One of our programs is the Experimental Design Program, which provides math and science fair project support to K-12 students and educators. This program teaches students how to design and conduct experiments for math and science fairs. They utilize research, laboratory and scientific literacy skills gained through individual and group learning opportunities as well as mentoring. This program improves the quantity and quality of math and science fair projects for students by providing schools with undergraduate students, graduate students and professional mentors with science technology, engineering and math backgrounds.
Engaging students in scientific research during their secondary education is a wonderful opportunity for STEM career exploration. When engaging the students in research they get an opportunity to get full exposure to what most STEM professionals that have a traditional career path, engage in research. When working on a research project, they are answering questions, learning about scientific concepts and principles, reading the work of other STEM professionals, learning laboratory and research techniques. They also learn valuable scientific literacy skills of reading, writing and talking science. If they enjoy research while they are a K-12 student, they will hopefully make steps to pursue a STEM career. If they don't enjoy research, they will learn valuable skills that they can transfer to any career path they chose. The great thing about K-12 student exploring career at any early age is that they can back better decisions and steps towards pursue their desired career path
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Why is STEM such a hot topic right now?
In 2005, when SEM Link was founded there wasn't much talk about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM);nor was there such a focus on math and science education. The focus in education was the basics the three R's- reading, riting (writing) and rithmetic (arithmetic) and test scores. But now the tides have turned and everyone is talking about STEM and math and science education. Although I am not sure why, I have noticed several changes in how STEM and STEM education is viewed and the resources that have been poured into by corporations, government agencies and nonprofits.
As the world economy is becoming more global, the United States is realizing that if we want to remain a global superpower some things have to change. Some of the countries that are emerging as leaders in our global economy have strong math and science education and a strong STEM sector. Therefore part of this buzz about math and science is realizing that the innovation of society is dependent of STEM. If we want to have a strong STEM sector, it starts with the quality of the math and science education we provide to our youth.
Secondly, the leadership of the country changed. Yes, President Obama is a strong supporter of math and science education. He has made one of the focuses of his administration and has made several speeches about its importance. But in the past few years, corporations and government agencies are realizing that the current STEM workforce is preparing to retire soon and there isn't anyone in the pipeline to replace them. Therefore, corporations and government agencies have been pouring resources into K-16 education to ensure there is a future pipeline for the STEM workforce. What they also have realized is that the current STEM workforce isn't a reflection of our diverse society. Therefore there are resources targeted towards encouraging historically underrepresented populations to pursue STEM careers.
Finally, there are efforts to make pursuing STEM careers cool for children. I read a press release today about a campaign to promote Rock Stars of Science. I would have never put rock stars and science together. In addition, many celebrities such as Mos Def and Mary J. Blige have been involved in campaign to encourage youth to pursue STEM careers.
I'm very excited that STEM careers are being pushed because I truly believe if you want to look at the strength of a nation and its economy, you can look at the strength of the STEM sector. I just want to be sure that we do all we can to "unveil potential through exposure" and create the pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
As the world economy is becoming more global, the United States is realizing that if we want to remain a global superpower some things have to change. Some of the countries that are emerging as leaders in our global economy have strong math and science education and a strong STEM sector. Therefore part of this buzz about math and science is realizing that the innovation of society is dependent of STEM. If we want to have a strong STEM sector, it starts with the quality of the math and science education we provide to our youth.
Secondly, the leadership of the country changed. Yes, President Obama is a strong supporter of math and science education. He has made one of the focuses of his administration and has made several speeches about its importance. But in the past few years, corporations and government agencies are realizing that the current STEM workforce is preparing to retire soon and there isn't anyone in the pipeline to replace them. Therefore, corporations and government agencies have been pouring resources into K-16 education to ensure there is a future pipeline for the STEM workforce. What they also have realized is that the current STEM workforce isn't a reflection of our diverse society. Therefore there are resources targeted towards encouraging historically underrepresented populations to pursue STEM careers.
Finally, there are efforts to make pursuing STEM careers cool for children. I read a press release today about a campaign to promote Rock Stars of Science. I would have never put rock stars and science together. In addition, many celebrities such as Mos Def and Mary J. Blige have been involved in campaign to encourage youth to pursue STEM careers.
I'm very excited that STEM careers are being pushed because I truly believe if you want to look at the strength of a nation and its economy, you can look at the strength of the STEM sector. I just want to be sure that we do all we can to "unveil potential through exposure" and create the pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
Monday, November 29, 2010
End of the Year Educational Check In
Is almost December and the school year is progressing fast. Do you know how your children are doing in school? The holidays are a great time for you to check in with your child(ren) and their teachers to see where they are as far in their grades and what they are learning in all subjects, but especially math and science. If they are doing well, it is a great time to encourage them to continue to great job. Find fun ways over the holidays and every day to keep the excited, engaged and learning math and science. Whether it is finding online games, visiting your local science museums or engaging in math and science related events in your community. If they are not doing well, it is plenty of time for them to recover and do well the rest of the year. Find out from them the areas in which they are struggling and make time for them to review the concepts with you. In addition, find educational support for them to ensure they are able to get the concepts whether it is teaching them study skills, finding tutorial support with online homework help or tutorial support, or finding hands on activities to help them grasp the concepts. Whatever, it is don't let your child continue to struggle in math and science when it is plenty of time to recover and do well.
In addition, to ensuring that your child is doing well with coursework, it is important that you prepare them for standardized test. Testing season is around the corner, it is important that you get involved in your child's standardized test preparation because unfortunately the educational climate is one where we are teaching to the test instead of encouraging lifelong learning. So if you want your child to learn the concepts beyond the test, you must be involved in their test preparation. The school can provide you with old test or practice test and some states even have the content for standardized test on the department of education's website. Not only ensure that your child understand the concepts on the test, but practice with them in testing conditions. Many children don't do well on standardized test not because they don't know the material, because they haven't mastered finishing questions in a certain time frame.
Our children won't have the ability to pursue STEM careers if they aren't academically prepared to do so. So let's do what we can to ensure that our children are achieving and excelling academically in math and science. We can't rely on the schools alone to educate our children. Learning must take place inside and outside of the classroom.
In addition, to ensuring that your child is doing well with coursework, it is important that you prepare them for standardized test. Testing season is around the corner, it is important that you get involved in your child's standardized test preparation because unfortunately the educational climate is one where we are teaching to the test instead of encouraging lifelong learning. So if you want your child to learn the concepts beyond the test, you must be involved in their test preparation. The school can provide you with old test or practice test and some states even have the content for standardized test on the department of education's website. Not only ensure that your child understand the concepts on the test, but practice with them in testing conditions. Many children don't do well on standardized test not because they don't know the material, because they haven't mastered finishing questions in a certain time frame.
Our children won't have the ability to pursue STEM careers if they aren't academically prepared to do so. So let's do what we can to ensure that our children are achieving and excelling academically in math and science. We can't rely on the schools alone to educate our children. Learning must take place inside and outside of the classroom.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
STEM Education: Connect Academics to Careers
Over the past few years, there has been a focus on math and science education and STEM. Since President Obama has been in office, it seems like almost everyone is jumping on the "how important math and science education is and/or we need our kids to help us create our future STEM workforce" bandwagon. It seems like more resources are being put into enhancing math and science education programs. However, with all this attention on math and science, people are really not paying attention to the hows and whys we have gotten to this point in education and in our economy.
If you pay attention to economies of the world's wealthiest countries; they have a strong educational system where there kids excel academically in all or most disciplines. The reason why education is linked to a strong economy because it is with education that you are able to have workforce that has the skills for the jobs in your economy. When the United States had a strong economy and was the global leader, we had a great educational system. However, now the current state of our educational system is that students aren't graduating with the skills for the jobs that are currently available in our economy. There are various reasons for this, however my main theory behind this is not enough kids or parents think about their future as it relates to connecting their education with their future careers.
I remember when was growing up, I remember always knowing that I was going to get good grades so I can go to college and get a good job. But even my peers, who didn't have any aspirations to go to college, had some plan in mind for a career, job or business after high school graduation. However, today's kids and parents are missing that connection to their education and their place in the future workforce and it takes place in all socioeconomic levels. So why people are asking where are all the jobs going? The question they should be asking is I am preparing myself and my children to become a part of jobs that are available in the current and future economy?
The great thing about STEM is that this is a sector that never disappears from any economy. STEM professional have been around since the beginning of time coming up with solutions to make our lives easier, solve the major problems of the time period and create innovation. There are jobs being added to the STEM sector daily and unfortunately many of them go unfilled. The reason why they are going unfilled is because we aren't preparing our children to pursue STEM careers. The great thing about education is that is is not only a tool to train and equip students with skills, but it opens one's eyes to see the possibilities. If we are going to have a future STEM workforce, we have to not only give our kids the skills to academically achieve in math and science, but allow them to see the possibility of having a career in those fields.
If you pay attention to economies of the world's wealthiest countries; they have a strong educational system where there kids excel academically in all or most disciplines. The reason why education is linked to a strong economy because it is with education that you are able to have workforce that has the skills for the jobs in your economy. When the United States had a strong economy and was the global leader, we had a great educational system. However, now the current state of our educational system is that students aren't graduating with the skills for the jobs that are currently available in our economy. There are various reasons for this, however my main theory behind this is not enough kids or parents think about their future as it relates to connecting their education with their future careers.
I remember when was growing up, I remember always knowing that I was going to get good grades so I can go to college and get a good job. But even my peers, who didn't have any aspirations to go to college, had some plan in mind for a career, job or business after high school graduation. However, today's kids and parents are missing that connection to their education and their place in the future workforce and it takes place in all socioeconomic levels. So why people are asking where are all the jobs going? The question they should be asking is I am preparing myself and my children to become a part of jobs that are available in the current and future economy?
The great thing about STEM is that this is a sector that never disappears from any economy. STEM professional have been around since the beginning of time coming up with solutions to make our lives easier, solve the major problems of the time period and create innovation. There are jobs being added to the STEM sector daily and unfortunately many of them go unfilled. The reason why they are going unfilled is because we aren't preparing our children to pursue STEM careers. The great thing about education is that is is not only a tool to train and equip students with skills, but it opens one's eyes to see the possibilities. If we are going to have a future STEM workforce, we have to not only give our kids the skills to academically achieve in math and science, but allow them to see the possibility of having a career in those fields.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
When and where are our kids learning science?
Over the past few years, I have been realizing that not all kids are receiving a quality science education like I did when I was in school. I have memories of conducting science experiments both at home and in school as early as elementary school. However, I am realizing that kids today don't have the same opportunities that I did which seems like yesterday, when I was a child.
I have been spending time in schools and realizing that kids aren't engaged in enough hands on science or science that is relevant to them that makes them interested in science. I was having a conversation with a 5th grader and he was talking about what he learned in science class that day. What they learned bored me to death, they were talking about a scientist that is dead and technology that is obsolete. I know that science history is an important part of science, but kids should be learning something that is relevant and current and about scientists that are alive today. But thing that I was grateful was that at least this student was learning science.
In most state curriculum the core subjects are language arts, math, social studies and science. However,there are studies that show that elementary students don't always get an adequate amount of science as a part of their curriculum. There are various reasons for this, the main reason is that not enough resources are put into science education because science is rarely on the standardized test that have become a critical part of education. Another reason is not all elementary teachers feel comfortable enough to teach their students science. With elementary school being the foundation for learning in all subject areas, if there is no strong foundation for science how will kids excel when they go to middle and high school. This doesn't create an environment for our kids to excel in science, let alone pursue careers in these fields.
What we are a community have to do is hold the educational systems accountable for ensuring that science has an equal importance as the subjects that are on standardized test. When students academically achieve in science not only do they learn great skill set, but we create a pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
I have been spending time in schools and realizing that kids aren't engaged in enough hands on science or science that is relevant to them that makes them interested in science. I was having a conversation with a 5th grader and he was talking about what he learned in science class that day. What they learned bored me to death, they were talking about a scientist that is dead and technology that is obsolete. I know that science history is an important part of science, but kids should be learning something that is relevant and current and about scientists that are alive today. But thing that I was grateful was that at least this student was learning science.
In most state curriculum the core subjects are language arts, math, social studies and science. However,there are studies that show that elementary students don't always get an adequate amount of science as a part of their curriculum. There are various reasons for this, the main reason is that not enough resources are put into science education because science is rarely on the standardized test that have become a critical part of education. Another reason is not all elementary teachers feel comfortable enough to teach their students science. With elementary school being the foundation for learning in all subject areas, if there is no strong foundation for science how will kids excel when they go to middle and high school. This doesn't create an environment for our kids to excel in science, let alone pursue careers in these fields.
What we are a community have to do is hold the educational systems accountable for ensuring that science has an equal importance as the subjects that are on standardized test. When students academically achieve in science not only do they learn great skill set, but we create a pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Whoo Hoo It is the 2010 National Chemistry Week
This week, October 17-23,2010, is National Chemistry Week,which as science educator is one of my favorite times of the year, along with National Engineers Week in February. Now these two STEM themed weeks, may be my favorite because I have a degree in chemical engineering. However, I realize that these weeks bring attention to two career paths that aren't pursued not because kids are intellectually capable but aren't exposed to these career paths enough. I also think people don't realize how much chemistry is connected to their everyday lives. Almost everything we do and most of the technological advances that improve our quality of life or entertain us are based on chemistry. One of my favorite entrepreneurs Madame CJ Walker,became a millionaire from a real-world application of chemistry, making hair care products.
National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based annual event that unites American Chemical Society (ACS) local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life ( for more information check out this website http://bit.ly/d1WGTd). Although this event is a program of the American Chemical Society, there are many scientific professional societies and STEM educational organizations and schools that host national chemistry week events. Every year since its inception, SEM Link has celebrated National Chemistry Week by engaging K-12 students in hands on activities in chemistry and career exploration in these fields. We were able to do this through partnerships with our local section of American Chemical Society and volunteers that were chemical professionals or graduate or undergraduate students.
The 2010 National Chemistry week is exciting because we are hosting celebrations on both coasts. In Metropolitan Atlanta, we are partnering with Georgia Institute of Technology to visit local middle schools to engage kids in hands on chemistry activities and provide role models for these students. We are excited to provide these students an opportunity to meet and interact with undergraduate and graduate students that can serve as role models for those kids that are interested in science. In Oakland, we are hosting a National Chemistry Week Celebration with our San Francisco Bay Area community partner the ASA Community Science Center. This event is extra special because it is a satellite event of the USA Science & Engineering Festival. The festival, which is in its inaugural year, is a national celebration of Science engineering that takes place October 10-23, 2010. At the Oakland event, which is free and open to the public, we are going to expose kids to chemistry through hands on activities.
National Chemistry Week is another opportunity for us to do what we do as an organization "unveil potential through exposure"
National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based annual event that unites American Chemical Society (ACS) local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life ( for more information check out this website http://bit.ly/d1WGTd). Although this event is a program of the American Chemical Society, there are many scientific professional societies and STEM educational organizations and schools that host national chemistry week events. Every year since its inception, SEM Link has celebrated National Chemistry Week by engaging K-12 students in hands on activities in chemistry and career exploration in these fields. We were able to do this through partnerships with our local section of American Chemical Society and volunteers that were chemical professionals or graduate or undergraduate students.
The 2010 National Chemistry week is exciting because we are hosting celebrations on both coasts. In Metropolitan Atlanta, we are partnering with Georgia Institute of Technology to visit local middle schools to engage kids in hands on chemistry activities and provide role models for these students. We are excited to provide these students an opportunity to meet and interact with undergraduate and graduate students that can serve as role models for those kids that are interested in science. In Oakland, we are hosting a National Chemistry Week Celebration with our San Francisco Bay Area community partner the ASA Community Science Center. This event is extra special because it is a satellite event of the USA Science & Engineering Festival. The festival, which is in its inaugural year, is a national celebration of Science engineering that takes place October 10-23, 2010. At the Oakland event, which is free and open to the public, we are going to expose kids to chemistry through hands on activities.
National Chemistry Week is another opportunity for us to do what we do as an organization "unveil potential through exposure"
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Using Stereotypes to Connect With Our Children and Encourage Them To Achieve in Math and Science
This week I attended a training on Cultural Competency; which is a nutshell is being aware of the diversity of student populations that you serve. This training is mainly given in urban areas because they serve a population of students with a diverse backgrounds. Most individuals in education do it with good intentions because they really want to make a difference in the lives of children, however at times they end up doing more harm than good because they don't understand how to work with children of diverse backgrounds. One of the topics we discussed during this training was stereotypes that are given to various ethnic groups and genders. The trainer stated that at times stereotypes that are simply describe the typical behavior or characteristics of a group, not any of those that are demeaning and degrading, can be used to help you connect with children of that group. Since I am African American and woman, I will use stereotypes with those groups to show how you can use those stereotypes to introduce kids to and help them connect with STEM.
One of the stereotypes for African Americans is that we are fast, good at sports and performing arts. Those stereotypes are true for members of our community because they have been several successful African American athletes and performing artists. However, the reality of the situation is that no matter how good you are in sports or performing arts, a vast minority of the students that have talents in those fields are able to make a decent living or become wealthy from these careers. Therefore we have to allow our students to pursue those interests, but also steer them to pursue other interest towards careers that they can go to college and graduate school to become successful in that career path. In order to help students connect science and math with sports, there are several principles and disciplines of math and science that you can introduce your students to and make a connection between their interests outside of STEM. You can talk about speed, velocity, buoyancy and other principles of physics when describing a variety of sports such as track, football, baseball and basketball. You can also discuss material science and chemistry when discussing how the uniforms, the equipment used and in some cases the field on which in the sports are made. Finally you can discuss biology, nutrition and anatomy and physiology when you discuss how athletes train and prepare their body to excel in sports. While discussing these topics in relation to sports and performing arts, you can not only have great lesson in content but discuss STEM careers that are related to these performing artists and sports such as computer and electrical engineers, material scientists, biologists, sports medicine, physical therapy, etc.
There are so many stereotypes about women, but one of the main ones that sticks in my head is that we are emotional and talk a lot. Although as I woman I hate to admit it, but I can be emotional and chatty at times. However, understanding emotions is part of understanding human behavior and can be great discussion to introducing kids to neuroscience. Neuroscience is so important because it studies, discovers and explains how the brain works and the human brain controls everything about our body and how we operate as humans as a whole and individuals.
One of the things that I love about STEM is that it is the basis for and is connected to everything in our society. Unfortunately, we don't have enough discussions with our children about those connections. Even with my STEM background there are some part of STEM that don't interest me. However, when I can see the connection between STEM and things that I use everyday or that I can relate to, it keeps me reading and interested in STEM. For example, someone very close to me is fighting cancer. Currently nanotechnology is being used in the treatment of cancer and is doing a great job to help people including this person that is close to me have a successful cancer treatment. However, I remember hearing about nanotechnology about 10 years ago, while I was in college. A person in my network got his PhD in chemical engineering and his expertise was in nanotechnology. At the time, he was working for Kodak and everytime he talked about nanotechnology it went over my head and I wasn't interested. There are several programs that are teaching kids about computer science and program through the development of mobile phone applications. I am pretty sure that some of these students are learning about their passion and expertise for computer science through the real world application of such as a mobile phone. When we "unveil potential through exposure" for students to academically achieve in math and science and explore STEM careers, we must make a connection between STEM and their everyday lives.
One of the stereotypes for African Americans is that we are fast, good at sports and performing arts. Those stereotypes are true for members of our community because they have been several successful African American athletes and performing artists. However, the reality of the situation is that no matter how good you are in sports or performing arts, a vast minority of the students that have talents in those fields are able to make a decent living or become wealthy from these careers. Therefore we have to allow our students to pursue those interests, but also steer them to pursue other interest towards careers that they can go to college and graduate school to become successful in that career path. In order to help students connect science and math with sports, there are several principles and disciplines of math and science that you can introduce your students to and make a connection between their interests outside of STEM. You can talk about speed, velocity, buoyancy and other principles of physics when describing a variety of sports such as track, football, baseball and basketball. You can also discuss material science and chemistry when discussing how the uniforms, the equipment used and in some cases the field on which in the sports are made. Finally you can discuss biology, nutrition and anatomy and physiology when you discuss how athletes train and prepare their body to excel in sports. While discussing these topics in relation to sports and performing arts, you can not only have great lesson in content but discuss STEM careers that are related to these performing artists and sports such as computer and electrical engineers, material scientists, biologists, sports medicine, physical therapy, etc.
There are so many stereotypes about women, but one of the main ones that sticks in my head is that we are emotional and talk a lot. Although as I woman I hate to admit it, but I can be emotional and chatty at times. However, understanding emotions is part of understanding human behavior and can be great discussion to introducing kids to neuroscience. Neuroscience is so important because it studies, discovers and explains how the brain works and the human brain controls everything about our body and how we operate as humans as a whole and individuals.
One of the things that I love about STEM is that it is the basis for and is connected to everything in our society. Unfortunately, we don't have enough discussions with our children about those connections. Even with my STEM background there are some part of STEM that don't interest me. However, when I can see the connection between STEM and things that I use everyday or that I can relate to, it keeps me reading and interested in STEM. For example, someone very close to me is fighting cancer. Currently nanotechnology is being used in the treatment of cancer and is doing a great job to help people including this person that is close to me have a successful cancer treatment. However, I remember hearing about nanotechnology about 10 years ago, while I was in college. A person in my network got his PhD in chemical engineering and his expertise was in nanotechnology. At the time, he was working for Kodak and everytime he talked about nanotechnology it went over my head and I wasn't interested. There are several programs that are teaching kids about computer science and program through the development of mobile phone applications. I am pretty sure that some of these students are learning about their passion and expertise for computer science through the real world application of such as a mobile phone. When we "unveil potential through exposure" for students to academically achieve in math and science and explore STEM careers, we must make a connection between STEM and their everyday lives.
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About SEM Link
- SEM Link
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc. (SEM Link), a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, was founded in 2004 on the premise that exposure to members of the science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) communities is critical to student development in math and science. Our mission is to promote student achievement and career exploration in math and science while increasing student exposure to the science, engineering and mathematics communities and enhancing resources that are available at local schools and community organizations. Our two core programs, Math and Science Career Academy and Experimental Design Program, provide students with an opportunity to develop their math and science skills by enhancing the classroom learning experience and teaching them skills that are transferable to other areas of life. We recruit students and professionals for our programs that have backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.