at The California Department of Education?

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

at The California Department of Education?

WHAT’S NEW IN STEM EDUCATION

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TOM TORLAKSONState 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

The Next Generation Science Standards

TOM TORLAKSONState 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 TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

1. Asking questions (science) and defining problems (engineering)

2. Developing and using models

3. Planning and carrying out investigations

4. Analyzing and interpreting data

5. Using mathematics and computational thinking

6. Constructing explanations (science) and designing solutions (engineering)

7. Engaging in argument from evidence

8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Dimension 1Science and Engineering

Practices

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS - MATH

• 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– [email protected]

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

The Evolving and Elusive STEM Definition

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

CDE Website• 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

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

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 TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

ACT College Testing

• 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 TORLAKSONState 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.

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

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.

• 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 TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

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STEM

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

Ensuring a Competitive Workforce

• U.S. DOL: > 1.4 Million computing-related job openings in U.S. between 2010-2020

• 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 TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

girls in IT: The Facts 2012

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

girls in IT: The Facts 2012

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

girls in IT: The Facts 2012

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

girls in IT: The Facts 2012

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

INFLUENCING FACTORS

TOM TORLAKSONState Superintendent of Public Instruction

California STEM Symposium 2014!

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Karen [email protected]

916-319-0505