Why Is STEM Education Important?

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Just a mere eleven years ago, in the basement of one of Harrisburg’s elementary/middle schools, a new high school was born. Lisa M. Waller had a vision to bring a college prep high school to the urban youth of Harrisburg so that they might be given the proper tools and skills to excel at a college or university. However, figuring out the way is what is important. Just like many things in life, there are obstacles, trepidations, and doubts that follow a program that is revolutionary to the city of Harrisburg. When investigating more into this it became clear that there was a reason why a college prep science and technology high school needed to be established in the first place. This question means to answer the question of why STEM education …show more content…
STEM education is defined as “a means to help individuals develop different strategies in order to solve interdisciplinary problems and gain skills and knowledge as they are engaged with STEM related activities through formal and informal learning programs” (Sahin, Ayar, & Adiguzel, 2014). Stem education is used to help bridge a gender and ethnic gap that is sometimes in math and science fields of study, and now more than ever there are steps being taken to accept women and people of color into STEM-related fields (Why is STEM Education So Important?). STEM is pushed in grade and high school because since the world is ruled by the advancement in technology, people need to work in fields that will help and continue those advancements. According to the United States Department of Labor the top 8 wanted employees are STEM related fields, i.e. accounting, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information sciences and systems, computer engineering, civil engineering, and economics and finance (Why STEM Education is Important for Everyone). Job opportunities such as these would be able to open doors to students of color at institutions like Sci-Tech. Exposing them to sciences and math it allows them to be able to explore what they are interested in while also giving them the opportunity to grow as students and leaders in their

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