Using Authentic Contexts in Learning to Support Academic

Using Authentic Contexts in Learning to Support Academic and Career Planning Kevin Anderson, Ph. D Science Education Consultant, DPI Rich Merkel Executive Director, STEM Forward Slides link: goo. gl/GQ 85 e. M

Key: Establishing a Vision What is your vision for STEM and/or CTE learning for your students? Share with a neighbor (introduce yourself)

What is STEM Education? Authentic STEM education offers all students an opportunity to engage with meaningful problems beyond the application of isolated pieces of science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning. STEM education is more than the sum of its parts, functioning as a metadiscipline that provides a way of approaching problems across contexts. In the 21 st century, major societal problems do not belong to any one discipline; they must be solved through multiple approaches and perspectives. STEM provides one such approach, emphasizing a quantitative, collaborative, innovative, and logical analysis rooted in a solid understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. From: dpi. wi. gov/stem

STEM is less… • • Textbook-based • Taught by one teacher or • department • Problem-solving w/ basic • math/sci application • Connections to work-like • skills with reference to possible careers • • Lock-step following of one set curriculum taught by one teacher • A little bit of S, T, E, and M. STEM is more… Student and communitydriven, Interdisciplinary Solving real-world problems Connections to specific job -related skills/industry A collaborative, quantitative approach to problem-solving that can be applied across all disciplines

Career exploration? How do your students engage in career exploration? My worry… My lack of engineering connections (epistemological understanding)…

Authentic contexts – Bats Makes observations of the provided data (goo. gl/GXL 4 X 7) and share with a neighbor. Ask questions. Further details… ELA – write, research, present. Math – real data analysis, statistics, complex mathematical modeling. Full unit outline: goo. gl/IWXXK 8

Local data – STEM Hero www. stemhero. org/ STEM – students engage in collecting data about energy or water consumption at home or school (or other metrics). They analyze this data, learn about energy saving strategies (and the science behind it), come up with improvements, implement, collect new data, and share results. ELA – write, research, present. Math – real data analysis.

Meaningful literacy – DL interviews dpi. wi. gov/science/disciplinary-literacy How do you use literacy skills in your work? – Notebooking, documenting, researching, defending…

What are qualities of effective STEM, CTE, ACP…? Time for your reflection – where do connections like these happen K-8 in your district? Research shows HS is too late… Key - Providing students authentic contexts to work like someone in that field does! Another tool for reflection: STEM Education Program Self-Evaluation Rubric

Approach STEM Forward • Non-Profit (STEM focused) housed at MSOE • Vision: Inspiring a Future Ready STEM Workforce • Many Roles: Regional STEM Connector, Program Implementer, STEM Events, Advocacy, Awareness • Programs: Future City, Rube Goldberg, Day of Engineering, Scholarships • Events: SAE INTERNATIONAL 10

The STEM 7 Initiative (2011) Goal: Create ongoing partnerships between school districts and local employers to advance STEM education Step-by-Step Plan for STEM / Industry Advisory Boards Burlington Area School District Lake Geneva School District Kenosha Unified School District Pius XI High School Kettle Moraine School District Port Washington School District West Bend School District 11

Approach Mutual Value – Community Partnerships For Employers • • • Community involvement and employee morale Awareness of STEM careers and education pathways Volunteerism helps talent management – Millennials! Showcase their business or organization Link to local students (employees, interns, YA, etc. ) Helps • Develop a future workforce • Create vision of what STEM education can do SAE INTERNATIONAL 12

Value of Formal Partnerships to Schools • Maximize Career Cruising, Inspire & ACP efforts • Real world applications of curriculum - relevance! • Resources for the school & student projects • Local face of employers, role models & pathways • Volunteer involvement helps generate student and teacher interest • Can lead to improved student performance 13

Sample from Advisory Board Meeting - Port Washington High School Technology and Engineering Education ~ Equipment Proposal Items Required Qty CNC Vertical Mill 1 CNC Plasma Table 1 Bridgeport Mill Lathe (used) 6 3 D Printer 1 Welder- 3 in 1 14 Welder- AC-DC TIG 1 Tubing Bender w/Dies 1 Iron Worker w/dies 1 Installation (Electical, Gas Plumbing) Auto Shop Tool Update 1 Alignment Lift 1 Total Cost/unit $20, 000 $24, 600 USED $4, 000 $10, 000 $2, 000 $10, 000 $5, 000 $8, 000 Projected Cost $20, 000. 00 $24, 600. 00 $10, 000. 00 $24, 000. 00 $10, 000. 00 $28, 000. 00 $2, 000. 00 $10, 000. 00 $5, 000. 00 $8, 000. 00 $161, 600. 00

More Partnership Benefits for Educators Keeps teachers and administrators current with trends in higher education and workforce, including… • • emerging technologies career outlooks salary expectations working conditions 15

Building Industry/STEM Advisory Boards Getting Started - Action Items! � � � Identify Champion(s) & engage local leadership School District team drafts Board Vision Identify and recruit Advisory Board / Partners – Kickoff! Determine STEM effort name, logo Create baseline inventory of existing STEM… ◦ Curriculum , Activities & Events �Regular meetings and collaborative activities to grow and enhance STEM education, ACP, CTE! 16

Building Sustainable Partnerships More Action Items � Advisory Board ◦ ◦ 25% Internal (District) /75% external Determine Coordinator & set structure Regular Meetings (3 -5), Rotate Locations Business Friendly Then…Assess Performance Against Goals ◦ Determine what is working well (and what is not!) ◦ Add, delete or revise activities based upon measurable value provided to students, educators and partners Copyright by STEM Forward. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 17

Getting Started - Choosing Partners Looking Beyond the Usual Suspects � When identifying potential employer partners consider that CTE / STEM careers and skills are found everywhere… � i. e. not just Manufacturing, Energy, Consulting, etc. � Consider: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Construction Financial Services Healthcare Insurance IT Research Retail Copyright by STEM Forward. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 18

Choosing Your Partners Looking Beyond the Usual Suspects �Consider other departments or operating units: ◦ Human Resources / Talent Acquisition ◦ Information Systems / Technology ◦ Marketing / Communications ◦ Government Affairs Copyright by STEM Forward. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 19

Choosing Your Partners Looking Beyond the Usual Suspects � Consider other groupings of STEM professionals as potential resources ◦ ◦ Business / Trade associations Chambers of Commerce Technical Societies Colleges & Universities (professors, Instructors) � Public sector employers of STEM talent ◦ State agencies (e. g. DOT, DNR, etc. ) ◦ County and local agencies (e. g. DPW, airports, ports/harbors, sewerage districts, etc. ) Copyright by STEM Forward. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 20

Choosing Your Partners Looking Beyond the Usual Suspects • Colleges / Universities - Professors, instructors, etc. - Students, student organizations � K-12 - High schools partnering with middle schools - Schools partnering with each other � And, Finally… - Community based and other non-profit organizations - Media - Elected officials Copyright by STEM Forward. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 21

Sample Agenda KMSD Advisory Board October 10 th / 7: 30 – 9: 00 AM (First Meeting of the 2013 School Year) ◦ Scope of Advisory Board & Member Commitment ◦ Review of High School STEM Happenings ◦ Middle School STEM Happenings ◦ High School STEM Happenings ◦ Current Challenges & Discussion Copyright by STEM Forward. . Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of STEM Forward is prohibited. 22

Final Questions? Comments? Kevin Anderson – kevin. Anderson@dpi. wi. gov/science and dpi. wi. gov/stem Rich Merkel – rmerkel@stemforward. org www. stemforward. org