Much has been said and written over recent decades about urgently needed improvements in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at all levels of the US educational system. All manner of indicators of US students’ pitiful performance in STEM relative to other nations have been aired. What’s been lacking is a systematic adoption of new teaching methodologies that are proven to increase learning of STEM. But now an association of the nation’s top research universities has decided the time has come to adopt better STEM teaching throughout their institutions.
In September the Association of American Universities, a group of 59 US and 2 Canadian public and private research universities, announced a five-year plan to propagate successful new STEM teaching modes. “AAU is not conducting another study or research project on STEM education,” said association president Hunter Rawlings III, former president of Cornell University. “We are moving to...
