1. 21ST CENTURY
EDUCATION: MATH &
SCIENCE
“A workforce with a substantial proportion educated in Mathematics, Engineering and Science is
essential to future prosperity.” –Victoria Birch
Rachael Mullins, Samantha Nugen, Ryann Mangus, and Caitlin Freeland
2. What is Math and Science?
■ Math:
– the science that studies and explains numbers, quantities, measurements, and the
relations between them. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)
■ Science:
– knowledge about the natural world that is based on facts learned through
experiments and observation (http://www.merriam-webster.com/)
■ 21st Century Math & Science:
– “The public understanding and awareness of importance of math and science,
increased collaboration between post secondary STEM programs and business.” (Dr.
Blanco)
3. Why it’s important in surviving the
21st century
■ It’s apart of everyday life
■ It connects to things that are happening now or that we will go through(i.e. global
warming)
■ Provides a foundation
■ Encourages the use of critical thinking
■ Offers students a solid foundation for STEM programs in the future or other jobs
(factories).
■ By 2018 8 million jobs in the U.S economy will require a college degree in STEM
“With so much new knowledge being created, content no longer matters; that ways of
knowing information are now much more important than information itself.” (Andrew J.
Rotherham and DanielWillingham)
4. Its role in 21st century
■ Prepares students for a world that’s becoming more math and science based.
■ An understanding of these concepts are important for the workplace.
■ Creates high quality instruction for these subjects.
■ Increases students’ ability to think critically, solve problems, and collaborate.
■ Creating a better economy: “Last year, the U.S. Patent &Trademark Office issued
more patents to foreigners than Americans for the first time ever.The two primary
sources for graduate students in science and technology at American universities are
now China and South Korea” (Joe Mullich).
■ 21st century math and science should be focused on problem solving and using skills
taught towards real world problems
■ Creating new approaches to solve different equations/questions
5. Role of technology
■ Arts & Bots
– Without math and science these wouldn’t work.This introduces them to physics and/or
engineering.Tests your problem solving skills, even creativity.
■ Youtube
– This is a great tool for showing videos of how things work or how things are made.
(TEDtalks)
■ Posters
– Easy, fun way to have students test their knowledge by making a diagram of a
animal/plant cell
■ Photoshop
– Creating their own ecosystems; what animals or plants go in it, why?
■ Podcasts
– Listening to recordings of textbooks to help study better
6. Our Examples
■ Math:
– Using the smartboards to have the students work out mathematical equations.
– They have to underline each step in a different color.
– Then write a sentence explaining what they did and why they did it.
■ Science:
– Students will learn about different ecosystems by researching information on the internet.
– They must use Photoshop to create their own version of the ecosystem on a computer and
explain why they picked what they did to include in their ecosystem.
7. Works Cited
■ "21stCentury Skills Definition." The Glossary of Education Reform.Great Schools Partnership,
20Aug. 2015. <http://edglossary.org/21st-century-skills/>.Web. 27Apr. 2016.
■ Birch,Victoria. "Why Maths and Science Education Matters!" 3P Learning. N.p., 17 Feb. 2014.
Web. 27Apr. 2016.
■ Mullich, Joe. "America’s Math and Science Curriculum Is Key to FutureCompetitiveness." The
Wall StreetJournal. Dow Jones & Company, n.d.
<http://online.wsj.com/ad/article/mathscience-rising>.Web. 27Apr. 2016.
■ Murphy,Tony. "STEM Education--It's Elementary." US News. U.S.News &World Report, 29Aug.
2011.Web. 27Apr. 2016.
■ Rotherham,Andrew J., and DanielWillingham. "21st Century Skills:The Challenges
Ahead." Educational Leadership:Teaching for the 21st Century:.ASCD, Sept. 2009.
<http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational- leadership/sept09/vol67/num01/21st-
Century-Skills@-The-Challenges-Ahead.aspx>. Web. 27Apr. 2016.
■ "Science Pioneers."Why STEM Education Is Important For Everyone. N.p., n.d.Web. 27Apr.
2016.
■ Woolley-Wilson, Jessie. "21st Century Math Skills: A Critical Component to Success - DreamBox
Learning." DreamBox Learning. DreamBox Learning, 08Aug. 2013.
<http://www.dreambox.com/blog/21st-century-math-skills-critical-component-of-
success>.Web. 27Apr. 2016.
