What is STEM SOS?

What is STEM Education?

The main focus for STEM is education based on science, technology, engineering, and math. In this day and age, it has become more common for these four subjects to be taught together, instead of the separation we were used to. Many students start off interested and consider a career that involve these topics but, more times than not, never follow through. Another common problem is students do not give careers relating to these topics a chance in the first place. STEM aspires to change this pattern in students by inspiring and encouraging them in educational and innovative ways never presented before.

Why is STEM education important?

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the closer and closer students get to college and have to make a decision on what profession they would like to pursue, their interest in STEM based careers decreases. The importance in STEM lies in the impact they are starting to form for the students they are coming into contact with. In the advancement of society, the demand for extensive knowledge for science, technology, engineering and math has become more evident. With the help of STEM, students will learn important and advanced curriculum and apply them to the job of their choice. As more important positions become filled, unemployment rates go down. STEM can help this country, and many others, advance in many ways.

How can STEM education shape the future?

To see the betterment of our future, there must be an improvement as to how we approach certain fundamental situations such as education. STEM incorporates this ideal by increasing the interest for science, technology, engineering, and math opposed to the basic knowledge students are used to hearing in school. As more students take interest, positive outcomes start to come into view such as developed career opportunities that otherwise would have been left to suffer. This is achieved through the promoted hands-on projects and thorough understanding of all four courses. STEM shapes the future by generating a path not created before.

STEMSOS Model:

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a constructivist instructional approach where students are engaged in meaningful inquiry of personal interest to them and where collaboration and personalized learning are emphasized. Research confirms that PBL is an effective and enjoyable way to learn and develop deeper learning competencies required for success in college, career and civic life. -Buck Institute of Education

STEMSOS is a rigorous, interdisciplinary, standards-focused, and engaging STEM teaching approach that is teacher-facilitated, student-centered and directed through sets of project- and inquiry-based (P&IBL) projects. STEMSOS PBL approach is to maintain the focus on standards-based teaching while enriching and extending the learning of students through PBL projects. The goal is to promote not only collaborative skills and student ownership of learning but also to promote student success in state and national standards.

STEMSOS PBL Showcase is designed to promote and share exemplary student work in PBL projects that can serve as valuable learning and teaching tools for students, parents, teachers, and other educators.