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Monday, November 9, 2009

(Re)Inspecting the STEM Pipeline - Curriculum Matters


(Re)Inspecting the STEM Pipeline - Curriculum Matters:

"Last week I wrote about a study that drew some intriguing conclusions about the state of the 'pipeline' of students entering math and science studies and fields. The analysis, by Hal Salzman of Rutgers University and Lindsay Lowell of Georgetown University, found that the flow of students from K-12 schools to the workforce appears to be quite strong, contrary to the assertions of many policymakers today.

To the extent that students are leaving the pipeline, the authors found, they tend to be high-achieving students. In other words, young people don't seem to be fleeing those fields because of lack of ability, but because of other factors—such as that they don't find those jobs attractive for whatever reason."