Improving Science Education

During my time taking graduate courses at Walden University, I have learned how important it is to prepare all students for STEM careers.  I have made changes in my own classroom; from utilizing student inquiry to solving real-world problems.  In my district, the curriculum timeline must be followed exactly, and the content is overwhelming. This leads to feelings of inadequacies among my science colleagues. It is very difficult to move throught the broad array of content at the pace our supervisor has instructed us to. Being a non-tenured teacher, I do not feel that I can express my opinions on this. To help make positive changes within my school, I have shared lesson ideas involving STEM and inquiry skills with mu colleagues. I work more closely with my colleagues now that I have more knowledge and better teaching practices to share. I would recommend that science teachers in every district share lessons, ideas, and adjust the curriculum for their own needs.

Keeping Up with Global Competition

Journalist Thomas Friedman wrote an interesting article for the New York Times called “What’s Our Sputnik?” Friedman feels that too much of our nation’s money and time is spent engaging in “peacekeeping” efforts abroad (Afghanistan specifically). He suggests that our resources would be better used to further efforts in science and education. China has made great strides and is our biggest economic competitor (Friedman, 2010). We need to mold our students to become critical and analytical thinkers who are well versed in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Friedman suggests that Americans need a wake-up call similar to Russia’s launch of Sputnik in 1957. After the Sputnik scare, there was a ripple effect throughout our country in which the studies of science and technology gained momentum. I agree with Friedman in that there is talk about the need to jump-start science education. Do we need another Sputnik for the 21st century? I do not know when this might happen...but I would rather politicians open there eyes before it does happen.

 
Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8.