STEM: the curriculum integration approach #makereducation
As opposed to pushing traditional science, math, technology, and engineering courses, some educators in the UK see subject integration as a viable strategy to increase the number of college graduates proficient in STEM fields, from telegraph.co.uk.
How do we address the lack of STEM graduates and get more girls into STEM subjects? This is a question that provokes continued debate both in the UK and on a global stage.
This Sunday the question was taken up by a panel at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai, where “starting early at primary school” was the main argument to emerge.
Speaking at the forum, Sir Michael Tomlinson, former chief inspector of schools for Ofsted called for “more and better physics teachers” and “improved advice and encouragement for pupils.”
A recent report from the Institute of Physics found that, currently, four times as many boys are studying physics at A level than girls.
During the discussion, Sir Michael highlighted the need for people with STEM skills in the UK, adding that there’s a “shortage of high quality subject teachers in these areas.”
He said that starting STEM development in early years at primary school would help to challenge the current belief among schoolchildren that these subjects were difficult and only led down a specific career path such as “being a scientist”, when actually STEM subjects “open up a variety of career options.”
Amanda Jenkins, advisory board member for the Varkey GEMS Foundation supported this statement saying: “This is a lifelong journey, which starts with parents then schools and universities, we have to work together.
Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: The latest on Raspberry Pi RP2350-E9, Bluetooth 6, 4,000 Stars and more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!