NSB Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

The website of the new National Science Board's Commission on 21st Century STEM education is well worth a read. It's unclear what sort of recommendations this group will come up with, but I understand that their charge is to make solutions that will be politically possible.

If I was talking to the commission, I'd advocate for some of the following:

• Mechanisms to make transparent the STEM education plans and progress of large states and large districts--an annual scorecard, perhaps. By building off of what we know about large-scale change, such a tool would help accountablilty.
• Concentrated leadership development work--at the teacher, school, and district level. They're the people who call the shots, and sadly, most don't know much about STEM education.
• Research about school models, with an eye towards replication. Charters are here to stay, and there's not many places for EMOs and charter operators to go to learn more about creating viable STEM education programs in their schools.

Here's hoping that this powerful group will be able to devise recommendations that can be enacted.

Comments

[Dr.Wesley Perusek]

Magnificent opportunity to set out foundational data and core concepts for all of education, government and business/industry and all nations.

145 of us from across the USA were invited September 7, 2006 to the National Academy of Sciences to consider and recommend actions on STEM education and in particular the critical need to address the "T&E" of STEM education. The report: Preparing for the Perfect Storm- A Report on the Forum Taking Action Together, Developing a National Action Plan to Address the "T&E" of STEM. November 1, 2006, PTC_MIT Consortium, EDC is available from the Education Development Center, Newton, MASS. and contact person, Joyce Malyn Smith at 617-618-2386

As well, every person concerned about the subject here should obtain a copy of:

Educating Americans for The 21st Century: A Report To The American People And The National Science Board. National Science Board Commission On Precollege Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, September 12, 1983. Most Importantly, with this NSB Commission Report and one year later, January 17-20, 1984, study the recommendations and response in the Exxon Education Foundation Report: Science Education In The United States: Essential Steps For Achieving Fundamental Improvement- A Report On A Meeting Of Educational Leaders Hosted by The Exxon Education Foundation, New York, NY. and Chaired by the late Dr. Paul DeHart Hurd, Stanford University.

The Exxon Report sets out the basic tenets of the problem and the " downplaying of technology."

[Driving Schools Finder]

Seem like these people are really going to do some grea twork collectively