CBS News reported yesterday that STEM interest among teens is actually declining. This may seem strange given the economy's current state and the difficulty finding a job many members of the younger generation are facing, but experts at the Partnership for a New American Economy project say that there will be a shortfall of 230,000 qualified advanced-degree STEM workers by 2018.
At a time when most buzz about STEM and the initiatives in place to make it more exciting and relevant in today's schools is positive, this comes as a total downer. As stated in the CBS News report, the Partnership for a New American Economy project's Junior Achievement USA and ING U.S. Foundation teamed up to survey 1,025 teens about their career plans. This is the 12th year that they have conducted the survey, and nearly half of the students ranked STEM and medical-related fields as their top choice. Forty-six percent sounds encouraging, but that is a 15 percent decline from the 2012 survey, when 61 percent of students considered STEM their top choice.
So what's happening? Where is the disconnect between efforts being made to make STEM the go-to choice for student interest and actual student interest? Are U.S. students just simply more interested in other fields than they are STEM fields?
As CBS explains, regardless of whether there is a shortage, the first step in developing a deeper American talent pool is bolstering student interest in STEM fields. The question now: how are we going to do that?
It appears we may to go back to the drawing board, reevaluate current initiatives and efforts and implement some changes.
Check out the full CBS News report for detailed commentary on the topic and more information.
Are you looking to beef up your STEM knowledge, but aren't interested in entertaining the idea of going back to school because you can't afford it or just simply don't want to? Well, good news: the Internet is a flourishing education landscape and is at your fingertips! Whether you're an expert or a beginner, are interested in free programs or paid sessions, there are options out there for every type of learner looking for a variety of STEM skills.
Mashable recently scoured the web in search for top STEM curricula and the best part: you can take all of these courses from the comfort of your own home at your own pace. Check out the 10 courses Mashable references as some of the best online resources.
- Artificial Intelligence for Robots - This advanced Udacity class will teach you how to program a robotic car under the expert instruction of Sebastian Thrun, who ran Google and Stanford's driving teams. Even better, it's free!
- Building a Mobile Strategy - This General Assembly class looks at approaches to mobile strategy ranging from responsive design to mobile first to native apps. It will be offered this Thursday (March 21) from 2-3 pm ET and is $20.
- Coding the Matrix Linear Algebra through Computer Science Applications - Um...what? Well, if you're looking to master the methods of linear algebra and apply them to computer science, try this eight-week course. It kicks off this June.
- Elements of Software Construction - If you're interested in learning the basics of software development, this semester-long course offered on MIT OpenCourseWare might be just what you need. You'll learn to write software that's free from bugs, easy to understand and ready for change.
- Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science - Another MIT OpenCourseWare track, this challenging intro to computer science explains how you can use computer science to understand topics ranging from universes and minds.
- Introduction to Programs Data Types and Variables - This Khan Academy video series teaches you the basics of data types, variables and conditional statements. Learn to code by watching free videos...? Sounds like a sweet deal to us!
- Intro to Google Analytics - Want to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Google Analytics works? This General Assembly course offered Wednesday (March 20) from 2-3 pm ET will give you a comprehensive understanding of what GA can do for your business. This course costs 20 bucks.
- Life on Earth and in the Universe - If you've always been curious about when life on earth developed, this Khan Academy class is for you! You'll learn the history of life on earth, how human evolved as a species and whether there could be intelligent life on other planets.
- Statistics: Making Science of Data - You see stats in headline news everyday, but do you really understand what you're looking at? If not, you should try this eight-week Coursera course that promises to bring you up to speed on collection, display and analysis.
- Web Development - This Udacity course will explain how to build your own blog application and scale it for many users, increasing your business' web presence.
For links to all of the courses and websites mentioned above, visit Mashable's site.
CBS News reported yesterday that STEM interest among teens is actually declining. This may seem strange given the economy's current state and the difficulty finding a job many members of the younger generation are facing, but experts at the Partnership for a New American Economy project say that there will be a shortfall of 230,000 qualified advanced-degree STEM workers by 2018.