Imagining the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education: Proceedings of a Virtual Symposium (2022)
Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task
Appendix A
Statement of Task
A workshop planning committee will plan and hold a public symposium on the future of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and will draw on research and highlight successful programs to engage educators, researchers, higher education administrators, policy makers, funders, and representatives from industry in conversations about how to improve undergraduate STEM learning. The focus will be on undergraduate STEM education in 2040 and beyond in the context of the convergence of STEM disciplines and the changes in the population, goals, and pathways of undergraduate STEM students. The symposium may address the following questions and may be refined by the planning process.
- How can undergraduate STEM education respond to the rapidly changing context for higher education—calls for convergence, demographic and societal changes, changes in workforce demands, advances in technology—in ways that anticipate future demands and provide quality education for all students?
- What changes are needed to undergraduate STEM education in light of the increasing convergence across STEM? What are critical convergent topics and approaches that we urgently need to incorporate into undergraduate STEM education?
- What are the models, both administrative and financial, that support a convergent learning experience that engages multiple disciplines and overarching concerns such as privacy, security, and ethical behavior of people and systems?
- Is there a relationship between content, delivery mechanism, use of technology in the classroom/learning environment and success of first-generation and low-income STEM students of any background? Is the relationship different for different groups? What would it mean to design changes based on an equity and social justice mindset from start?
- How should the STEM education system respond to the changes taking place in the learning pathways of individuals at different points of their lives, including enrolling at different physical and online institutions, and/or stacking credentials and experiences from multiple sources? How can we consider learning in contexts other than formal settings, for different cultures, ages, or levels of instruction?
The workshop committee will define the specific topics to be addressed, develop the agenda, and select and invite speakers and other participants. After the workshop, a proceedings of the workshop presentations and discussions will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.
