WHAT’S NEW IN
STEM EDUCATION
at The California
Department of Education?
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Next Generation
Science Standards
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• Adopted by the State Board of
Education in September 2013
• In Process:
– Framework
• Instructional Materials
– Assessment
• CDE NGSS website:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssintrod.asp
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
The Next Generation
Science Standards
Three Dimensions:
• Science and Engineering
Practices
• Disciplinary Core Ideas
• Crosscutting Concepts
the dimensions must be woven together
in standards, curricula, instruction, and
assessments.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssintrod.asp
TOM TORLAKSON
Dimension 1
Science and Engineering
Practices
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
1.
Asking questions (science)
and defining problems
(engineering)
5. Using mathematics and
computational thinking
2.
Developing and using
models
6. Constructing explanations
(science) and designing
solutions (engineering)
3.
Planning and carrying out
investigations
7. Engaging in argument
from evidence
4.
Analyzing and interpreting
data
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and
communicating
information
COMMON CORE STATE
STANDARDS - MATH
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• CCSS Implementation Modules
– http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ccssplm.asp
• Field Test: Grades 3 – 11, March 18 – June 6
• Field Test Training Modules and Informational
Videos for Teachers & Students
– http://sbac.portal.airast.org/ca/field-test-ca/
• Information to high school and middle school
students about the Field Test
– High school video: http://youtu.be/DXXd451e580
– Middle school video: http://youtu.be/YKerb7NsDUE
• Smarter Balanced e-mail list
– subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
The Evolving and Elusive
STEM Definition
CDE Website
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• Science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education is used
to identify
–
–
–
–
–
–
individual subjects,
a stand alone course,
a sequence of courses,
activities involving any of the four areas,
a STEM-related course,
or an interconnected or integrated program
of study.
• A nationally agreed upon definition for
STEM education is currently lacking.
• http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/stemintrod.asp
CA Math & Science
Partnership Grants
• An approach to teaching and learning that
– Emphasizes the integral connectedness of the STEM
disciplines
– Connections are made explicit through the collaboration
of both educators and their students,
– Results in real and appropriate contexts that are built into
the instruction, curriculum, and assessment.
– The common element of Problem Solving is emphasized
across the identified STEM disciplines
– Allows students to engage, explore, expand, and
evaluate their learning and apply critical thinking skills as
they learn.
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
ACT College Testing
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• There is no agreed-upon national
definition of STEM
• ACT defined 93 STEM Majors and
Occupations by Area
– Science (24 majors and occupations)
– Computer Science & Mathematics (15)
– Medical and Health (21)
– Engineering and Technology (33)
• www.act.org/stemcondition
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Of the 107,242 California Graduates
who took the ACT in 2013
• 195 students expressed an interest
in mathematics education as a
major or occupation
• only 14 students expressed an
interest in Science Education as a
major or occupation.
Some International
STEM Comparisons
• 29 nations: The number of industrialized nations whose
high school students performed better than U.S. students in
math in 2012.
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• 22 nations: The number of industrialized nations whose
high school students performed better than U.S. students in
science in 2012.
• In 2008, 4 percent of U.S. bachelor’s degrees were
awarded in engineering. Compared to 31 percent in China.
• In 2008, 31 percent of U.S. bachelor’s degrees were
awarded in science and engineering fields. Compared to 61
percent in Japan and 51 percent in China.
The National Math & Science Initiative http://nms.org/Education/TheSTEMCrisis.aspx
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Ensuring a Competitive Workforce
• U.S. DOL: > 1.4 Million computing-related job
openings in U.S. between 2010-2020
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
• We can only fill 30% with U.S. Grads
• Young women can fill this gap, but factors
dissuade them from choosing CS
majors/careers
• Women in IT are leaving at staggering rates
• We are losing out on productivity, innovation,
and competitiveness
America cannot remain competitive in Information
Tech without more women entering these careers.
girls in IT: The Facts 2012
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
girls in IT: The Facts 2012
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
girls in IT: The Facts 2012
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
girls in IT: The Facts 2012
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
girls in IT: The Facts 2012
INFLUENCING FACTORS
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
California
STEM Symposium 2014!
TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Karen Shores
kshores@cde.ca.gov
916-319-0505
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction