Weekend Reader on Enhancing STEM in Education

Bots High — A Documentary on High School Combat Robots [Wired: GeekDad] - One word: robotics!

The $25 Handheld Computer That Could Transform Technology Education [GOOD] - I'm really excited about this and thinking about getting one for myself.

Creating a New Generation of Computer Science Geniuses [GOOD] - Alternatively, you could enroll your kids in Codeacademy.

A Complete Education in Robot Builder’s Bonanza [Wired: GeekDad] - Sounds like this is the bible for future builders.

Six-Year High School Lets Students Earn a College Degree and a Job at IBM [GOOD] -

Free Virtual STEM Competition For Your Students

I just heard about a U.S. Army-sponsored STEM competition for middle school students and want to help spread the word: 

Heading into its 10th year, eCYBERMISSION (www.ecybermission.com) is a free, web-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition for students in grades six through nine. Your students can compete against other students in their graders for state, regional and national awards. Teams consisting of 3-4 students and a team advisor would work to solve problems in their community utilizing the scientific method, scientific inquiry or engineering design process and can win at the state, regional and national levels. To date, more than $8.5 million has been awarded to students throughout the country with more to be awarded in 2012.

Deadline to register: December 16, 2011

Some past winners include:

• The 6th grade Hardheads team was recognized by judges for their experiments with materials used to support sports helmets. For their project, the students conducted experiments on multiple materials for possible use in sports helmets, with the hope of finding a material that decreases the prevalence of concussions and other head injuries.
• The 8th grade Landroids team tested the elements necessary to create a device that could detect deer on roads.
• The 9th grade Chocolate Addiction team investigated how makeup can cause damage to the skin when it has been exposed to certain independent variables, such as heat or water.
• Other past winners can be found at: https://www.ecybermission.com/public/About/About_Winners.aspx

Here's a video with more information about the competition:

Must-Have Magazines for the Ultimate STEM Classroom Library

If we want our students to be excited about STEM/STEAM subjects and careers, we need to do everything possible to engage them within the context of our classrooms.  Beyond access to technology and integrating STEM into the curriculum, I believe a having a thoughtfully, purposely built classroom library is key.  One totally undervalued category to include in your library is magazines.

With that in mind, I've compiled a list of key titles that touch on various parts of the STEM fields in a way that will truly engage students:

Wired - Wired is the magazine of the digital age, covering STEM topics as comprehensively as any publication out there.  What's more is that they integrate them seamlessly and in a way that ties in pop culture, science fiction and cool gadgets.  It's a mix that will absolutely grab students' attention.  See also: Fast Company, Popular Science

Fast Company - This is a business/entrepreneurship magazine, but is really very close to Wired in terms of STEM content.  For example, they frequently spotlight innovative uses of technology, design and science in business.  Your students will see the cutting edge of STEM careers and industries.  See also: Inc., Entrepreneur

Discover - Discover is arguably the best pure science magazine available, and it presents topics with just the right balance of depth and storytelling.  From the teacher's perspective, it's a great resource for discussion of real world examples of science in the news.  You could build a lot of anticipation for the topics you would normally cover with stories from here.  See also: Wired, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, National Geographic

Dwell - Dwell is about beautiful, functional architecture, design and art.  It's so visually compelling that students will be drawn to it immediately, and when they inevitably start asking questions, that's your cue to start making the connections between what you're doing in class and the real world.  See also: Real Simple, Fast Company

Make: - While the other magazines on this list will provide plenty of inspiration, Make: will have them actually doing things.  Make: is full of projects for beginners and experts alike in robotics, programming, electronics, crafts and all manner of DIY stuff.  See also: Craft: (their online-only sister publication)

Perhaps the best feature of these particular titles is that each of them is supplemented by amazing websites brimming with more articles as well as projects, videos, photos and thriving communities.

If you're wondering how you can afford these titles, this is the time to reach out to friends and family with an Amazon wish list for your classroom or start a DonorsChoose.org project.  There are also emerging resources like Swellr and Local Schools Local Needs that will make this easier.

I would urge you, however, to subscribe to some or all of these yourself, as they will provide you with as much inspiration and real world context as it will for your students.