Pioneer Valley STEMNET Engineering/Pre-Engineering Initiative
Abstract
The Pioneer Valley PreK-16 Regional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Network [PV STEMNET] proposes to develop and implement a coherent set of activities along the theme of engineering/pre-engineering/technology as a way to help "fix the leaks" in the pipeline that leads to careers in STEM-related industries.
PV STEMNET Phase I activities identified that in the Pioneer Valley region
(1) There are significant employment opportunities in a variety of engineering/technician areas;
(2) There is a need to develop the skills of students who will stay in the area (not just high achievers who will leave for colleges and employment elsewhere); and
(3) There are a variety of existing engineering/technician education offerings at the four-year and two-year college and comprehensive and vocational high-school levels.
However, these needs and opportunities are not well articulated or highly publicized. Furthermore, our survey of Network partners identified “developing more engaging STEM curriculum” as the greatest STEM education need (76% of respondents chose this ), followed by “improving middle school teacher STEM knowledge” (67%), and “having more opportunities for students to learn about STEM careers (57%).
Based on the above needs and opportunities, PV STEMNET developed the following set of objectives:
(1) Increase teachers' and students' knowledge of paths to careers in engineering, technology, and applied mathematics and science;
(2) Increase teachers' knowledge of engineering, science, and mathematics;
(3) Increase teachers' knowledge of the methods of teaching and assessing engineering, science, and mathematics to K-12 students;
(4) Increase students' learning of engineering, science, and mathematics; and
(5) Further develop the PV STEMNET.
Through the democratic and inclusive decision making process adopted by PV STEMNET consensus was reached to address the above objectives by focusing on engineering/pre-engineering. Four reasons for doing so emerged from the Phase I activities and the expertise of Network partners:
• Engineering/pre-engineering provides an opportunity for improving student and teacher awareness of local STEM-related careers, and for developing career pathways/ladders to those careers.
• It meets the needs of priority industries identified by the RCC and REBs, including both professional and technician-type occupations.
• It offers a context for learning and applying math and science skills in hands-on ways that can make math and science more engaging for more students.
• Engineering and technology applications are significant components of the Massachusetts Science and Engineering/Technology Curriculum Framework and the MCAS.
It was also decided that the best way to address the objectives was to use a decentralized approach that relied on multiple small projects spread through the region. By using a thematic approach that combines small projects into a larger whole, it allows us to try out different models for improving the pipeline. Those that are successful, as determined by the evaluation, can be easily duplicated because of their low cost. As a result, all of the proposed activities are transferable within our region and to other regions. The projects are designed to (1) build awareness of and provide a "pipeline" to careers in engineering, technology, and applied science and mathematics and (2) make STEM learning more engaging across the curriculum. The activities are therefore divided into two types, Engineering Awareness/Pathways and Engineering Across the Curriculum, are listed below:
Engineering Awareness/Pathways
Engineering pathways mapping project
Industry internships and research experiences for teachers
Industry internships for students
Career fairs
Summer camps
Saturday Explorations in Science and Engineering
Engineering Education Conference
Engineering Across the Curriculum
Summer content and pedagogy institutes
Academic-year seminars for teachers
Pre-Engineering Distance Learning Consortium
These activities will help "fix the leaks" in the pipeline by increasing awareness of local STEM careers and organize and publicize the educational pathways to those careers; by developing teacher knowledge and curriculum; and by engaging more students in STEM learning. As a result, student STEM learning will be enhanced, and local STEM employment needs will be met.