Science and math's new importance. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).A growth of jobs in high-tech high-tech also hi-tech adj. Informal Of, relating to, or resembling high technology. high-tech Adjective same as hi-tech Adj. 1. homeland security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States is one noticeable result of last year's terrorist attacks. But are math and science education preparing students well enough for these jobs? More than eight in 10 college students say yes. They believe that both they themselves and their generation have had sufficient preparation in math and science education to succeed in high-tech security fields. This is one finding of interest to the K-12 community from a new Gallup Gallup, town (1990 pop. 19,154), alt. 6,515 ft (1,986 m), seat of McKinley co., NW N.Mex., on the Puerco River near the Ariz. line; inc. 1891. It is a rail and trade center in a large mining, timber, and ranching area. survey commissioned by Bayer Corp. as part of its Making Science Make Sense initiative. "Despite the students' overall optimism Optimism See also Hope. Bontemps, Roger personification of cheery contentment. [Fr. Lit.: “Roger Bontemps” in Walsh Modern, 66] Candide beset by inconceivable misfortunes, hero indifferently shrugs them off. [Fr. , it's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have clear from a number of voices in the survey that much more work must be done nationally to improve pre-college science and math education so that young people ... are truly prepared for these new [career] opportunities," says former astronaut astronaut, crew member on a U.S. manned spaceflight mission; the Soviet term is cosmonaut. Candidates for manned spaceflight are carefully screened to meet the highest physical and mental standards, and they undergo rigorous training. Mae C. Jemison, who is the current science literacy science literacy A general term for the awareness a person or the public has of basic scientific facts, concepts, and theories spokes-person for the Bayer initiative. Nearly all of the students polled see science literacy as an important weapon in the fight against terrorism. They believe that understanding and dealing with terrorist threats, such as bio-terrorism, nuclear weapons and cyber (1) From "cybernetics," it is a prefix attached to everyday words to add a computer, electronic or online connotation. The term is similar to "virtual," but the latter is used more frequently. See virtual. terrorism, requires average Americans to be science literate. "Science literacy is not about creating the next generation of scientists," Jemison says. "Rather it's about reading a health article in the newspaper and understanding it or preparing nutritionally sound meals for your children." Are students personally taking steps to prepare themselves to fight terrorism? Of the seven in 10 students who say they believe that new job opportunities will be created as a result of the emphasis on homeland security, one in 10 is seriously considering pursuing these opportunities. www.bayerus.com/msms/ news/i_factsofscience.html
Preparation for the Post-September 11 World
Students who wish they had a stronger pre-college math
and science education 40%
Students from less competitive colleges who felt their
preparation could have been stronger 50%
Students in highly competitive colleges who felt their
preparation could have been stronger 33%
Students who believe the next generation will need a stronger
pre-college math and science education than they themselves
received 72%
Students who believe it's important for average Americans to be
science literate so they can understand and deal with
terrorist threats of a high-tech nature 93%
Students who feel science literacy is important for them in
their chosen career paths 74%
SOURCE: Bayer Facts of Science Education VIII, a survey of 1,000
full-time college students
Note: Table made from bar graph.
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