Dive Brief:
- The Atlantic delves into tools and toys that are transforming the K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math landscape.
- The article focuses on 3-D printers, iPads, a new wave of graphing calculators, Legos and flight simulators.
- What make these tools so transformative, according The Atlantic, is they can be used to teach theoretical ideas but are very much associated with the real world.
Dive Insight:
"By showing students that the knowledge is relevant and useful, teachers can help them unlock new realms of creativity in all scientific realms and possibly change their future career trajectories," writes author Alexandra Ossola.
This emphasis on STEM is partially informed by the fact that computer science jobs are lucrative and have a lot of openings. According to CNN Wire, only 2.4% of college graduates earn a degree in a computer science-related field. There's also a gap between white students with these skills and black and Hispanic students. Code.org reports that of the 3.5 million students who took the AP computer science exam in 2012, only 3,000 were black or Hispanic. Tools to engage students in these subjects are viewed as important necessities when trying to create the next generation of scientists.
In September we made our own list of K-12 STEM resources.