Federal Government Prepares to Launch STEM Education Campaign
President Barack Obama is set to unveil a campaign to encourage students, particularly those in middle school and high school, to study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Focusing mainly on extracurricular study, the Educate to Innovate initiative will enlist the help of leaders in STEM fields, which include nonprofits and corporations. The MacArthur Foundation and technology industry organizations, for instance, already are offering prizes in a contest to develop video games that teach science and math. There also will be a two-year focus on science on the children’s television show, Sesame Street. In addition, a website set up by Time Warner Cable provides a searchable directory of local science activities connectamillionminds.com. For its part, the White House has recruited Sally K. Ride, the first American woman in space. Some educators say that the federal initiative should instead focus on STEM education in the classroom and teacher quality.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/education/23educ.html?_r=1
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