Ada Lovelace First Computer Programmer

M STEM A G A Z I N E

Happy Pi Day A Holiday for Every Equation

A Dream for the World The Global Flight of Shaesta Waiz \\212v March 2018 ENGINEERING SUCCESS

GaynelleGaynell Swann Swann AssociateAssociate Dean ofDean Academics of Academics

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But at SNHU, it stands for so much more. It standsSTEM for stands hands-on for science, experience. technology, Exciting engineering, internship and mathematics. opportunities. But at SNHU,High-tech it stands labs for andso much simulators. more. It stands And foroutstanding faculty hands-onmembers. experience. Exciting internship opportunities. High-tech labs and simulators. And outstanding faculty members.

FacultyFaculty members members like likeGaynelle Gaynelle Swann, Swann, associateassociate dean dean of ofacademics academics for SNHU’sfor SNHU’s College College of Engineering, of Engineering, Technology, Technology,and and Aeronautics.Aeronautics. With over over 25 25years years of experience of experience in the automotive, in the automotive, aerospace, and aerospace, defense industries, and defense an M.S. industries,in Engineering, an M.S. in Engineering,and multiple and STEM-related multiple certifications,STEM-related Gaynelle certifications, is dedicated Gaynelleto helping isstudents dedicated follow into herhelping footsteps students with a high-quality follow in her footstepsSTEM with education. a high-quality STEM education.

New majors. New facilities. New opportunities for every student. Come see for yourself! Visit the SNHU campus today.

snhu.edu/stem | [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.

Universities and organizations around the world continue to debate what a STEM career is. There is no doubt that “every career” uses STEM skills and this observa- tion remains the focus of STEM Magazine.

Science: “The systematic accumulation of knowledge” (all subjects and ENGINEERING careers) Technology: “The practical application of science” (all subjects and careers) SUCCESS Engineering: “The engineering method: a step by step process of solving problems and making decisions” (every subject and career)

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

For a moment, set aside any precon- As an example, according to the STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But at SNHU, it stands for so much more. It stands for ceived notions of what you think a Department of Labor, there is a serious hands-on experience. Exciting internship opportunities. High-tech labs and simulators. And outstanding faculty members. STEM career is and use the above shortage in the U.S. of women - Faculty members like Gaynelle Swann, associate dean of academics for SNHU’s College of Engineering, Technology, and dictionary definitions to determine Aeronautics. With over 25 years of experience in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries, an M.S. in Engineering, the skills used in any career field you Pilots and multiple STEM-related certifications, Gaynelle is dedicated to helping students follow in her footsteps with a high-quality choose. STEM education. Did you know pilot was a STEM Aeronautical Engineering | Air Traffic Management | Aviation Management | Aviation Operations and Management These definitions are the “real” meaning career? Computer Science | Construction Management | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Mechanical Engineering of STEM and STEM careers. With this in mind, briefly connect New majors. New facilities. New opportunities for every student. Come see for yourself! Visit the SNHU campus today. piloting to the definitions above.

That’s how it’s done. snhu.edu/stem | [email protected] | 603-645-9611 Happy Pi Day / Wayne Carley

A Dream for the World / Shaesta Waiz

The Sound Barrier DOES NOT Exist / Publisher

Ada - First Computer Programmer / Tanya Lee Stone

Some STEM Problems / Dr. Susan A. Pruet

Keri Kukral - STEM to STEAM / Azam Shaghaghi We believe that the key to success in STEM Magazine is a non-profit monthly seeing higher graduation rates, education publication for educators, improved testing results, student students, and their parents. inspiration, creativity, excitement and career satisfaction rests in the hands Read monthly in 67 countries, STEM of the teacher. The example and inspi- Magazines strive to encourage the ration of individual educators carries educator to better understand the tremendous weight on a daily basis, importance of STEM skills, their use in greatly impacting the quality and effec- every school subject, the need and ease tiveness of the classroom environment. of integration into curriculum and the urgency for students to embrace STEM. Our mission: Encourage curiosity, investigation, inspiration, creativity, To find out more, simply send your and innovation; the foundations of E-mail request to: every career passion. [email protected] Wayne Carley Publisher STEM Magazine STEM for Women Magazine STEAM Magazine STEM Magazine Canada CTIM Revista (Spanish version) www.stemmagazine.com 478.319.7177 Why PIs i important?

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th While only a handful of digits are (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek needed for typical calculations, Pi’s letter “π”) is the symbol used in math- infinite nature makes it a fun challenge ematics to represent a constant — the to memorize, and to computationally ratio of the circumference of a circle to calculate more and more digits. its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi has been calculated to over Pi is the 16th letter (π) of the Greek one trillion digits beyond its decimal alphabet which is used to represent this point. As an irrational and transcen- mathematical constant. It is typically dental number, it will continue infinitely written as “pi” in text. without repetition or pattern. Pi is perhaps the most important By the late 19th century, its value had mathematical constant. It appears in been computed by hand to several various formulas throughout math and hundred decimal places. Since the science in fields as diverse as physics, dawn of the computer age in the mid- statistics, and sociology. Although pi is 20th century, the number of calculated defined in terms of the geometry of a digits of pi has skyrocketed. Since 2002, circle, most applications of this number its value has been known to over a do not directly involve circles. trillion decimal places - enough to fill a large library! If the circumference or the area of a circle is known, pi can be used to find The earliest known official or large- the diameter and the radius of that circle. scale celebration of Pi Day was orga- Likewise, if the radius or diameter is nized by Larry Shaw in 1988 at the San known, pi can be used to find out the Francisco Exploratorium, where Shaw circumference or the area. worked as a physicist, with staff and Pi is perhaps the most important mathematical constant. The ratio equals about 3.1415. This public marching around one of its value is a constant for any circle. The circular spaces, then consuming fruit circumference of a circle is always pies. The Exploratorium continues to equal to pi times the diameter. The area hold Pi Day celebrations. of a circle is always equal to pi times the radius squared. These formulas are On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of used constantly by engineers, physi- Representatives passed a non-binding cists, designers and mathematicians. resolution (111 H. Res. 224), recogniz- The uses of pi extend beyond merely ing March 14, 2009 as National Pi Day. finding circumferences or radii. NASA uses pi to calculate the trajectories of The entire month of March 2014 (3/14) spacecraft, to determine the sizes of was observed by some as “Pi Month”. craters and to estimate the sizes of In the year 2015, Pi Day had special planets outside our solar system. significance on 3/14/15 (mm/dd/yy date format) at 9:26:53 a.m. and also at The computation of pi has a long and p.m., with the date and time represent- fascinating history. Some of the most ing the first 10 digits of π. elaborate mathematical methods have been used in devising various formulas for pi. A Dream for the World

Photo Credit: Chris Paine Photography A Dream for the World

Shaesta Waiz just became the youngest woman ever to complete a solo trip around the world in a single engine aircraft. Shaesta is only 30 years old and in addition to her remarkable global achievements has founded Dreams Soar Inc., a non-profit organization with a mission to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and aviation among the next generation of young women and professionals. Some have called her a modern-day Amelia Earhart because of her global accomplishments, passion for flying as well as her gender.

Ms. Waiz was born in a refugee camp in Afghanistan in 1987 and then escaped the Soviet-Afghan war by relo- cating with her parents to Richmond, California, where she was raised with her five sisters. In 2011 while she stud- ied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University she founded the Women’s Ambassadors Program as a mentor, boosting female enrollment at Embry- Riddle. This of course was paving the way for Dreams Soar and adventures to come. Shaesta is also the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan where gender discrimination remains a huge problem. Shaesta wrote her graduate capstone project on the Beechcraft Bonanza A36 single engine aircraft which is regarded by many as one of the best aircraft for flying around the world.

The reason for her choice is that this aircraft has a top speed of not less than 140 knots, and can carry enough fuel for distances of at least 1,000 nautical miles. To cross the Pacific Ocean on the ‘classic’ route, which is between Hawaii and California,, is a distance of 2,100 NM, requiring an enormous quantity of fuel. Ferry tanks fitted in Spain” “Madrid Inc. Soar, Dreams credit: Photo the cabin or tip tanks for the Bonanza During her almost 5 month flight are usually needed. It just so happens beginning in Daytona Beach Florida, that Shaesta set a flight record on this Ms. Waiz visited 22 countries, flew challenging part of her flight from 24,800 nautical miles and accumulat- Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California. ed 176 flight hours. This journey was part of her life-long passion to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and aviation in general which incorporates all of the STEM skills. She took this opportunity to inspire over 3,000 children and young adults in 32 outreach events in 14 countries.

Photo credit: Dreams Soar, Inc. the aircraft. I was so close to the water that I looked down to see waves crash- ing against one another. My mind went numb and I had to forget all of my emotions to just fly the plane to safety.”

She navigated to Saint-Pierre Airport off the eastern coast of Canada near Newfoundland and had a mechanic take out the antenna before moving to St. Johns Newfoundland for repairs.

Ms. Waiz shared that one of her most memorable moments came when she visited an orphanage near Athens, This dramatic of a flight always has its Greece. While speaking to a group of challenges and scares and Shaesta had children ages 7 to 17, she noticed a her share. Ms. Waiz came across three distressed nine-year-old girl who dis- major weather delays and a technical connected from the group. The girl, issue while crossing the Atlantic. who was a refugee from Afghanistan, had been sent to Greece by her mother “When I entered the oceanic airspace, I for a better life, but this had never looked out of my window and saw this been explained to her. Shaesta was able antenna that didn’t look very stable to to speak to the child in their shared begin with,” Waiz said. “I didn’t have language to explain the situation she a good feeling and within seconds it was in and connect with her. One can sheared off. My heart sank when I heard imagine how powerful of an experi- that big thunk of the antenna hitting ence this was for both Shaesta and the young child.

Photo credit: Dreams Soar, Inc. “These brief moments of influence and example may well have a pro- found impact on the young girls entire life...... moments worth this entire global flight.

During her time in Montréal, Canada, This part of the trip was so impactful she worked with the International Civil that she’s planning on continuing these Aviation Organization to visit three events in countries she was not able to different schools in one day. Many visit the first time. She would like to countries she visited showed their visit more countries in South America, support for her trip with welcome Asia, the Middle East and Africa to ceremonies featuring airport and Civil continue spreading the word about Aviation Authority staff and citizens STEM and aviation. greeting her at the airport when she landed. One central priority during these engagements was connecting with young women who face many societal and economic challenges; a continuing priority. Photo credit: Falcon View Films View Falcon credit: Photo

Shaesta Waiz has founded Dreams Soar

to continue spreading the importance Photo credit Dreams Soar, Inc. of STEM, women in STEM careers, diversity in aviation and inspiration by example.

Learn more about Shaesta Waiz, her global flight, Dreams Soar and their plans to provide scholarship opportunities and inspiration around the world at: http://dreamssoar.org/ Shaesta Waiz The Sound Barrier DOES NOT exist.

There is not actually a “physical barrier” Let’s explore how sound and objects in the sky that prevents sound or air- travel to better understand the actual craft from going faster, and thus science behind this misnomer. cannot be “broken”. Misnomer [mis-noh-mer] But in the 1940’s scientists did not know that for sure and neither did the noun Air Force. They were almost certain 1. a misapplied or inappropriate name there was an invisible force we could or designation. not fly through without breaking it. 2. an error in naming a person or thing. The Sound Barrier DOES NOT exist. How do sound waves (vibrations) and solid objects travel through the air, water and earth?

Sound is made when something Now that we have a basic understand- moves or vibrates. The movement sets ing of how sound travels, we realize up a sound wave in the surrounding there is no invisible wall in the sky or air. A sound wave bounces off of air “barrier” that has to be broken through molecules to produce motion or travel to go faster. outward in many directions. Molecules in the air we breathe include The original FORCE or energy of the primarily nitrogen and oxygen as sound produced usually determines well as water, carbon dioxide, ozone, how far it will travel. As the vibrations and many other compounds in small continue to bounce off of the air mol- amounts, some created naturally, ecules, they begin to slow down until others the result of human activity like they stop traveling or an object gets in pollution and dust. These are what the way blocking continued travel. sound waves have to bounce off of to move outward from their source. If In simple terms, the thickness or density you whisper, those sound waves do not of the air (how many air molecules per travel very far because there is not very square inch) determine how far the much verbal energy put into it. But if sound waves can travel. we YELL with a lot of energy, sound waves travel further before running out Sound waves travel through the space of energy. “between” the air molecules. The Speed of Sound The more space there is, or the thinner the air is, the less molecules there are The atmospheric pressure or the pres- to bounce off of and the sound does sure exerted by the weight of the atmo- not travel as far or as long. The thicker sphere at sea level is 14.7 pounds per the air, or the more densely packed the square inch. Since our atmosphere is air molecules are, the more molecules primarily air molecules, we can say that there are to bounce off of so the sound the weight of the air and its thickness is travels faster and further for longer. 14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI) of force on our bodies and everything This is what the math equation looks around us. like:

Based on this pressure or thickness of V = velocity (m/s), air at sea level, sound waves travel at Tc = temperature in Celsius. about 760 miles per hour through this level of atmospheric pressure. That is as fast as sound waves can go based on V = 331.4 + 0.6Tc the spacing of the air molecules. When your teacher talks to you in class, his or So what is the speed of sound in space? her voice is traveling at 760 miles per Almost zero miles per hour. hour (mph) from their mouth to your ears. Pretty cool....and fast. There IS sound in space coming from the International Space Station, Now it gets really interesting. If you go satellites, rockets and more, but it has up in the atmosphere to about 35,000 no “medium” or material (atmosphere) feet, the air is thinner and the mole- to travel through. cules a spaced further apart causing sound waves to actually slow down This is amazing...... The speed of sound because there are fewer molecules to under water is just over 3,000 miles per bounce off of. hour. Tell me why.....

The speed of sound at 35,000 feet is The density of water molecules is much about 670 miles per hour. As you go greater than air, so sound waves under higher and the air gets thinner, the water travel much faster and further. speed of sound slows down even more. This is why sonar (under water radar) This brings us to a broader discussion is so effective over long distances. This about the speed of sound. is also why whales can communicate half way around the world, using their The speed of sound at sea level is sound wave language. about 760 miles per hour. What is the speed of sound through The speed of sound at 35,000 is about rock? Well that varies with the type of 670 miles per hour. rock, but the speed of sound through Granite is about 4,000 miles per hour. This is pretty much what we breathe.

Our air is composed of many molecules, so when we talk about sound waves traveling through the atmosphere and bouncing off air molecules, this is what they are.

oxygen hydrogen carbon chlorine fluoride

nitrogen

H O 2 CO 2

ozone nitrous oxide

chlorofloro carbon

methane

Molecules in the air we breath In conclusion, we know there is not really a barrier in the sky, but we understand the science, physics and molecular interaction as it relates to the speed of sound.

It’s a misnomer.

A few STEM careers that deal with the study and use of sound include:

- Seismology ( study of earthquakes) - Music / sound engineers So, that being said, what is the - Acoustics speed of sound?

- Sound based non-lethal weapons Answer: It depends - Astrophysics

- Radio astronomy

- What can you think of?

Ada Lovelace

Augusta Ada King-Noel, Countess of Lovelace. (10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852) was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage’s proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. She was the first to recognize that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, and published the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine. As a result, she is sometimes regarded as the first to recognize the full potential of a “computing machine” and the first computer programmer.

By Tanya Lee Stone

I have always been intrigued by things I don’t particularly understand, such as computer programming. And I have always loved a good story about a pioneering woman. That’s why my ears perked up when I heard about Ada Lovelace, a woman who had led a short but incredibly invigorating life and— here’s the kicker—had basically invented computer programming 100 years before computers were invented!

Oh yes, if there’s anything that gets my writing brain churning, it’s a nugget like that! I knew I wanted to write her story, so I started researching and went quickly down the proverbial research Tanya Lee Stone rabbit hole. I had to read a lot of books that were Honing in on the details that will interest outside my comfort zone to get a handle kids as well as trying to encapsulate on how Ada’s mind worked, and start the broad strokes of why what they to understand the world in which she did was important is the goal. There lived. Even though I wanted to write are always fascinating details I have to Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer leave out. Sometimes they are so juicy Programmers for young readers—pic- or interesting, it’s excruciating to have ture book readers—I needed to know to cut them—like the grand European enough about Ada’s childhood, her tour Lady Byron took Ada on when she relationship with her mother (which was ten; or how Ada spent nearly three was inextricably linked to her mother’s years in bed between the ages of thir- relationship with the brilliant but badly teen and fifteen, combating what was behaved poet, Lord Byron), the tutor- probably polio and suffering partial ing Ada received, and the friendship paralysis; or how Charles Babbage went she made with Charles Babbage. Not to to great lengths to acquire a fabric mention the history of Babbage’s com- portrait of Joseph-Marie Jacquard, plex ideas. inventor of the Jacquard loom, to display in his house. I read a fair number of scholarly books for adults about Lovelace and Babbage Collaborating with an illustrator on and the dawn of the digital age, all the a picture book is always an amazing while ferreting out the parts about experience, because that person is the Ada’s personality that would be fas- other half of the creative process even cinating to young readers while not though they come to it after the text overwhelming them with too much has been written. Marjorie Priceman context. That’s what a picture book and I love collaborating together and biographer strives for—it’s a challeng- are able to discuss things after the text ing and exhilarating task! is done. Working with her is a wonderful adventure because I’m able to share To write a gratifying picture book biog- ideas with her as she makes her own raphy—in my opinion—an author has decisions about the visual layers she to excite young readers about someone will add to the story. without trying to take on that person’s entire life story. It’s the essence of that For example after seeing that some of person I am always trying to get across, her sketches incorporated numbers and as well as the importance of his or her words, I was inspired to find real equa- accomplishments. tions for her to use in those paintings. Augusta Ada King-Noel, Countess of Lovelace Diagram of an algorithm for the Analytical Of course, writing about Lord Byron Engine for the computation of Bernoulli could fill multiple books, but my focus numbers, from “Sketch of The Analytical had to remain on Ada’s contribution Engine Invented by Charles Babbage” by to the future of the computer. It still Luigi Menabrea with notes by Ada Lovelace. bears mentioning that as decadent and flawed as he was, especially as a father, he loved his daughter and felt tortured by their separation—even though he did nothing to rectify it.

During a dramatic crossing of the English Channel as he fled England for France, Byron wrote the first three stanzas of the third canto of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, which included these lines: “Is thy face like thy mother’s, And there was no keeping her poetic, my fair child! / Ada! sole daughter of creative spirit down. She loved to paint, my house and heart? / When last I saw draw, write, sing, and play the violin thy young blue eyes they smiled, / And and piano! So, try as Ada’s mother then we parted…” might to keep the poetical imagination

George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron FRS, known as Lord Byron, was an English nobleman, poet, peer, politician, and leading figure in the Romantic movement. He is regarded as one of the greatest British poets and remains widely read and influential.

The relationship between mother and of her daughter in check so she didn’t father had a direct impact on Ada’s grow up to be wild like her father, it path. We have no way of knowing what was to no avail. Because invention and might have developed if both of her science take imagination, and Ada had parents had raised her. But her moth- it in spades. er was so determined not to have Ada grow up to be anything like her father In the decade between the time Charles that she shaped her education inten- Babbage first thought of the Analytical tionally, making sure Ada had plenty Engine and Ada published her notes of maths and sciences in her exhaus- about it, she also married William King tive tutoring sessions. It is interesting in 1835 and had three children within to note that no matter how estranged four years. Ada was most certainly the her parents were, Lord Byron also ex- dominant figure in the household, with pressed a desire that she not end up William happy to let her take charge. like him. He was quite aware that she was smart- er than he, and it didn’t seem to bother Before he died, Byron said, “I hope the him. She, however, did grow tired of Gods have made her anything save po- his lack of ambition. etical—it is enough to have one such fool in the family.” So, from the She craved a partner who was her in- time she was four years old, Ada had tellectual equal and wanted to do great tutors. By the time she was eight, she things. Fortunately, she found that in was studying French, math, and music her friendship with Charles Babbage. more than six hours a day. The combination of those two rela- tionships seems to have brought her happiness, and Charles was a frequent visitor to the family’s home. Ada also loved the massive soirees Charles held in his own home. Those parties provided her with the intellectual company she craved. Guests included celebrities of the day such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mary Somerville, Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Darwin.

Ada also packed a lot of life into her short years on earth. She had joys and adventures as well as times of financial hardship. Sadly, she dies from what is believed to have been uterine cancer just before her thirty-seventh birth- day. But the work she accomplished laid a foundation for scientists to draw upon in the future and she is credited with being the first computer programmer—100 years before the invention of the computer.

It is extremely gratifying to be able to Portrait of Ada Lovelace at age 20 encapsulate her story in order to share it with the youngest readers, and have my text be accompanied by Marjorie Priceman’s vibrant, inviting, wonderful illustrations so that kids can be as enchanted by Ada Lovelace as we are! Revisiting STEM Problems

Why STEM Must Not Leave Science or Math Teachers Behind !

Dr. Susan A. Pruet President, STEMWorks, LLC

Everyone’s talking about STEM...(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) - from the corporate board room to K-12 schools leaders and teachers, and including national after school organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs and the Girl Scouts - as well as government agencies such as the Departments of Defense, Education, and Energy.

These conversations are driven in large part by our country’s concern that we have a growing STEM problem: The US is not producing enough high school and post-secondary graduates who are prepared and eager to fill this growing need for STEM citizens and workers. While there may be disagreement We’ve heard repeatedly that STEM-de- across different sectors about the specific pendent jobs are rapidly growing. An numbers or specific fields that need article in the January 2013 STEM Mag- STEM workers, we can relate to this azine by the STEM Education Coali- headline from a recent Discovery tion describes this growth and problem Education presentation which pretty in detail, reporting that over the past clearly highlights the gap problem: 10 years growth in STEM jobs is three times more than that of non-STEM US Students fall short in STEM scores, jobs (Brown, J. and Peterson, J., January, while 3 million STEM jobs go unfilled. 2013). The recently released 2012 PISA results reveal once again that many US stu- It is alarming that one dimension of dents are lacking in STEM skills with our STEM problem is that too many US scoring below the international of our students – even those capable of average in mathematics proficiency, pursuing STEM careers - are not inter- and only 8% of our students scoring at ested, or do not believe they would be the proficiency level in science which, successful, in high school STEM courses, while close to the international average, much less STEM careers. And the is still shockingly low (National Center problem starts much earlier than high for Education Statistics, 2012). school. Disturbing reports show that interest in Many in education and industry are STEM and STEM careers decline in the counting on K-12 STEM curricula and middle grades, particularly for girls, programs to be the catalyst to produce and at a time when critical STEM course these future graduates eager and able to selection decisions are often made. pursue STEM. While there are a vari- Additionally, many of our high school ety of definitions of STEM and STEM students simply are not reaching their education, this discussion focuses on potential in STEM subjects. According integrated STEM programs, which to the President’s Council of Advisors in my opinion, and based on current on Science and Technology (PCAST) research of how deep learning occurs, reports, too many American students hold the most promise for addressing and parents believe that STEM subjects our STEM problem. (Proceedings of are too difficult, boring or exclusion- the National Academy of Sciences, ary. The STEM problem is even more June, 2014; Harlan, et. al., 2014). troublesome when we focus on mathematics. This type of K-12 STEM program involves the integration all four of the A 2010 Department of Education STEM disciplines and is intended for report specifically points to attitudes all students. Such curricula use engi- towards mathematics as a critical part neering and the engineering design of the STEM problem, stating that only process to bring relevance, interest, and 16% of US high school seniors who are deeper learning to mathematics and considered proficient in mathematics science as students apply that content also indicate an interest in a STEM to produce solutions and technologies career. Of those few who do complete while addressing problems of impor- a STEM major in college, only about tance in local communities and the half end up working in STEM fields world. (http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/ stem-overview.pdf). This is the type of instruction that the STEM Education Coalition and oth- So, addressing the STEM problem ers are saying is needed to address our is two-fold: developing interest and growing STEM problem (Brown, J. and self-efficacy in STEM on the part of all Peterson, J., 2013; Proceedings of the students, and also increasing their National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), capacity related to STEM (Hossain, 2014; TPSE-Math, January, 2014). Robinson 2012; PCAST, 2010, 2012). The really good news is that research they move from math to science and/or findings are beginning to emerge asso- a technology class. ciating use of this type of curriculum and instruction with positive increas- My own experience shows that this es in students’ STEM capabilities, as particular model is especially powerful well as their interest and confidence in in breaking down those rigid math and pursuing STEM (National Academy of science silos – both for teachers and Engineering, 2014; Harlan, et. al., 2014; students. But, so far, not very many PNAS, 2014). STEM curricula appear to include core math classes, must less are designed to For many teachers, this type of inte- use a collaborative model. grated STEM through engineering requires a major transformation from Up until recently, the primary place “school as usual” teaching and learn- we typically saw STEM being integrat- ing. This is especially true for math ed was in technology classes, often as teachers. It involves students collab- part of a career technology program. orating in teams as they go through Besides the fact that in many schools an iterative engineering design pro- all students are not enrolled in such cess to research, create, test, improve technology classes, some early findings and communicate solutions. Teachers indicate that while the curricula is sup- serve more in the role of a facilitator posed to integrate STEM as described of learning and use more of an inqui- above, it is the T & E that get empha- ry-based approach to teaching. sized in these programs, while the M and S content either aren’t emphasized Assuming that we want to impact all or opportunities to deepen math and students, another aspect of these in- science content are inadvertently tegrated STEM curricula is that they glossed over (Roehrig, G, et. al., 2012). need to be implemented as part of a school’s required curriculum – which With the release of the Next Genera- logically could be part of the science, tion Science Standards (NGSS) and its math or technology curriculum. new emphasis on including engineering as part of the science framework, Ideally, implementation would be done science classes are a likely a new home in conjunction with all three classes. for integrated STEM. Teachers would collaborate across the disciplines while students work on a particular engineering challenge as Although it is unlikely all states will adopt NGSS, it is likely that over the next few years the vast majority of US school districts will be influenced by these standards and that many districts will require the implementation of integrated STEM through engineering as part of their required science curriculum for all students; additionally, they may well continue to include similar curriculum in technology classes, at least for some students.

These potential changes may seem sufficient to meet our country’s needs, but something critical is not in this equation. This approach leaves out math courses—and, importantly, math teachers. The truth is that our mathematics cur- Dr. Handelsman also addressed riculum and the way we have been typ- instructional strategies, saying that ically teaching mathematics is becoming improving K-12 math teaching to recognized as a key barrier to STEM. include active learning and making mathematics more relevant is the key The problems are not only reflected in to improving both performance and, as students’ math performance, but in importantly, interest in mathematics. their attitudes and beliefs toward their ability to be successful in mathematics. This is exactly the description of teach- In a recent panel discussion, Jo Han- ing and learning associated with inte- delsman, a microbiologist at Yale and grated STEM. And this is consistent one of the authors of PCAST’s Engage with the description of the mathemat- to Excel report related to the STEM ical practices as part of the Common crisis, highlights the finding that “math Core State Standards for Mathematics was the single biggest barrier to train- (CCSS) currently guiding K-12 math ing STEM majors.” curriculum in most all of the states.

Another study points out that the key to even succeeding in the sciences in colleges is more dependent on the number of high school math courses taken than on whether students have taken physics, chemistry, or biology.

The message was - if a student wants to be successful in college- level science, s/he should take more high school math! (Tai and Sadler, 2007). Remember our pi discussion earlier?

“.....problems are not only reflected in dents’stu math performance, but in their attitudes and beliefs toward their ability to be successful in mathematics.” These and other reports, coupled with I believe it is our math teachers them- my own experience throughout my selves who could prove to be a key career - as a math teacher, teacher and powerful resource to combat our educator and leader of two NSF funded STEM problem. K-8 STEM education reform projects - demonstrate that STEM education They have day to day contact with must not leave mathematics or math every single youngster and the op- teachers behind. portunity to be a positive, rather than a negative, influence on our youth’s While the teaching of mathematics and STEM capabilities, as well as their thus math teachers have certainly con- attitudes and beliefs toward mathematics tributed to our STEM problem, there and STEM careers. are other powerful factors influencing that teaching and students’ negative attitudes. These include mathematics curriculum, pacing guides, textbooks, and assessments prevalent in many of our districts, compounded by a prevail- ing culture in the US that it is perfectly acceptable to not do well in mathematics.

An opportunity to be a positive influence. Remember what it felt like when YOU didn’t understand? “Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and...... believe the only reason it will” by Azam Shaghaghi

STEAMThe push to inspire and the urge to change has made many individuals alter career paths and follow their passion through adversity. For Keri Kukral, STEM education has mani- fested a reality through which she can achieve her passion on a journey from art to STEAM and break the ceiling. Keri Kukral is a former professional ballet dancer turned engineer. As a child from a small Indiana town, she was incredibly moved by watching a ballet on television. The man and woman dancing a classical pas de deux was breathtaking.

Within a year, Keri was awarded a full scholarship by Ruth Page to study ballet at her school in Chicago. Page herself was plucked out of Indianapolis in her teens by Anna Pavlova to travel the world with famed Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe. The famous quote “give a girl Keri Kukral the right shoes, and she will conquer the world” defined her tenacity. She Keri fulfilled the true meaning of trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, STEAM as she transitioned from a was awarded an Apprenticeship with path in art to science with a career in the Joffrey Ballet, and performed with the medical device industry. She never Chicago Tribune Charities and Okla- shook her artistic beginnings, though, homa City Ballet. and hoped to find a way to merge those worlds. For almost a decade, she spent She progressed to be a successful solo her extra time and money creating dancer under the direction of Larry short science films and documenting Long, Bryan Pitts, and Peter Anastos. luminaries from Stephen Hawking in Keri always had an interest in STEM Cambridge to Nikolai Kardashev in and science communication, though, Moscow. Keri envisioned herself as and read laymen’s books and maga- an entrepreneur with a science media zines in her downtime. As an experi- company and officially owned the ment, she took off the pointe shoes for title by winning a pitch competition at a degree in a Bio/ Electrical Engineer- Caltech and Idealab to create Raw ing at Purdue University. Science TV. Raw Science TV combines news and Ultimately, Keri wants to make a real- entertainment about the social impact world impact. “In the future, I hope to of science and technology. Reality and translate the amazing network of inventors fiction have long propelled one another. and thinkers on the channel into real- Keri’s background in both art and time projects with immediate positive engineering diversified her perspec- social impact” Keri says. tive to show how the combination of educating and entertaining can have a One example is a project created with great impact. Global NGO Solutions (GNS) where engineering students form Purdue Raw Science provides access to infor- University are working with the Inwelle mation without a “big media” filter to Centre / Enugu, Nigeria. They are satisfy a hunger for that type of scien- learning together across the world tific data. It brings a tremendous bene- using video conferencing and virtual fit to empower the audience to be reality to install solar power at the Centre. creative and draw their own conclu- Their aim is to eventually establish an sions without presumptions. open and free virtual classroom for STEM and entrepreneurship. The same open-source Internet that allowed Keri to create her channel can help others redefine work and education around the world.

For Keri, it has been all about the journey not the destination. Keri hopes to grow the channel into a leading inves- tigative news source on science and technology combined with entertainment. Raw Science is an essential part of STEM education strategy to inno- vate, educate, and build the rest of the world. It’s already a very good spring school year.

These will be your brightest women yet.

Your personal satisfaction will be amazing.

You will personally learn things that will be life changing.

Your influence and example will change the lives of hundreds of girls.

You’ve never been more fulfilled in your career. STEM Magazine is Global