[Source: NSTA Reports, via Richard D. Fisher, Biodesign Institute at ASU] — At its August meeting, the National Science Board (NSB) unanimously adopted a motion to release for public comment a draft national action plan to address critical 21st-century needs in the nation’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education system. The draft of “A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System” can be found at this web page.
The plan states that the overarching goal is to enhance the quantitative skills and scientific literacy of all students because all jobs increasingly will require technical knowledge. Universities and colleges would play a crucial role by producing STEM teachers better trained in the content of science and mathematics along with proven, researched ways to teach. The overarching actions stressed in the plan are increasing coordination of STEM education