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The International Journal of STEM Education is an online open-access journal that focuses on the study of learning and teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It is being established as a brand new, forward looking journal that will add the multidisciplinary perspectives needed to complement current disciplinary-focused journals in the field of STEM education. As a peer-reviewed journal, it is positioned to promote original, systematic, and high-quality research and program development in the rapidly evolving, multidisciplinary, and global field of STEM education. The emerging field of STEM education presents a fascinating opportunity. At the policy level, providing high-quality STEM education has been recognized as critical for a nation’s prosperity and security around the world, including developing as well as developed countries. For example, US President Obama’s Reform for the Future agenda (see http: //www. whitehouse. gov/ issues/education/reform) highlights the needs for (1) Race to the Top, (2) redesigning and reforming No Child Left Behind, (3) fortifying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, (4) sparking innovation, (5) ensuring opportunity for all, and (6) strengthening the teaching profession. Strengthening STEM education is clearly taken as a priority. Similar national agendas can be found in many other countries. The commitment to promote and improve STEM education goes well beyond words, as evidenced by consistent and strong funding support. In the USA, the federal government spends nearly 3 billion on STEM education programs annually. Private funding also supports STEM education with an additional US1 billion each year. The ever-increasing interests and research are also evidenced in the active development of numerous professional organizations and conferences related to STEM education. However, scholarly publication venues in the field of STEM education are limited,
Yeping Li (Wed,) studied this question.