I Have finally found in print the answer- or perhaps partial answer to the STEM focus. The Ohio STEM Learning Network website spells out the impetus for the national STEM focus in terms of the publications that have informed the policy; Thomas Friedman's book is listed first!

Also, the Science and Engineering Indicator report apparently mentioned the need to focus on STEM education in their 2006 report. I suppose that it is good news that Friedman's work, the information published with the Indicators and other seemingly low rumblings have so quickly and fervently been applied in the education sphere. But I fear that this haste can lead to panicky decision making rather than accurate, effective thought and planning.

It is also creepy that the rhetoric in support of STEM seeps with national security talk. It is true, I'm sure, that STEM education is a security issue, but I haven't recovered from the Axis of Evil rhetoric....and I don't like any scare tactics, educational or military.

Exciting News for Northeast Ohio

Technology based economic development (TBED) is indeed revitalizing this economy by drawing large sums of venture capitalism to and providing hope for the future of Northeast Ohio. An editorial by Dorothy Baunach and Les Vinney in the PD from October 15th describes some of the successes of tech innovation that have been seen in recent years.

If a school does not have an engineering program or a science program, what can it offer to the new TBED initiatives? An obvious point of entry would be in looking toward entrepreneurial support and entrepreneurial finance and investment. But teachers - whatever the discipline - should also be aware of this great glimmer of hope for Ohio's future, a hope that they can nurture and explore with their students.

If everyone must realize that Northeast Ohio truly has a great thing going for it in TBED, and we can be proud, confident, excited, and engaged in our region. This is a fantastic perspective to latch onto....

STEM and 21st Century Skills

At the beginning of this placement, I was bothered by the ubiquitousness of STEM - as a term, as a concept, as the seeming superstar of education from elementary school through higher ed. I was bothered because, I realize now, in Ohio it seems as though STEM is being used interchangeably with the concept of "21st Century Skills".

The two are different. 21st Century skills are not a separate entity from STEM; science, technology, and math skills are fundamental elements of a successful 21st century education, which encompasses global awareness, competence in communication, strong critical thinking, effective writing, and acute analytical and synthetic skills. But STEM is becoming a monolith in education talk, and I fear that it threatens to invalidate anything - any program, any path of study - that is not immediately or obviously STEM related.

See, for example, the following excerpt from the Ohio STEM Learning Network:


"The goal of a STEM focused curriculum is to drive STEM-literacy for all students as they prepare for college, work and effective citizenship. After entering a STEM school, many students have already made the decision to move on to careers in the rapidly evolving technology and science sectors, two areas where American industry struggles to keep in step with foreign competition. STEM schools are working hard to educate the future leaders and innovators of America."

Well, so are small liberal arts colleges, independant colleges and non-STEM disciplines in any institution of learning. This school is not in a position to become a STEM school, but it can be a school that remains diverse in its focus as it prepares graduates who posess strong 21st century skills. If schools genuinely adopt such a skill base and creatively integrate this base into all disciplines, graduates will be intellectually flexible, professionally capable, and therefore economically relevant - as "future leaders and innovators of America" in many ways.

Growth in NEO from 2005-2006

The report that I have linked below is useful for thinking about the importance of technology in colleges that prepare graduates for the Northeast Ohio workforce. We are well situated in terms of our healthcare offerings, management offerings and educational services. However, because technology is forecasted to be the backbone of our future economy, technological training in institutions serving Northeast Ohio residents - the people who do not intend to leave the region upon graduation - needs to be a major concern.

The Northeast Ohio Economic Brief from 2007 has some important findings:

• Between 2005 and 2006, nine sectors in NEO accelerated their job growth compared to the previous year. Important sectors that moved from a negative to a positive growth rate within this time period include Educational Services, Information, and Management of Companies and Enterprises.
• The three sectors that added the highest number of jobs were Health Care and Social Assistance (9,200 jobs), Administrative and Support Services (8,500), and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4,900).
• The fastest growing sectors in NEO with at least $4 billion in gross product were Transportation and Warehousing (16%), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (10%), and Information (8%)
• Employment in NEO grew faster than the state but slower than the U.S. in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, an important sector in a region seeking to transition to a technology based economy.