Illustration by M. Scott Byers Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. You have probably seen the term critical race theory (CRT) a lot lately. Unfortunately, the issue has become highly divisive and politicized. However, we need to focus on proposed changes’ impact on today’s students, future careers, and our communities. The Debate Around Critical Race […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. As we get closer to the fall semester, many high school graduates are still deciding their paths. They are wondering how to pay for college without loans, whether to take a year off, and/or whether to pursue a college degree at all. So this month, I want to take a […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. It’s easy to think of artificial intelligence (AI) as a technology that is decades away from everyday use. Many people may also be aware of current applications, like chatbots on websites. However, AI is being implemented in a wide variety of industries. Its use will only continue to grow, and […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. As a STEM community, we know that our economically disadvantaged students, minorities, females, and disabled students continue to face barriers. However, as we continue our mission to ensure success in STEM for every student, there is another quickly growing group of students we need to consider: multilingual students. These learners […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. As we near the end of the first full school year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, districts around the country are making decisions about the near future. That includes the availability of summer school classes and altering schedules to help students catch up on lost time and progress. The Importance […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) provide culturally responsive environments and play an essential role in bringing together students who have had marginalized lived experiences. Studies have shown that even though an equal number of Black students begin college majoring in STEM fields, they do not continue. A third of minority students […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD As a community focused on improving underserved students’ opportunities, we are all keenly aware of the lack of women and Black scientists. However, every time I dig in and look at the numbers, they are still overwhelming. There is simply more to be done. We’re continually taking steps forward, but turning […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD It’s a new year, and even more importantly, a new administration has stepped in. Following drops across the board in enrollment in 2020 — from Kindergarten to college — it’s time to take a serious look at the opportunity to improve education for the future, especially concerning STEM for economically disadvantaged students. Learning gaps […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD The harsh effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education have reached another level of concern. Recent numbers have shown that the decline in U.S. college enrollment doubled in fall 2020 compared to fall 2019. Enrollment was 3.6% lower than in 2019. That’s more than 560,000 students. As soon as schools started closing […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD Improving equity in STEM education is an ongoing journey. I have been passionate about this effort throughout my work in education. It will take much more action in the coming decades to move the needle. As a community of educators, parents and supporters, there are many ways to improve equity […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD In the midst of one of the most trying years in recent decades, and with the election approaching, conflict and controversy continue to run high. One way we can examine any situation, including approaching how we serve all students adequately, begins by taking a look at our own personal biases. […]
Written by: Reagan Flowers, PhD Having passed the sixth-month of the impacts of COVID-19, we’ve now seen schools close and reopen. We’ve seen the cancellation of standardized tests. We’ve seen parents and students struggling to keep up and get the resources they need, especially the most economically disadvantaged families and minorities. Now we’re seeing something […]
