School Choice, STEM and Your Child’s Dreams

School Choice, STEM and Your Child’s Dreams
William Jackson, M.Edu
#MyQuestToTeach @wmjackson

The world is changing rapidly,
the incorporation of technology
increases with the development
of robotics, drones, virtual reality,
driverless cars, coding and web
development. Students cannot
rely on outdated educational
standards that do not keep up

with the changes in careers and industry standards, space
development and even climate changes.

The dynamic engagement of educational initiatives in STEM
and STEAM will train and teach children for the future. To
empower them to be the problem solvers and innovators of the
future. Children must be prepared for careers not even available
currently and be able to solve complex problems that will challenge
day to day life. Children in today’s schools must develop into
thought leaders and smart creatives.
Many teachers are building the intellectual abilities of youth, teens
and young adults that are even dreaming of being entrepreneurs,
the future business and commerce leaders that communities and
cities need to provide investment and reinvestment to build
stronger infrastructures that depend on stable economic growth
and educational diversity.

STEAM and STEM initiatives are
being provided by the growth
and integration of academic
elements being taught in schools
in Jacksonville, Florida. Because
technology has advanced it is
important for the engagement
of tools to be fused into educational
initiatives like
STEM / STEAM / STREAM / CSTREAM and STEM2.

STEM does not start in high or middle school, it starts in elementary
programs, after school programs and clubs. These start the fire for
cognitive exploration and the enjoyment of discovery.
Each has a powerful effect in the world helping to solve problems
that affect human survival. The infusion of science, technology,
reading, engineering, arts, math and in some cases medicine are
found in careers that need knowledge workers that are critical
thinkers and higher order problem solvers.
The educational goal, to engage the whole child and foster high
achievement.

It is important that parents
attend the School Choice Expo
to be held Saturday, January 21^st 2017
in Jacksonville, Florida so they can
make educational decisions for the future
of their children and the growth of the
community. As the saying goes
a growing community needs a strong educational community.
The blending of STEM and STEAM skills combined with educational
instruction requires students to engage in creative application, critical
and higher order thinking that supports collaborative and cooperative
learning. Learning that pushes and challenges thinking and new
ideas, bringing about success that is transferable in advanced
areas of civic application in citizenship.

As a past STEAM teacher and current Educational Technology,
Social Media and STEM instructor at Edward Waters College and
elementary education teacher at a Magnet Medical STEM school
parents should look at their children’s education as the ultimate
investment.

STEAM is complimentary with
21st artistic, scientific and technological century
skills that parents need to understand and
know how to apply to future careers for their
children. Children have dreams, but must be
prepared with the best possible
educational access and be able to apply that
education with real world experience. What
better way than through a quality education
in Duval County Public Schools….

The importance of these expanding areas can be seen in the
National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts,
and the U.S. Department of Education. Collaborations such as
these are to make sure current and future models of learning
prepare students to be the skilled knowledge collaborators and thought
leaders this nation needs to lead in the 21^st 22^nd and 23^rd centuries.

Duval County Public Schools provides and continues to build on a
progressive model of visionary and futuristic empowerment for students
that are also representative of a diverse student body that represents
the global presence that is expanding. We are not an island of the
United States of America, but a representation of the success of
diversity and tolerance in educational opportunities.

The question has changed from should we incorporate STEM and
STEAM education, to how can schools more efficiently and effectively
incorporate this model?? Many schools already are and creating great
success stories.

2017 School Choice Expo
When:
Saturday, January 21, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m
Where:
Prime Osborn Convention Center
1000 Water Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Cost:
Admission and parking are free!
About:
Duval County Public Schools’ annual 2017 School
Choice Expo will feature an array of educational
options for the 2017-2018 school year, reflecting
the district’s initiatives for all schools and programs.
The expo will offer attendees a chance to learn about
programs throughout elementary, middle and high
schools. Many of the district’s programs are designed
to hone a child’s special interest, talent, gift or skill to
maximize their opportunity for success.
Attendance:
Expected attendance will be around 16,000
The event showcases magnet programs, career academies, charter
schools, high school acceleration programs and neighborhood
schools for all grade levels. Teachers, principals and students
from every school will be on hand to talk with parents and
students about their academic offerings.
Vendors:
Vendors supportive of education will also have exhibits.