Guiding principles of the Center

In order to enhance STEM education, the Center encourages and supports sound educational practices.

In accordance with the Next Generation Science Standards, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Curriculum and Evaluation Standards, and other professional standards in STEM Education, C.E.S.E. believes:

1. That STEM subjects be taught in context with other academic areas and real world experiences and generally not in isolation.
2. That excellence in STEM education requires equity high expectations and strong support for all students.
3. That inquiry and hands-on, minds-on STEM education is a natural vehicle for the development of students' reasoning and problem solving skills.
4. That a curriculum is more than a collection of activities: It must be coherent, focused on important mathematics and science, and well articulated across the spectrum, PK-16.
5. That students must learn STEM subjects with understanding, actively building new knowledge from experience and prior knowledge.
6. That the use of appropriate technology and teaching pedagogy must be promoted to allow students to take an active role in the learning process; it influences the STEM subjects that are taught and enhances students' learning.
7. That solutions for the future will require, more than ever before, groups of people working together to solve problems.
8. That it is imperative for students and teachers to become life-long learners as well as active contributors to an increasingly scientific and technological world.
9. That assessment should support the learning of important STEM subjects and furnish useful information to both teachers and students.
10. That all undergraduates have opportunities to study STEM subjects as practiced by scientists and engineers and as early in their academic careers as possible.