The following article about the importance of a high-quality STEM education was published as a guest column for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education for all Montana pre-college children is important for the economic health of our state and to ensure the future of these children. It will help attract high-tech industries to Montana and ameliorate the current “brain-drain” caused by our young adults searching for jobs elsewhere.
We all have a role in making this improvement; as parents setting the tone at ho
me that taking STEM courses is crucial, as educators making the extra effort to infuse new ideas into their classrooms, and, finally, as lawmakers putting the necessary resources behind the transition to excellence.
How do we succeed in elevating STEM education in Montana?
Some steps have been taken. Montana’s Board of Education approved the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for language arts and mathematics in late 2011. Schools around the state are in the implementation stage with CCSS and, while it will be a long process, the payoff will be worth the effort.
But successfully implementing CCSS will not be enough. We also need to reform Montana’s pre-college science education. In the 21st century our students need more than the simple facts of the Periodic Table or rules of motion articulated by Isaac Newton over 300 years ago. These facts are important but they are not enough. Montana children need to see the real-world relevance of those facts and get a taste of the issues that they will confront in their careers. They need guided practice on how to address society’s challenges; for example, using evidence in debate to support a position or proposed action, and gaining a familiarity of science and mathematics in the context of real world situations.
The future of our state depends on the abilities of our workforce to tackle the scientific, technical, and economic challenges that lie ahead. Whether these young Montanans go to a community college, university, or straight into the workforce their competency in STEM-related issues will be essential to their success.
The education their parents received simply won’t suffice. Today’s students will need new knowledge and skills as they enter a workforce that is demanding ever more scientific and technical proficiency. In short, their parents’ classrooms won’t cut it for the preparation of 21st century citizens.
Fortunately, Montana has an opportunity to rise to these challenges and meet its children’s needs. A recently released set of science standards provides a clear roadmap for educating the 21st century citizen. The “Next Generation Science Standards” (NGSS) offer clear statements of the specific knowledge and skills our high school graduates will need to succeed in the STEM economy. NGSS also has potential to attract more girls and minorities into STEM careers.
Twenty-six states, including Montana, led the development of these standards. This was not a federal-government effort, but a collaboration of state. Now we need to take advantage of the work achieved by this coalition of states.
While states such as Montana helped to build NGSS, there was no formal commitment to adopt these standards. The Montana Board of Education needs to approve this carefully constructed roadmap that Montanans helped create. State decision-makers as well as local community leaders need to rally behind the adoption of NGSS.
It’s crucial for our children’s education and for the future of Montana’s various industries – from agriculture to high-tech businesses – that we adopt these world-class standards.
Once the standards are adopted, people from local communities and from Montana’s colleges and universities need to engage in their implementation, turning great ideas into great classroom experiences. In that way, we can help ensure that these standards prepare young Montanans to lead our state into the future.
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