Summer programs dedicated to STEM fields show NYC students how to keep learning during summer months

The New York Daily News – MERAL AGISH

“Even a sunny day in the park — and maybe especially such a day — can be a time for learning. Just ask the students who spent a recent Saturday afternoon exploring Coney Island Creek, some from shore, others wading into the water with robots tricked out with cameras to capture views of the creek bed…research shows that students who stay active and engaged in educational activities can help offset the so-called “summer slide,” when unused academic skills get rusty…there is a common misperception that students can easily catch up on academic subjects after a summer away from the classroom. But research shows that losses in unused skills are real and only accumulate over time. The math skills that are so critical to all STEM fields are particularly at risk. Researchers have found that students who don’t use math over the summer can lose about three months of learning by the fall.”(more)