Members of the STEM Careers Coalition — a first-of-its-kind national STEM initiative powered by corporate leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education — are helping educators nationwide imbue today's students with spirit of innovation during Manufacturing (MFG) Day. Observed on Oct. 2, 2020, MFG Day reveals the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, families, teachers, and community leaders. Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources and professional learning for K-12 classrooms.

This year, MFG Day emphasizes engaging digital content and virtual events throughout the country. With manufacturing careers at the heart of some of the most impactful work being done in response to the pandemic, manufacturers are excited to share with students nationwide how they can prepare for the future of STEM work.

Supported by Discovery Education, the STEM Careers Coalition unites the business community in meeting a shared goal of accelerating the growth of the STEM pipeline and preparing 10 million students for the future of work. By providing access to dynamic digital content and real-world experiences that engage students in STEM careers, coalition members connect students nationwide to the resources they need to develop the 21st Century skills critical for college and career success. 

To support educators as they explore modern manufacturing with their students, members of the STEM Careers Coalition are offering teachers and students across the United States access to exciting no-cost resources:

COVID-19 Solution Seekers Video Series
Spotlighting how non-profits, corporations, and industries pivoted to meet the challenges of COVID-19, this video series connects the dots between the application of STEM skills, innovating solutions, and important real-world challenges. Through an array of real-world content featuring diverse STEM professionals, educators and students alike can discover the flexibility and possibility of STEM. Viewers can find out how industry leaders like Boeing, content contributor GAF, Microsoft, and American Petroleum Institute innovate and problem-solve through STEM.
 

Classroom Activities
These no-cost and standards-aligned activities designed for wherever learning takes place ignite student curiosity in STEM and explore opportunities with thought provoking problem-solving applied to real-world challenges. Each activity features important STEM skills and a step-by-step guide for implementing activities with students. Take high school students through the interesting textile industry with the all new "Eco-Friendly Manufacturing" activity challenging students to examine environmental impacts through self-directed research and critical assessment of pollution-reducing initiatives.
 

Manufacturing-Focused Career Videos
Learn from STEM Careers Coalition contributing partner GAF how manufacturing impacts everyday life and the many STEM pathways available. In these two new videos created for Manufacturing Day, various STEM leaders from GAF outline how they do their work to address society's need and explain how today's students can also build a future in manufacturing.

"Classroom lessons that discuss and explore modern manufacturing practices support learning in two important ways," said Dana Johnston, instructional specialist in the Orange Unified School District. "They can help show students how the science and STEM lessons they are learning in the classroom can be applied to the real-world, and they can also help students learn about possible career paths they may wish to pursue. The valuable resources from the STEM Careers Coalition will be helpful to any educator helping to prepare their students for the world beyond the classroom."

With a focus on equity of access, the coalition connects industry leaders to support the development of innovative problem-solvers ready to join the STEM workforce of tomorrow. In addition to the coalition's national work, members also engage in regional approaches to workforce development and support students' explorations in STEM by underwriting critical academic and career content available through the award-winning Discovery Education Experience and STEM Connect services.

"Manufacturing Day offers educators and students nationwide the perfect opportunity to explore not only how science and STEM relate to modern manufacturing, but the diverse careers available to students today," said Marla Wilson, executive director of the STEM Careers Coalition. "We are grateful to our partners in the business community for their efforts to share with all learners these engaging digital resources highlighting both manufacturing's connection to science and STEM, and the possibilities open to today's students in tomorrow's manufacturing careers."

Used in school systems nationwide, Experience is a flexible K-12 learning platform that connects educators to a vast collection of compelling high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, and professional learning resources. Together, these resources give educators everything they need to facilitate instruction in any learning environment and create lasting educational impact.  

STEM Connect, Discovery Education's interdisciplinary K-8 resource, blends dynamic digital content with ready-to-use lessons and hands-on activities to enhance core curriculum and cultivate valuable design thinking skills that prepare students for the future. STEM Connect provides educators all the necessary resources to introduce the real-world challenges into classroom learning that help students grow from local problem solvers to imaginative, global solution seekers.

Learn more about the STEM Careers Coalition and how a business can support its work at www.stemcareerscoalition.org. For more information about Discovery Education's digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.