STEM

Napa Junction Magnet School is a STEM school.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  

Science is the study of our natural world but it is not just a body of knowledge to learn.  It is a process.  The field of science is always generating new knowledge and we must teach our students the process of inquiry and how to expand ideas and new ways of thinking based on new evidence.

Technology is certainly iPads and computers but it is so much more.  Technology includes entire systems of people and organizations that create new ways of doing things as well as new tools.

Engineering is where the science and math is applied to design and create new products.  It is also a process for solving problems.  

Math is the study of patterns and relationships among quantities, numbers and space.  

According to the California Department of Education (CDE), STEM education teaches students to be problem solvers, innovators, creators, and collaborators.  This is important as our nation needs to increase the numbers of experts in STEM  to drive innovation and keep the country competitive in a global economy.  STEM jobs are expected to grow in the next five years by 21.4 percent.  STEM proficient students will have more opportunities and career choices than non STEM students.