STEM volunteers

In response to Toni Feder’s item “The US is in dire need of STEM teachers” (March 2022, page 25), I would like make note the work being done by American Association for Advancement Science’s Volunteer Program (stemvolunteers.org), which coordinate. We recruit (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professionals assist K–12 teachers their classrooms.The program began 2004 currently has 110 volunteers four school districts Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Our retired commit a few hours one day week classroom year. Those still working every two three weeks. Many exceed those commitments.Volunteers help students learn subject matter through projects rather than rote. They also present on technical subjects curriculum organize “Ask Scientist” sessions, they answer questions from groups students.One teacher wrote an email volunteer thanking him gift his time stating that it was “absolute pleasure” with him. “You science come alive our children am very grateful,” she wrote. “I will do all can encourage more schools use get visiting scientists.”Prospective are contacted variety mechanisms—such as societies’ local sections, newsletters, DC MIT Club, retirement associations. The Physical Society supported beginning, including annually sending recruiting notices its members area.I convinced national be designed produce significant increase number large graduates. As 2019, there were 12.3 million college graduates whose highest degree or engineering field, according NSF’s National Survey College Graduates. A consortium societies best approach implementing support education.Increasing not solve shortage, but help, particular assisting who have limited background STEM. And serve substitute teachers, several done. Section:ChooseTop <<© 2023 Institute Physics.