RE: STEM programs are on the rise in schools. So, why are kids still testing poorly?

DAB — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:19:20 GMT

Hi Cabe,

You bring up a very complex issue.

I wish I had a simple answer, but there is not one.

One issue is that problem that a large number of teachers are STEM illiterate. Yes they can lecture the material, but they themselves do not have enough technical background to make the subjects interesting.

I for one would volunteer to go to schools and work with the kids and the teachers so that both can see what having a REAL STEM background prepares the kids for in the future.

I know from personal experience, no kid learns from a bad teacher. I spent all 12 years of primary school and all 4 years of college being mostly bored. Luckily I hung out in the library in both cases and learned some really useful things. Classes though, were mostly a waste.

My big break came at work. One of my first bosses was not only a very good physicist, but he used to be a teacher. It is amazing how much difference there is from learning from someone who really KNOWS what they are talking about.

After that experience I spent a lot of time in my work hours mentoring young engineers and scientists to bring them up to speed.

I was so disappointed when I found kids without much understanding of STEM during interviews. Even kids with supposedly A class work were unsuitable for the demanding work environment we had.

So I think the only real solution to the problem is to change HOW STEM is taught, get more professionals involved and weed out bad teachers. You just cannot bullshit your way out of understanding STEM.

It just does not work and the test scores reflect that.

DAB