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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Contents: Virginia STEM Initiatives | Emerging STEM Career Fields | Accessibility 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 STEM Vital Signs: Change the Equation
  This report provides data on the condition of STEM education in Virginia, with suggested steps for improvement.
• 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.

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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.”
• Scientific American: Extreme Tech
  
• 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
  This National Nanotechnology Initiative page leads visitors to an overview and a visual representation of nanotechnology, as well as links to its benefits and applications, the importance of microscopy in nanoscale science, and other basic facts.
• Nanotechnology Careers
  This National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network page includes a forecast of the workforce need, sample occupational areas in a variety of career clusters, educational requirements, and salary expectations.
• greenoccupedia
  This guide from Jim Cassio describes green jobs and provides resources for finding them, including links to many green associations.
• Mayo Clinic: Discovery’s Edge
• 70 Jobs for 2030
  The World Future Society predicts new and evolving careers based on the current changing nature of jobs and work environments.
  
• Renewable Energy Generates Sustainable Careers
  Monster Career Advice

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Accessibility to STEM Education for All Students

• 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.
• ACTE Issue Brief: CTE’s Role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
  Explores how CTE programs help to build interest in STEM-related careers and encourage more students from under-represented populations to enter these career fields
• Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  The 2010 American Association of University Women research study examines the small population of American girls engaged in STEM education and makes specific recommendations for cultivating girls’ achievement and interest in STEM, creating college environments that support women in STEM, attracting and retaining female STEM faculty, and counteracting gender bias in STEM.
• Minority-Focused National STEM Initiatives
  This National High School Alliance site includes minority-related STEM initiatives, as well as other national, state, and local programs.
• Famous African American Women in STEM
  Provides brief profiles for selected African American females who have made significant contributions in STEM from the mid-19th century to the present.
• Capacity Building to Diversify STEM: Realizing Potential among HBCUs
  This 2010 Urban Institute study analyzes the documented success of historically Black Colleges and Universities’ undergraduate programs in STEM and makes recommendations for other HBCUs and predominantly white institutions.
• Benchmarking the Success of Latina Students in STEM to Achieve National Graduation Goals
  This 2009 University of Southern California study makes recommendations for improving the participation and academic success of Latina Students in STEM higher education in Hispanic serving institutions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assistive Technologies Enable Discovery
  This article explores the “explosion of assistive technology that has changed young scientists' academic experiences and makes possible work experiences that might not have been possible 20 years ago.”
• Profiles in Technological Adaptation
  This article describes how assistive technology has enabled four professionals to achieve success in STEM careers.

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Careers in STEM

• STEM Careers in Virginia Career VIEW
• STEM Occupations in O*NET
• 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
• 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.
• Civil Engineering: It's Everywhere
  
• Engineer Your Life: A Guide to Engineering for High School Girls
• CompuCert (IT Career Exploration and Certification Options)
• We Use Math (Links to a wide variety of mathematics-related careers)
• Science Buddies
• Careers in Chemistry (American Chemistry Society links to many chemistry careers)
• Careers in the Biological Sciences (American Institute of Biological Sciences career site)
• Careers in Physics (American Physical Society)

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Classroom Resources (Middle/High School)

Science

• PBS STEM Education Resource Center: Science Resources
  A gateway to K-12 science resources on the Public Broadcasting Service Web site. See also their printable STEM Resource Round Up.
• 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.
• 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
• Teach Engineering: Resources for K-12
• Design Squad
• Extreme Engineering
• How Do I Use Engineering in My Classroom? (created by American Society for Engineering Education)
• A Sightseer's Guide to Engineering

Technology

• PBS STEM Education Resource Center: Technology Resources
  A gateway to K-12 technology resources on the Public Broadcasting Service Web site. See also their printable STEM Resource Round Up.
• Intel K-12 Education
• 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

Engineering

• NASA Simulation-Based Aerospace Teacher Program Resources
• PBS STEM Education Resource Center: Engineering Resources
  A gateway to K-12 engineering resources on the Public Broadcasting Service Web site. See also their printable STEM Resource Round Up.
• 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

• PBS STEM Education Resource Center: Math Resources
  A gateway to K-12 mathematics resources on the Public Broadcasting Service Web site. See also their printable STEM Resource Round Up.
  
• 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
• Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)
  Georgia Tech

Medical Science

• 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

• STEM Transitions
  CORD-developed SITE containing integrated projects and other resources for six STEM clusters (see links in left navigation bar.
• The Futures Channel
  Real-world movies, as well as lots of lessons and other teaching resources related to science, mathematics, technology, and other fields
• NASA Teaching Materials
• NASA Featured Materials for Grades 9-12
• Clarkson University STEM Project-Based Curricula
  Descriptions of a variety of K-12 STEM courses (e.g., Biomedical Engineering, Computer Networking and Home Automation, Cyber-Civics, Rehabilitation Engineering, and Sustainable Transportation Fuels, etc.)
• 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.
• goENC.com
  Set search parameters by using the pull-down menus under “Search Curriculum Resources.”
• Tired Teachers’ WebSite K–12
• I-STEM Resource Network: Lesson Plans
  Search lesson plans by grade level or subject.
• Asia Society Education & Learning: Secondary Lesson Plans

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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.
• Recruitment Strategies for WITTS
  National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science
• Promoting STEM Education: A Communications Toolkit
  National Governors Association

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Research on STEM Education

• Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Innovators
  National Science Board Report, 2010
• STEM-Focused Schools: Designed to Support Higher Levels of Math and Science Achievement
  Features model STEM-focused schools
• Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in STEM for American’s Future
  Report to President Obama by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, September 2010
• Afterschool: Middle School and STEM
  Issue Brief from the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Alert, September 2010
• STEMing theTeacher Shortage Tide
  National Association for Alternative Certification
• 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
• 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.
• Tough Choices, Tough Times: The Executive Summary 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
• 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.

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