Artwork by Dennis Adams. Contributions by Peter Doroshenko.

Shaping the Future with Math, Science, and Technology examines how ingenuity, creativity, and teamwork skills are part of an intellectual toolbox associated with math, science, and technology. The book provides new ideas, proven processes, practical tools, and examples useful to educators who want to encourage students to solve problems and express themselves in imaginative ways. The development of a technological knowledge-based economy depends on the development of educational systems that allow schools, teachers, and students of diverse capabilities, backgrounds and learning preferences do better with both content and imaginative problem solving. This book makes the case that it is, indeed, possible to educate our way to a better economy and a better future. Paying attention to 21st century approaches and skills can help accomplish those goals.

In a rapidly evolving local and global economy, skills related to mathematical problem solving, scientific inquiry, and technological innovation are becoming more critical for success in and out of school. Thus, Demystify Math, Science, and Technology addresses the need to cultivate these skills in young students so that ingenuity, teamwork, and imaginative skills become part of their arsenal in dealing with real world challenges. This whole package of attributes is essential for learners imagining new scenarios and future work in areas that don’t even exist yet. Another important issue is that teachers now deal with students who span the entire spectrum of learning. Students differ widely in levels of preparedness, personal interests, and cultural ways of seeing and experiencing the world. One size does not fit all. Teachers need to learn to turn diversity into an advantage because innovation builds on the social nature of learning; the more diverse the inputs, the more interesting the outputs. The authors also believe that no one should be sidelined with basic skill training in a way that keeps them away from the creative and collaborative engagement associated with problem solving, inquiry, and the technological products of math and science.

This book builds on an interdisciplinary approach that combines two or more of the STEM subjects. The goal is to help students see the relationship among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Useful ideas, activities, and lesson plans are part of the package. It is up to the teachers to encourage students to apply STEM knowledge to interesting real-world problems. Motivating ideas and activities are presented in this book. Teacher/student friendly suggestions build on collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. Creating a STEM culture in the classroom can help students learn the qualities that must be cultivated in a technology-intensive world. Innovations that radiate from the STEM subjects are driven by intellectual curiosity and the ability to act on beliefs. The future is something we can and should influence. Understanding of the STEM subjects is key to making a positive difference.

I used to work as a garbage man, so I decided to write a book that no one else has ever done before. So I hope y'all enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. I do appreciate anybody who has worked as a garbage man or otherwise, but it is a job. So please do not be a shamed of what you do for living! Just be proud that you have a job to support your family. Some people don't even have a job. So even if you get mad, please take time to think before you do something drastic! And I really hope y'all love this book as much as I loved writing it. So we hope there's many more books to write before you read. So until next time. God bless y'all!

Teaching Math, Science, and Technology in Schools Today: Guidelines for Engaging Both Eager and Reluctant Learners offers unique, engaging, and thought-provoking ideas. The activities open imaginative doors to learning and provide opportunities for all learners. It surveys today’s most important trends and dilemmas while explaining how collaboration and critical thinking can be translated into fresh classroom practices. Questions, engagement, and curiosity are viewed as natural partners for mathematical problem solving, scientific inquiry, and learning about technology. Like the Common Core State Standards, the book builds on the social nature of learning to provide suggestions for both eager and reluctant learners. The overall goal of the book is to deepen the collective conversation, challenge thinking, and provide some up-to-date tools for teachers so they can help reverse the steady erosion of math, science, and technology understanding in the general population.

In this book, the authors integrate STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) concepts and the cultivation of young minds in order to be open to innovation. This book uses STEM instruction as blurring the lines among basic subject areas. Often, it’s more than integrating science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Ideas, activities, and projects can be integrated with lessons from the language arts to the Arts as well. In this book, STEM is treated as more of a philosophy than a program or a set of activities.

Profound societal changes in the economic, technological, social, and educational fronts pose challenges for educators in their ability to equip young students with the skills and capabilities needed to navigate a digitally connected and complex world. Tomorrow’s Innovators: Essential Skills For A Changing World focuses on approaches and methods to help teachers infuse their basic subject matter lessons with creativity, innovation, and adaptability. On a broader scale, we provide elementary and middle school educators with insights into current educational issues and suggestions for converting new ideas into practical classroom applications. Teachers need to transform the classroom or school into a contemporary learning environment by paying attention to consistent classroom routines, using assessment data for improvement, and having a coherent organizational structure. The old foundations of reading, writing, and mathematics and the new basics of science, technology, and the arts will be at the core of schooling. More than ever, thinking about curriculum and instruction has to occur as the traditional boundaries between politics, technology, culture, education, and ecology disappear.