I used to teach TechEd in Kentucky in 1995. Back then several states has legislation similar to the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) Act, which required us to incorporate academic subjects like math, science and history into our CTE areas. My lessons on water propulsion rockets would cover the composition of a rocket engine, the history of rockets, calculating the distance a student thought their rocket would travel, and designing and writing an advertising brochure that argues why your rocket is the best.
While a lot has changed in education since then, the concepts of incorporating STEM into CTE hasn’t. Within the past few years we’ve seen STEM yet again propelled front and center – but this time on a broader scale.
No longer do we see one teacher or one school dedicated to STEM. STEM is now integrated across all academic subject areas and within all grade levels of a public K-12 school system. States now have entire divisions devoted to STEM and often, like in the case of the state of Virginia, STEM, Adult Education and CTE are all under one umbrella.
Determining the role of STEM continues to be the struggle for most school systems. While CTE continues to be the foundation of career pathways, how STEM is taught within these pathways is changing.
New CTE Areas Inherently Cover STEM
CTE programs today prioritize higher learning areas needed in the U.S. to keep our country competitive, which has paved the way for three new pathways exploding onto the scene.
The need for American workers in manufacturing has led to the development of the Mechatronics pathway, which allows students to learn mechanical, electronic, robotic concepts in an automated learning environment.
The increase in cyber warfare threat has led to the development of the Cybersecurity pathway, which covers computer science, engineering, and information technology education.
The growing popularity of big companies like Amazon and UPS have led to the development of the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics pathway, which teaches students not only about the movement of goods and materials, but also transportation infrastructure planning and management.
All three of these new pathways are a direct response to the technological disruption we’ve seen since the beginning of the 21st century.
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Traditional CTE Programs Now Use STEM Technologies
It’s not just the emerging CTE fields that are changing the face of STEM in our schools. Traditionally siloed programs, like machine tooling or automotive technology, are embracing 21st century technologies as well. Machine tooling programs are using 3D printers to practice quicker, more cost effective tooling techniques. Welding programs are turning to augmented reality to train students.
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There is a much higher concentration of STEM learning within the more traditional CTE areas. Post baby-boomer generation students are eager to get their hands on the latest technologies and learning how these can create efficiencies and make improvements within their jobs.
How is STEM changing the CTE pathways within your school system?
