1st Edition

STEM Matters Your Guide to Educational Purposes, Policies, Programs, and Practices

By Rodger W. Bybee, Patrick Brown Copyright 2026
180 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Eye On Education

180 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Eye On Education

180 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
by Eye On Education

This resource is your guide to understanding STEM's place within K-12 education, amidst the many meanings and initiatives that swirl around this buzzword in today's schools. Authors Rodger W. Bybee and Patrick L. Brown, who have worked in leadership roles developing curricula and national standards, provide background, explanations, and guidance for demystifying STEM's place in contemporary... Read more

1. STEM Matters: An Introduction  Part 1: STEM Education – Realities, Possibilities, and Priorities  2. Realities: STEM is Here; And So Are Science Standards  3. Possibilities: Thinking Differently About STEM Education  4. Priorities: Reasonable and Prudent Recommendations for STEM Education  Part 2: Introducing Foundations for the STEM Disciplines  5. Science: A Way of Explaining Phenomena in The World  6. Technology: A Way of Adapting by Humans  7. Engineering: A Way of Designing Solutions for Human Problems  8. Mathematics: A Way of Quantifying and Expressing Relationships  Part 3: Exploring Purposes, Policies and Perspectives for STEM Programs and Practices for STEM Education  9. The Purposes of Education, Including STEM  10. Policies for STEM Education, Including Standards  11. STEM Programs, Including Curriculum and Assessment  12. STEM Practices: Using Effective Instructional Sequences  Part 4: Cultivating STEM Teacher Expertise  13. Centering Efforts on the Instructional Core  14. Beginning With a Manageable Unit  15. Enhancing Learning: Essential Practices and Impactful Instructional Sequences  Part 5: Developing District-Wide STEM Programs and Practices  16. Establishing a Plan for Change  17. Evaluating STEM Instructional Materials and Resources  18. Curriculum-Based Professional Learning  19. Conclusion: Our Vision for Your Guidance and Leadership in STEM Education

Biography

Rodger W. Bybee is an Education Consultant, a former K-12 science teacher, and a retired faculty of Carleton College. He was both the executive director of the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education at the National Research Council and executive director at the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. He is also a Writing Team Leader for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Patrick L. Brown is the Executive Director of STEAM and CTE at Fort Zumwalt School District, and a former science classroom teacher and coordinator.