Blog 16: 2-Hour Meeting Answer #2

1.  What is your essential question?
What is the best way to get elementary school children to voice an interest in STEM careers?
2.  What is your second answer to your essential question (write your second answer in a complete sentence)?
The best way to get elementary school children to voice an interest in STEM careers is by providing them with a good education that meets the state standards in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
3.  What are three details to support or justify your second answer (details are examples or facts)?

• Providing students with knowledge in Science, or Technology, or Engineering, or Math can help to gain confidence in these fields and peak the interests of children.
• Quote from Miedema
• "In elementary schools today, 38% of teachers lack full confidence in their qualifications to teach Science... an understanding of sciencetific and mathematic principles, a working knowledge of computer hardware and software, and the problem-solving skills developed through integrated STEM curricula are necessary for most jobs." - The National Center for STEM Elementary Education. 
• "Prospective teachers can typically obtain a license to teach elementary school without taking a rigorous college-level STEM class such as calculus, statistics, or chemistry, and without demonstrating a solid grasp of mathematics knowledge, scientific knowledge, or the nature of scientific inquiry. This is not a recipe for ensuring that students have successful early experiences with math and science, or for generating the curiosity and confidence in these topics that students need to pursue careers in STEM fields." - Diana Epstein and Raegen Miller from the Center for American Progress.

4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question?
My 3rd Interview with Mr. Miedema, helped me to justify this answer.
5.  What do you plan to study next with your second answer and why?  
I plan to continue my study of answer 2 by continuing to research further, and to continue working with kids at Ekstrand Elementary; teaching students more about STEM, and the fields of study that are related, in hopes of seeing my answer prove itself.