Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. It is more important than ever to addressing disparities early on in a child’s education is re-affirmed with a new study revealing drastic racial and ethnic learning gaps as early as kindergarten. The research found achievement at 13%-16% for White kindergartners displayed advanced science or mathematics versus just 3%-4% of Black or […]
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U.S. Government Addresses Lack of Diversity in Cybersecurity
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. Change often takes much longer than any of us would like, especially regarding diversity and inclusion. However, this month, the White House took a big step forward in appointing an expert to increase diversity in tech. They didn’t just choose anyone, but a black female Google executive, who understands first-hand the challenges […]
School Staffing Shortages Take a Toll on Students
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. It takes a village to educate our youth. Teachers, staff, advocates, and parents all play crucial roles. However, school staffing has taken a big hit over the last two difficult years. New data is showing how far-reaching those effects have become. When working conditions suffer, student learning suffers, especially for underserved […]
Early STEM Exposure Needed to Close Gender Gap
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. It’s no secret that women have long been underrepresented in STEM careers, but recent numbers show another problem. Since the 1990s, the number of women in these careers has increased. But, unfortunately, they have stayed relatively the same over the last decade. All this is in light of the fact […]
Classroom Inclusivity Encourages STEM Outside School
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. Feeling able to accomplish a skill begins with confidence. When it comes to STEM education, that confidence starts with inclusivity. According to a new North Carolina State University study, creating a sense of belonging in classrooms helps students feel more capable of working on STEM subjects outside of school. What Inclusivity Looks […]
Data Science is Needed in the Classroom
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. Though data science may seem like a popular catchphrase in tech, it’s much more than that. Data science is being used across many industries and is a skill that is rapidly expanding to every career field. Re-evaluating how we teach science and math in the classroom will play a big part in […]
Tech Skills Gaps: The Role of STEM Education
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. Next-level tech skills are in high demand, as I recently wrote about jobs that will be created over the next decade. However, we’re already seeing a huge gap between the candidates equipped with these skills and the number needed to fill available positions. STEM education will play a significant role in closing that gap, […]
Promising STEM Careers Don’t Always Require a Degree
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. Do high-paying STEM careers require college degrees? Here at C-STEM, we focus on K-12 STEM education, often with the goal of a college degree. Ultimately, we strive to give underrepresented students the opportunities they need to establish fulfilling careers and turn the tide for the next generation of students. However, […]
Impact on Student Attainment: Ethnicity vs. Socio-economics
Written by: Reagan Flowers, Ph.D. I recently attended a conference, and a loaded question raised from a member of the audience was, “When it comes to student attainment, which factor has the potential to hold a student back more? Is it ethnicity or socio-economic background? Their questions inspired me to challenge the audience to think […]
What the Critical Race Theory Debate Could Mean for STEM Education
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 […]
How to Pay for College Without Loans
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 […]
Why K-12 Students Need to Learn Artificial Intelligence
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 […]