Education Reform vs. STEM "Programs"

Marc Tucker blogs in "Top Performers" in Education Week that rather than promoting "STEM programs," the world's top-performing nations have education systems which work as a whole; they spend more money and time on all students who need more help to succeed and less on those who don't, have high standards for teacher preparation programs, pay teachers well and support their development, and have high-quality instructional curricula and assessments at all levels in all subjects, among other features.  Only in this way, he opines, will STEM fuel future gains in the American economy.  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2012/06/stem_why_it_makes_no_sense.html

In another op-ed piece in US News and World Report, noted inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen promotes "a return to a culture that celebrates new discoveries and brainpower, a culture that embraces the challenges and rewards of innovation."  Kamen proposes three ideas to inspire today's youth:  1) get comfortable with failure; 2) change the metrics for success; and 3) use innovative business thinking to change the culture, particularly through support of national STEM initiatives designed to foster youth to become technology leaders.  http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/06/21/without-focus-on-stem-fields-us-is-losing-its-innovative-spirit?page=2

"Wouldn't It Be Cool If . . . " Contest Submissions Due by 3/28/12

Aimed at youngsters between the ages of 10 and 15, TimeWarner's Connect a Million Minds and i.am FIRST are sponsoring a contest for young inventors/innovators called "Wouldn't It Be Cool If . . .."  Kids in age categories of 10-12 and 13-15 (individually or in teams of 2-3) can submit an idea of how a cool invention would better their community/world, and how math and science would make it work.  Expert panelists will select two finalists from each age group, who will then be invited to "pitch" their idea to Dean Kamen, will.i.am, and other guest judges at the FIRST championships in St. Louis, Missouri.  Voters can support a particular idea by clicking on the "awesome" button on its page (votes are one of four judging criteria).

Submissions are due by no later than 28 March 2012.

For more details, visit http://www.wouldntitbecoolif.com/about

Women Inventors Given Fewer Tech Licenses for Spinoffs

University tech transfer officers grant fewer university tech licenses to female inventors than males.  As a consequence, the women are not benefiting financially from the technology that they create.  Theories for the disparity include the fewer numbers of female STEM faculty, and tech licensing officers dissuading women inventors from pursuing start-ups based upon their tech inventions.  Scott Shane of Case Western Reserve University did a blind study showing potential hidden bias in the tech transfer offices.   http://www.businessweek.com/small-business/how-universities-fail-women-inventors-12282011.html