Preston STEM Mission Statement
Preston STEM is dedicated to encouraging middle level students to explore science, technology, engineering and math through the creation of engagaing learning experiences in classes, extra-curricular activities, projects and the Summer Institute.
Preston STEM Philosophy
STEM offers a unique learning opportunity for students. Middle level students are natural scientists! They love to explore, invent, build, investigate, figure things out and generally to be actively engaged in their learning. STEM learning involves them in real but scaled down versions of the same problems that scientists on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry are working on. Students are challenged to come up with solutions to problems like water quality in Fort Collins waterways, the challenges of urban animal populations, and how to implement high effeciency transportation. They want to make the world around them a better place.
Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Preston has another STEM mission. Nationwide, girls are not pursuing advanced science and mathematics subjets which limits them in career choices and is an intolerable loss of talent for America. The STEM approach focusing on real social issues through processes that are active, adventuresome, and investigative naturally attracts all students and especially girls!
Preston STEM Growth
In 2006, 25 students were involved in MathCounts, an association for mathematics competitions and math enhancement. Preston had no specific STEM exploratory classes, robotics program, Science Olympiad and did not participate in science fair. In 2010, Preston examined the number of students enrolled in STEM classes, participated in robotics competitions and classes and Science Olympiad and science fair as well as MathCounts and the number of 'touches' (students involved in a specific activity) was well over 900!
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