| There is a test called the Lemelson-MIT Invention | | | | 64 percent teen girls share the same belief. |
| Index which gauges Americans attitudes towards | | | | When you read the news regarding politics, you find |
| inventions and innovations. In their most recent | | | | that many teens are getting involved and supporting |
| study, they have found that American teens have an | | | | the candidates, who stand behind environmental |
| important need for more project-based learning in | | | | issues such as global warming, water and air pollution, |
| their high schools. The teens really believe that they | | | | etc. |
| can invent solutions to some of the worlds most | | | | However, the problem with the above inventions and |
| pressing challenges. The trouble is that many of them | | | | beliefs is that a vast majority of teens (79 percent) |
| say they feel they are unprepared for careers in | | | | believe that there is much value in hands on projects |
| technology and engineering. | | | | in classes such as science, technology, engineering |
| Nearly 72 percent of the teens believe that | | | | and math. The students want to get their hands dirty |
| innovations can solve things such as global warming, | | | | and invent and they want more funding for these |
| water pollution and fossil fuel depletion. 64 percent of | | | | types of programs. They say hands on learning are |
| those teens said they are confident they could invent | | | | the same as playing in sports. Many adults do not feel |
| some of these very innovations which compares to | | | | that there are candidates who represent this same |
| only 38 percent of adults who feel they could invent | | | | belief of the students that more funding is needed |
| something of the same. | | | | for this in school. |
| What I thought was interesting is the ethnic groups | | | | We owe it to our students to prepare them for |
| among the teens, three-quarters of them were Asian | | | | todays society and the future to come and we must |
| teens (73 percent) and Hispanic teens (75 percent) | | | | and should start giving them the tools and letting |
| believe they are the ones who could invent | | | | them practice and learn using them now. |
| something to protect and restore the environment. | | | | What is happening in your school? How much hands |
| Besides that, two-thirds of African-American teens | | | | on learning do you get to do in high school and in |
| (61 percent), and 64 percent of Caucasian teens and | | | | what subjects? |