One field where BU Wheelock\u2019s strengths and our commitment to equity particularly intersect is in preparing teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We\u2019re consistently ranked one of the top preparers of high school teachers in the sciences\u2014and in the top five when it comes to preparing physics teachers.<\/p>\n
In addition, many middle-school science and mathematics teachers learn to teach at BU Wheelock. We have a host of projects, funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation, that focus on ways to reach students in those crucial middle years, when they\u2019re deciding whether to stay in school . . . and what to study while they\u2019re there.<\/p>\n
Why is this an equity issue? STEM careers are the careers of the future\u2014and if that future isn\u2019t open to all students, we\u2019re doing them a grave disservice. Historically, women and members of underrepresented groups have been less likely to take advanced STEM courses, less likely to seek jobs in STEM, and less likely to attain top positions in the field even if they do enter it. Clearly, something must change.<\/p>\n
At BU Wheelock, change will require taking a deep look at how teachers talk about STEM\u2014and how we teach them to talk about it. Our approach is rooted in a history of encouraging curiosity and play, something that grows out of our expertise in human development and the realities of how children and young people learn. This perspective helps teachers and students realize that \u201cgetting the right answer\u201d is no more important than asking good questions, trying creative solutions, persisting in answering a question, and not worrying about failing.<\/p>\n
Science and math teachers need to reach students where they live. That means finding ways to connect their subjects with students\u2019 lives. Our courses reflect this, by continually reinforcing a focus on the language and ways of thinking that scientists, mathematicians, and engineers use, not just the subjects they explore. And our Earl Center for Learning\u00a0 & Innovation brings teachers and learners, youth and adults, together to explore and develop creative new approaches to education, particularly in STEM fields.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Endow a chair in STEM teacher preparation
\n\u2022 Fund research and collaborations in STEM
\n\u2022 Support STEM practicums
\n\u2022 Support fellowships for teachers, artists, designers, and scientists in the Earl Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One field where BU Wheelock\u2019s strengths and our commitment to equity particularly intersect is in preparing teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We\u2019re consistently ranked one of the top preparers of high school teachers in the sciences\u2014and in the top five when it comes to preparing physics teachers. In addition, many middle-school science […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18489,"featured_media":0,"parent":65561,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"bu-publication":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76924"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18489"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76925,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76924\/revisions\/76925"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=76924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}