HANDS-ON AND REAL-WORLD
FIUteach is helping to create a new crop of STEM teachers by giving FIU students real classroom experiences while pursuing STEM degrees.
FIU implements model for education innovation at all levels By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu and Chrystian Tejedor | ctejedor@fiu.edu
D
octoral student Remy Dou
active learning classrooms where Dou
Institute is improving attitudes toward
prepare them for possible careers
wants to help students develop
conducts his research.
science and helping to close the
in teaching.
an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
“Seeing value in relationships led
achievement gap. It was recently
FIUteach students and researchers
me to focus on looking at relationships
included in the White House’s catalog
from the School of Education and
As the global economy has shifted
in the classroom in my research and
of Bright Spots in Hispanic Education
Human Development are an integral
more toward technical and scientific
the impact of relationships between
for investing in key education priorities
part of a new pilot program being
fields, Dou, a former high school
students and instructors,” Dou said.
for Hispanics. The institute functions
developed in collaboration with the
biology teacher, wants more students
“It’s a social justice issue for me.
as a national laboratory to develop and
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum
to find and keep those lucrative jobs.
I want students of all backgrounds
implement evidence-based models
of Science to provide real-world
to have the ability to pursue STEM
for teaching STEM disciplines in
experiences in science learning
industries require significant know-
Many of the fastest-growing
careers, where employment is more
multicultural, urban communities.
for Miami-Dade County preschool
how in STEM. However, 38 percent of
secure and they can earn higher
students who start with a STEM major
level salaries.”
do not graduate with one, making retention a nationwide concern. By implementing peer learning
According to the National Math and
“Building networks in the class
children. Supported by funding from
across peers; creating a sense of
the state of Florida, the partnership
belonging, a sense of recognition
is putting focus on the importance
Science Initiative, today’s STEM work
that they are part of a community of
of working with families to introduce science to preschoolers.
force is not as diverse as it could be.
STEM people goes a long way toward
and new technology, FIU’s STEM
Women account for only 23 percent of
changing their perception,” Dou said.
Transformation Institute is helping
all STEM employees. The numbers are
With education being the core
highly skilled teachers who inspire and
thousands of students who might
worse for blacks and Hispanics, who
focus, the STEM Transformation
challenge students in the STEM fields,”
otherwise struggle to succeed in
represent just 12 percent of STEM
Institute is also helping to develop
said Laird Kramer, director of FIU’s
STEM. Currently, six science courses
workers. As the top producer for
the next generation of STEM teachers
STEM Transformation Institute.
are taught in two state-of-the-art
STEM degrees for Hispanics and one
through FIUteach. The program has
active learning classrooms, where
of the top producers of STEM degrees
forged partnerships with local schools
to drive innovation and provide equal
professors shun the traditional lecture
for all minorities, FIU is positioned to
to provide students with hands-on
access to top-notch education in order
model and students collaborate
positively impact these statistics.
experience in the classroom. To date,
to develop the next generation of STEM
FIUteach has enrolled more than 200
professionals locally and nationally. n
with one another to tackle scientific challenges hands-on. It’s in these 28 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016
Through innovative programs and initiatives, the STEM Transformation
FIU IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF STEM DEGREES FOR HISPANICS IN THE U.S.
“FIU is helping to create a pipeline of
These efforts and more are helping
STEM degree-seeking students to Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 29