Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2022

Department

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science

Keywords

rural education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, teachers

Abstract

Teacher preparation programs for STEM education should prepare teachers for all settings, including rural schools. Students across geographic locales show equal interest in STEM fields, but rural students often lack access to highly qualified STEM teachers. UNESCO (2014) notes that the disparity in education between rural and urban schools is a concern of many countries. In the United States, the National Center for Educational Statistics confirms that twenty percent of students are educated in rural schools and the STEM teachers in these schools are often the only STEM expert. These teachers become backbone teachers that set the foundation and direction of STEM education in the entire school. This paper reviews the landscape of STEM education in rural schools, explores strategies for ensuring high-quality STEM education in rural schools, and outlines early successes of a university teacher preparation program in meeting these needs.

Comments

Paper presented at the International Conference Building on the Past to Prepare for the Future held from August 8-13, 2022, in King’s College, Cambridge, UK.

Source Publication Title

Building on the Past to Prepare for the Future

Publisher

Verlag

First Page

574

DOI

10.37626/GA9783959872188.0.108

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