Purdue faculty attends White House meeting on STEM education

Carla Johnson  Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —Purdue University’s College of Education was among the nation’s leaders in education brought together Thursday (April 21) for a STEM event hosted at the White House.

Almost 50 organizations that have committed efforts and resources to early childhood education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) were invited to the White House for the announcement.

The White House singled out the College of Education for its plans to implement a STEM Road Map curriculum series, including modules focused on children as early as kindergarten solving real-world problems and challenges in STEM.

Carla Johnson, associate dean for research, engagement and global partnerships, was invited to represent the College of Education at the daylong event.

“The Purdue College of Education is a leader in STEM education in the United States,” she said. “We are very pleased to have the STEM Road Map K-12 Integrated STEM project profiled in the White House and Department of Education’s national commitments to Early STEM education.”

For the project, a team of 25 leaders in STEM education from institutions across the United States are working to develop research-based STEM curriculum focused on transforming STEM learning globally.

“As research has demonstrated, focusing on STEM as early as kindergarten is key to building the much desired pipeline of STEM talent for the future,” Johnson said.

The curriculum series will be published by the National Science Teachers Association Press later this year.

STEM leadership designed to broaden the university’s global impact and enhance student educational opportunities is one of Purdue’s major strategic initiatives.

Purdue’s College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st Century learners by discovering what works in education. The college prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With a focus on integrated P-12 STEM education and a commitment to social justice and diversity, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business and society.  

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

Sources: Carla Johnson, 765-494-0019, carlacjohnson@purdue.edu