Think Like A Scientist

Just finished viewing a great short film on the future of technology and education. I liked the main premise of the film being that our past and current educational system in the United States does not allow for creativity and critical thinking in students. Instead students must fit into the system, or else… Check out the twenty minute film on the future of technology and education here. I view the movement of implementation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) practices in the K-12 classrooms as a step in the right direction. STEM education practices are built upon developing and strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Thinking outside of the box is encouraged. Imagine all the magnificent minds our country let fall through the system due to the traditional practices of teacher driven lectures, and route-memorization of irrelevant facts

Early Monday morning NASA’s Mars science rover Curiosity landed on the Red Planet. Launched on November 26th, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Florida, Curiosity traveled through space for eight months. Curiosity is designed to spend the next two years exploring Gale Crater. It’s primary mission is to look for evidence that Mars may have once hosted the basic building blocks necessary for life to evolve. I’m hoping that STEM and science teachers nation and worldwide incorporate hand-on-minds-on investigations in their classrooms this week that make connections to all the cool science that took place to get Curiosity to Mars, as well as sustain it for two years.  To find out more about Curiosity and the two-year mission check out the following Chicago Tribune article.