185. Cultivating Confident Decision-Makers in STEM ft. Ramin Mohajer and Alison Stumacher

5/30/2025

How do we help kids make better decisions, such as in  STEM challenges? In this episode of The STEM Space, we’re joined by Ramin Mohajer and Alison Stumacher from the Alliance for Decision Education. Ramin, a former corporate attorney turned nonprofit leader, is the Deputy Director of Organizational Development and believes students need cognitive tools—not just rules—to manage choices like screen time. Alison, a longtime educator, now works as the Deputy Director of Education to bring Decision Education into classrooms to help students navigate choices in school, relationships, and life.

Enjoy this thought-provoking conversation that may spark new ways to support your students as confident, capable decision-makers.

About Ramin Mohajer:

Ramin, Deputy Director of Organizational Development at the nonprofit Alliance for Decision Education, believes that decision-making skills are the missing piece in this conversation. Rather than relying solely on school-wide cellphone bans, educators can equip students with the cognitive tools to regulate their own screen use—an essential skill for future scientists, engineers and problem-solvers.

About Alison Stumacher:

Alison, Deputy Director of Education at the Alliance for Decision Education, is focused on ensuring that all students have access to the skills and tools they need to make better decisions. With over two decades in education across classroom teaching, instructional coaching, and leadership roles, she now works on developing solutions to bring Decision Education into classrooms—helping students build the skills they need to navigate choices in school, relationships, and life.

About the Alliance for Decision Education: The Alliance for Decision Education is a national nonprofit dedicated to making decision-making skills a core part of K-12 education. They believe that better decisions lead to better lives and work with educators and experts to equip students with essential cognitive tools, empowering them to navigate challenges both in and out of the classroom. Through innovative curricula and community initiatives, the Alliance is transforming education to foster confident, capable decision-makers for a better society.

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Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

• 178. Getting Kids to Think

• 122. How to Motivate Students

• 119. Think Like A Scientist

• 59. How to Motivate Students and Regulate Emotions in STEM

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

• 12 Ways to Boost Social-Emotional Learning with STEM

• How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward

• Thrilling STEM Activities for Kids: Roller Coaster Challenge

• Catapult Challenge

Vivify STEM Lessons

• Upstairs Downstairs Brain Paper Circuit SEL STEM Activity

• Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 6-8

• Catapult STEM Challenge

Other STEM Resources

• Alliance for Decision Education

• Ramin Mohajer

• Alison Stumacher

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