Enhancement of K-12 science, engineering and math education-a working model: A joint venture of education (pre-college)/education (college)/industry

Student disinterest in choosing careers in science, engineering and mathematics is well documented. In an attempt to address and counter this trend, IBM, SUNY, New Paltz, New York, and the Newburgh, New York, greater school district have collaboratively developed an interdisciplinary model program. A scanning electron microscope, which emphasizes visual and kinesthetic learning, has been installed in a centralized science classroom. Teachers have learned to use the instrument through in-service courses and are now incorporating its use into both student´s hands-on activities and general lesson plans. The development, organization, and curriculum of the current model [education (pre-college)/education (college)/industry] and the future model [education (precollege)/education(college)/government/industry] are presented