STEM the Tide: Reforming Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in America

by David E. Drew

Proven strategies for reforming STEM education in America’s schools, colleges, and universities. One study after another shows American students ranking behind their international counterparts in the STEM fields―science, technology, engineering, and math. Businesspeople and cultural critics such as Bill Gates warn that this alarming situation puts the United States at a serious disadvantage in the high-tech global marketplace of the twenty-first century, and President Obama places improvement in these areas at the center of his educational reform. What can be done to reverse this poor performance and to unleash America’s wasted talent? David E. Drew has good news―and the tools America needs to keep competitive. Drawing on both academic literature and his own rich experience, Drew identifies proven strategies for reforming America’s schools, colleges, and universities, and his comprehensive review of STEM education in the United States offers a positive blueprint for the future. These research-based strategies include creative and successful methods for building strong programs in science and mathematics education and show how the achievement gap between majority and minority students can be closed. A crucial measure, he argues, is recruiting, educating, supporting, and respecting America’s teachers. Accessible, engaging, and hard hitting, STEM the Tide is a clarion call to policymakers, administrators, educators, and everyone else concerned about students’ participation in the STEM fields and America’s competitive global position.

Genres: Education

264 pages, Hardcover

First published August 8, 2011

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last few chapters were very insightful and helpful in understanding where our education system is at when it comes to STEM education. This book helped me a lot in my course on STEM/STEAM!

[Evan & Angeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

First part was good, if a little broad

Was good for the first third. It couldn't stop wandering far off-topic; this included lengthy and unnecessary anecdotes, especially of history of college education in the US. There were times I had to remind myself it was a book about reforming STEM education.

[Chris Brownell · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Drew's relating of his research in the field of STEM education. Wonderful collection of vignettes and recommendations. A must read for policy makers in the field.