Technological'fields, like engineering, are
•"V,
in desperate need of more qualified workers, yet
not enough students are pursuing studies in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics
"(STEM) that would prepare them for technical
careers. Unfortunately, many students have no
interest in STEM careers, particularly engineering,
because they are not exposed to topics in
these fields during their K-12 studies. Most
K-12 teachers have not been trained to integrate
relevant STEM topics into their classroom
teaching and curriculum materials. This article
explores best practices for bringing engineering
into the science and mathematics curriculum of
secondary school classrooms by describing a
project that utilizes concepts representing the
merger of medicine, robotics, and information
technology. Specific examples demonstrating
the integration into the teaching of physics, biology,
and chemistry are provided. Also considered
are the critical issues of professional development
for classroom teachers, improved preparation
of future teachers of STEM, and the
development of curriculum materials that
address state and national content standards.