This week in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Edutopia helps educators best design a makerspace this year, IBM’s good intentions cause controversy and California officials argue that coding should be considered math.

The Best Tools and Resources for Developing a Makerspace

Edutopia has released a list of the most important tools for a stellar makerspace. As the makerspace movement takes off and more and more schools look to create one for its students, this list is a great resource to take a look at.

The list includes the more obvious tools, like 3D printers, to less obvious ones, like dollar store items and vinyl lettering.

Check out the full list of top 20 tools and resources here. 

IBM Campaign for Women Receives Backlash, Reinforces Stereotypes

The latest campaign from IBM, as well-intentioned as it was to encourage more women into STEM, is receiving backlash for reinforcing stereotypes.

The #HackAHairDryer campaign was recently advertised over Twitter and has caused an uproar ever since.

"The video talks of innovation 'not caring what you look like,’while at the same time, uses a woman, hairdryer and scattered cosmetics to, what, not enforce stereotypes? If IBM has a shortage of male coders in the future shall we see an accompanying campaign dubbed #HackAHairClipper?” asks ZDNet.com.

Read the full story.

Arizona Teachers Plan National Conference to Inspire Collaboration in STEM

The e “21st Century STEM: Integrate2Innovate” will take place in January and is the result of a collaboration of various teacher groups in Arizona looking to open up a broader conversation on STEM preparation.

"The inaugural conference designed by teachers, for teachers, is geared to give educators, legislators and the industry access to not only each other, but the latest information, experts and insight driving today’s STEM education,” said BizJournals.com.

Read the full story.

Should Coding Be Considered Math?

As this week marks Computer Science Education Week and an unprecedented number of students participate in the third annual Hour of Code, coding is at the forefront of the national education conversation.

This works out in the favor of California officials, who are pushing for universities to consider coding classes not as electives, but as math classes.

Officials such as Gov. Gavin Newsom are hoping the change will diversify the talent pool in computer science by encouraging more to get involved.

Some of the biggest names in education seem to agree, as well.

"Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, Y Combinator President Sam Altman, LinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla were among two dozen tech leaders who signed the letter. Also backing it were San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Richard Carranza and Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Antwan Wilson,” said eSchoolNews.

But University of California spokeswoman Dianne Klein said that only computer sciences with sufficient math would be considered math courses, and coding methods alone do not qualify.

Read the full story.

Compiled by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

12/8/2015