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Readers Respond: Does Fixing the Leaky STEM Pipeline Require Calculus To Adapt?

ED Surge

The need to strengthen the science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) careers pipeline has received renewed interest lately. So what would it take to make STEM truly open to would-be future scientists? A teacher from Pennsylvania : “Been teaching calculus to HS seniors for 30 years. The issue is algebra skills.

Calculus 250
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Talented Students Are Kept From Early Algebra. Should States Force Schools to Enroll Them?

ED Surge

Julie Lynem’s son had taken algebra in eighth grade, but hadn’t comprehended some of the core concepts. That left the family to decide whether to make him repeat the class in ninth grade — and potentially disadvantage him by preventing him from taking calculus later in high school — or to have him push through.

Algebra 289
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The Math Revolution You Haven’t Heard About

ED Surge

Math professor Martin Weissman is rethinking how his university teaches calculus. This story also appeared in USA Today Falling off that path can lock students out of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Some educators place a share of the blame on calculus courses, which can push out otherwise interested students.

Math 359
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Why Do Underrepresented Students Struggle to Get the Math They Need for College?

ED Surge

Students who don’t know that colleges prioritize calculus find themselves at a disadvantage in college admissions, according to “ Integral Voices: Examining Math Experiences of Underrepresented Students ,” a recent report from Just Equations, a California-based policy institute focused on making math more equitable.

Calculus 195
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What Is Zearn — the Math Platform the Gates Foundation Is Betting Big On?

ED Surge

Falling behind in math can have long term consequences, since the subject can function as a gateway into STEM careers. We believe that it's critical for some kids to be exposed to calculus. And we should probably expand the pipeline of young people who take calculus in high school.”

Math 249
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New Effort Hopes to Make ‘Weed-Out’ Courses More Equitable

ED Surge

For example, a new study published in the journal PNAS Nexus found that, among students who perform poorly in intro STEM classes, those who are underrepresented minorities are even less likely to end up earning STEM degrees than their white, male counterparts. And the pandemic may be exacerbating this situation. history surveys.

Chemistry 194
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Is Economics STEM – Why Colleges Want Economics to Be a STEM Major

STEM Education Guide

Recently, five of the eight Ivy League universities have reclassified their economics degrees from social science to science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM). It allows graduates of quantitative economics and economics to apply for more generous visas compared to those granted non-STEM majors. What Is STEM?