Influencing STEM Progress through Collaboration: Non-Governmental Organization Impact Victoria Conner WIRED Partner, Strategic Vitality November 18, 2008 AAS Conference

Nature of the NGO “ Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.” ----Eleanor Roosevelt

“ Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.”

----Eleanor Roosevelt

Introduction STEM Good News Broad understanding that graying U.S. technical workforce soon retiring Broad understanding that public education not the sole solution NGO willingness to help NGOs an asset: Mission-driven Collaboration-oriented Widespread STEM Bad News Current STEM workforce not being replaced by nearly enough new STEM workers Public education not the sole solution STEM work not necessarily presented/perceived as “cool” to potential STEM students

STEM Good News

Broad understanding that graying U.S. technical workforce soon retiring

Broad understanding that public education not the sole solution

NGO willingness to help

NGOs an asset:

Mission-driven

Collaboration-oriented

Widespread

STEM Bad News

Current STEM workforce not being replaced by nearly enough new STEM workers

Public education not the sole solution

STEM work not necessarily presented/perceived as “cool” to potential STEM students

Example of NGO STEM Impact STEM Collaborative Action Plan (STEM CAP)* Goal: Develop a collaboration and a strategic action plan to increase the number and support the development of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students, teachers, professors and mentors within the California Innovation Corridor and the State of California, leveraging the resources and efforts not only of education and academia (K-20, public and private), but of industry and the informal science network. *STEM CAP one of 25 projects of the California Innovation Corridor U.S. Department of Labor “Workforce Innovations in Reg’l Economic Development – WIRED” initiative managed by the California Space Authority

STEM Collaborative Action Plan (STEM CAP)* Goal:

Develop a collaboration and a strategic action

plan to increase the number and support the

development of science, technology, engineering and

math (STEM) students, teachers, professors and

mentors within the California Innovation Corridor and the

State of California, leveraging the resources and efforts

not only of education and academia (K-20, public and

private), but of industry and the informal science network.

*STEM CAP one of 25 projects of the California Innovation Corridor U.S. Department of Labor “Workforce Innovations in Reg’l Economic Development – WIRED” initiative managed by the California Space Authority

Role CSEWI Has Played in STEM CAP Project oversight/Steering Committee leadership Establishment of Forums, Working Groups, Context Facilitated broad-based coalition: new partnerships across educational segments, other sectors UC President’s Office, Chancellors Offices – CSU/CCC K-12 Office of Public Instruction Career Technical Education, private sector education Industry Informal science Government Engaged sub-contractor linked to CA educ system Designed, edited, publishing final STEM CAP

Project oversight/Steering Committee leadership

Establishment of Forums, Working Groups, Context

Facilitated broad-based coalition: new partnerships across educational segments, other sectors

UC President’s Office, Chancellors Offices – CSU/CCC

K-12 Office of Public Instruction

Career Technical Education, private sector education

Industry

Informal science

Government

Engaged sub-contractor linked to CA educ system

Designed, edited, publishing final STEM CAP

STEM CAP Collaboration and Leverage 500 senior-level volunteers (education/academia/industry/informal science) contributed inkind several million dollars of support NASA EDUCATION FRAMEWORK adopted as STEM CAP Foundation

500 senior-level volunteers (education/academia/industry/informal science) contributed inkind several million dollars of support

NASA EDUCATION FRAMEWORK adopted as STEM CAP Foundation

STEM Inventory www.csewi.org/STEM First statewide public/private STEM inventory in nation: online, user-friendly database of STEM programs in California, searchable by grade level, geographical location, subject, age, student or professional development

First statewide public/private STEM inventory in nation: online, user-friendly database of STEM programs in California, searchable by grade level, geographical location, subject, age, student or professional development

STEMCAP Recommendations www.InnovateCalifornia.net/documents/STEMCAPDOC.pdf 10 Recommendations reinforcing common foundation based on NASA Framework Inspire Engage Educate Employ Accompanying action items

www.InnovateCalifornia.net/documents/STEMCAPDOC.pdf

10 Recommendations reinforcing common foundation based on NASA Framework

Inspire

Engage

Educate

Employ

Accompanying action items

STEMCAP Enhancements White paper: NASA/CSU STEM Collaboration Cal Poly SLO Describes NASA JPL/CSU Summer Teacher Prof’l Development Institute Success Factors Project Lead the Way H.S. Outreach Program El Camino College, leveraged by QuickStart Seven high school PLTW high school programs

White paper: NASA/CSU STEM Collaboration

Cal Poly SLO

Describes NASA JPL/CSU Summer Teacher Prof’l Development Institute Success Factors

Project Lead the Way H.S. Outreach Program

El Camino College, leveraged by QuickStart

Seven high school PLTW high school programs

STEM CAP’s Six Pilots Addressed 7 of 10 SC recommendations Most common recommendations addressed Increasing student interest in STEM disciplines Recruiting/training STEM teachers Pilot project partners diverse stakeholders: K-12 schools/districts/Co offices; higher ed, foundations, community orgs, business, etc. Activities included course/curriculum development, teacher prep/training, development of STEM resources

Addressed 7 of 10 SC recommendations

Most common recommendations addressed

Increasing student interest in STEM disciplines

Recruiting/training STEM teachers

Pilot project partners diverse stakeholders: K-12 schools/districts/Co offices; higher ed, foundations, community orgs, business, etc.

Activities included course/curriculum development, teacher prep/training, development of STEM resources

STEM CAP Follow-On: CSEWI’s STEMTRAX Initiative builds on STEM CAP recommendations “STEMTRAX is a facilitated, community-based, sequential, integrated pathway of STEM systemic and external programs and activities, elementary through university, focusing on leading student participants directly to the STEM workforce.”

Initiative builds on STEM CAP recommendations

“STEMTRAX is a facilitated, community-based, sequential, integrated pathway of STEM systemic and external programs and activities, elementary through university, focusing on leading student participants directly to the STEM workforce.”

Conclusion NGOs/Others developing great STEM programs supporting inspiration of students, engagement Challenges: STEM education/employment depends on larger strategy, framework to ensure moving through pipeline STEM progress dependent upon education system as well as informal science support Success factors: Ongoing engagement of NGOs in STEM support Engagement of education/academia Leveraging of resources; strategic linkage of efforts

NGOs/Others developing great STEM programs supporting inspiration of students, engagement

Challenges:

STEM education/employment depends on larger strategy, framework to ensure moving through pipeline

STEM progress dependent upon education system as well as informal science support

Success factors:

Ongoing engagement of NGOs in STEM support

Engagement of education/academia

Leveraging of resources; strategic linkage of efforts

STEMTRAX Call to Action California Space Education & Workforce Initiative currently championing STEMTRAX Initiative, seeking sponsorships to support 3-5 pilots in northern, southern and central California (space-strategic areas)

California Space Education & Workforce Initiative currently championing STEMTRAX Initiative, seeking sponsorships to support 3-5 pilots in northern, southern and central California (space-strategic areas)