Her STEM StoryHer STEM Story is a podcast with a clear mission: "increasing access and the number of women's voices in STEM." Installments highlight women who are thriving in STEM fields, while also recognizing the barriers they faced due to the gender-gaps in their vocational sectors. The podcast is founded and hosted by Prasha Sarwate, an engineer who wanted to "provide a platform to broaden STEM role models." Episodes feature a variety of guests, from research scientists to science artists, who share about their experiences in STEM fields. In February 2020, Her STEM Story celebrated its 100th episode with a special show highlighting what guests have accomplished since being featured. While most guest-feature episodes are around half an hour to an hour in length, the podcast also includes a "Solo Series" composed of shorter episodes that provide guidance on topics such as "How to Love Yourself Fearlessly" and "How to Build Your Habit Kit." Listeners can tune into the podcast through the website or on popular streaming services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play.
NeverthelessReaders interested in hearing diverse perspectives on technology in education (or those who enjoy thought-provoking storytelling in general) should give the Nevertheless podcast a listen. Produced by Pearson and Storythings, Nevertheless describes itself as "a podcast celebrating the women transforming teaching and learning through technology." Here, visitors will find engaging, relatable audio stories exploring such issues as the importance of STEM role models, "how gender and diversity shape the ethics of products," and the myriad ways that technology affects the lives and careers of young people today. As of this write-up, Nevertheless has completed two seasons, with five episodes in its pilot season and ten in its second season. To go along with its roughly 30-minute podcast episodes, Nevertheless has also shared a series of short videos featuring young women in STEM fields and discussions with women who work in educational technology, as well as bonus content such as downloadable posters of STEM role models, background reading lists, and written articles. Readers can stream episodes of Nevertheless and access its accompanying content on Medium, and listeners may also subscribe via other platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.
Numeracy: Advancing Education in Quantitative LiteracyFor instructors and tutors who work with mathematics learners of all levels, Numeracy is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal from the National Numeracy Network (NNN) and is supported by the University of South Florida Libraries. Published biannually since 2008, Numeracy features editorials, articles, book reviews, discussions, and more dedicated to "support[ing] education at all levels that integrates quantitative skills across discipline." The most recent issue includes an analysis by two faculty members of Hostos Community College of The City University of New York that analyzes the reliability of a popular numeracy assessment tool for community college students; an article that compares statistics education for undergraduate sociology majors at a variety of colleges, and two essays that debate the role of qualitative literacy in informed citizenship. Articles from all current and past issues of this journal are available for download in PDF format.
People Behind the Science PodcastHosted by neuroscientists Marie McNeely, People Behind the Science is a podcast that aims "to inspire current and future scientists, share the different paths to a successful career in science, educate the general population on what scientists do, and show the human side of science." In each episode, McNeely interviews a different scientist about their research and the day-to-day work that makes up their research. McNeely has intentionally designed these interviews to be accessible to any listener, asking questions like "How would you explain your work to someone who is not in science?" Each interview is between 30 and 60 minutes in length. Visitors can browse past interviews on this website in the Scientists section, which allows visitors to browse by scientist name or area of study. As of this write up [7/7/17], there are just over 400 interviews available.
Planted: Finding Your Roots in STEM CareersProduced by the Morton Arboretum, Planted: Finding Your Roots in STEM Careers is a podcast designed to connect students with "plant professionals," demonstrating that various exciting science career paths exist. The podcast has two seasons with nine episodes each. Released in 2018, the first season focuses on "the journey into a STEM career." These episodes cover topics like "choosing a direction" (see Episode 3), "navigating multiple opportunities" (see Episode 5), and "final destinations" (see Episode 7). Released in 2019, the second season discusses the "highlighted traits of individuals in various stages of their STEM careers." For example, Episode 1 concentrates on "collaboration," and Episode 9 looks at "adventure." Readers can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts, or tune in by clicking the link next to "Listen" on the page linked above. Clicking on an episode from the right-hand panel leads to "bonus" materials, including articles and activities. Listeners may also enjoy the "STEM Career Overview" chart linked at the bottom of the page. The chart profiles various STEM careers, compiling job descriptions, educational requirements, and possible employment opportunities.
PLOS CurrentsFor almost two decades, the Public Library of Sciences (PLOS) has offered open-access, peer-reviewed scholarship from all areas of science. For science scholars, instructors, and students who want to stay abreast of developments in a particular research topic, PLOS offers PLOS Currents, "an innovative, online publication channel for new scientific research and ideas organized by focused research areas." As with other PLOS publications, PLOS Currents facilitate open communication among researchers by publishing completed and in progress research. There are currently six PLOS Currents listed on this page, which readers may browse and explore at their leisure. Topics include Huntington Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Disasters, Outbreaks, Tree of Life, and Evidence on Genomic Tests.
Quanta Magazine: Abstractions BlogQuanta Magazine, the online publication dedicated to mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, and life science, is home to Abstractions, a blog that explores promising ideas in science and mathematics. For example, one recent post describes new theories about Type 1a supernovae and why they explode. Another recent entry commemorates Marjorie Rice, who died in July 2016 at the age of 94. Rice, who had only taken one mathematics class in high school, discovered four tessellating pentagons that "'tile' the plane, locking together with copies of themselves in endless patterns." Another recent post explores the Human Cell Atlas project and what this atlas may contribute to research about diseases and human behavior. As with the rest of the magazine, Abstractions is a great resource for those interested in keeping up with new theories, conversations, and debates in the mathematics and science communities.
ScienceAlertScienceAlert is an online magazine, based out of Australia, that aims to "fuel public understanding of science and celebrate science as a vital part of our culture." Authored by science journalists and academics, this publication features articles related to all areas of science and can be browsed by the categories of Tech, Health, Environment, Space, Humans, Physics, Nature, and Video. ScienceAlert features both accessible written summaries of science news, along with articles designed to help citizens be more science-aware in their everyday life (e.g. "10 Farming Myths to be Aware of on Your Next Grocery Run," "12 Science-Backed Reasons You should Spend More Time Outside," "3 Science Based Food Hacks That Will Make Your Meals Better").
Soft Skills Engineering PodcastWhat makes a great engineer? Soft Skills Engineering, a weekly podcast by and for software developers, demonstrates that much of the success stems from "the non-technical stuff." Hosts Jamison Dance (an engineering manager) and Dave Smith (a software engineer) launched the show "to help software developers level up their engineering skills beyond writing code." With ample bits of wit and wisdom, the duo tackles topics like "technical leadership" and "code review etiquette," among many more. The more than 200 episodes are available on Apple and Google Podcasts, as well as the link above. Wherever listeners tune in, they may want to read each episode's description, which includes the listener questions answered within. Those interested in submitting their own questions for Jamison and Dave to answer on an upcoming show can do so via the Ask a Question tab. Soft Skills Engineering is supported by various engineering companies, including: monday.com, Vettery, the O'Reilly Velocity Conference, Pluralsight, Algolia, and DevMountain.
STEM Everyday PodcastSince its launch six years ago, the STEM Everyday podcast has produced nearly 200 episodes packed full of useful resources for STEM educators. Hosted by Chris Woods, a high school math teacher, education presenter, and author, the show "provides practical help for teachers to build a STEM culture," by highlighting knowledge from innovative members of the STEM community. Woods is driven by the principle that "STEM is everywhere," and this comes to life on the show thanks to guests from all backgrounds. The podcast may be particularly useful for educators looking for unique ways to get "non-science" oriented students interested in the vast possibilities that STEM subjects can create. For example, guests explore the STEM principles inherent to esports (Episode 162) and makerspaces (Episode 155). As the makerspaces expert, Liz Gallo, emphasizes: "a good STEM education teacher helps connect making and doing and creating and playing to real content." The show is also special in that it shares expertise from educators at all grade levels, from university professors to kindergarten teachers. Most episodes are approximately 30 minutes, and this brevity, combined with Woods's conversational tone, make STEM Everyday an easy and enjoyable listen. In addition to the link above, readers can tune in on most popular podcast platforms.
The STEM Read PodcastThe STEM Read podcast explores the connections between STEM and storytelling. Join hosts Gillian King-Cargile and Dr. Kristin Brynteson as they dive into a hot topic in K-12 education with an educator or STEM expert. After that, they talk with an author whose books can ignite enthusiasm for reading and learning. Get great reading recommendations, spark stemtastic ideas for your classroom or library, and geek out with Gillian and Kristin about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
Women in Data Science (WiDS) PodcastReaders who are considering pursuing a career related to Big Data and the generally curious, may want to check out the Women in Data Science Podcast. Launched in 2018, this well-produced and approachable podcast is part of Stanford University's Women in Data Science initiative. Episodes feature the host Margot Gerritsen, a Stanford professor of energy resources engineering and the former director of the Institute for Computational Mathematics & Engineering, interviewing "leading women in data science [who] share their work, advice, and lessons learned along the way." While these women all work in data science, their work represents a wide variety of disciplines and perspectives. For example, Marzyeh Ghassemi from the University of Toronto uses machine learning to improve healthcare and reduce algorithmic biases in that field, while Stanford PhD student Sherrie Wang uses data science to research ways to address global food security issues. As of this write-up, there are 16 episodes, each about 30 minutes long. At the link above readers can click the episode's title to view its notes and listen online, and those interested can also subscribe via Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or other podcast platforms.
Artful MathsMath is everywhere, from architecture, to decor, to other art mediums. The emergence of STEAM principles (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) brought some attention to the relationship between math and more "traditionally" creative disciplines. Readers looking for inspiration to further explore this connection may enjoy Artful Maths. A project of Clarissa Grandi, a math educator and STEAM enthusiast, the blog and curriculum center supplies lesson plans (with handouts and presentations) and other valuable materials, freely available under a Creative Commons license. For example, the Resources page offers decor printouts and examples to brighten up math classrooms. On the Origami page, readers will find a gallery and guide to the paper folding art practice that incorporates geometric concepts. Of course, those outside of educational settings can still try out these fun and challenging art projects. Visitors will find even more ideas on the Blog, as well as the Puzzle Games page, which maintains a running list of "creative problem-solving" apps. Readers should note that some of these external apps are free, while others require a fee to download.
Colors of NatureOn a mission to showcase that creativity is inherent to the STEM field, Colors of Nature uses art-based activities to explore "the intersection of Art and Science." While some of the project's work involved in-person outreach through "public science cafes," readers can still enjoy the online offerings. On the Educator Resources page, visitors can download four different resource kits: "Science and Art Core Practices," "Chemistry and Art," "Biology and Art," and "Optics and Art." Each kit uses STEAM principles to demonstrate connections between the worlds of art and science and comes with guiding questions and activities for educators. For example, Kit 1 introduces students to Suminagashi, "a traditional Japanese marbling technique," and uses it to explore the importance of observation, experimentation, and persevering through mistakes. The project is a collaboration between the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, and the University of Washington Bothell, with support from the National Science Foundation.
Council for the Advancement of Science Writing: ShowcaseAspiring science writers and fans of science journalism may be interested in this resource from the non-profit Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW). Launched in July 2016, Showcase "highlights award-winning science journalism" and aims to "celebrate excellence, honor and amplify the work of awards programs, and--most important--offer inspiration and insight to aspiring and early-career science writers." In addition to viewing the stories featured on the Showcase home page, visitors can browse its Stories section to find numerous exemplary pieces organized by disciplines such as planetary science, mathematics, and medicine. Readers should be sure to check out the Storygrams category, which features "professional annotations of great stories to highlight how writers have tackled the challenges of covering science," published in collaboration with The Open Notebook (see the 8-12-2016 Scout Report). Showcase also provides a Resources section with a well-organized list of helpful links for up-and-coming science writers, as well as short profiles of the Writers whose work Showcase features and an overview of the science writing Awards from which the highlighted stories are selected.
NASA: Scientist for a DayNASA's Cassini mission to Saturn may have ended in 2017, but its educational legacy lives on in numerous ways, including NASA's annual essay contest called Scientist for a Day. Both STEM and English teachers may be interested in assigning this essay contest to their students, which "challenges students in grades 5-12 to think like NASA scientists." For each year's contest, students research three specified locations in space, then based on their research decide which one would be the best for NASA to study further. For example, this year students are asked to learn about Saturn's moons Enceladus and Titan, as well as Jupiter's moon Europa and consider whether any of them could be habitable. As their contest entry, students write a 500-word essay explaining their choice. The winning essays - with one chosen for each topic in each grade group - will be posted on NASA's Solar System Exploration website (featured in the 6-18-2018 Scout Report), and US winners have the opportunity to participate in a video or teleconference with NASA scientists. Students outside the US may also be eligible to enter through their country's national coordinator. The deadline for the 2018-2019 contest is February 8, 2019.
Science Comics: A Creative Gateway into Literacy and STEMElementary-level science teachers who would like to incorporate art as a means of engaging their students in STEM topics may want to check out this lesson plan published in June 2019 by Science Friday. Created with students in grades 3-5 in mind, this standards-aligned lesson uses science comics as the foundation for "a multi-day series of activities which can be used to build science illustration and reading skills around any topic." In the first activity, students analyze a science comic series or graphic novel in small groups and discuss a series of provided questions. In the second activity, students work on developing their own comic styles by designing elements such as a color scheme and lettering style, and for the third activity, students apply their chosen comic style as part of the learning assessment for their instructor's STEM topic of choice. Links to numerous resources are provided, including "examples of science comics as well as empirical evidence of the positive impact that comics can have on science learning." This flexible lesson plan was created by Joshua Kettle and Ashley Mills, who are science teachers at Oakham Primary School in England, and by science illustrator Karen Romano Young.
STEM to STEAM: Resources ToolkitFor educators looking for ways to introduce interdisciplinary elements into their classrooms, Edutopia's STEM to STEAM: Resources Toolkit may fit the bill. Here, readers will find links to three curated collections of resources aimed towards helping teachers use integrated studies to increase students' engagement. The first collection contains more than thirty resources and focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Mathematics) lessons and activities "to help students practice cross-disciplinary thinking." The second collection offers over fifteen resources geared towards "incorporating aspects of the arts, design, and the humanities into STEM-based school activities," thus turning STEM lessons into STEAM lessons. The third collection focuses on "maker culture" and offers more than thirty resources to help incorporate a hands-on, kinetic approach to STEM (and STEAM) lessons. Each collection is grouped into subtopics and organized such that readers unfamiliar with the topic can orient themselves before diving into the different activities. Edutopia is funded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving K-12 education.
Encountering Science in AmericaFrom the American Academy of Arts & Sciences comes Encountering Science in America, a report released in February 2019. The Public Face of Science, an on-going project of the American Academy, recently released this follow-up report to Perceptions of Science in America (featured in the 3-22-2019 Scout Report). Encountering Science in America aims to "improve understanding and awareness of this complex landscape of encounters with science among communities interested in participating in or supporting the practices of science communication and engagement." The report's major takeaways indicate that while today's society has a growing range of diverse opportunities to encounter science outside the classroom, both digitally and in person, relatively little is currently known about the cumulative impacts of those informal engagements or about what motivates people to participate in science- and STEM-oriented activities. This shows that more social science research is needed, so that science outreach practitioners, such as those from museums, national parks, and online initiatives, can achieve greater societal impacts. Here, interested readers may view the complete report online or download it as a 48-page PDF. PowerPoint slides and JPEG files of the report's figures are also available to download.
Pew Research: Trust and Mistrust in Americans' Views of Scientific ExpertsA report published by the Pew Research Center in August 2019 examined the levels of trust and mistrust in scientific experts among the American public. This report was based on a nationally representative survey of 4,464 American adults that was conducted by the Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel in January 2019. Although the report found that "public confidence in scientists is on the upswing, and six-in-ten Americans say scientists should play an active role in policy debates about scientific issues," it also found that "Americans tend to trust science practitioners, who directly provide treatments and recommendations to the public, more than researchers working in the same areas." When asked what factors could increase their trust, the majority said that "open access to data and independent review [would] inspire more trust in research findings." Those interested in further details can read the full 96-page report online or download it as a PDF at the link above, along with the survey's topline questionnaire results. Summary findings for several scientific sectors, such as medical doctors, nutrition research scientists, and environmental research scientists, are also provided. This report was authored by Pew researchers Cary Funk, Meg Hefferon, Brian Kennedy, and Courtney Johnson.
Pew Research: What Americans Know about ScienceIn late March 2019, the Pew Research Center published a report that examined the scientific knowledge levels among American adults. This study, based on a nationally representative survey of 4,464 adults conducted in January 2019 by Pew's American Trends Panel, probed Americans' knowledge in four scientific areas: life science, Earth and physical science, numeracy and chart reading, and scientific processes. The study found that "[t]here are striking differences in levels of science knowledge by education as well as by racial and ethnic group," noting that several factors may be tied to the latter, including "educational attainment and access to science information." In contrast, the study found roughly similar levels of scientific knowledge across political ideologies and across age groups. Readers interested in more details may read the full 28-page report online or download it as a PDF at the link above, along with the survey's topline questionnaire results and an appendix with detailed demographic breakdowns of the results. They should also check the interactive quiz to see how their own knowledge compares to the survey results. This report was written by Pew researchers Brian Kennedy and Meg Hefferon.
The Public Face of ScienceThe Public Face of Science is an ongoing three-year research project conducted by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Launched in 2016, this interdisciplinary project "is dedicated to exploring the complex and evolving relationship between scientists and the public" and aims "to examine how trust in science is shaped by individual experiences, beliefs, and engagement with science." Here, readers can access the reports, research papers, and other publications produced by this project, many of which are available at no cost. For example, the project's most recent research paper "The Public Face of Science Across the World" (published in July 2019), presents the findings of a study that analyzed the 2010-2014 World Values Survey to evaluate public attitudes towards science across 54 countries. Another paper entitled "Science During Crisis" (published in January 2019) makes recommendations regarding "the application of science during disasters," including best practices for scientific procedures and communication as well as relevant research and policy priorities. The Public Face of Science is led by its steering group chair, Richard A. Meserve, the President Emeritus of the Carnegie Institution for Science.
Resisting Scientific MisinformationSocial media has made it easy to share information with others, but unfortunately not all of that information is true. To help combat this challenge, middle and high school science educators should check out this free one-week curriculum designed to help students learn how to identify and resist misleading "scientific" claims. This classroom-tested curriculum was created by STEM educators Penny Noyce of Tumblehome Books and Andy Zucker, a retired senior research scientist at the Concord Consortium, along with support from the staff of PBS's NOVA at WGBH in Boston. It consists of four standards-aligned, 45-minute lessons (with an optional fifth lesson) that aim to teach students how to evaluate advertising claims and misleading arguments, how to ask the right questions about dubious claims, and how researchers and scientific organizations use the scientific process to develop well-supported claims and synthesize scientific information. Created with grades 6-12 in mind, these lessons include multiple student activities as well as homework. The curriculum includes four downloadable video files, a thorough teacher guide with links to additional resources, and a one-page informational flyer.
Scientific Writing ResourceMotivated by scientists' reputation for ineffective writing and convinced that writing skills are beneficial to science careers and the community at large, Duke University's Scientific Writing Resource aims to shrink "the gap between the public and academy," through improved writing skills. The resource, which is intended for graduate-level students, hones writing skills through three lessons: "Subjects/Actions," "Cohesion/Emphasis," and "Simplicity." Each lesson walks users through concepts and examples, concluding with a worksheet to test your knowledge. Lessons are intended to take less than an hour to complete and are designed for either classroom settings or individual learning. Those looking for additional content on effective writing will want to check out the Extras menu (on the left-hand side), which houses sections such as The Next Level (with bonus lessons on passive voice, dangling modifiers, and the ever-popular em-dash) and a checklist for "Revising Your Manuscript in 7 Steps" (under Smart Revising). The More Resources section links to several other books and articles that may be of interest. The site was created by Nathan Sheffield, a professor and researcher with "a passion for scientific writing."
How Computers Work
A set of six short videos featuring Bill Gates and other tech leaders.
APLU: 2018 Status Report on Engineering EducationReaders with an interest in higher education demographic trends, particularly in STEM disciplines, may wish to check out the 2018 Status Report on Engineering Education, published by the Association for Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Funded by the National Science Foundation, this report "examines trends in engineering degrees conferred at national and institutional levels to determine areas of growth among various groups, changes in racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in engineering, and which colleges and universities graduate a larger number of underrepresented groups in specific engineering disciplines." Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (part of the National Center for Education Statistics), the analysis compared degree completion data for the 2010-2011 academic year to data for the 2015-2016 academic year. Here, visitors may view the report's major findings and download the 122-page report in full or its 22-page section summary. A research, policy, and advocacy organization representing universities in the US, Canada, and Mexico, the APLU describes itself as "North America's oldest higher education association."
BEN Portal: BioSciEdNetOriginally featured in the 01-18-2013 Scout Report, we've decided to re-feature the BEN Portal: a project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). For almost two decades the BEN Portal, which stands for BiosciEdNet, has sought to provide "seamless access to e-resources, but to also serve as a catalyst for strengthening teaching and learning in the biological sciences." Today, the BEN Portal (which has also been affiliated with the National Science Digital Library since 2005) features publications from over thirty organizations, including the AAAS, the American Physiological Society, the Biotechnology Institute, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and much more. Visitors are invited to conduct a text search in this collection or browse materials by subject. In addition, educators can browse teaching strategies by classroom level (K-12 educators; college faculty). The BEN Portal features both free resources and resources that require a subscription: users have the option to limit search results to free resources.
Bootstrap: Integrated Computing for Algebra, Physics and Data Science, for all studentsWe craft research-based curricular modules for grades 6-12. Our materials reinforce core concepts in math, enabling non-CS teachers to adopt our introductory materials while delivering rigorous and engaging computing content. Our project is based at Brown University.
Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education (CADRE)STEM educators, administrators, and others with an interest in STEM education research may want to check out the Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education, or CADRE for short. Describing itself as "a network for STEM education researchers," CADRE is a project led by the nonprofit Education Development Center to support researchers funded through the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program. Here, CADRE shares the findings, publications, and output materials created by hundreds of DRK-12 research projects on various aspects of STEM education, as well as resources for early career researchers and prospective grantees, creating a wealth of valuable content. Visitors may like to begin by looking through the Projects, which can be filtered and browsed by target audience (e.g. informal educators, preservice teachers), products (e.g. curriculum, database), project focus (e.g. mathematics, accessibility), and project type (e.g. qualitative, case study). Additionally, the Early Career section provides a collection of resources on topics like writing for publication and building professional networks, while the Resources section offers helpful toolkits on writing NSF proposals, project management, and disseminating research, as well as a large collection of spotlights on various STEM topics.
Engineering in the ClassroomNASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has created this series of K-12 curriculum materials that align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These materials are designed to help young scientists understand the Engineering Design Process used at the Jet Laboratory and to use this process to participate in engineering themselves. Instructors can browse this collection by four grade levels: grades K-2; grades 3-5; middle school; and high school. Each activity in this collection features a short video that demonstrates JPL engineering in action. These videos are accompanied by a detailed, hands-on activity, available via a link in the "Use it in the Classroom" section. For instance, one activity for grade 3-5 students features a video about the Opportunity rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2004. In this video, rover driver Hallie Gengl describes how the team must take Mars's terrain into account when planning a drive. Next, students create their own rovers out of pasta, using the same design and planning principal they learned about in the video.
English Learners in STEM Subjects: Transforming Classrooms, Schools, and LivesAchieving equity in the STEM field involves addressing many aspects of academic marginalization, including the unique barriers experienced by English learners (ELs). Published in 2018, English Learners in STEM Subjects: Transforming Classrooms, Schools, and Lives calls attention to the ways these students have been marginalized and highlights the assets that English learners bring to the STEM field, particularly drawing on "their experiences in their homes and communities, home languages, variation in discourse practices, and, in some cases, experiences with schooling in other countries." The report provides 7 recommendations ranging from "equip teachers and teacher candidates with the requisite tools and preparation to effectively engage and positively position English learners in STEM content learning," to "encourage and facilitate engagement with stakeholders in ELs' local environment to support STEM learning." The text is available to read online, or readers can enter an email address to download it as a guest (in PDF form). Readers can download the entire book or choose individual chapters. Additionally, the Resources panel at the link above shares some corresponding resources, including condensed report highlights and recordings of related webinars. David Francis and Amy Stephens edited the report and it was sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation.
Environmental Literacy and Inquiry: Climate Change CurriculumMiddle school STEM teachers may be interested in this free climate change curriculum developed by the Environmental Literacy and Inquiry (ELI) Working Group at Lehigh University. Designed to take place over 21 days or class sessions, this technology-supported curriculum "focuses on essential climate literacy principles with an emphasis on weather and climate, Earth system energy balance, greenhouse gases, paleoclimatology, and how human activities influence climate change." Throughout the curriculum's six thematic units, students complete inquiry-based lab activities using tools such as Google Earth, a web-based carbon calculator, and a geologic timeline to investigate these interrelated climate change topics. This comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum provides all the necessary instructional materials and supporting information, including an instructional framework and sequence, assessments (including a pre- and post-test), Google Earth files, videos, PowerPoint files, handouts, and homework readings, as well as resources for students and background information for each topic. ELI advises that these curricular materials work best using Google Earth version 5.2 or newer and Firefox. It should be noted that access to the assessment files requires a login, which interested teachers can acquire for free by emailing a request to the contact email found in the site's footer.
Estimation 180As mathematics teacher and learning coach Andrew Stadel explains, problems can help mathematicians develop their number sense and problem solving skills. Stadel has created Estimation 180, a compilation of classroom activities and lesson plans that center on the skill of estimation. The name of the site comes from the 180 short estimation problems (one for each day of the school year) that are at the center of this project. Each of these problems include a picture accompanied by an estimation problem (e.g. How many sheets of paper are in this box?). Students or classrooms are invited to fill out a Google Form with their estimate and reasoning and explore other responses (along with the correct answer.) These problems offer a useful series of anticipatory sets for elementary school classrooms. In addition, mathematics teachers may want to check out the Clothesline Activities and the Lessons sections for some more ready-to-use classroom materials.
ExplorifyInviting users to begin "thinking like scientists," Explorify is a widely-regarded tool for fostering science enthusiasm. Teachers will want to bookmark this resource for next year's curriculum, and parents and caregivers may find value in it over the summer months. In response to school closures, some of the site's resources are available without an account under the "Explorify at home!" section (linked on the homepage). However, users who create a free account will gain access to all of the science-based learning Activities. Explorify labels activities by topic and age group. Users can also filter resources by activity topic (e.g. electricity or rocks), type (e.g. video or image gallery), and age group using the search tools at the top of the page. Offering resources that are "purely online with nothing to print or prep," the site is a time and energy saver. Plus, the My Dashboard feature allows users to save activities for a later date (perfect for teachers planning ahead). In addition to activities, the site has a Blog covering topics such as professional development and teaching science. On the Downloads page, instructors will find even more classroom resources, including certificates and posters. Explorify is funded by UK-based education foundation Wellcome and consults with a variety of other STEM and education partners.
Flipping PhysicsHigh school AP Physics teachers and students may want to check out Flipping Physics, a project focused on teaching instructors how to flip their physics classrooms. A flipped classroom is a learning structure in which students watch recorded lectures at home and then work through problems interactively in the classroom with their instructor's guidance. Launched in 2013, Flipping Physics is the brainchild of Jonathan Thomas-Palmer (a.k.a. Mr. P.), an educator with over 13 years of experience teaching AP and college prep physics and who has a degree in mechanical engineering. Visitors to Flipping Physics will find an extensive library of lecture videos that are organized broadly into algebra-based and calculus-based physics with each subsequently grouped into topics and accompanied by PDF lecture notes. Those new to using a flipped classroom methodology may want to start by watching the video "Showing the Differences Between a Traditional and Flipped Classroom," found on the main page. This seven-minute video shows two of Mr. P.'s classes (filmed one year apart and teaching similar content) side by side simultaneously, with one using a traditional lecture and the other being a flipped classroom, where there is noticeably more engagement and interaction. Flipping Physics also has a plethora of resources on making videos for flipped classrooms and on teaching students how to learn in a flipped environment.
GCFLearnFree.org: MathGoodwill Industries and the Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) offers this series of free online tutorials related to math skills including basic operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and basic algebra. These resources may especially appeal to teachers and tutors who work with elementary and middle school level students as well as Adult Basic Education (ABE) learners. Each tutorial uses words and pictures to explain the concepts behind each math skill. Next, learners are invited to try out some practice problems and take an assessment to test their skills. As GCF notes, these tutorials are, "designed to be like a math workbook, so you can practice what you learn directly from the lessons and learn at your own pace." As a result, these tutorials may be especially helpful for instructors who teach in multi-level adult education classrooms or library media centers.
Informal ScienceSTEM educators and researchers interested in engaging with the public may find Informal Science to be a valuable resource. Informal Science features a diverse collection of pedagogical resources designed to help support STEM educators in lifelong learning environments beyond formal classrooms. Here, readers will find a "portal to project, research and evaluation resources designed to support and connect the informal STEM education community in museums, media, public programs and a growing variety of learning environments." The homepage features an interface where visitors may search Informal Science's collection of resources by a variety of fields such as learning environment (e.g. theater programs or conferences), audience (e.g. pre-K children or policymakers), or discipline (e.g. art or mathematics). The menu bar at the top facilitates browsing through their guides on developing projects, conducting research using informal STEM education, and evaluating projects. Informal Science is funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by the Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education.
Instruments of ChangeMuch of the work of modern science is made possible by the development of technology, such as instruments that enable scientists to measure the levels of a particular chemical compound in the water or air. Readers curious to learn how some of these technologies came to be and how they impact society may enjoy Instruments of Change, a digital exhibit from the folks at the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation). Part of the Arnold O. Beckman Legacy Project, Instruments of Change incorporates archival photos, videos, and interactive features to invite visitors to explore the stories of five groundbreaking 20th-century scientific instruments: the oxidant recorder, the EASE analog computer, Beckman's historic pH meter, the infrared spectrophotometer, and Linus Pauling's oxygen meter. Each instrument's section explains its history and how it impacts life today. For example, the oxidant recorder, developed in the late 1940s, was an important part of how Los Angeles (and later, other cities) gained the ability to monitor its air quality and issue alerts when smog levels became dangerous to public health. This exhibit is best viewed in a full-screen browser window and may not perform well on mobile devices.
The Journal of Stories in ScienceLaunched in 2016, the Journal of Stories in Science is a publishing platform and citizen science project managed by the Boston-based STEM Advocacy Institute. Among its goals, this unique project aims "to understand people's connections and journeys in science [and] to publish inspiring and thought-provoking stories in science from around the world." On the main page, visitors can scroll down to see the project's most recently published stories, as well as examples from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. As of this write-up, the Stories in Science Project has published more than 160 accounts from contributors worldwide. In addition to browsing the stories from the main page, visitors can also use the Search page to filter the collection by fields such as gender, career stage, location, type of science, and more. This database of diverse stories may be of particular interest to STEM educators in search of authentic stories to offer their students about real people in science, the challenges they've encountered, and how they overcame those challenges. For those interested in writing about their own science story, the Submit page provides detailed guidelines and helpful advice.
The Kitchen Pantry ScientistLiz Heinecke is The Kitchen Pantry Scientist, a molecular biologist who began experimenting with ways to make science hands-on and fun with her own three children. She has developed a number of engaging, interactive scientific activities and DIY projects that may appeal to elementary school teachers as well as educators at summer camps, afterschool programs, and other informal educational environments. These activities include making tie-dye milk, crafting a "foaming slime volcano," and finding monarch caterpillars. As the title suggests, many of these activities can be done at home with everyday materials and may appeal to parents and caregivers as well. Activities are explained via short videos which have been tagged for helpful browsing (e.g. chemistry experiments, convection, or weather, to name just a few). Visitors may also want to check out The Kitchen Pantry Scientist YouTube page, where select activities are organized into playlists.
MIT Blossoms: Hanging by a ThreadThis new video lesson plan from MIT BLOSSOMS is designed to help physics students understand Newton's laws of motions and to help physics educators think about how to incorporate Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into the classroom. This lesson is taught by high school physics teacher Francis Lenox. During this lesson, students learn how to create a force diagram (also known as a free body diagram) by observing what happens to a weight that is suspended by a thread when one pulls on the thread beneath the weight with differing degrees of force. During this activity, learners also apply Newton's laws of motion to make sense of their observations. As with all MIT BLOSSOMS lessons, this lesson comes complete with a video that physics instructors may use to teach this lesson, along with a detailed teacher's guide and links to additional resources that may be of interest.
New Jersey Center for Teaching & Learning: Course MaterialsThe New Jersey Center for Teaching & Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 STEM education. On the organization's course materials page, educators will find a number of free resources for teaching math and science. These resources, which were designed by a team of STEM educators, include presentations, homework assignments, lab activities, and assessments. This collection includes math and science resources in both English and Spanish, along with a few English-language resources in English language arts and computer science. Materials are organized by subject and grade level for easy browsing. Grade levels range from kindergarten to advanced high school, including resources for advanced placement calculus, physics, biology, and chemistry.
The New Science TeacherFrom Randolph College's Science Education Group comes The New Science Teacher, a website that serves "as a reference source for pre-service teachers, current educators, and parents." These resources are designed for K-8 educators and can be easily browsed by a number of categories. In Curriculum Resources, educators will find a number of lesson plans organized by scientific subfields. Many lesson plans are accompanied by short videos of teachers using these lessons in their own classrooms. Meanwhile, visitors will find a number of helpful outside reference resources in Subject References. This section, along with the site's helpful glossary of science terms, may appeal to teachers and students alike and offer a useful resource for completing assignments both inside and outside the classroom. Visitors will find additional outside resources in the Hot Science section, including resources related to leading interactive activities, such as labs, in the science classroom.
The Physics Classroom: Physics InteractivesThis section of our website features a collection of HTML5 interactive pages that allow a user to explore a physics concept. Some Interactives are simulations that allow a user to manipulate an environment and observe the effect of changes in variables upon the simulation. Other Interactives are skill building exercises in which a user practices a skill that is crucial to learning some aspect of physics. And still other Interactives provide game-like environments that require the user to use a physics concept to meet a challenge. The Interactives are intended to be used by the individual student or learner who is attempting to further understand the concept or by a teacher-led classroom as part of a lesson or homework assignment. Most of the Interactives are accompanied by an activity sheet that suggests ways to use the Interactive.
The Physics Classroom: Teacher ToolkitsPhysics educators will want to check out this set of toolkits from The Physics Classroom (see the 11-12-2004 Scout Report). Here readers will find valuable "collection[s] of resources that are ideal for planning standards-based, multimedia lessons, and units." As the Physics Classroom explains, each toolkit "consists of a package of digital resources organized around a topic and a set of learning objectives ... [and] provides links to simulations, videos, animations, demonstration ideas, and other great resources on the web." The topics covered fit within the broader categories of mechanics; static electricity; electric circuits; waves, sound, and light; and reflection and refraction. All the resources in each toolkit have been annotated and organized into a category (e.g. simulation, problems, etc.), and the toolkits can all be viewed in three formats: HTML, PDF, and an abbreviated "to go" version well-suited for printing. The resources in these collections were curated by Caroline Hall, an experienced physics teacher and education consultant, and the toolkits were assembled with Next Generation Science Standards in mind. [JDC]
Problem Strings: A Lesson Format for all StudentsPamela Weber Harris is a former mathematics teacher who currently works as a mathematics education consultant and instructor of elementary math methods at Texas State University. Harris has also authored or co-authored several books about teaching math and appeared in a fascinating 2016 episode of Science Friday, "How Much Math Should Everyone Know? (Show Your Work)." In this 70 minute webinar, Harris demonstrates an instructional technique that she calls Problem Strings. In this method, math learners solve a series of problems collaboratively and use information and techniques from previous problems to help them solve new problems. The instructor, meanwhile, can use these problem strings to model new mathematical concepts and problem solving techniques. As Harris demonstrates, this teaching technique can be used for a variety of levels of mathematics, making this webinar of potential interest to both K-12 mathematics teachers and adult educators.
Questacon: Teacher Resource: Hands on STEM ActivitiesWhile Questacon, Australia's interactive National Science and Technology Centre, is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, readers from around the world can delight in their extensive online STEM Activities collection. The activities were curated with a variety of audiences in mind, from those seeking "simple science activities using inexpensive materials," to those in search of "projects that are more technologically challenging." The resources and websites included in their catalog have a little bit of everything: citizen science projects, computer science and coding exercises, and conceptual mathematics activities that involve dancing. Scrolling to the bottom of the page, readers can download the full list of activities in PDF or Word Document form. In addition to compiling STEM websites and activities, the collection also highlights MOOCS (Massive Online Open Courses), no-cost (or low-cost, as some courses suggest purchasing additional materials) courses that may be perfect for educators or parents looking for enriching web-based educational opportunities. Current courses include: "Tinkering Fundamentals: Circuits" and "Machine Learning."
Real World Physics ProblemsFounded on the belief that "the physics of everyday things is all around us," Real World Physics Problems offers a fun way for educators to introduce students and kids to the world of physics. Through a variety of games and activities, the site brings physics concepts to life in engaging ways. The website is categorized by level, making it easy for visitors to navigate to appropriate activities based on age and skill. The Real World Applications - For High School Level and Above section (on the left-side menu) uses interest areas as a platform to introduce key physics concepts. For example, the Sports tab offers a collection of physics activities focused on athletics ranging from basketball to bungee jumping, including practice formulas for calculating free fall, hang time, and potential energy. Similarly, activities under the Amusement Park tab explore the physics incorporated in popular park rides. The Education & Theory section is also meant for those in high school and beyond. It features a collection of diagrams, videos, and other learning tools. The Kids Section houses activities for younger physics enthusiasts, including games, quizzes, science fair suggestions, and resources for educators. The site was created by Franco Normani, a mechanical engineer with a passion for making physics fun and accessible.
RoboticsCourseWare.orgSTEM educators and readers interested in robotics may appreciate RoboticsCourseWare.org, an open-access educational resource created "to facilitate the implementation of new robotics courses or the improvement of existing courses." Here, visitors will find a large collection of free teaching resources intended for use at the university level. As of this writing, these include downloadable compressed files for nine full courses, such as "Introduction to Robotics" courses contributed by Harvard University electrical engineering professor Robert Wood. The materials for this course include PowerPoint lectures, handouts, assignments with solutions, labs, MatLab files, a final project, and a final exam. RoboticsCourseWare.org also has several shorter offerings comprised of PowerPoints for individual lectures, such as "Robot Architectures," contributed by Josep Amat and Alicia Casals of the Technical University of Catalonia. Readers interested in additional resources may want to check out the links section for a number of other robotics sites and materials. RoboticsCourseWare.org was founded and developed in 2007 by Professors Aaron M. Dollar of Yale University, Daniela Rus of MIT, and Paolo Fiorini of the University of Verona. [JDC]
SCALE Science EducationMiddle school science teachers looking for curricular materials that align with current Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) may want to check out SCALE Science Education, an initiative from Stanford University's Graduate School of Education. SCALE has numerous resources for teachers, from project-based curriculums designed for students in grades 6-8, tips on how to best administer assessments of NGSS learning, professional development opportunities for teachers hoping to improve their craft, and a research portfolio on "performance-based learning." SCALE offers several instructional units for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels. Units include a comprehensive teacher's guide, handouts and worksheets for students, and supplementary materials like slides and videos. All the teaching materials are available for free download. The Assessment section offers ways to evaluate students' knowledge without resorting to multiple choice tests. Here, visitors will find information on several initiatives, including the Stanford NGSS Assessment Project, Twig, and SPA-LC. The design of SCALE's teaching resources is guided by their goal to achieve "equitable access and outcomes for all students." SCALE is led by its founder and executive director, Raymond L. Pecheone, and receives support from a variety of academic, nonprofit, and research organizations.
Science BobWhether you're looking for science fair inspiration or assistance with your research, Science Bob ("teacher, author, maker, and presenter" Bob Pflugfelder) has you covered. His site encourages users to delve into the world of science. From hovercrafts to homemade ice cream, the Experiments section provides "a list of great science experiments with instructions that you can do right at home or at school." Young scientists looking for a burst of inspiration may want to check out the Science Fair Ideas section to find a list of possible science fair topics, including: "Does the color of a room affect human behavior?" and "Does having worms in soil help plants grow faster?" On the Science Q&A page, life's burning questions are addressed, from converting temperatures between Farenheight and Celcius, to why the sky is blue, to what differentiates moths from butterflies. Looking for an answer to a question that is unavailable on the site? The "Still Need an Answer?" button at the bottom-right of the page welcomes user submissions. The Videos and Experiments Blog pages provide additional content from Science Bob. If your science wonder is still not satisfied, the Research Help page links to various other resources and websites, divided into six different themes including, for example, Space/Planets and Animals/Nature.
Science Education at Jefferson LabAs a world-class research facility, Jefferson Lab is a valued partner to the local, regional and national education community. Jefferson Lab's long-term commitment to science education continues to focus on increasing the number of teachers with a substantial background in math and science, strengthening the motivation and preparation of all students, especially minorities and females, and addressing the serious under representation of minorities and females in science, math, engineering and technology careers.
Science Education Project: Chantier 7STEM educators and readers interested in science pedagogy may want to check out Chantier 7, a project conducted by researchers at McGill University and the University of Quebec in Montreal. This project, which was conducted from 2013-2016, aimed "to develop diagnostic assessment tools to uncover students' intuitive ideas about the natural world and design targeted teaching interventions to develop students' understanding of scientific and technological concepts and models." After reading the project's introduction on its main page, visitors may like to peruse Evidence-based Interventions, where they will find six groups of teaching strategies "gleaned [and summarized] from relevant literature studies which teachers can use to improve students' conceptual understanding in science." These interventions focus on STEM topics such as earthquakes, evolution and natural selection, and renewable and nonrenewable energy resources, and each intervention typically includes several strategies. Additional teaching materials are included in the resources section, where readers will find several sample lesson plans and ideas for classroom activities. Chantier 7 was led by Anila Asghar, Associate Professor of Integrated Studies of Education at McGill University. The material on this site is available in both English and French.
Science Friday: Educator CollaborativeLaunched in 2016, the Science Friday Educator Collaborative invites experienced science educators around the country to collaborate with Science Friday staff in order to create innovative and interactive educational resources for science classrooms. Each week, the collaborative releases a new lesson plan designed for students in K-12 classroom. On this website, visitors can explore all lesson plans created by the 2017 Educator Collaborative cohort, which began releasing weekly resources on September 1, 2017. So far, the series includes a lesson plan for middle school students about friction, in which students are tasked with designing a better winter boot; a lesson for upper-elementary school students about honeycombs, in which students explore shapes and patterns to discover why honeycombs are hexagonal; and middle and high school lesson plans that engage students with forensic entomology. New lesson plans will be released throughout the year, so stay tuned.
Science Learning HubLaunched as a part of the New Zealand Government's Science in Society Plan, Science Learning Hub bridges the gap between students, teachers, and scientists by curating thousands of resources that "demonstrate how the stories of science can be used to enrich school teaching and learning, making it more relevant, engaging, and meaningful." The website's landing page highlights trending topics and events, as well as featured articles and activities. The remainder of the site offers resources of interest to a variety of audiences. Educators may want to explore the Teacher PLD (professional learning and development) section, which features webinars, planning, and pedagogy to assist science teachers both in their professional advancement and their classrooms. The Citizen Science section collects resources for those interested in volunteering to "contribute to scientific projects, usually by collecting or analysing data." On the Explore Topics and Explore Concepts pages, readers will find information covering subjects from "reptiles and amphibians" to "science and society." These subjects can be sorted alphabetically or by popularity. After clicking on a topic or concept of interest, users will be led to a collection of related materials, which may include articles, videos, and activities. In the top right corner of each sub-page, visitors will find an "Explore+" button, which highlights similar topics and concepts. Readers with a particular subject in mind can also search by clicking the magnifying glass in the top right corner to open a query bar.
Science MattersScience educators who work with fourth through sixth graders will find lesson plans and additional resources in this useful and educational website. These resources were created by a team of science educators located in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, California in collaboration with the non-profit educational organization West Ed. At Science Matters, science teachers can download seven complete units, including units on 4th Grade Earth Science: Ecosystems; 5th Grade Physical Science: Chemistry and Matter; and 6th Grade Earth Science: Plate Tectonics. All unit materials, including lesson plans, assessments, and graphic organizers, can be downloaded in PDF formats. Each unit is also accompanied by a short introduction.
Science SparksCreated by educator Emma Vanstone and blogger Kerry Farrow, Science Sparks! is a blog that lives up to its motto of "making science fun for kids." The site curates a variety of at-home activities that are both delightful and informative. Activities are categorized by age level (Early Years Science and Primary Science), as well as some more general themes (Science Projects, STEM Challenges, and Holiday Science). Each broader topic is further divided into subtopics, helping readers find just what they are looking for. For example, those feeling festive may want to venture to the Holiday Science section. Here, readers will discover spooky potion and slime recipes to celebrate Halloween and science-themed crafts that make for great Christmas gifts. LEGO enthusiasts will want to pay a visit to the LEGO Science Experiments section, a subtopic of Primary Science with more than a dozen posts suggesting ways to combine LEGOS and learning. At the very top of the website, readers will find a variety of other resources: science fair project ideas, experiments, and much more. Educators may be particularly interested in the Worksheets page, also linked at the top of the site.
SciJinksSciJinks is a resource for K-12 science educators created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) dedicated to teaching young scientists about weather and weather-related careers. This resource contains interactive games, educational videos, images, posters, and classroom activities. Educators and students can browse these resources in a number of ways. In the topics section, materials are organized thematically: hurricanes and storms; clouds, water, and ice; tides and oceans; atmosphere, seasons, satellites and technology; and space weather. Visitors can also search materials by type of resource, including games, multimedia, and dispatches (short, illustrated explanations for phenomenon including El Nino and polar vortices.) Additional types of materials, including PDFs of classroom activities, can be browsed in the educators section. The people section contains short profiles of a number of weather professionals, offering young scientists a glimpse into possible future career paths.
Seeing Students Learn Science: Integrating Assessment and Instruction in the ClassroomThe Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), first released in 2013, are K-12 science education standards that were developed to take advantage of students' innate curiosity and enable them to "learn science by doing science." Along with new standards comes a need to update how students' learning is assessed. Teachers and administrators who are interested in the NGSS (or who are already using them) may find Seeing Students Learn Science helpful in integrating assessments into their science curricula. This 2017 report from the National Academies Press, authored by Alexandra Beatty and Heidi Schweingruber, provides examples of assessment formats and ways to incorporate them into classroom activities, as well as suggestions for interpreting and using the assessment information. This report also offers "ideas and questions educators can use to reflect on what they can adapt right away and what they can work toward more gradually." Those interested can read the 124-page report online or download it as a PDF for free at the above link; it is also available to purchase in hard copy or as an eBook.
SENIC: Education ResourcesThe Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC) is a partnership between the Georgia Institute of Technology's Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). As outlined in its vision statement, SENIC'S aim is to strengthen discovery in nanoscience and nanoengineering in the southeastern US, provide education and outreach, and allow nanotechnology innovations to reach the market quicker. SENIC offers a number of educational resources designed to help students from K-12 through graduate school, as well as members of the general public better understand nanotechnology and its role in engineering projects. One of these resources is the "Particle in a Box Game," which is an interactive computer game that engages students in the differences between classical and quantum mechanics - this page includes a link to where students can play this game online. This collection also includes a resource guide and a series of printable instructional sheets that outline central concepts in nanotechnology.
TeachEngineering: 3RC (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost)Funded by the National Science Foundation, TeachEngineering is a robust digital library of standards-aligned K-12 STEM curriculum materials. This particular lesson was designed for students in grades 3-5 and meets Next Generation Science Standards. In this lesson, students become familiar with the concept of the 3RC (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost) and learn about the steps of integrated waste management and the role that engineering plays in this process. This lesson also links to three hands-on associated activities where students "look at the effects of packaging decisions (reducing) [and] observe biodegradation in a model landfill (composting)," and use recycled materials to build towers in teams of three. The lesson plan and activities all include learning objectives, downloadable handouts, detailed instructions, and breakdowns of the time required, and interested educators could likely complete all four portions over a one-week span. Contributed by the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program in the University of Colorado-Boulder's College of Engineering, this lesson is one of ten in TeachEngineering's environment curricular unit.
TeachEngineering: Big Data, What Are You Saying?Big data is the massive accumulation of digital information collected by governments, corporations, and other institutions. Although "we analyze and utilize less than one-half a percent of the data that exists," big data is a quickly growing field with implications spanning from healthcare and policy decision-making to entertainment. High school educators looking to introduce students to this exciting field should check out this hands-on activity from TeachEngineering, which covers the basics of data collection and analysis. Students work in pairs and begin by finding and importing data into Excel, where they then clean and chart these data. Next, each pair calculates relevant statistics and "summarize[s] their work by suggesting product launch strategies and reporting their findings and conclusions in class presentations." Geared toward students in grades 9-12, this lesson plan includes PDF and Word document versions of a data finding tip sheet, a worksheet to help students work with data in Excel, presentation rubrics, and an Excel example (using ESPN data). At the above link, readers will also find an overview of assignment procedures, big data vocabulary definitions, guidance on assessment, troubleshooting tips, and more.
TeachEngineering: Riding the Radio WavesSTEM educators looking for an engaging way to introduce students to radio's engineering aspects may be interested in Riding the Radio Waves, a lesson plan from the TeachEngineering collection. This standards-aligned lesson teaches students "how AM radios work through basic concepts about waves and magnetic fields" and includes several demonstrations "to help students better understand these concepts." In addition to the demonstrations, the lesson is also designed to be taught in conjunction with a hands-on activity where students build working AM radios from kits. This curriculum, which was created with students in grades 7-9 in mind, emphasizes the concepts of waves and magnetic fields as engineering fundamentals as well as the practical applications of those concepts. TeachEngineering is a digital library of standards-aligned K-12 STEM teaching resources whose development was funded by the National Science Foundation and is currently managed by the University of Colorado-Boulder and Oregon State University. Riding the Radio Waves and its accompanying activity was contributed by the MUSIC (Math Understanding through Science Integrated with Curriculum) Program in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University.
TeachEngineering: The Science and Engineering Behind Harry PotterTeachEngineering offers a robust library of K-12 STEM teaching materials that align with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Math Standards. In this curricular unit, which was developed by the University of Houston's College of Engineering and is intended for high school students, three lessons and two activities enable students to explore a diverse group of scientific topics by way of the topics' application to different parts of the Harry Potter series. The first lesson and accompanying activity have a chemistry focus, and students "learn the basics of acid/base chemistry in a fun, interactive way," by making their own invisible ink as inspired by the Marauder's Map (as well as the movie National Treasure). The second lesson focuses on genetic traits (with the parseltongue ability in Harry Potter as an example) and introduces students to Punnett squares. Finally, the third lesson explores physics concepts relating to projectile motion with Neville Longbottom's Remembrall (and the movie October Sky) for inspiration; this lesson also has an accompanying activity. In addition to learning about the scientific concepts presented in all three lessons, students also learn how those concepts are used by engineers.
Teach Engineering: Trebuchet Design & Build ChallengeSTEM teachers looking for a hands-on unit to pique their students' interest in engineering may want to check out this activity available through TeachEngineering. This activity introduces students to the trebuchet, a compound machine developed in the Middle Ages as a siege engine that can be seen today in events like Punkin' Chunkin'. Created with students in grades seven to nine in mind, the Trebuchet Design & Build Challenge takes place over ten 60-minute class periods. During this challenge, students work as teams to "design and build their own trebuchets from scratch while following a select number of constraints." They later test their designs, collect data, use quantitative analysis to evaluate their trebuchet's performance, and then give presentations on their design process and results. The Trebuchet Design & Build Challenge was developed as part of the Research Experiences for Teachers Program in the NASCENT (Nanomanufacturing Systems for Mobile Computing and Mobile Energy Technologies) Engineering Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin. TeachEngineering is a digital library of standards-aligned K-12 STEM teaching resources whose development was funded by the National Science Foundation and is currently managed by the University of Colorado-Boulder and Oregon State University.
TryEngineering.orgFrom the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) comes TryEngineering.org, a collection of resources designed to engage youth in computer science. K-12 instructors may want to start by checking out the Lesson Plan section, which features 28 lesson plans as of this write up. In Choose Your Best Way, middle school and high school students build their own mathematical model to help them solve problems, and, in the process, learn about computer algorithm. Another lesson, Networks, engages middle school learners with the concepts behind graph theory via a number of interactive, kinesthetic activities. Meanwhile, in the Career Profiles section, visitors can read a collection of short interviews with individuals who work in different careers related to computer science, from academia to game development to engineering, and more.
UL XplorlabsFrom the safety science company Underwriters Laboratories (UL) comes UL Xplorlabs: a free educational platform offering interactive, module-based learning experiences. Launched in 2016, UL Xplorlabs currently offers two multifaceted modules, each aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and focused on real-world topics. The first module, Portable Electric Power, "explores the science of lithium-ion batteries," while Fire Forensics: Claims and Evidence, introduces students to the basics of fire science and was nominated for a 2018 Webby Award. Modules include downloadable teacher guides, interactive videos and simulations, collaborative classroom activities, and extension activities. Educators may choose to do an entire module with their class or just part of it, and the modules can also be done by the students independently. While UL Xplorlabs' modules are designed for middle school students, STEM instructors at other levels may also find this resource's content helpful. The Xtensions section offers a number of experiments, resources, and challenges that educators may like to check out as well. New modules will be added as UL develops them, and those interested can subscribe to be notified of new content via email.
Wow Science: Searching Out the Best Primary Science ActivitiesAre you looking for fun science resources for young people in your life? Let Wow Science do some of the leg work for you. Wow Science is a platform "searching out the best primary science activities," and cataloging them in an easily searchable database. These resources are categorized into six sections: Games, Activities, Apps, Videos, Experiments, and Websites. Each of these media forms can be further filtered by difficulty level and time to complete using the Sort Results By dropdown menu. Users can also search using the query bar at the top of the page. The site uses symbols to clarify the intended audience (see the About page for an explaination of what each symbol means). For example, the hourglass icon represents the expected time for each activity and the number of brain icons represents the difficulty (one for easy and three for difficult). The majority of activities on the site are free, and all free activities are tagged accordingly. Educators may want to click the Teachers tab at the top of the page to see lesson plans and activities meant for use in classrooms. For additional content, check out the Blog section. Wow Science is a collaboration between Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and Learning Science Ltd. All materials listed on the site are approved by PSTT (evaluated for "quality and suitability").
Streaming Video
The Coding TrainNovember 8, 2020 is National STEM/STEAM Day, and what better way to celebrate than to go "full STEAM" ahead aboard The Coding Train. This YouTube channel, hosted by Daniel Shiffman, introduces viewers to coding programs and fundamentals. The videos (which vary greatly in length) are informative, easy-to-follow, and fun, providing a perfect way to get students excited about the world of STEM. Plus, the multimedia format makes for a seamless implementation into remote learning. Teachers may want to use one of the beginner level playlists as the foundation for a week-long coding unit. Check out "Learning Processing: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Images, Animation, and Interaction," seven videos on the "core principles of computer programming," as a possibility. Shiffman also occasionally welcomes "guest conductors" aboard the train to share their expertise (with an emphasis on amplifying underrepresented voices in the tech field). The channel has gained more than one million followers since its launch in 2006, which further illustrates its magnetic impact on the STEM community.
Crash Course EngineeringCrash Course Engineering is one of the most recent additions to the popular Crash Course YouTube channel founded by vlogging brothers Hank and John Green in 2011. Hosted by engineer, science communicator, and Crash Course veteran Shini Somara and produced in association with PBS Digital Studios, Crash Course Engineering launched in May 2018. Here, learners of all ages will find energetic, fast-paced videos on a wide variety of engineering subjects. Episodes range from introductions to and histories of subfields like mechanical and chemical engineering to explorations of topics such as thermodynamics, nanomaterials, and renewable energy. Each episode is approximately ten minutes long, making them short enough for classroom use and snappy enough for anyone to learn a little in their spare time. As of this write-up, the series contains 32 episodes with new episodes uploaded on Thursdays and a total of 42 planned.
Life NogginAnimation fans and educators may appreciate Life Noggin, a YouTube channel that uses short 2D animated videos to answer questions and offer explanations on scientific topics. In a style reminiscent of brightly colored 8-bit video games, Life Noggin bills itself as "an animated and educational web show designed to teach you all about your awesome life and the brain that makes you able to live it." Videos are typically three to four minutes in length, and their hundreds of episodes cover all manner of playful and serious topics, ranging from outer space (e.g. "Could We Build A Planet From Scratch?") to inside the human body (e.g. "How Exactly Do You Hear Things?"), and everywhere in between (e.g. "What Would Happen if All the Bugs Died?"). Each easily digestible video includes a lengthy list of sources in its description. Life Noggin was created in 2014 by Ian Dokie, Pat Graziosi, and Jared Oban and was nominated for a Shorty Award in the STEM category.
MIT BlossomsBLOSSOMS video lessons are enriching students' learning experiences in high school classrooms from Brooklyn to Beirut to Bangalore. Our Video Library contains over 100 math and science lessons, all freely available to teachers as streaming video and Internet downloads and as DVDs and videotapes.
NumberphileThis YouTube channel, courtesy of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Simons Foundation Science Sandbox, describes its offerings as "videos about numbers - it's that simple." These videos come from Brady Haran, who also produced the popular Periodic Table of Videos series (see the 03-27-2009 Scout Report). Each episode of Numberphile varies in length, between just over a minute to about fifteen minutes, and includes quick brain teasers, hands on demonstrations, interviews, and short lessons. Videos also frequently feature guest scholars. Recent videos include an exploration of the links between the fields of mathematics and physics; an explanation of Godel's Incompleteness Theorem by Professor Marcus du Sautoy of the University of Oxford; and a brainteaser about how to fairly slice a cake. Some videos are organized into playlists for easy browsing, including Prime Numbers, Dice, and Fermat's Last Theorem.
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski at Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit 2019Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski does more than just study forces, she is one. The award-winning theoretical physicist has too many accomplishments to list, from having her research quoted by Stephen Hawking to building a one-engine plane at age 14. In addition to her academic and research contributions, she is known for her work promoting gender equity in STEM. Pasterski covers this and many other topics in her 20-minute talk from the November 2019 Women in Tech Summit in Warsaw, Poland. At the link above, readers will find a recording of the speach. Filled with wisdom and humor, Pasterski tackles topics such as moving beyond stereotypes and never being afraid to ask for help. She also encourages attendees to stay curious: "Have a plan but be willing to change course." For more highlights from the 2019 Summit and content from the 2020 virtual event, check out the Perspektywy Women in Tech's full YouTube account.
SciShow: 5 Groundbreaking Women in EngineeringCouched between International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11) and International Women's Day (March 8), now is an excellent time to recognize the role of women in engineering with this episode of SciShow; as host Hank Green notes, "we really can't talk about women in STEM enough." In this brief video, viewers are introduced to five stellar women in engineering. Many readers are relying on WiFi to read this, and in part, people have Hedy Lamarr to thank for this ability. Lamarr, who received recognition for her work as an actress, was also responsible for strides in the realm of "frequency hopping spread spectrum," a signal system embedded in modern WiFi security. Adventure aficionados can thank Olive Wetzel Dennis for her work to "set a new standard for comfortable travel." Annie Easley was a key member of NASA's computing team, and her coding work built a foundation for today's hybrid car batteries. Lynn Conway is a scholar and social activist responsible for microchip design engineering that "kickstarted" current computers and cell phones. Finally, Treena Livingston Arinzeh is moving modern medicine forward with her stem cell research, and she is multiplying her impact by mentoring future engineers. This episode was supported by Emerson.
Socratica: Beautiful Science & MathFor those who enjoy learning through videos, the YouTube channel Socratica creates free video courses on a variety of subjects with particular strength in STEM topics. Here, visitors will find well over one hundred concise, well-produced educational videos teaching diverse subjects that range from chemistry to Python tutorials to English grammar. Most videos are approximately five to ten minutes in length, but there are also several playlists that offer short glossaries featuring vocabulary for topics such as chemistry, art, and opera. Students in all disciplines may be interested in Socratica's series on study tips, where they offer advice on how to study effectively and efficiently. The videos on this channel are largely targeted for high school and college students, but anyone interested in their topics will find them valuable. Socratica also has a separate channel, Socratica Kids, where they publish videos intended for younger learners. Founded in 2013, Socratica is run by Kimberly Hatch Harrison, a professional educator with Masters in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, and Michael Harrison, a former software engineer with a Masters in Mathematics from the University of Washington.
Stated ClearlyAs the name suggests, Stated Clearly uses "short animations" and "neutral language" to expose "people from all walks of life to the simple beauty of science." Founded in 2012 by Jon Perry, "an artist and science advocate," this YouTube channel uses narrative and animations to demonstrate that "science is for everyone." The channel currently features more than 30 videos, most of which are under ten minutes long. The topics cover biology, chemistry, and genetics, and seek answer both big and small questions - from "What is life?" to "What is a molecule?" With over 274,000 subscribers, the channel's light-hearted but thorough tone appeals to a wide audience. Middle-school teachers may find the videos particularly useful, as they provide brief explanations and definitions of key scientific concepts to compliment lesson plans. For example, in "What Is an Atom and How Do We Know?" (one of the most popular videos on the channel) viewers are transported back to 400 BCE and taken on a journey to present day to show "how scientists went about figuring all this out." From discovery in Ancient Greece to modern microscopes, the video highlights the many experiments and breakthroughs that contributed to our modern understanding. Additionally, select videos are available in Spanish and Arabic, and Stated Clearly recently launched a side channel, Claramente Explicado, dedicated to Spanish translations of the videos.
TEDTalks: Michael Bodekaer: This virtual lab will revolutionize science classVirtual reality is no longer part of some distant future, and it's not just for gaming and entertainment anymore. Michael Bodekaer wants to use it to make quality education more accessible. In this refreshing talk, he demos an idea that could revolutionize the way we teach science in schools.
TEDTalks: Reshma Saujani: Teach girls bravery, not perfectionWe're raising our girls to be perfect, and we're raising our boys to be brave, says Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code. Saujani has taken up the charge to socialize young girls to take risks and learn to program -- two skills they need to move society forward. To truly innovate, we cannot leave behind half of our population, she says. "I need each of you to tell every young woman you know to be comfortable with imperfection."
TEDTalks: Tyler DeWitt: Hey science teachers - make it funHigh school science teacher Tyler DeWitt was ecstatic about his new lesson plan on bacteria (how cool!) -- and devastated when his students hated it. The problem was the textbook: it was impossible to understand. He delivers a rousing call for science teachers to ditch the jargon and extreme precision, and instead make science sing through stories and demonstrations.
Websites: Contacting Scientists
Letters to a Pre-ScientistUsing "snail mail" to inspire young scientists, Letters to a Pre-Scientist is a pen pal program ensuring all students can visualize themselves in a STEM career. The program seeks to"demystify STEM career pathways," by "pair[ing] fifth to tenth grade student 'pre-scientists' in US low-income communities with STEM professional volunteers during science class," including mentors who "who [do] not fit their stereotypical image of what a scientist looks like or does at work." Since its launch in 2010, the program has expanded into a nonprofit organization with a presence in six states. At the link above, scientists and teachers can learn more about the program, what each of their roles would be, and apply to participate (per their Twitter account, the 2020 program will launch soon). Teachers who are not enrolled in the program can still find classroom resources on the site. For example, the Picture a Scientist initiative invites scientists to submit a picture and letter about their career, and teachers are provided a lesson plan to accompany these prompts. The website also has a Blog that highlights many scientists and their various career paths, as well as offering additional insights on the program. Letters to a Pre-Scientist was co-founded by Anna Goldstein and Macon Lowman (both of whom are passionate about science and community) and receives financial support from individuals, in-kind donations, and institutions. More information about the staff, board members, and sponsors is available under the About drop-down menu.
Skype a ScientistEducators and STEM professionals alike may be interested in Skype a Scientist, a program that "matches scientists with classrooms around the world ... for 30-60 minute Q and A sessions that can cover the scientist's expertise or what it's like to be a scientist." This innovative program offers students an opportunity to video chat with an actual scientist, and it gives scientists an excellent avenue to practice their public communication skills and inspire interest in their work. When signing up to be matched, groups can choose among more than twenty different types of scientists, including biologists, computer scientists, astronomers, and social scientists, and the program also strives to highlight diversity within the STEM community. For those seeking resources to help prepare for their session, this website also has links to teaching resources (including a middle school lesson plan) and to science communication resources. Skype a Scientist was founded in 2017 by Sarah McAnulty, a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut specializing in squid microbiology. As of this writing, Skype a Scientist has connected more than 4,600 scientists in over 40 countries with 9,600 classrooms around the world. Skype a Scientist also hosts live sessions that anyone can attend via YouTube.
Websites: Women in STEM
Carnegie STEM Girls: Do It Yourself ScienceFrom homemade bath bombs to toothbrush-and-rubber-band robots, the Do It Yourself Science collection from Carnegie STEM Girls has over three dozen at-home experiments for aspiring scientists. The experiments show that "you can demonstrate cool scientific principles and test out your ideas with everyday objects found all around you." Each experiment is accompanied by a materials list and set of instructions, and most also feature additional content. For example, the "Edible DNA" experiment links to information on related careers in biology and neurobiology, while the "Scribble Bots" experiment includes a couple of electricity-themed fun facts. A project of the Duquesne Light Co. Center for STEM Education and Career Development, Carnegie STEM Girls aims to help "girls recognize that STEM topics and careers are pretty cool." In addition to the resources highlighted, the site hosts other tools for students, parents, and teachers including She's Livin' It!, which profiles women in STEM careers, and Careers A-Z, which provides information on many STEM and STEM-adjacent career paths.
Gendered InnovationsFrom Stanford University comes Gendered Innovations, a peer-reviewed project that aims to "harness the creative power of sex and gender analysis for innovation and discovery...[and] to provide scientists and engineers with practical methods for sex and gender analysis." Visitors to this project will find a wealth of resources relating to sex and gender issues in STEM fields, organized into six interconnected portals. These resources include extensive methods for STEM institutions to analyze the role of sex and gender in their organization, key terms and concepts, and checklists to help incorporate this analysis into research projects. Readers will also find case studies showing how these analysis methods have helped create innovation, policy recommendations, summaries of research literature to aid with institutional transformation towards gender equality, and a number of videos. First-time visitors may want to follow the What is Gendered Innovations? link, where they will find a helpful infographic explaining how to navigate the website. Initiated in 2009, Gendered Innovations is directed by Londa Schiebinger, Professor of History of Science at Stanford University, with participation from the European Commission and the National Science Foundation, and international collaboration with more than seventy experts in diverse fields.
Hedy Lamarr: An Inventive MindThe actress Hedy Lamarr was celebrated for her beauty and her work in classic Hollywood films like Boom Town (1940) and Samson and Delilah (1949), but she was also a talented inventor whose technological achievements went largely unrecognized until close to her death in 2000. One of her most significant innovations, which she developed with fellow tinkerer George Antheil during World War II, was a system designed to guide radio-controlled military torpedoes using "frequency-hopping" to prevent their interception, an invention that today forms the basis for wireless technologies like WiFi and Bluetooth. Lamarr and this invention are the focus of this interdisciplinary lesson plan from the National Women's History Museum. Written with middle school students in mind, this standards-aligned lesson plan introduces learners to "women's roles and limitations in World War II" and encourages them to think about gender representation in STEM fields and innovation today. The lesson plan's optional science component uses a radio-controlled toy car to explore the concepts of radio waves and frequencies that were part of Lamarr's invention. This lesson can be downloaded as an 11-page PDF and includes worksheets, instructions, and a vocabulary list.
Hidden Figures: Curriculum & Discussion GuidesThe acclaimed 2016 film Hidden Figures, loosely based on Margot Lee Shetterly's non-fiction book by the same name, tells an inspiring story about three African-American women who performed vital work for NASA during the Space Race. Readers interested in using this film as a jumping-off point for discussion, whether in classrooms or with peers, may appreciate these guides provided by Journeys in Film (featured in the 2-5-2019 Scout Report). For educators, the 156-page curriculum guide features eight fully-developed, standards-aligned lesson plans that approach different aspects of the film from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. For example, social studies classes can learn about the Cold War, the Space Race, and the history of legal segregation, while STEM-oriented lesson plans address the mathematics of space travel, the development of computer programming, and diversity and career preparation in STEM fields. For those needing less structure, the accompanying 14-page discussion guide is designed to "support dialogue with families, educators, middle and high school students to understand the historical context of these remarkable women and inspire academic and creative ambition in their own futures." Both guides can be downloaded for free as PDFs by entering an email address to subscribe to Journeys in Films' newsletter.
Latinas in STEMFounded by Jazlyn Carvajal and Diana Albarran Chicas, two first-generation Americans and first-generation college students with successful STEM careers, Latinas in STEM is a "force from the community [and] for the community." The organization hopes "to inspire and empower parents and K-12 students to pursue STEM, and to help college students and professionals thrive in their careers." On the site, readers can learn about the group's initatives on the Programs page and enjoy written content on the Blog page. Blog posts include "My STEM Journey" profiles, event recaps, and research shoutouts. The Resources page (found under About) is also filled with helpful content divided into eight categories: Student Resources, Parent Resources, STEM Statistics, Spanish Resources, STEM Activities, Coding Resources, Resources for Professionals, and STEM Videos. Latinas in STEM is supported by a variety of community partners and was honored as the 2017 California Nonprofit of the Year. Readers interested in joining should head over to the Membership page.
She Can STEMBy "giv[ing] visibility to women currently leading the world of STEM," She Can STEM hopes to inspire girls to recognize their potential within STEM fields. The resource highlights the stories of several women, including rocket designers, engineers, inventors, and other STEM superstars, and walks readers through a timeline of each woman's journey. The stories start by exploring what experiences made them interested in STEM, go on to explore internships and jobs that solidified these interests, and conclude by showcasing the work they are doing now. Additionally, following each story is a Feeling Inspired? section that lists websites and resources relating to each field. She Can STEM also has a YouTube channel (linked in the top-right corner of the website) that features short clips of interviews between girls and women in STEM fields. Plus, scrolling to the bottom of the landing page, readers will find additional materials (on the aptly titled Resources page, linked under "Explore STEM Resources"). Instructors will want to check out the Educator's Guide, also linked at the bottom of the landing page. This "She Can STEM" toolkit is a 55 page PDF with lesson plans and activities. She Can STEM is a partnership between several corporate and nonprofit entities, including Bloomberg, Google, and Verizon.
Women in ScienceThis resource offers a curated collection of books that celebrate women who have made advancements in STEM fields and broke barriers along the way. Featured books from the Women in Science list include Wangari's Trees of Peace, a story about a woman fighting deforestation in Kenya, and Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, which highlights black women who shaped history, such as mathematician Katherine Johnson and pilot Bessie Coleman. The books included span suggested reader ages from 3 to 12 years old. Each of the 17 entries includes a brief description of the book, the appropriate reader age level, links to related thematic reading lists on the site, and a link to purchase the book. The Women in Science booklist is provided by Colorin Colorado, a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). The page also links to other themed booklists, such as the Horn Books Women in STEAM and Reading Rockets booklist finder, which includes a list on Science and Math.
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: Quick TakeDespite advances in equality, women still face barriers to entering STEM fields. The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Quick Take tackles this issue, highlighting the disparities for women in STEM, both in educational and vocational settings. Notably, the report states that women accounted for less than a third (28.8 percent) of those employed in scientific research and development across the world in 2015. And, the percentage of women employed in high-tech manufacturing positions is even smaller. It further highlights that women of color in STEM fields experience even greater disparities, noting that in 2015-16 Asian women earned only five percent of bachelors degrees awarded in STEM fields, and black and Latina women earned even fewer. In addition to highlighting unequal representation in STEM fields, the Quick Take explores root causes for many of these disparities, including unequal treatment at work, lack of representation in leadership, and gaps in earnings between their male counterparts. The resource concludes with an Additional Resources section for those who want to further explore the topic. The Quick Take was created by Catalyst, a global nonprofit working with some of the world's most powerful CEOs and leading companies to build workplaces that work for women.
Websites: STEM and the LGBT+ Community
InterEngineeringInterEngineering aims to increase inclusivity in the STEM field for members of the LGBT+ community and collaborates with many organizations to achieve this goal. The group's work takes many forms, and readers can learn more about past and future events they have organized under the Blog and Events tabs. On the Publications and Resources page, readers will find valuable reports including "Powering Up the LGBT+ in Engineering" (a summary of discussions about networking, mentorship, and inclusivity for LGBT+ engineers and future engineers) and "What's It Like Being LGBT in Engineering?" (a series of videos profiling the experiences of various LGBT engineers). Want to be the first to know about future events or new reports? Follow them on Twitter, @InterEngLGBT, or subscribe to the mailing list (under the Sign Up tab). Membership to the organization is free and, while InterEngineering is based in London, they have regional groups all over the UK and hope to expand internationally soon. Several sponsors, including the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Civil Engineers, support their work.
The Leaky Tech PipelineThe Leaky Tech Pipeline highlights many of the racial and gender inequalities in technical education and the technical workforce. The site aims "to increase understanding of the causes of disparities in the technology ecosystem, raise awareness about effective strategies and stages for intervention, and drive the development and implementation of comprehensive solutions." Categories at the top of the site invite users to explore data for K-12 Education, Higher Education, the Tech Workforce, and Entrepreneurs. This data reveals racial disparities across the board. For example, 2016 data show that 58 percent of graduate-level computer science enrollees were white, while only 15 percent were Asian, 9 percent were Black, 7 percent were Latinx, and less than 1 percent were Native American. Similarly, 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrate that two-thirds of the tech workforce is white. Multiple barriers contribute to these disparities, including inequitable access to STEM classes in early education and underrepresentation in mentorship roles. In addition to educating audiences about disparities, the site offers curated resource lists for each category, as well as highlighting a variety of programs and initiatives working to increase diversity in technical fields. The Leaky Tech Pipeline is a project of the Kapor Center, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusivity in STEM.
Pride in STEMNovember 18 is LGBTQ+ STEM Day, a date picked to honor "the 60th anniversary of American Astronomer and gay activist Frank Kameny's US Supreme Court fight against workplace discrimination." Pride in STEM, a group of "LGBT+ scientists and engineers from around the world," who "aim to showcase and support all LGBT+ people in STEM fields," is one of many groups promoting this event. Under the group's LGBTQ+ STEM Day tab, readers will find a map pinpointing celebratory events worldwide. The rest of the site has resources to uplift LGBTQ+ scientists every day of the year. For example, the Resources page includes relevant educational resources, new articles, and reports, and the Events page tracks programs of interest. On the Out Thinkers page, readers will find a virtual STEM showcase sharing "research and experiences as LGBT+ individuals in academia and industry." For additional resources, readers may want to explore the Other Organisations page (which links to groups with aligned missions).
Websites: STEM and Minorities
Latino STEM Alliance Online Learning CollectionThis year marks the Latino STEM Alliance's (LSA) 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, LSA developed programming centered on their mission to help participants further"development of 21st century skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity." For example, check out the Online Learning Series page for access to free lessons and activities. For readers in the Boston area, LSA provides additional curriculum. Details about these offerings are available on the Programs and Services page. Readers should note that some programs have transitioned to online formats, making them accessible to educators outside of Boston. Readers should also stay tuned for LSA's new Remote Robotics Program (launching October 2020). Designed to last 18 weeks (with hour-long sessions), the program will help students engage with the "STEM industry and engineer solutions to issues that are meaningful to them." LSA collaborates with a variety of groups (including Boston Public Schools) and receives financial support from "foundations, corporations, academic institutions, and ... individual donors."
The Leaky Tech PipelineThe Leaky Tech Pipeline highlights many of the racial and gender inequalities in technical education and the technical workforce. The site aims "to increase understanding of the causes of disparities in the technology ecosystem, raise awareness about effective strategies and stages for intervention, and drive the development and implementation of comprehensive solutions." Categories at the top of the site invite users to explore data for K-12 Education, Higher Education, the Tech Workforce, and Entrepreneurs. This data reveals racial disparities across the board. For example, 2016 data show that 58 percent of graduate-level computer science enrollees were white, while only 15 percent were Asian, 9 percent were Black, 7 percent were Latinx, and less than 1 percent were Native American. Similarly, 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrate that two-thirds of the tech workforce is white. Multiple barriers contribute to these disparities, including inequitable access to STEM classes in early education and underrepresentation in mentorship roles. In addition to educating audiences about disparities, the site offers curated resource lists for each category, as well as highlighting a variety of programs and initiatives working to increase diversity in technical fields. The Leaky Tech Pipeline is a project of the Kapor Center, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusivity in STEM.
NASA Hispanic Heritage Month Event, ¡Latinos STEM Up!!Latinos STEM Up! was a panel discussion hosted by NASA's Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Alliance (HOLA) on October 12, 2017, as part of HOLA's Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. This discussion focused on "the contributions of Hispanics to NASA's mission and the importance of Hispanic representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers." It featured six panelists representing a range of backgrounds and perspectives from within the Latinx STEM community, with panelists hailing from leadership at NASA, as well as other organizations. Participants included (for example): Dr. Yaireska Collado-Vega, a physical scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Marile Colon Robles, the education outreach coordinator for NASA's Langley Research Center, and Jose Antonio Tijerino, the president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. In addition to these and other panelists, the discussion was moderated by Elvis Cordova, a former deputy under secretary at the US Department of Agriculture under the Obama administration. Those interested can watch the entire 90-minute panel discussion on YouTube at the link above, where they will also find a link to download the video from NASA's Image and Video Library.
Sistas in STEMSistas in STEM wants to make sure that Black women and women of color, who are too often marginalized and underrepresented within the STEM field, never feel alone. Founder Brittany A.J. Miriki works for a top tech company and launched the organization to "STEMpower" fellow Black women and women of color to achieve their own career aspirations. The collective's work focuses on a three-part mission: educate, connect, and empower. This mission is furthered through the organization's STEMpowered Women podcast, a show that introduces listeners to some incredible STEM leaders and demonstrates the range of doors that the STEM field can open, from patent law to dermatology. The Podcast page links to the various platforms where listeners can tune in. Readers will also find a Blog, which includes both recaps of podcast episodes and some independent content. The organization's social media channels include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, and these accounts are linked at the bottom of the site under "Connect With Us." In this same spot, interested readers will see an option to sign up for the Sistas in STEM mailing list.
We Rep STEM"Science is for everyone." This is the guiding principle of We Rep STEM, a platform "celebrat[ing] STEM minorities, [including] people of colour, professionals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, Indigenous researchers, women of all races, [and] scientists in niche areas of expertise." The site is a useful resource for teachers, as it offers information on inclusivity in STEM fields, highlights upcoming events and programs, profiles diverse STEM superstars, and discusses relevant health topics such as youth wellbeing. Scrolling down the home page, readers will find stories grouped in various categories, such as Most Read, Latest, and At Work. The Glossary tab at the top of the page may also be worth scrolling through, as it defines several words and acronyms frequently referenced on the site (for example, "code-switching" and "SciComm"). Readers can also find the platform on Instagram (@werepstem), Twitter (@WeRepSTEM), and YouTube (We Rep STEM).
STEM and Disabled People
The Learning KaleidoscopeMathematics teachers and tutors, especially those who work with students with special needs, may be interested in the Learning Kaleidoscope. Authored by Andrew Gael, who teaches mathematics at a K-12 school designed for students with disabilities, this blog is designed to share instructional techniques and build community amongst math teachers. Teachers may want to start by checking out the Tasks & Instructional Routines tab, which features hands-on-activities designed to engage students in math concepts. One highlight of this collection is a shopping activity related to financial literacy. Under the #SwDMathChat (Students with Disabilities Math Chat) tab, instructors can check out archived chats that took place between mathematics teachers on Twitter. Each conversation centers on a different topic related to teaching math to students with disabilities, including collaboration with general education teachers and neurodiversity. Those interested in following Andrew Gael on Twitter and participating in future math chats can find him at @bkdidact.
Science for Students with Disabilities (NSTA)STEM educators may appreciate Science for Students with Disabilities, a resource provided by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Here, visitors will find a wealth of information, teaching strategies, and links to additional resources, all aimed at helping science educators work more effectively with students with disabilities. These resources are helpfully organized into Physical Disabilities and Cognitive Disabilities, with an additional category for General accessibility information. Each category is subdivided into pages focused on more specific topics, such as Visual Impairments under Physical Disabilities and Autism under Cognitive Disabilities. Each page begins with some general information about its topic followed by specific strategies that educators can adopt to make their teaching more inclusive of students with that type of disability. While these resources were compiled with science teachers in mind, educators in other disciplines may also find useful tips here. Science for Students with Disabilities is the continuation of a project originally developed by Dr. Edward C. Keller, Jr., an award-winning professor of biology at West Virginia University who, due in part to his own paralysis from polio, was passionate about working to ensure that science education becomes fully accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
Stairway to STEMLaunched in 2018 by Pellet Media, Stairway to STEM provides "resources for autistic students and students on the autism spectrum transitioning from high school to college, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields." Contributors offer insight on a range of issues (from "navigating a syllabus [to] building collegiate support systems,") with the aim to "help autistic students realize their capacity for success as they transition to college environments and beyond." The site categorizes its resources by audience, focusing on students, families, and educators. For example, the Students page contains resources on topics such as socializing and well-being (under the Core Issues subsection), as well as posts such as "Tips for Autistic Students: How to Read Academic STEM Articles" and a "series of interviews with professors or program directors who are actively welcoming autistic students into their STEM programs or lead autism-specific initiatives at the college level," (under All Student Content). Additionally, the site contains multimedia resources, including two E-Books (available for download by making a free account) and a Podcast with 12 episodes (as of this write-up) covering topics from "Bridging Communication Differences" to "Campus Life." Finally, the Forums tab leads to a discussion board where users can browse topics of interest to students, parents, or educators. Users with a free account can contribute to these discussions, too.
