Technology Offers Assistance in STEM Education Improvement
Educational improvement in STEM -- science, technology, engineering and math -- is critical and can be assisted by technology, said panelists at a Brookings Institution discussion and other experts in later interviews. “We're so behind in these areas, it’s unbelievable,” said Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. “In order for the next generation to be successful, for this country to be successful in this new global economy we live in, the issues of STEM … [are] going to be critical.” The Obama administration had responded to U.S. students’ low international rankings in math and science by starting the Education to Innovate initiative in 2009.
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The public and private sector have funded technology for STEM education, and more needs to be done, the panelists said. Begich said the government should invest more in education and infrastructure. “If we don’t do this, I guarantee you 10 years from now we'll have this discussion on why we're down to number 50 in these [STEM] areas.” James Werle, National Internet2 K20 Initiative director, said the E-rate program has provided funding for broadband access in classrooms. Funding STEM classroom technology is a “collaborative effort,” said Eric Fingerhut, vice president of education and STEM learning at Battelle Memorial Institute. “In addition to government, we really need to get businesses involved.” Battelle’s STEMx received funding from foundations, corporations and the government at every level, he said.
Technology increases student engagement, Werle said. “Using the same sort of equipment literally that scientists are using on a daily basis has a pretty profound impact on their engagement levels and enthusiasm for science.” Incorporating tools like interactive video in classrooms provide “immense learning opportunities and professional development opportunities,” he said. The Internet allows experts, like marine biologists, to educate in classrooms, Fingerhut said. “If we can make it possible for the laboratory scientist to reach the students, they will do it in droves."
Internet2, a network consortium for a variety of educational institutions, has connected approximately 65,000 institutions, 54,000 of which are K-12 schools, Werle said. The STEM movement is also experiencing growth, said Fingerhut. Battelle’s STEMx began in 13 states on June 27, connecting state networks and allowing the exchange of STEM education ideas, tools and practices, he said.
Potential problems caused by technology in a classroom are outweighed by potential benefits like a customized educational experience, Lindsey Burke, a fellow in education at the Heritage Foundation, said in an interview. Technology access is second nature to most students, so technology in the classroom offers an extension of their experience, she said. No extensive research on potential problems of technology in the classroom exists, because it’s still in its infancy, she said.
The benefits of technology in the classroom depend on its use, said Rick Hess, American Enterprise Institute director of education policy studies. Technology can potentially distract from the actual learning, he told us. “Technology creates all kinds of cool possibilities, but the challenge is it’s easy for educators to think of technology as a crutch.” Thoughtful technology use can provide a beneficial complement to traditional teaching, but placing students in front of a laptop inadequately substitutes for quality teaching, he said.
Funding for classroom technology should be produced at the local and state level, Burke said. Federal education funding, despite its exponential increase since President Lyndon Johnson’s administration, hasn’t produced an improvement in educational outcomes, she said. The question isn’t whether the government should fund classroom technology, but “how do we make sure we're investing a better use of the funds when it comes to serving kids,” Hess said: Money spent on technology can’t fund better teachers or instruction.