Communications of the ACM
STEM Literacy Beyond STEM Occupations
Credit: Texas Tech University
A new report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce defines why science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) literacy is important both inside and outside STEM fields, and shows how those who seek to enter STEM fields may eventually move in other directions.
The researchers used data from the Occupational Information Network, which holds information on more than 965 occupations, both STEM and non-STEM. The researchers then cross-examined this information with occupational data from the U.S. Department of Census' Current Population Survey to determine skills vital to STEM jobs. The researchers found that abilities such as deductive reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving are in high demand among employers inside and outside of STEM fields.
Meanwhile, the American Association of Colleges and Universities' Project Kaleidoscope (PKal) has launched the What Works in Facilitating Interdisciplinary Learning in Science and Mathematics initiative, which aims to take on the issue of interdisciplinary STEM education. PKal taps into the excitement of students who have the interest and skills to enter a STEM major but also have humanitarian or social science leanings. The Georgetown report also examines the movement of STEM students into non-STEM careers. STEM diversion is especially prevalent among women.
From Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
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Abstracts Copyright © 2011 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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