Improve Science & Math Education = Reduce Need for Outsourcing
By GPSkins Posted in Technology — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I’ve never been a fan of science or math (I dislike the rigor of the subjects, not their applications), but as I’ve grown older – and marginally wiser – the gap in skills-based math and science learning between American and international students has become readily apparent. It’s not been for lack of trying – GWB has pushed hard for increased funding for education in these areas – but there needs to be drastic improvement in these areas to ensure that skills-based jobs do not continue fleeing our country. According to a recent report from the American Society for Engineering Education, 62% of doctoral degrees in engineering awarded in the U.S. went to foreign nationals in 2006, compared with 50% in 2000. With pathetic statistics like these, what will it take to convince corporate America that the best and the brightest are those actually born and raised in our great country?
Indeed, there have been success stories – take a program I worked on, Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) – for example. Hundreds of young American students presented some incredible projects that give me hope that there are teachers and students out there that are inspired by innovation and scientific inquiry. Plus, two of the 3 grand winners are American – 3 out of the 3 are females, as well (check out the video here http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sdc2QOPNRzY; h/t http://shelbinator.com/) But that’s just the tip of the veritable iceberg...with the sad likelihood that our next president will be a far-left D from Illinois, we need all the help we can get.
The future of our hyper-connected world depends on innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology – and it starts with our teachers here at home. Parental involvement, of course, is key; without engaged parents, students are at an automatic disadvantage – but there is real need for teachers who inspire students to challenge themselves intellectually. To prepare for our next generation of young Americans to enter the global workforce, we need to improve the quality of education and support and share the ideas of those teachers who go above and beyond the call – much like Intel’s Inspire (http://inspiredbyeducation.com/whatshappening.html) program is doing.
Best practices are shared in almost every professional field – so why not education? Learning from others is the best way to achieve success across the board, and I can’t think of any other way to promote the next generation of innovators than by promoting and sharing innovations in education and learning from across the world. We’ve never been used to playing second fiddle when it comes to intellect and innovation, so why start now? That next idea to change the world will come from the students we teach today, because what they learn today, they apply tomorrow – and propelling America’s educational system back to the top is something everyone can agree on.
In large part. You could have the greatest school, the best of everything - the best technology, innovative curriculum, etc, but without parents that have a true interest in their children's educational success, what's the point? A good friend of mine teaches at a fine private school, but he runs into students all the time who have plenty of mental capacity, but fail to do simple things like turn in homework on time...because the parents are not there to look over their shoulders. A waste, in my opinion - a waste of money and talent. Programs like Intel Inspire won't completely solve this issue, but aim to encourage students and teachers alike to take more of an active role in their science and math education - and to light a fire that hopefully parents will reciprocate. In your experience, is it a lack of interest in these subjects, or is it just that kids rely more on technological frivolity?
Part of the issue is a lack of qualified teachers.
Since those who are GOOD at science and math end up working in the private sector and making a BUNCH of money (Without the headache of school politics, left wing stupidity or cranky parents/students or any sort of fear of being shot by students who failed your class), there aren't many who are good at teaching math and science.
Many states are trying to encourage anyone that can teach to teach, and there are many states that offer special grants and such to teach math or science.
I'm getting a math degree to teach high school math, so I'll hopefully be part of the solution, but I fear I will be outnumbered in the liberalland's favorite hang-out spot: Education.
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Dependence is Slavery.
a math teacher as well - good friend - who was lucky enough to find a job at a good private school in the area. the public schools here are abhorrent across the board, not just in their math and science education. Intel's Inspire campaign is, in part, trying to bridge that gap - they get directly involved in policy, training teachers, offering free curricula, providing kids with places to explore technology and encouraging young inventors.... so everyone has a chance. It's a tough road but I think it's one that can lead to success - do you have any ideas on what you're going to do in your math class(es)? I'd be interested to know!
actually work you will get shot down so fast!! You will be dealing, generally speaking, with uneducated parents who don't understand that real learning requires work on the students part. Good luck on getting anyone to accept that fact of life! Most parents believe that little Johnny and Janey are budding geniuses and if they're failing the blame must be laid at the teacher's feet.
Understanding of mathematics begins with basic fundamentals which should be taught at the grade school level. If your students haven't mastered the basics they don't stand a chance of understanding something as simple as basic algebra!
I give you three years on the job, tops, before you get out. The only way you'll stay in longer is if you teach in the private sector.
I'll be praying for you!!!!
I'll do what I can.
I don't surrender.
I've always had a desire to be a teacher, but math is probably the ONLY subject in which my status as a Conservative can remain hidden while I am a teacher. heh.
I also, thankfully, will be able to refuse to have pro-global warming crap in my classroom as it does NOT relate to math and anyone who says otherwise has erasers and chairs thrown at them.
heh.
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Dependence is Slavery.
that I remember the most and both of them I remember for teaching Mathematics. Both had different approaches.
My 7th Grade teacher used a 'non-classroom' classroom style of teaching! On the first day of class he handed out the textbook and stated that we were going to go through the book by the end of the school year! He then handed out the entire year's home work: All the odd numbered problems (the one's without the answers in the back of the book, natch). He then handed out a schedule of when the homework was due (1st week, 2nd week...). he then stated we could hand in the homework in advance and if we did so and had a good enough grade we could go on to the next chapter. If we had problems he would do a one on one. If we completed the year's assignments we could use the Math period as a free period. I finished the book in about 14 weeks. I then had a free period to do my homework and had a lot of free time after school!
The other teacher was my sophomore high school Geometry teacher. He was demanding, to say the least. He insisted that we submit a proof for every theorem before we were allowed to use it. That taught me how to reason more than anything else. I can honestly say that I haven't used much in the way of Geometry in my life but the lessons learned in Geometry have served me well!
Basic algebra is itself the most basic fundamental for learning what is properly mathematics. We waste uncounted hours having our children memorize garbage or become experts in executing simplistic algorithms. I did not complete a proof until high school, and even then only the most straightforward type! Even worse is the insistence on teaching Calculus as the top level math course. Is there a more boring mathematical subject than Calculus, a 400 year old method for solving a narrow range of physics problems? My sincere hope is that we, at some point, make some fundamental curriculum reforms in order to teach students real mathematical reasoning rather than how to become expert calculators.
Otherwise, I agree with you 100%. Good luck, LanceKates. If it doesn't work out, you'll still have plenty of great opportunities in industry to use your degree and make a pile of loot.
engineers or scientists here. These jobs are being lost because a highly qualified scientist in India, Russia or China is willing to do the work for less than half the price.
I am not arguing that we shouldn't invest in raising our educational standards and in graduating more scientists and engineers in the US. In the long run, the better educated our workforce is, the better off our economy will be. However, it's important to note that the US and Western Europe are not the only nations producing highly educated and motivated individuals. Competition is now global and the fact is that in the short to medium term, the brightest minds may be coming from previously untapped sources and those minds are willing to toil for much less than his or her American counterpart.
It's a fact on the ground, so to speak, that the educational infrastucture leaves something to be desired... the question becomes one of what can be done to ensure that, moving into the future, America still fosters innovation.
Some of these projects at ISEF are just amazing. The level of dedication and scientific rigor exhibited by the kids who participate-- it's just astonishing. And there are thousands of them. Sure, the participants come from all over the world, but they are coming here, to America, to participate-- and the representation and success rate of American students at these events is encouraging, to say the least.
There are all kinds of conversations folks can have about what ought to be done for the schools-- but we oughtn't neglect the crucial role that science fairs such as ISEF play in fostering a necessary culture of ingenuity, academic rigor, and competitiveness in our youngest minds.
As a former (and hopefully soon current again) science teacher, I think that there is a misconception that somehow this current generation is more "tech-savvy" than previous generations. I've found that while these kids can waste their time on MySpace and texting, their actual technical knowledge of computers ranks right there with my 55 year old mother.
And therein lies the ultimate problem...the homes. When students are given free reign by inattentive parents at home to waste all their time on useless activities like the ones I mentioned, they severely inhibit their educational growth. Kids don't read, they don't write, they don't THINK anymore...they are used to a TV or computer or cell phone doing the thinking for them. They spend all their time in the echo chamber of constant, near-instantaneous communiation with their peers rather than being around adults who are encouraging them to actually, you know, grow up.
We in the schools are doing all we can, but for many of these kids, seven hours of school is quickly undone by half an hour at home. Truly, we need parent school as much as we need anything...
Incidentally, the first generation of these type of kids are already out there...just turn on any Obama rally and you will see them by the thousands...