Four Domains of STEM Literacy

LAB-AIDS® programs support key stem drivers - including the development of high quality STEM curricula that is aligned to state standards - and supports the four domains of STEM literacy as recommended by the National Governors Association.

• Scientific Literacy
• Technological Literacy
• Engineering Literacy
• Mathematical Literacy

• Scientific literacy is the ability to not only use scientific knowledge (in physics, chemistry, biological sciences, and earth/space sciences) and processes to understand the natural world and to participate in decisions that affect it.
  
  Using LAB-AIDS materials, students investigate challenging content from the life, earth and physical sciences. Our curricula addresses and aligns to key state and national goals for the school science program. Our SEPUP programs, supported by NSF, Allow students to investigate the science behind current societal and environmental issues, and teaches them to make decisions supported by the best available evidence.

• Technological literacy in the modern world means the ability to use, manage, understand, and evaluate technology.
  
  LAB-AIDS materials feature innovative, applied technology tools, plus cutting-edge curricula to integrate them. The LAB-MASTER allows students access to an RGB spectrophotometer, probeware, and safe-heating technology. Students save data to an SD card which can then be transferred to a computer. That data can then be accessed and plotted by any software or spreadsheet program. Students also use computer-based simulations of scientific phenomena.

• Engineering literacy is the understanding of how technologies are developed via the engineering design process; lessons are project based and integrate multiple subjects, making difficult concepts relevant and tangible to students and tapping into students’ natural interest in problem-solving.
  
  LAB-AIDS materials support authentic, project-based instruction. Using LAB-AIDS materials, students design an investigation and write procedures. They identify and analyze data, identify control variables, make hypotheses, and create, use, and evaluate models. They then revise predictions or hypotheses based on evidence.

• Mathematical literacy means the ability of students to analyze, reason, and communicate ideas effectively as they pose, formulate, solve, and interpret solutions to mathematical problems in a variety of situations.
  
  Using LAB-AIDS materials, students use tools to measure, calculate mean/median/mode, determine a scale, make and interpret graphs, conduct independent research, and use hand-held computers such as graphing calculators to help understand scientific phenomena. They also use probability and risk assessment, sequence information, and analyze survey data.