ACT, Inc. has just released their 2014 "Condition of STEM" report, summarizing key data from nearly 900,000 high-school graduates nationwide. The report examines the graduates' interest in STEM careers and academic achievement for the nation and for individual states.
While nearly half of the graduates had some type of interest in STEM careers, around one half of those (or nearly a quarter of the entire student population) had indicated a STEM career as a possible path, but did not display an inherent interest in STEM in further questioning. Another 17 percent indicated interest in STEM topics, but did not select a STEM career for a future path. This data indicates a continuing confusion about the type of work involved in STEM careers, said officials.
The data also shows that students who have expressed an interest in STEM are unprepared for success in these areas, said officials. Only 50 percent meet ACT's benchmarks for college preparedness in math, and 43 percent in science. Among students who intend to follow two- year technical degrees the numbers lower, less than 25 percent.
ACT has chosen to include Chattanooga-based Thinking Media's Learning Blade in a short list of resources suggested by STEM experts.
Learning Blade is designed to be a component of the national STEM solution. The online platform is designed to introduce middle school students to STEM careers, and to integrate and relate these careers to the academic subjects and standards actually taught in these grades. As is noted middle school is the time when students are making decisions that lead to their potential careers.
Hamilton County Commission approved funding to implement Learning Blade in the local middle schools. Schools are using the system to expose more students to STEM careers. Learning Blade has schools currently in 19 states after being fully launched about one year ago.
Review the report and state-by-state results at http://www.act.org/stemcondition/14/findings.html