In 1991, PKAL issued its first report, Volume I: What Works in Building Natural Science Communities. Since that time, PKAL has built a community of dedicated STEM education faculty members and campus leaders across the nation. The PKAL community is comprised of more than 7,000 members at more than 700 campuses around the country, and it is growing. Over the years, PKAL has helped to catalyze the improvement of undergraduate STEM learning environments, and has also facilitated the development and dissemination of best practices in active and engaging pedagogies (pedagogies of engagement). Much has been learned (see PKAL blog post from 12/26/10 for one perspective), but there are still challenges ahead.

The world is a different place in 2011 than it was in 1991, as are our institutions, our faculty, our students and our missions. Public criticism of higher education is high, costs are high and so are expectations. Several national studies suggest that students aren’t gaining much from their college experience (Academically Adrift, for example), and cries from national reports still say we are not doing as well recruiting and retaining STEM majors particularly from diverse populations (see PKAL blog post from 2/23/11). Over 80 posters, sessions and speakers at the recent PKAL-AAC&U Engaged STEM Learning conference in Miami echoed these themes as well as focused on technology, interdisciplinarity, inclusiveness, preparation, assessment and real world experiences. There was a palpable energy among the 450 attendees as they shared, exchanged and learned from one another.

As one way to celebrate PKAL’s anniversary, we would like members of the community to contribute to a “PKAL 20/20 Vision”  that will include 20 lessons learned over the past 20 years and 20 challenges ahead for the next 20 years for STEM higher education. What do you think we have learned over the past 20 years, and what you think are the challenges for the next 20 years? Please share your thoughts by commenting on this blog post to give us your feedback. We’ll collect and synthesize it, and keep you posted on the results. Not only will this help PKAL more strategically plan its conferences, programs and activities in the future, but we hope it will help you as you continue your efforts to make STEM experiences in higher education better meet the needs of our 21st century students.

Tags: 21st century, higher education, PKAL STEM