Gwynne Shotwell TECHNOLOGIES

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M A G A N E STEM Choices, choices,choices NURSING TATA Sonal Ramrakhiani PedaltotheMetalfor Gwynne Shotwell TECHNOLOGIES

for Women

February 2018

\\024v ENGINEERING Jennifer McInnis Assistant Professor A BETTER (Mechanical Engineering) FUTURE

At SNHU, we’ve set out to build the next generation of STEM leaders. We do it by offering cutting edge resources, state-of-the-art facilities, and experienced faculty. Our all-star team of professors and faculty members have just one goal: to give you the best STEM education possible.

Take Jennifer McInnis, for example. Jennifer is an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at SNHU. She joined SNHU after teaching at Daniel Webster College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, bringing with her a wealth of engineering experience including time as a manufacturing engineering technician with UltraSource, Inc. She hopes to put her experience to work education the engineers and STEM leaders of tomorrow!

Meet our faculty for yourself! Visit the SNHU campus today.

snhu.edu | [email protected] | 603-645-9611 To understand STEM...... you must DEFINE STEM, but you cannot define an acronym using the words it stands for; you must define the words the acronym stands for.

Science: “The systematic accumulation of knowledge” (all subjects and careers)

Technology: “The practical application of science” (all subjects and careers)

Engineering: “The engineering method: a step by step process of solving problems and making decisions” (every subject and career)

Math: “The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combina- tions, generalizations, and abstractions” (every career will use some form[s])

For a moment, set aside any precon- As an example, according to the ceived notions of what you think a Department of Labor, there is a huge STEM career is and use the above shortage in the U.S. of - dictionary definitions to determine the skills used in any career field you Nurses choose. Did you know nursing was a STEM These definitions are the “real” mean- career? ing of STEM skills and STEM careers. An Engineer / by Wayne Carley

Sonal Ramrakhiani / by Publisher

Nursing...a STEM Career / by R.R. Jenkins

Adolescents & Smart Phones / by Richard Freed

Top7 YouTube STEM Channels

Woman Auto Mechanic Every Woman is a STEM Woman

STEM for Women Magazine strives to STEM for Women Magazine is seek- encourage and support every effort to engage girls and young women grades ing* a new national proprietor. K-16 to become and remain curious Consider having your own global about science, technology, engineering and math. magazine to address the women’s issues that are most important As women in these fields continue to to you. This magazine would also inspire and innovate, more opportunities present themselves for women make a great admissions outreach to take the lead, both on the local level tool nation wide. and within global corporations.

STEM for Women Magazine presents For more information about making the worlds finest authors, many of this “your own”, contact the whom are professional women in publisher at: STEM careers, to inform and inspire. Gender is not a factor in innovation or imagination. [email protected] Let us show our young women the way and provide any needed confidence to achieve the dreams they once thought were unattainable.

Wayne Carley Publisher [email protected] 478.319.7177 The most powerful rocket in use today relies on a powerful woman President.

Gwynn Shotwell - President and COO,

No doubt you witnessed the recent leader in space technology and launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy exploration... rocket; a spectacular success in rock- etry innovation and technology. At the throttle is an American business woman, responsible for day-to-day operations As of 2016, she is listed as the 76th and company growth of the world most powerful woman on Earth. In 2002 Shotwell joined SpaceX, the solving STEM degree. private, commercial, space exploration company founded by Elon Musk in Shotwell would like to see more women the same year. She was its seventh em- enter the mechanical engineering field, ployee, with the role of vice president so let’s discuss some specific areas of business development and she has a included in mechanical engineering seat on the SpaceX board of directors. which is comprised of dozens of differ- The company builds the Falcon vehicle ence career opportunities. family which has launched almost 50 times representing nearly $5 billion As one of the oldest engineering disci- in revenue. Shotwell is now President plines, Mechanical Engineering applies and COO of SpaceX, responsible for the engineering method, physics, and day-to-day operations and managing materials science principles to design, all customer and strategic relations to analyze, manufacture, and maintain support company growth. mechanical systems.

Famed for its innovation and disrup- The mechanical engineering field tion of an entire industry, SpaceX requires an understanding of core became the first private company to areas including mechanics, dynamics, successfully launch, orbit, and recover thermodynamics, materials science, a spacecraft. It also has a multi-billion structural analysis, and electricity. In dollar contract with NASA to deliver addition to these core principles, me- astronauts to the International Space chanical engineers use tools such as Station (ISS). SpaceX is also working computer-aided design (CAD), and on a next-generation transportation product life cycle management to system to take people to Mars in the design and analyze manufacturing near future. plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, Keeping the thousands of moving transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, SpaceX parts flowing productively is a robotics, medical devices, weapons, huge responsibility and requires and others. It is the branch of engineer- tremendous “people skills” along with ing that involves the design, produc- foresight, organization, planning, tion, and operation of machinery. implementation and problem solving. Speaking of problem solving, it’s very As you can see, a wide variety of ca- helpful that she has a degree in reers are included in mechanical engi- mechanical engineering....a problem neering well beyond space applications. In the 18th century, Mechanical Engi- l Basic physical sciences (including neering emerged as a field during the physics and chemistry) Industrial Revolution in Europe and can be traced back several thousand l Strength of materials and solid years around the world. In the 19th mechanics century, developments in physics (the branch of science concerned with the l Materials Engineering, Composites nature and properties of matter and energy) led to the development of l Thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanical engineering science. energy conversion, and HVAC (your heating and air conditioning employees The field has continually evolved to learned this) incorporate advancements such as composites, mechatronics, and nano- l Fuels, combustion, internal com- technology. It also overlaps with aero- bustion engine (auto mechanics has to space engineering, metallurgical en- learn this) gineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineer- l Instrumentation and measurement ing, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and other engineering l Manufacturing engineering, tech- disciplines to varying amounts. nology, or processes

Mechanical engineers may also work l Hydraulics, and pneumatics (this is in the field of biomedical engineering, fun and I think rather easy) specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, bio-mechatronics, l Mechatronics, and robotics (these bio-nanotechnology, and modeling of are rather new area and very interest- biological systems. ing)

Coursework l Drafting, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufac- The fundamental subjects of mechani- turing (CAM). (Architects, furniture cal engineering usually include: designers and food manufacturers are a few professions that use this) l Mathematics (in particular, calcu- lus, differential equations, and linear algebra) While Shotwell has always acted as a temper to balance Elon Musk’s extraor- dinary willingness to accept risks in the pursuit of non-traditional solutions or goals, she noted that, “I have learned over my 15 years of working with him to not bet against him and not question whether something can be done”.

This essential “balance” between a powerful man and powerful woman will be necessary along SpaceX’s path to Mars, and the Musk-Shotwell duo encourage significant optimism that SpaceX will continue to succeed. Musk could not have found a more perfect person to help lead SpaceX, and Shot- well will almost certainly continue to work miracles as she works to ensure that SpaceX achieves its lofty ambitions.

______

This is what women can bring to the equation of any industry. By the very nature of how men and women are constructed emotionally, mentally, and intellectually, this balance in partner- ship, leadership and cooperation is a positive asset that should never be ignored.

TATA TECHNOLOGIES Q&A with Sonal Ramrakhiani Chief Operating Officer – Americas When do you remember being influenced toward technology?

I have always viewed technology as a pervasive part of life, from my personal to professional experiences. When you think about today’s workforce, there is a need to understand technology, as it is at the core of everything we do. From all aspects of communication to business functions like interpreting analyt- ics, everything is technology driven. In my career, I have viewed technology as a component to differentiate and enrich our ability as people and profes- sionals to make an impact.

Was there a specific experience that drove you toward a career in technology?

My involvement with TAS, a leadership program within the Tata Group, has significantly influenced the trajectory of my career and exposed me to varying paths. There has been an inherent technology thread through all of the roles this program afforded me, including brand management, customer experience management and business development. Passion for and interest in the technol- I think obstacles are what make life ogy that enabled these roles allowed interesting. Every step today is what me to have a better impact in the leads you to tomorrow, so looking organizations that I worked for. For back, those challenging moments all example, truly understanding CRM contributed to the place where you are workflows, can help in better pipeline now. I don’t necessarily dwell on the management, as well as reduce the obstacle itself; rather, I focus on the effort that an average person may see as solutions that will get me to my next just a data entry burden. step.

What aspects of technology do you find Tell us about your education? most interesting? My bachelor’s degree is in biochemis- I am most interested in technology’s try, and I have an MBA, as well. During ability to impact every element of life. my undergraduate studies, I was very When you think about the automotive passionate about biology. Many of my industry, for example, technology isn’t peers ended up going into research just changing the way cars are devel- after they obtained their degrees. oped. An innovation like autonomous When I thought about what I would driving technology is not just about do next, I knew myself well enough how the vehicle is helping you travel to know that I was better suited for a from point A to point B. management-focused career.

This technology will change road safety This led me down the path of pursuing standards, improve the quality of life, an MBA. I do believe, though, that my increase productivity. It is likely to interest and education in biology has transform not just the auto-industry, given me a different perspective on but also insurance, and certainly the how people are wired. This brings an housing industry as we know it today. interesting layer to my approach as a People will increasingly move further manager. away from their workplace since com- mute could also be a productive part of the day.

What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome? TATA TECHNOLOGIES Tata Technologies is a global leader Our Vision is to engineer a better in engineering services outsourcing world by helping our clients realize and product development IT services better products and improve the to the global manufacturing indus- quality of lives of those that are try; enabling ambitious manufac- exposed to those products. We turing companies to design and achieve this through our product build better products. A company engineering expertise focused on of innovators, specialists in the de- manufacturing technologies, light- sign engineering space, who apply weighting, electrical vehicle pro- cutting-edge technology to provide grams and associated IT solutions a competitive advantage to custom- thereby helping design products ers in the manufacturing sector. that are safer, have a lower carbon footprint and deliver a better ex- The company is a strategic partner perience which in turn contributes for developing complete vehicles, towards a better world for us all. engineering subsystems and com- ponents, managing the New Product Our Mission is to help the world to Introduction (NPI) process through drive, fly, build and farm by en- collaborative engineering tools, abling our clients to realize bet- such as Product Lifecycle Manage- ter products through our offerings ment (PLM) and tying together across our focus verticals (auto- information created and used through- motive, aerospace and industrial out the extended manufacturing machinery). The product will be enterprise. better for our clients owing to the application of our competencies Tata Technologies is headquartered around delivering complex product in Singapore, with regional head- development programs, lightweight quarters in the United States (Novi, structures, frugal engineering and Michigan), India (Pune) and the UK product engineering expertise to (Warwick) with a combined global deliver effective IT solutions for the work force of more than 8,500 manufacturing industry. employees serving clients world- wide from facilities in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Any regrets? What would you do Words of wisdom to young women differently? considering a career in technology?

I don’t live with any regrets. I look back Jump right in! We’re in an exciting on decisions I’ve made, and even with phase of technology transformation, the benefit of hindsight, I think about and we are on the cusp of a dramatic the information I had access to at the boom in opportunity. Technology is time and have confidence that I made taking center stage in nearly every in- the right decisions considering what dustry and career path, so it’s import- I knew then. My focus is always on ant to be engaged, open to learning and what’s next rather than what’s behind flexible to the inevitable change. me. Other advice or feedback you’d like to Is your career what you imagined it offer? would be? Gender should never dictate the paths When I made the decision to move that women – or men – take in their toward a management career, I didn’t lives. Technology is enabling new types necessarily know exactly where I would of jobs and will be at the center of in- end up, but the leadership role I have dustries and jobs that don’t even exist now is what I was striving to achieve. yet. Giving opportunity to women isn’t I’ve made decisions in my career that just about equality – it makes econom- helped me to round out my profile as a ic sense to extend these opportunities professional, and those skill sets have to the entire pool of candidates avail- enabled me to drive toward excellence. able. ______These cross-industry and cross func- tional experiences also allow me to Ms. Ramrakhiani is responsible for the better empathize with teams, share territory’s P&L and leads all Sales, industry best practices and make Marketing, IT, HR and Administra- recommendations that lead to the best tive personnel. She brings more than possible outcomes for the company. 17 years of business and management experience to her role. Nursing Nursing The Vast Possibilities (and STEM needs)

With hundreds of different nursing specialties available, from helping Yes , there is a growing short- the new born to caring for the elder- age of nurses, but few are aware of ly, the science, technology, engineer- just how diverse the opportunities ing and math applications provide are in nursing and the wide variety something for everyone. of education levels to meet both your financial and interest levels. It goes Do you want hands on patient care? without saying that the more edu- Done. How about robotic surgery? cation you get, the better the salary Do you want to fly? Become an and more challenging the career. As emergency helicopter nurse. Is CSI always, those choices are up to you. your thing? Consider forensic nursing and be a crime solver. How about a travel nurse and roam the world working in a different country every few months. Is research for curing disease of interest? Maybe the research lab is for you. Does blood bother you? If not, how about the emergency room or surgery. I could go on for a hundred pages, but I think you get the point.

Jumping into something new is scary when you don’t have all of the facts. That’s exactly why choosing a career is so challenging. It’s not like you can just spend a few years in school, try out a job for a bit and jump to another if you don’t like it – well, not without more education and training, anyway! Becoming a nurse is a little different. Experts say that by listening you can It’s much easier to transition over into a learn a lot – and there’s always more for different field once you have the educa- nurses to learn! Listening to patients is tion foundation. We all think we know crucial for determining the best way to what an RN does, based on TV shows care for them. Paying close attention or our real-life interactions at hospitals can also help shed light on important or doctor’s offices. But what goes on medical conclusions. And of course, behind the scenes? the patients will appreciate feeling heard. You’ll get attached to patients if you wish. Your skills can take you many places. You may work with many people of all age groups day in and day out. Sooner You learn many new skills while earn- or later you’ll meet a special patient ing your nursing credentials and some who will tug on your heartstrings. But of them transferable skills that can help they’re in your care because they’ll ill if you decide to move on into another or possibly even dying. specialty or career field. Nurses aren’t limited to working in hospitals and Although you want to do everything they’re not even limited to just caring you can to help him or her, you also for patients! Teaching, tutoring and have to know when it’s time for their recruiting are other viable job options family – and you – to say good-bye. former nurses can pursue. You can’t save everyone, but that’s part of what being a nurse is all about...... STEM skills every nurse needs caring. are knowledge (the science), the use of special medical computer software You have to be a good listener. and instruments (the technology), life saving decision making on a daily ba- Nurses are often the ones issuing the sis ( the engineering method), and a orders and making sure patients wide variety of simple and sometimes understand medications or treatment complicated (math) applications such plans. But if you want to be an excel- as filling a syringe with the proper lent nurse you’ll need to be a good amount of medication, adjusting ma- listener, too. chines to the proper settings numeri- cally, timing and carting for accurate “All you need is the vision and passion” patient care, taking blood pressures As its title suggests, CNAs assist nurses and temperatures which require basic with patient admittance and vitals. It is math. the lowest level credential that one can have in the nursing field and it does Then there are complicated lab not make a person a nurse. CNAs are formulas that require advanced required to pass a specialized exam algebra, physics, and beyond to to work in the field but it is typically determine medication effectiveness, only tied to a single course so there is a drug interactions, risk assessment and quicker point of entry. It’s a start. experimental research. You’ll also need the “A” in STEAM for gaining clini- LPN: licensed practical nurse Degree cal knowledge, academic writing, time level: diploma/associate Mean salary: management, process, $42,557 procedures, instructions and leadership skills. Becoming an LPN requires either an associate degree (2 year) or a diploma Most nurses don’t go into the profes- and can be accomplished in as little as sion with the idea that they’ll be rich. 12 months. After completing a pro- Of course, most people don’t work for gram from an accredited school, LPNs free, either. But we all hope your main sit for the National Council Licensure motivation for becoming a nurse is Exam (NCLEX-PN) to become certi- to care for those in need. Once again, fied. Many LPNs work in clinics or your salary will depend on your moti- private home settings and are respon- vation to gain the knowledge necessary sible for registering patient vital signs for those very high paying jobs. If you such as heart rate and blood pressure, have the passion to help others, you collecting blood samples and feeding, will be rewarded. Nursing schools and dressing, and caring for patients. nursing education is very flexible so let’s look at the basics: TIP: LPN tracks are often the first choice of people who want to begin a career as CNA: certified nursing assistant a nurse but do not have time to commit Degree level: high school diploma to a longer program right away. Mean salary: $35,208 “Service”

LVN: licensed vocational nurse Degree level: diploma/associate Mean salary: $42,640

LVNs have identical positions to LPNs. The only difference is that the term “vocational nurse” is the title used in California and Texas. Like LPNs they complete an associate or diploma degree program and must pass the NCLEX for certification. RN: registered nurse program at a university or continue Degree level: associate/bachelor’s their education from an existing RN Mean salary: $64,886 associates degree through a complet- er program in as little as 12 additional RNs, or professional nurses, are the months. most in-demand positions in the U.S. An RN credential is either earned through an associate or bachelor’s degree. There are also opportunities for LPNs to continue their education and earn an RN credential through a mobility program. RNs are certified through the NCLEX-RN examination which contains higher level nursing topics than the LPN version.

TIP: The increased training gives RNs the tools to be responsible for more ho- listic care of patients from beginning to end of their treatment and allows them to work in a variety of settings from hospitals to critical care. This level of education has the greatest potential and flexibility so far in our review.

BSN: Bachelor of Science in nursing Degree level: bachelor’s Mean salary: $73,091 TIP: The American Association of Col- leges of Nursing has called for 80 percent A BSN is a registered nurse that has of nurses in hospitals to hold a bachelor earned a bachelor’s degree. Nurses degree by 2020. The additional educa- attain their bachelor degree through a tional credits can open the door to the traditional four-year 370,000 jobs in the last 12 months alone that all preferred to hire someone with a BSN. MSN: Master of Science in nursing TIP: One option for MSNs is becoming Degree level: master’s a nurse educator since most state nurs- Mean salary: $73,768 ing boards require the faculty to have at least one credential higher than the The most common graduate-level de- level of the program they are teaching. gree in nursing is MSN but there are several variations including CRNA: certified registered nurse anesthetist Degree level: master’s/doctorate Mean salary: $157,000 - $214,000

The CRNA is a graduate-level certification that nurses are eligible to pursue after completing a BSN program. Ac- credited CRNA programs culminate in either a master’s degree or doctorate with the opportunity to sit for a national certification exam. Nurse anesthetists are compensated highly for bearing the heavy responsibility of putting patients under anesthesia prior to surgery.

Master of Nursing (MN) and Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) with a major in nursing. As with any profession, you can continue to open career opportunities by bolstering your nursing degree with additional education. CNM: certified nurse-midwife also referred to as advanced practice Degree level: master’s registered nurses (APRN). Mean salary: $70,000 TIP: NPs are one of the main positions that hospitals are hoping to lean on to CNMs, also referred to as certified help alleviate the shortage of doctors midwives (CMs), are registered nurses that is expected in the very near future. that hold a master’s degree and work with women through pregnancy, child- NR: nurse researcher birth and postpartum. There is a na- Degree level: doctorate tional certification exam at the end of Salary range: $95,000 - $100,000 the program to designate the skill of midwifery. Nurse researchers are doctoral-prepared registered nurses that followed a COHN: certified occupational health scientific path of nursing. After com- nurse pleting a bachelor’s and master’s degree Degree level: master’s/doctorate they either pursue a Doctor of Philoso- Mean salary: $63,472 phy (PhD) in a nursing-related subject or a Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS). Occupational health nurses (OHNs) These nurses work side-by-side with work with companies to create a safe other scientists to study illnesses and work environment for employees. The other healthcare initiatives. COHN is another graduate-level certification for registered nurses with a Very few careers offer such a diverse BSN. Depending upon the program, choice of education levels and specialty COHN programs can lead to either a opportunities. You should look at this master’s or doctorate degree and one long and hard. culminate with a certification exam. Knowing what to expect in nursing NP: nurse practitioner school can help you be prepared for Degree level: master’s/doctorate what’s to come. Salary range: $90,583 You’ll never stop learning NPs are registered nurses with a graduate-level degree, sometimes • Ambulatory Care Nurse (outside the • Orthopedic Nurse (bones and joints) hospital care) • Otorhinolaryngology Nurse (ear, • Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse (the nose and throat) heart) • Pediatric Nurse (children and teens) • Case Management • Perianesthesia Nurse (recovering • Correctional Nurse from anesthesia) • Enterostomal Therapy Nurse • Perinatal Nurse (cares for women (Urinary conditions) during pregnancy, birth and after) • Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Nurse • Primary Care/Office Nurse (looking at your guts)

• Psychiatric Nurse • Genetics Nurse • Re-constructive Surgical Nurse • Infection Control Nurse • Rehabilitation Nurse • Intravenous Therapy Nurse (veins) • Respiratory Nurse (breathing) • Long-Term Care Nurse • School Nurse • Managed Care Nurse • Sub-acute Care Nurse (24/7 monitor- • Nephrology Nurse (kidneys) ing of patient) • Neuroscience Nurse (the brain) • Telephone Triage (phone decision • Occupational Health Nurse making) • Oncology Nurse (cancer) • Transplant Nurse • Ophthalmic Nurse (eyes) • Trauma Nurse (emergency) • Operating Room Nurse Auto Mechanic A Great S.T.E.M. Career

A career in auto mechanics is a sure thing when it comes to employment opportunities.

“There are 253 million cars and trucks on American roads today.” Auto mechanics is a perfect example of The complexity of new automobiles, a STEM career that requires all aspects truck, construction equipment.... of STEM daily, but with education basically anything that runs, now requirements that range from a high- requires a new set of skills easily school diploma, a Technical School attainable and very affordable. diploma, or an apprenticeship. Any male or female who has an interest in Science / Technology automobiles, from changing tires to complex engine computer diagnostics, Computers and other diagnostic tools may find this a very rewarding choice. are necessary to figure out why the car isn’t running correctly and how best to Along with engine and power plant repair it. The use of laptops and hand- application, let’s not forget about body held devices will be familiar in many work, restoration, design and modifi- ways paving the way for confidence cation. New materials and compounds and a positive attitude. are used to repair and replace older parts. It’s not rocket science.....it’s auto science. The attention to detail women seem to have naturally makes them excellent Engineering and very precise mechanics.

As a reminder, the engineering process is a “decision” making process. Based on the result of your diagnostics, you will have to formulate a series of decisions to best solve the auto problems before you.

You may have occasion to re-route wires, exhaust pipes or other added parts to solve or modify the project. This is a common application of engineering for automotive repair and modification. There are different “levels” of train- Mathematics ing for auto mechanics, so the more training and experience you have, the Much of the math for this career is higher the salary. Plan to start at about measurement. Tools like a micrometer $30,000 and with additional training to measure the break pad thickness to and experience, you could make more determine if they need replacing, air than $50,000 depending on the company. pressure gauge to measure tires, shocks, air conditioner freon levels and so Many companies such as Delta, UPS, forth. car rental agencies and the government all have their own auto mechanics. A wide variety of measurements are required from front to back. Like cook- Get finished with a good Tech. ing from a recipe, the proper measure- school and start your new ments are documented in a manual and simply need to be matched. Much S.T.E.M. career of this math you already know or is common sense. What you don’t know, you’ll learn and use every day at work.

American Adolescents: Smart phone Experts Who Struggle in Reading and Math American Adolescents: Smart phone Experts Who Struggle in Reading and Math

Richard Freed Psychologist, author, and speaker on child technology

American teens’ increasing access to An answer is found in another smartphones is driving a meteoric rise recently released report on U.S. teens: in their entertainment tech use. The the 2015 National Assessment of Edu- recently released Common Sense me- cational Progress (NAEP), also known dia report shows that teens now spend as the Nation’s Report Card. This study an incredible 6 hours and 40 min- reveals that 8th grade students’ scores utes each day using video games, in reading and math dropped from the online videos, social media, and other last time they were measured in 2013. screen self-amusements. Not counted A disturbing two-thirds of American in this total is the tremendous amount 8th graders now score “below profi- of time teens spend texting and talking cient” in reading, and this same per- on their phones. As our adolescents’ centage of students score “below profi- lives become increasingly dominated cient” in math. by digital entertainment, what are the consequences? Even before this recent drop, Ameri- can students were struggling against Experts suggest a growing danger in their global competition. The latest excessive smart phone and wireless Program for International Student device use. Assessment (PISA) scores from 2012 show that American 15-year-olds rank 30th in math, 23rd in science, and 20th in reading compared to students from other countries that took the exam. This should be cause for alarm, as American school children must now compete with students from around the world for college admission and jobs. Why Our Teens Are Falling Behind

Is the dramatic increase in teen smart What’s confusing for parents is that phone and entertainment tech use con- they are told the latest technologies tributing to their academic struggles? give students a learning advantage. Un- It’s not the only factor, but it’s a critical fortunately, what’s little mentioned is one. Smartphones provide teens 24/7 that our kids use their gadgets almost access to playtime technologies that exclusively to play around. research shows drag down their academic success. According to the Kaiser As noted by the Kaiser Family Foun- Family Foundation: “The transforma- dation, while kids spend 8 hours a day tion of the cell phone into a media con- playing with entertainment screens and tent delivery platform has facilitated an texting and talking on the phone, they explosion in entertainment media only spend 16 minutes a day using the consumption among American youth,”. computer at home for school.

It’s these high levels of TV, video The negative impact of heavy teen games, and other entertainment tech- smart phone use on academics is clear nologies which displace teens’ focus on in my work as a child and adolescent school and hurt their academic perfor- psychologist. When I ask teens to mance. describe their after school schedules, they often say, “Oh, I come home from school, grab a snack, and then I’m on my phone for most of the night.” I ask kids when they study or do homework, “Oh, sometimes late at night... if I have time.”

What these kids don’t realize is that a college education is remarkably important today, and that colleges gauge admission based upon teens’ grasp of school-taught fundamentals, including reading, math, and science.

“What’s confusing for parents is that they are told the latest technologies give students a learning advantage. Unfortunately, what’s little mentioned is that our kids use their gadgets almost exclusively to play around.”

Who Is Most Hurt by Tech Overuse?

I work with teens from all walks of life whose chances of academic success are spoiled by their overuse of digital technologies. But it’s kids of color and those from low-income families who are disproportionately affected. The new Common Sense media report found that Black teens average 8 hours and 26 minutes per day with entertainment screen technologies as compared with 6 hours and 18 minutes for White teens. These screen/tech-use differences are a and Johns Hopkins professor Michael significant factor contributing to racial Mandelbaum advise in their book That achievement disparities: Used To Be Us, adding resources to education won’t help unless American According to the latest Nation’s students dramatically cut back on their Report Card report, 16% of Black 8th amusement-based tech habits and in- graders are “proficient” in reading as stead focus on school. compared with 44% of White students, and 13% of Black 8th graders are “profi- I suggest that schools take a leadership cient” in math as compared with 43% role in helping parents understand that of White students. home factors, especially teens’ access to screens and phones, play a power- Why do teens of color and kids from ful role in their learning success. At low-income families spend a greater back-to-school nights and other par- amount of time using tech and screens? ent-teacher gatherings, schools should help parents realize this basic formula: Less advantaged parents I work with tell me that they can’t afford the Parents’ limits on entertainment tech- extracurricular activities that can nologies will lead kids to receive higher keep kids from turning to screens and grades and test scores. phones. Also, more affluent families I work with have greater access to ______high-performing schools, college coun- selors, and other resources that can Three-time Pulitzer prize winner Thom- help parents understand the impor- as Friedman and Johns Hopkins profes- tance of limiting screen/phone time in sor Michael Mandelbaum advise order to foster teens’ school success. in their book “That Used To Be Us”, adding resources to education won’t help How Can We Help Our Teens Achieve unless American students dramatically Learning Success? cut back on their amusement-based tech habits and instead focus on school. Much of the blame for our teens’ learning struggles wrongly falls on schools. I believe we should do all we can to ensure our nation’s schools are adequate- ly funded. Yet, as three-time Pulitzer prize winner Thomas Friedman and Top 7 STEM YouTube Channels for Kids

It’s exam time and our tweens and teens are battling it out with chemistry equations, math problems, physics theories and biology experiments. However, who says that science can’t be 7fun for our kids. Well, if you ever thought science was 3.Minute Physics all about boring and complicated stuff, https://www.youtube.com/user/ these 7 Youtube channels will prove minutephysics otherwise. These Youtube science videos are not only showing you how to Using illustrations and voice overs, have fun with science but they are also minute physics explains concepts like making science geeks look cool. the big bang theory, parallel universes, quantum mechanics and more, in a 1.Sick Science simple way. Don’t miss the 9.9999 sec- https://www.youtube.com/user/SteveS- ond videos in which concepts like ra- panglerScience dar, rainbows, one-way mirrors etc. are explained in well, less than 10 seconds. Steve Spangler demonstrates cool and simple science projects for kids that 4.The Brain Scoop you can do at home with household https://www.youtube.com/user/the- things. Whether it is teaching about brainscoop density using sugar rainbows or making your own magnetic slime, these Who says girls can be geeks? Emily short experiments will make your teen Graslie is the chief curiosity corre- spondent of the Chicago field museum scientist curious and innovative. and takes kids for behind the scene glimpses of a natural history museum. 2.Coma Niddy Whether it is talking about mummifi- http://www.themomviews.com/top-7- cation or investigating the bird calls of science-you-tube-channels-for-kids/ Amazonia, Emily is always entertaining and educational. The channel also has What can make science cooler than it a “grossometer” rating so that you can already is? Combine it with rapping, choose whether to watch that video or rants, skits and parodies on topics like not. black holes, astronomy, anti matter etc. Armed with glasses and braces, Coma 5.Periodic Videos Niddy loves explaining difficult science https://www.youtube.com/user/period- concepts like nanotechnology to kids icvideos in a way they enjoy. The ultimate channel about chemistry where each periodic table element has its own video. The channel stars profes- channel. He decided that he would sor Martyn Poliakoff of the University not save for his kids’ college fund but of Nottingham, who is famous for his instead use the money to educate as humor and Einstein like hair. Some of many people he can through his vid- the experiments are too dangerous to eos. Now, his millions of viewers are be performed in classrooms but nev- funding his kids’ education instead! ertheless intriguing, example being the demonstration of flesh-eating Each of his video has an astounding hydrofluoric acid. amount of research and his videos are also different from other channels. Some of the topics include, secret of 6.Sci Show snapping spaghetti in slow motion, jel- https://www.youtube.com/user/sci- lyfish stinging in microscopic slow show motion and my favorite, how to pick a cologne! With a tag-line like : You make curiosity contagious, this channel is just perfect for our curious kids. With equal parts of skepticism and enthusiasm, Scishow explores many puzzling concepts like why koalas hug tress or when you burn fat where does it go?

Don’t miss their latest video about explaining the science behind “the dress”, the phenomenon that almost broke the Internet.

7.Smarter Everyday https://www.youtube.com/user/destin- ws2

Destin is a man on a mission. He is try- ing to make the world smarter, one you tube science video at a time. Destin has such a cool introduction on his STEM for Women is...... Global