Communications of the ACM
Inside One District's Approach to Redesign STEM Education
Teachers in the Tracy Unified School District have been trained in new teaching methods and hands-on activities.
Credit: Sydney Johnson / EdSource
School is out for summer. But in Tracy, Calif., teachers have been hard at work. A group of about 25 teachers and curriculum specialists are overhauling the district's approach to teaching STEM. The plan will switch from an approach in which most subjects are taught separately to one in which lessons integrate state standards in math, science, computer science, and English language arts.
"There's not enough time in the day to teach everything separately," says teacher Deborah Coker.
Across California, schools and districts are working to implement the Next Generation Science Standards that were adopted in 2013 and to prepare students for the new California Science Test. Tracy Unified's new STEM curriculum is rooted in the new science standards, which emphasize hands-on projects and integrate several scientific disciplines. Each STEM unit will feature science and engineering projects that involve elements such as writing, public presentations, math, and computer science.
With the new STEM curriculum, district officials and their research partners aim to increase enrollment among girls and students of color in Advance Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, which can offer college credit for high school students.
The goal is also to boost standardized test scores for all students in math, science, and English Language Arts. And long-term, they want to prepare more students for college and careers in STEM.
From EdSource
View Full Article
No entries found