The latest STEM education research trends are published in the Journal of STEM Education, a peer reviewed, semi-annual publication geared towards educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The journal examines case studies from the real world which highlight the issues which are of most concern to practitioners of STEM education. Some of these research studies also focus on field research and cases from secondary sources.
Journal submissions cut across various areas, including a variety of non-technical topics like finance, risk management, costs, safety and more. The case studies highlighted in the journal tend to focus on specific problems which face decision makers in different organizations. The goal of STEM education research is to encourage students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The STEM Education Coalition is one of the major organizations which are engaged in supporting STEM education research. The coalition supports programs for students and educators via the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education and other government agencies which offer related programs. The coalition represents a variety of different sectors in the tech industry, including educators, engineers, scientists, knowledge workers, technicians and more.
Organizations which participate in the STEM Education Coalition are committed to ensuring a high quality of STEM education at all academic levels. They accomplish this goal by working to educate US policy makers on the importance of promoting STEM education to help keep the US workforce internationally competitive. They also work to build relationships with policy makers and serve as a resource for their staff on educational issues relating to science, technology, engineering and math.
Northeastern University operates a STEM education research center which has offered significant input over the years to the core educational vision of the university. The progress made at this center has earned the university national acclaim in this area. Programs developed at the university research center have had a major impact on STEM teaching best practices and learning outcomes for students across the country.
The center offers a variety of programs that encourage students of all ages to get involved with STEM education, including an annual summer camp for kids, which gives them hands on learning experiences with science, technology, engineering and math. The center also encourages investment by the private sector to match federal investment in education programs. They argue that if private sector funding from corporations and foundations increases, the number of students that eventually choose STEM careers will get a big boost.
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