehouse.gov. National Science and Technology Council, Dec. 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

In conclusion: Better teaching in schools and of teachers as a result of the promotion through FIRST will provide more proactive STEM majors and STEM involvement in the K-12 level.