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Health & Fitness

STEM and Education

STEM and District 109

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is the new approach to education.  Currtech Innovations defines STEM as "the creation of a discipline based on the integration of other disciplinary knowledge into a new whole."  When 8th grade students in the United States are compared to 8th grade students in other countries such as Japan, Belgium, Hong Kong and Australia they are consistently outperformed.  So the question educators must ask is how to we improve our curriculum and standards to close the gap?

Some of the benefits of using a STEM curriculum include promoting equality in education for male and female students, encouraging independent innovation, allowing students to explore Science, technology, engineering and mathematics in greater depth and devloping critical thinking skills in our students.  Some questions that should be examined are: 

  • What standards do we use for Mathematics and science?
  • What are the credentials and qualifications of our math and science teachers?
  • What types of assessments are used to track student progress?
  • How much time is focused on these subjects each week?
  • What outside resources can be incorporated into the curriculum?

District 109 seems committed to using STEM in our schools.  Yet little discussion or research has occurred.  Where can we begin?  

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We can begin with articulation with Deerfield High School where STEM curriculum is already in place.  

We can begin by forming a committee of teachers, administrators, parents and community members to examine STEM and what place it has in our schools.

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Before we commit to thousands of dollars and STEM labs we need to be having meaningful conversations with our faculty- the people who will be vested in using STEM with our children.  

Please VOTE on April 9th for the 109 school board.  We will be electing 4 new Board members and we need individuals that are committed to making sound decisions both financially and that make sense in education.

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