STEM, By: Jake Ryan

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This month, the class recommendations for next year came out. As always, I looked through to see what classes I was recommended for. As always, I came across the 21st-century skills requirement. As always, I saw 0/5 credits filled. This is something that always makes me upset. I, along with many other students, tested into the STEM academy at the high school. After much debate, I chose to enter the biomedical program. However, one thing which I never knew about during my decision-making process was that the BioMed route does not count as 21st-century skills, unlike the engineering and computer science route of the STEM program. Now, I'm not saying I don't love the program and my decision to take the BioMed route, I am just confused as to why it doesn't count as 21st-century skills! What's more "21st-century" than finding cures to relevant diseases? Or learning about the new advancements which are being made in medicine? Or, in our senior year class, going to intern with someone in the science field and researching different real-life 21st-century issues? That is what makes me upset!

I decided to look and see if the BioMed program truly deserves to be called a 21st-century skill. According to The Glossary of Education Reform, "The term 21st-century skills refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are believed to be critically important to success in today’s world..." I mean... BioMed definitely fits in. This course is pretty much a precursor to medical school: that accounts for work habits. We learn about all parts of medicine: that is a broad set of knowledge. We learn important things that we will use if/when we go to medical school: these are traits that are believed to be critically important to success in today’s world. Clearly, the BioMed course should count as a 21st-century skill.

This leaves a question: Do you think that the BioMed part of the STEM academy should count as 21st-century skills?

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Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2020 at 3:22 PM

    The STEM students have a booked schedule and from what I can see, don't have the room to take a 21st century class without dropping something...which they can't. I definitely think it should be a 21st century class.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2020 at 6:33 PM

    I think that the BioMed class that we take senior year should definitely count be a 21st century class for all of the reasons you listed. I am in the exact same situation as you and I've also been thinking about this ever since scheduling for next year has started. It's frustrating because I want to continue taking orchestra because I love playing the violin and it's also a good break from my extremely academic schedule, but I might have to drop it either next year or when I'm a senior because I have to get my 5 credits for 21st century classes. Also, I've looked in to the classes that meet the 21st century requirement and none of them particularly peeked my interest. I don't want to have to drop orchestra, a class I love, for a class that I don't want to take. There's also the fact that at some point I really want to take psychology, but I don't know when I would do that since I can't even get my basic requirements in.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2020 at 6:38 PM

      And, to clarify, doing the Biomedical strand of the STEM academy was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love everything we learn about and those classes tend to be my favorites. I just think that they should count as 21st century classes.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2020 at 5:23 AM

      I love the program as well... just wish it counted!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2020 at 8:18 AM

    BioMed should absolutely count as a 21st century skill. You're preparing to make advancements that haven't even been thought of and progress we've only dreamed about. You should write a letter to the guidance counselor and talk to her about counting BioMed as a 21st Century skill.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2020 at 9:28 AM

    I never even thought about how STEM kids basically lose a whole elective slot. That's so unfair. Just another reason why we should eliminate gym and add another elective period.

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2020 at 5:13 AM

    I think you made a really good point. I agree that the Biomedical classes should count as a 21st century skill class!

    ReplyDelete
  6. DanielleFebruary 12, 2020 at 7:16 AM

    This brings up a great point and maybe you should turn this into a letter and present it. You can make changes! How do you get your 21st century skill in if you can't take an elective?

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2020 at 2:21 PM

    I completely agree with what you're saying.... even though I'm a bit biased. Although I already satisfied all my credits, there are other BioMed kids that haven't, or don't have space in their schedule to do so. When I first decided to take stem, I thought that it would count as credits as the other strands do. It's only fair that we're counted as a 21st century skill as the other two branches are. I am fully behind you.

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  8. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2020 at 6:51 AM

    I think Biomedical could be either/or really. Like yes it is kind of a 21st century skill, but I think that it would generally be more categorized under science. I think that it would be more convenient schedule wise for it to be 21st century, but I think it would kind of be a bit of a stretch.

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  9. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2020 at 7:10 PM

    So, STEM is suppose to prep kids for the future, correct? Computer science is our future. Engineering is our future. Biomed and medicine, etc... is our future. If that's the case, why would it not be considered 21st century learning? You even need to operate AI and robots for certain procedures/surgeries. Bruh...

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  10. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2020 at 2:08 PM

    It should be. Biomed is like the future of science.

    ReplyDelete

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