News & Press from Across the Nation

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  New 'STEMworks Database' Aims to Identify Strong Programs

  08/28/2012

  Change the Equation launched a new database intended to demystify the effectiveness of STEM education programs. Dubbed the STEMworks Database this new tool not only provides an "approved" list of reliable programs, but it also allows users to search the contents by a variety of different factors.   

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  Community Colleges as Training Resources for Scientific Careers

  08/22/2012

  Montgomery College, a community college located in Montgomery, Maryland, is taking an innovative approach to higher education. As a community college, it is offering select graduate degrees that provide specific scientific skills to graduates, allowing them to access more technical fields and careers.   

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  Public Poll Finds Divided Views of Common Standards

  08/22/2012

  A new poll shows a divided American public on the issue of the Common Core State Standards. Only a small minority of respondents believe that the Standards will worsen the quality of public education, while a large portion indicate that they believe they will have no effect. However, there is widespread accord that high-school graduates need better preparation to be ready for the workforce.   

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  Early-College Model Brings Lessons, Results in N.C.

  08/16/2012

  Early college schools are showing very high graduation and college matriculation rates, especially the seven located in Guilford County, N.C. These programs allow high school students to enroll in and earn credit for college courses. This model is taking a slightly different approach in Guilford County this fall when it opens an early college school with a distinct focus on STEM pathways.   

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  U.S. Should Adopt Higher Standards for Science Education

  08/08/2012

  The science standards that most states currently follow create a large opportunity for significant improvement in science education. For this reason, states across the country should adopt the Next Generation Science Standards, currently being developed by 26 lead states. Thus far, the NGSS, which call for more science practice than rote memorization, have impressed many science education experts.   

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  Three Habits at Three Levels for Improved Engineering Education

  08/07/2012

  Engineers are some of the most sought-after professionals in economies around the world. However, the number of students who choose to pursue an engineering degree is small, and even fewer of those students go on to choose an engineering career. The authors of this Huffington Post article discuss the power of habit on three levels -- personal, organizational, and system -- to reverse this trend.   

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  Online education degrees skyrocket

  08/07/2012

  Technology is finding its way into the classroom in all kinds of ways, but it is also pulling education out of the school building and dispersing it through a variety of mediums. As a result of this trend, online education, particular at the post-secondary level, has become increasingly popular, allowing students to learn from a range of locations and situations.   

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  Montgomery County Math Team elevates math to competitive sport

  08/03/2012

  The vast majority of reports on the current state of math education in the United States point to gaps that provide large opportunities for significant improvement. Some cases, though, show math as a growing interest among students as it becoming a highly competitive sport. Around the nation, "mathletes" train long hours, have tough coaches, and attend top-level competitions to prove their skills.   

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  Building a Better Science Teacher

  08/03/2012

  This Scientific American article discusses the recent focus on STEM education, specifically the widespread attention that has fallen on STEM teaching. The data points continue to prove the need to reform teacher training and support, and the article highlights 100Kin10 and its partners -- Teach For America, the UTeach Institute, TNTP, and Uncommon Schools -- for their role in this effort.   

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  Help Wanted

  08/01/2012

  Dr. John Ebersole, President of Excelsior College, notes that the United States' current unemployment rate is better described as an educational than an economic challenge. Jobs certainly have been eliminated, but there are several million jobs that are left unfilled due to a lack of skilled workers. Educating our workforce is vital to growing our economy and maintaining our way of life.