STEM Prep … Make That Path Straight!

We’ve been dealing with two basic issues in our work:  First, helping students succeed in mathematics as a service (general education especially).  Second, helping students realize dreams of being in a STEM program.

Since the current reform efforts started in 2009, most of the focus has been on the first problem (geared toward general education math courses); this is the problem that Statway™ and Quantway™ provide a solution for, and this is also the connection between the New Life course “Mathematical Literacy” and general education (like the Michigan Transfer Agreement).

However, the professionals involved with the New Life project have … from the start … kept the second issue in mind.  We saw a need to provide better mathematics for those in STEM fields, as well as a new model that enabled more students to reach their goals.  This is why we designed the second New Life course “Algebraic Literacy” the way we did; the content is based on professional standards, with special focus on STEM boosting learning outcomes.  I often refer to this Algebraic Literacy course as the “Missing Link” because it seeks to connect more students to the STEM programs with better employment and quality of life.

This week, the Dana Center (University of Texas – Austin) announced that they have launched their “STEM Prep Path”.  You can see some details at http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f75754127932b3bd8ffbea25c&id=3f956c1b40&e=23e0b88a42#STEMPREPTeams

Throughout our efforts, the Dana Center work on New Mathways has been consistent with our New Life work; in fact, the Dana Center has involved AMATYC members of New Life in all stages of their work.  In the case of STEM Prep Path, they will design a course serving the same purpose as Algebraic Literacy; I’m sure that they will differ in some basic ways, but am also sure that the content will be similar in basic ways.  One thing that is different — the STEM Prep Path for the Dana Center includes work in the domain of College Algebra & Precalculus.  This is very exciting work, and offers the promise of cleaning up the swamp our students face in those courses.

The STEM Prep Path is an effort to make the path straight — in other words, design the curriculum to serve the purpose and combine this with instructional methods and support that allow all students a high probability of success.  Currently, our path to STEM is not good for equity; developmental math classes can be high minority classes (that’s not necessarily a problem) while STEM math classes are very low minority (and that is definitely a problem).  The New Life work in Algebraic Literacy is part of this same effort to support a broader spectrum of students a path to STEM fields.  For information on the Algebraic Literacy course, see the presentation on the “Missing Link” at https://www.devmathrevival.net/?page_id=1807  .

I hope that you will take a look at STEM Prep Path, and a look at the Algebraic Literacy course, so that we make a straight path for our students with a goal of a STEM program.

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