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The National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored the first of four regional meetings associated with the NSF-funded report, “Successful K-12 STEM Education.” The workshop was held on Feb. 28, 2012, at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Wash. The purpose was to 1) familiarize participants with the report and its recommendations; and, 2) identify solutions for improving STEM education based on findings from the NSF portfolio of K-12 projects. Speakers included R. Bryce Seidl, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pacific Science Center; Alan Burke, deputy superintendent, Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Patricia Galloway, National Science Board member and CEO of Pegasus Global Holdings, Inc.; Janice Earle, NSF program director in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings within the directorate for Education and Human Resources; and Barbara Means, director of the Center for Technology in Learning, SRI, International. In breakout sessions, participants explored in more depth the elements of successful STEM education. The Seattle meeting was at full capacity, with 242 attendees from nine states including state and district policy makers, plus congressional staff from the Washington State delegation, administrators, teachers, and university faculty. There are more details in the meeting agenda, and at the Successful STEM Education website.

Credit: National Science Foundation