Hi all! Long time EEVblog viewer, first time forum poster
I'm interested to know your thoughts about STEM education in schools - both the good (what you think works well), the bad (what's missing, and what we're not doing), and the ugly (teaches kids the wrong thing or just wastes money). Also, why you think it's important (or not) that kids learn STEM subjects (Get a job? Become a future electronics YouTuber? Hack the planet?). If you were a teacher, how would you go about things?
A little about me, so you can see where I'm coming from. I graduated Computer Science in 2006, and since then have been working mainly in software engineering, at all levels but typically lower down in the stack (firmware, motion control, network protocols and industrial automation). I'm also an electronics hobbyist, and have hung out in the hacker/maker movement and done a bit of ham radio. I've always been interested in teaching, though (and have done some University tutoring), and I'm thinking of getting into STEM teaching, either as a school teacher, in curriculum development, or in a University or vocational training centre to look at how we get high school students into computing and engineering courses (women and girls in particular, although there's a worry about an overall decline in STEM graduations).
Anyway, a LOT has been written about this in academic and teaching circles, it's something of a political hot topic, and there are plenty of people and gadgets in this space. I figure those of us who have worked in industry, though, may have a different/additional perspective. What better place than here to find it?
I'm also happy to hear from any current/former teachers, or people who have kids in school and might have seen how their local teacher/school does things.