Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Essential STEM Skills



River District News and Updates – June 5, 2012

In this photo students observe STEM lab chicks. The chicks came from Rivendell Farms and were incubated and hatched at River Oaks Academy. They will be returned to Rivendell Farms to mature and become producing chickens.

The Catawba River District has formed a collaboration of educators in a team we call the K-20 Learning World. The goal is to ensure that all 3,367 students at our 7 elementary schools master their science, math, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. K-20 means pre-kindergarten through PhD research – a continuum of learning.

We know that to be career ready in our global economy, STEM skills are essential. Our team approach has many components, including enhancing hands-on learning at a series of learning laboratories, like this one at River Oaks Academy.

There is a multitude of research dating back several decades confirming hands-on learning is more effective than traditional classroom learning, especially among the economically disadvantaged. Technology continues to advance at an exponential pace; we all have to take part in reversing these trends. We can accomplish this through hands-on learning in our schools and through our learning laboratories.

To learn more about STEM and the K-20 Learning World visit us online: http://www.catawbariverdistrict.org/k20.html

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