Why improve STEM teaching?

Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was." This quote from Theodore von Kármán reflects the complexity and challenges scientists and engineers face. In their endeavors to discover and create, as educators they face the critical need to better prepare future scientists and engineers to innovate in our increasingly high-technology society. Schools and universities across the globe are working to attract students to STEM programs and to design learning environments that will help ensure student success. Industry requires knowledge experts who possess not only technological skills, but also problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaborative capacities. We must rethink STEM teaching to and change how students, teachers, and educational leaders conceive of and experience learning.