STEM in Action: Transferring Knowledge from the Workplace to the Classroom

Today's hearing focuses on public and private endeavors that help STEM career professionals who have no traditional training or teaching in their backgrounds transition their industry experience, knowledge, and skills to the classroom. The transition for these STEM career professionals often entails a complete career switch or mentoring students and/or teachers. The ability to educate and inspire is a quality that all teachers should possess. Individuals who have spent time in a STEM profession bring a unique perspective to the classroom and can make a great contribution to our STEM education efforts. At the same time, industry experience, knowledge and skills alone do not necessarily make a good teacher. Good teaching requires an additional and special set of knowledge and skills.