my account | find courses

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Contents: Virginia STEM Initiatives | Emerging STEM Career Fields | Accessability to STEM Education for All Students | Careers in STEM | Classroom Resources (Middle/High School) | Marketing STEM | Research on STEM Education

Virginia STEM Initiatives

• Governor’s Academies for Career and Technical Education in Virginia
  The programs at these Governor’s Career and Technical Academies, established through an initiative of the Governor Tim Kaine and funded by a National Governors Association grant, are “designed to expand options for the general student population to acquire ... STEM literacy and other critical skills, knowledge and credentials that will prepare them for high-demand, high-wage and high-skill careers in Virginia.”
• STEM Related Educational Journals
  Virginia Tech STEM K-12 Outreach Initiative
• STEM: The Push to Improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  In this publication from Education Week, the editors provide a look at the background of STEM, current trends and practices, and state-by-state STEM data and initiatives, including a report on Virginia.
• Virginia’s K–12 STEM ED Report
  This report shows how Virginia compares to other states in STEM education.
• Virginia Tech STEM K–12 Outreach Initiative
  This site offers a variety of teaching and other resources related to STEM and interdisciplinary study, as well as descriptions of programs.
• Molecular Visualization Resource Page
  Molecular visualization lesson plans, handouts, and Web links from James Madison University

Back to top

Emerging STEM Career Fields

• CEO Guide to Technology
  This online Business Week feature highlights corporate applications for current and emerging technologies.
• The Futures Channel
  The focus of this site is real-world movies, as well as lots of lessons and other teaching resources related to STEM and other fields. See left-hand menu for links to “Real World Movies” and “Teaching & Learning.”
• Techcast.org
  Describing itself as “a virtual think tank tracking the technology revolution,” this site includes articles on topics such as biomass and other alternative energy sources, speech recognition, thought power, hologram and 3-D virtual reality technology, Web 2.0, nanotechnology, and the latest workplace trends.
• Second Life
  This online 3-D virtual world created by Linden Labs allows “residents to build and create their own environments and interact with others from around the globe.”
• Top 25 Science Stories of 2007
  This Scientific American article, subtitled “A year of discoveries, close calls, tragedies and triumphs in review,” offers insights into the challenges and opportunities to be faced by world scientists in the near future.
• Scientific American
  Links on this Web site provide current postings for developments in areas such as health, space, technology, biology, mind and brain, environment, energy, and more.
• Nanotechnology: Frequently Asked Questions
  The FAQ section of the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s Web site provides current data on nanotechnology, including the latest products, predictions for nanoscience advancements in the next 10-20 years, and future workforce needs.
• Nanotechnology - A Frontier for Engineering Education
  This paper predicts that the nanotechnology workforce will need about 2 million workers worldwide in the next 10-15 years and recommends specific engineering education models for nanotechnology curriculum in K-12 and academic institutions. From the International Journal of Engineering Education.
• Green Careers Resource Guide
  This guide from Jim Cassio describes green jobs and provides resources for finding them, including links to many green associations.
• Pharmacogenomics: When Drug Treatment Becomes Personalized Medicine
  MayoClinic
• Renewable Energy Generates Sustainable Careers
  Monster Career Advice
• Special Reports 10 Emerging Technologies 2008: Technology Review Presents 10 Technologies That We Think Are Most Likely to Change the Way We Live
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Back to top

Accessability to STEM Education for All Students

• Encouraging Girls in Math and Science
  

  Recommendations to teachers for encouraging girls in their mathematics and science abilities, building on their skills, and inspiring them to pursue related postsecondary studies to prepare for STEM careers. From the National Center for Education Research.

• Igniting Potential: Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  This article from the Southern Education Foundation discusses how historically Black colleges in the South are producing nearly one-fourth of U.S. African American college graduates in the sciences and highlights the STEM programs and graduates of six of these universities.
• Increasing the Success of Minority Students in Science and Technology
  A report from the American Council on Education.
• Operation STEM
  Describes the role of organizations such as the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in encouraging Hispanic and American Indian students to enter STEM fields.
• STEM Access for Students with Disabilities
  The University of Washington provides a variety of resources on accommodating students with disabilities in STEM education.
• STEM Equity Pipeline
  An initiative that focuses on increasing STEM options for women and girls National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation.

Back to top

Careers in STEM

• STEM Careers in Virginia Career VIEW
• Health Science Careers in Virginia Career VIEW
• STEM Occupations – Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Spring 2007
• The FunWorks (STEM career exploration digital library)
• Discover Engineering
• LifeWorks: Exploring Health and Medical Science Careers
  National Institutes of Health: Office of Science Education
• Explore Health Careers
  American Dental Education Association (includes health careers across the board, not just dental careers)
• Careers in Genetics and the Biosciences
  Human Genome Project Information
• CyberCareers
  National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies
• Engineer Girl
  Part of the National Academy of Engineering’s Celebration of Women in Engineering project.
• Vocational Information Center
  Includes links to information for careers in engineering, science, and mathematics.
• Busy Teachers’ WebSite K–12: Careers
• Access STEM: The Alliance for Access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  Classroom strategies and employment opportunities that make STEM accessible to students with disabilities. From the University of Washington.
• Information Access-Technology, Opportunities, Education
  Innovative technologies and outreach programs that address attitudinal barriers and inefficient accessibility of students with disabilities to appropriate STEM curriculum. From the University of Delaware.

Back to top

Classroom Resources (Middle/High School)

Science

• NanoEd Resource Portal
  This center’s educational center includes resources on nanoconcepts and simulations, nano lessons, and other nanotechnology resources for teaching and learning.
• Biology Teachers Association of New Jersey
  Lesson plans and other biology-related teaching resources reside on this site.
• Fear of Physics
  Select Visual Physics for links to physics concepts explained using computer graphics and animations.
• The ChemCollective
  A collection of virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, and concepts tests for chemistry.
• Virginia Science Resource Network
  This site gives information on the network’s Visiting Scientist program, which features science experts that have volunteered to help plan projects, provide teaching resources, or provide in-school presentations on a variety of topics.
• Science Museum of Virginia
  Click on “Education” for a variety of teaching resources and exhibit information.
• National Science Digital Library: Middle School Portal
• National Center for Rural Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education Outreach
  Geospatial Technology teaching resources

Technology

• Intel K-12 Teaching Resources
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Classroom Resources
• National Science Foundation Classroom Resources
• Discovery Education: Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators—Science, Computing, and Technology
  A collection of science, computing, and technology lesson plans and other resources for teachers.
• Internet 4 Classrooms: Integrated Technology Lesson Plans
• Future Video: Nanofactory Animation
  This online video from HyperAdvance Future One explains the process of nanotechnology in manufacturing.

Engineering

• Design, Technology and Engineering
  The Virginia Children’s Engineering Council Web site
• Project Lead the Way
  This non-for-profit educational initiative prepares middle and high school students for postsecondary programs in engineering and engineering technology.
• Virginia Air and Space Center: Teacher’s Corner
  This site offers programs for students, workshops for teachers, and other resources.

Mathematics

• Integrated Mathematics
  Lesson plans for Career and Technical Education
• Mathematics Education Resources on the World Wide Web
• Math Forum @ Drexel
  Select CTE-related topics from the full list to find mathematics application in a variety of career areas.
• Math at Work
  Download booklets about the uses of mathematics in a variety of career fields.
• Discovery Education: Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators—Mathematics
  A collection of mathematics lesson plans and other resources for teachers.
• Vocational Information Center: Math Resources—Tutorials, Formulas, Calculators, Directories

Medical Science

• 21st Century Medicine: Cybersurgery
  Online teaching resources to accompany the Scientific American Frontiers series aired by PBS.
• National Institutes of Health: Educational Resources
  Search educational resources by topic, grade level, or format.
• BAM (Body and Mind)
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services
• Detectives in the Classroom
  A middle school and high school epidemiology curriculum for science, mathematics, and health educators.
• Science Ambassador Lesson Plans
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services
• Virtual Open Heart Surgery
  Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Multidiscipline STEM resources

• The Futures Channel
  Real-world movies, as well as lots of lessons and other teaching resources related to science, mathematics, technology, and other fields.
• ACTE Online: STEM Lesson Plans
  Teacher-submitted lessons for the STEM cluster.
• High School Math, Science, and Technology Lesson Plans: 9-12
• NASA Teaching Materials
• NASA Featured Materials for Grades 9-12
• St. Lawrence STEM Partnership: Lesson plans for K-12
• STEM Lesson Plans
  Career Zone: New York State Department of Labor
• ThirteenED Online
  Classroom projects and lesson plans for mathematics, science, technology, and other disciplines.
• Busy Teachers’ WebSite K-12
• goENC.com
  Set search parameters by using the pull-down menus under “Search Curriculum Resources.”

Back to top

Marketing STEM

• Ohio STEM Viewbook
  Online promotional brochure featuring student success stories.
• Engaging Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: The Future Workforce.
  ITEST Learning Resource Center at Education Development Center, Inc., 2006.
• Marketing Materials. Cisco Gender Initiative
  Marketing materials from Cisco include the video titled I am an Engineeer.
• Recruitment Strategies—5 Easy Steps
  National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science
• Promoting STEM Education: A Communications Toolkit
  National Governors Association

Back to top

Research on STEM Education

• Career and Technical Education’s Role in American Competitiveness
  Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
• Guiding Academic Skills in Context: Testing the Value of Enhanced Math Learning in CTE
  National Research Center for Career and Technical Education.
• Science and Mathematics: A Formula for 21st Century Success
  Science & Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council, Columbus. Ohio
• CRS Report for Congress: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Background, Federal Policy, and Legislative Action
  Congressional Research Service (2008)
• A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System
  National Science Foundation, 2007.
• Building a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Agenda
  National Governors Association.
• ECN’s CTE High School Database: STEM
  Includes STEM profiles for all 50 states in the U.S. From the Education Commission of the States.
• Mobilizing STEM Education for a Sustainable Future
  National Science Foundation/Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
• An American Imperative: Transforming the Recruitment, Retention and Renewal of Our Nation’s Mathematics and Science Teaching Workforce
  Business-Higher Education Forum
• Tough Choices, Tough Times: The Report of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
  National Center on Education and the Economy.
• Preparing for the Perfect Storm
  PTC-MIT Consortium.
• Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future
  Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century
  July 2008 revisions
• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
  Collected every four years beginning in 1995, the data for this study offers a look at how U.S. students compare to their counterparts around the world in mathematics and science achievement. A video link on this site examines how eighth-grade science is taught in the U.S. and four other countries. From the National Center for Education Statistics.
• The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century
  National Academy of Engineering.
  Table of contents for online document
• Math and Science Education in a Global Age: What the U.S. Can Learn from China
  The Asia Society.
• We Are Still Losing the Competitive Advantage. Now Is the Time to Act.
  American Electronics Association.
• Why America Must Innovate: A Call to Action
  National Governors Association
• Preparing STEM Teachers: The Key to Global Competitiveness
  Selected profiles of teacher preparation programs are featured on this site from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
• Developing the STEM Education Pipeline
  Addressing the shortage of American skilled workers in STEM fields, ACT research shows the importance of helping students to develop interests in STEM careers through early career planning and take challenging classes that prepare them for college-level science and math coursework.
• Teaching by Choice: Community Colleges Expand K–12 STEM Pathways and Practices
  This report includes recommendations for community colleges to expand post-baccalaureate teacher education programs and enhanced professional development in STEM for K–12 teachers. American Association of Community Colleges.
• Investing in STEM Education
  ExxonMobil.
• Planting the Seeds for a Diverse U.S. STEM Pipeline: A Compendium of Best Practice K–12 STEM Education
  Bayer Corporation.
• Middle School Students’ Attitudes toward Pursuing Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, by Shannon H. Degenhart, et al. NACTA Journal, March 2007
  The purpose of this study was to describe middle school students’ attitudinal changes towards careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) after year-long classroom interaction with a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellow.

CTE Success Stories