The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists, and Technical Professionals BEST Middle and High School Robotics Competition A Workforce Development

The Critical Need for Future Engineers, The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists, and Technical ProfessionalsScientists, and Technical Professionals

BEST Middle and High SchoolBEST Middle and High School

Robotics CompetitionRobotics Competition

A Workforce Development ProgramA Workforce Development Program

African ProverbAfrican Proverb

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.”start running.”

- Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat

How Aware Are We?How Aware Are We?

“The United States is like the proverbial frog in the pot of water, oblivious to the slowly rising temperature.” (1)

“Losing the Competitive Advantage: The Challenge for Science and Technology in the United States” – American Electronics Association

Issues & ProblemsIssues & Problems

• Here’s what engineering-based companies are facing…

• Technological illiteracyTechnological illiteracy• Workforce shortagesWorkforce shortages• The “Math Crisis”The “Math Crisis”• Poor perceptionsPoor perceptions

Technological LiteracyTechnological Literacy

• Reading literacy was the essential element of education in the 20th century.

• Technological literacy has become the essential element in the 21st century.

• Those who aren’t technologically literate face a face a standard of living comparable to those who standard of living comparable to those who couldn’t read and write in the 20couldn’t read and write in the 20thth century! century!

Workforce ShortagesWorkforce Shortages

• 15% of the science and engineering workforce is eligible to retire now.

• An additional 25% will be eligible within 5 yearswithin 5 years.

• By 2008, 1.9 million new jobs in science and 1.9 million new jobs in science and engineering will have been createdengineering will have been created since 1998.

“Losing the Competitive Advantage: The Challenge for Science and Technology in the United States” – American Electronics Association

• By 2008, 198,000 engineering and science college graduates per yearper year will have entered the workforce since 1998.

• That is almost 2.0 million That is almost 2.0 million short!!short!!


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Workforce Requirement

Available New Hires

Retirements

New Job Requirements

Graduates

WorkforceShortage


• Engineering-based industries are now competing with a large number of markets for an alarmingly smaller number of qualified future employees.

• The potential workforce for 2013 is in middle The potential workforce for 2013 is in middle school today.school today.

• What are we doing to prepare them for the What are we doing to prepare them for the future?future?“Ensuring Workforce Skills of the Future –

The Birth to Work Pipeline” (2003, The Boeing Company)

Critical ShortagesCritical Shortages

• There has been a steady decline in the number of Bachelor degrees in Engineering in the last 20 years, dropping from 71,000 in 1981 to less than 56,000 in 2002.

• Analysis of current trends in the Science and Engineering (S&E) workforce indicate serious problems lie ahead that may threaten our long-term prosperity and national security.

Indicators:Indicators:• Reduced student interest in S&E studies• Large increases in retirements• Projected rapid growth in S&E occupations (3X that of all occupations)

National Science Board report, August, 2003

Behind and Losing Behind and Losing GroundGround• China graduates four timesfour times as many engineers as

the U.S.

• European Union graduates three timesthree times as many.

• In 2004, only 7%only 7% of the 868,000 bachelor-level engineering degrees granted worldwide were earned in the U.S. (17th place)

“Losing the Competitive Advantage: The Challenge for Science and Technology in the United States” –

American Electronics Association

Various Sources (Chinese Statistical Yearbook 2004; Global Research Institute; National Association of Software and Service Companies; National Science Foundation; Fortune Magazine; New York Times)

• Emerging countries are churning out more engineers while the while the number of U.S. students number of U.S. students entering engineering has entering engineering has remained flatremained flat..

Future Critical Job SkillsFuture Critical Job Skills

• Tomorrow’s jobs will go to those with education in science, engineering, and mathematicsscience, engineering, and mathematics and to high-skills technical workers. (1)

• By 2012, over 40% of factory jobs will require post-secondary education. And yet, almost half of all almost half of all 17-year-olds do not have the basic 17-year-olds do not have the basic understanding of mathunderstanding of math needed to qualify. (1)

• Companies have to do theCompanies have to do the

training.training.(1) “The Looming Workforce Crisis”(2) – National Association of Manufacturers

The “Math Crisis”The “Math Crisis”

• Jobs requiring math are increasing four times four times faster than overall job growth.faster than overall job growth.

• However, American children rank 13 rank 13thth in the in the world when it comes to basic math skillsworld when it comes to basic math skills

• Less than 1/3Less than 1/3 of American 8th graders are at least proficient in math

MathMovesU® survey conducted for Raytheon Company by KRC Research.

The “Math Crisis”The “Math Crisis”

• 93% of American 6th to 8th graders realize they need math skills later in life, but few directly link but few directly link math to their “dream jobs.”math to their “dream jobs.”

MathMovesU™ survey conducted for Raytheon Company by KRC Research.

Poor PerceptionPoor Perception

• “Other parts of the world exalt science and engineering. In the U.S., far too often, these are seen as careers for ‘geeks and nerds.’ This type of attitude embraces ignorance, and ignorance is ignorance is poison to an economy that runs on technology poison to an economy that runs on technology and innovation.and innovation.”

• “How is it not ‘cool’ to create something that no one 10 or 20 years before had even conceived of? How How is it not rewarding to look at a product, is it not rewarding to look at a product, service, or procedure and say – with pride – service, or procedure and say – with pride – that you were a part of its creation?that you were a part of its creation?”

“Losing the Competitive Advantage: The Challenge for Science and Technology in the United States” –

American Electronics Association

Why Not Engineering?Why Not Engineering?

• Why aren’t high school students going into engineering?

• HS students generally don’t know what engineers do and may often make uninformed decisions (both toto and not tonot to pursue engineering).

• HS graduates aren’t prepared for the rigor of the undergraduate engineering curriculum.

• The engineering profession has largely not been The engineering profession has largely not been involved in K-12 education.involved in K-12 education.

The Challenge We Face The Challenge We Face

• K-12 science and math education – increasing K-12 science and math education – increasing the talent pool – is the biggest and most the talent pool – is the biggest and most important challenge we face.important challenge we face. (1)

• The synergy of public and private sectors is the key to competitiveness. (1)

• “Educational reform is not just an ‘education issue.’ It’s also an economic issue, a civic issue, a social issue, and a national security issue. And it’s everybody’s issue.” (2)

(1)“Rising Above the Gathering Storm” – The National Academies (Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)

(2)Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education

What to Do?What to Do?

• Is someone from outside the United States going to come in and rescue us? • No.No.

• If we don’t do it, what will change? • Nothing.Nothing.

• If we don’t do it, who else will? • No one.No one.

• We need to create our own synergy.• Business/Industry, Higher Education, and K-12 Business/Industry, Higher Education, and K-12

are all in this together.are all in this together.

We Need an AllianceWe Need an Alliance

• Why is such an alliance critical?Why is such an alliance critical?

• Business and industry leaders have been bemoaning the fact that there isn’t a more organized and effective effort to attract K-12 students to engineering, science, and technology fields.

• Manufacturers in particular need a Manufacturers in particular need a future workforce that is future workforce that is technologically literate,technologically literate, yet they don’t know how to find “that thing” that can help them connect to schools and reach students.

• BEST is that “thing.” BEST is that “thing.” It is a vehicle for reaching students.

BEST Robotics – A StartBEST Robotics – A Start

• BEST Robotics, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire middle to inspire middle through high school students to pursue through high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-technology through participation in a sports-like, hands-on, real-world engineering-based like, hands-on, real-world engineering-based robotics competitionrobotics competition..

• This fall, more than 10,000 students representing over 700 schools will participate at 35 competition sites (hubs) in 16 states.

How to Describe BEST?How to Describe BEST?

• It’s difficult to describe a BEST competition to those who have never seen it.

• Let’s say it is sort of like a basketball game, chess match, and science fair all rolled into one dayall rolled into one day, with cheerleaders, mascots, pep bands, and wildly cheering adults and kids mixed in.

• In a sports-like atmosphere, BEST is a BEST is a celebration of students’ intellect, creativity, celebration of students’ intellect, creativity, and ingenuity.and ingenuity.

Meeting Industry’s NeedsMeeting Industry’s Needs

• Building robots is just the hands-on platform for teaching students how to:

• analyze and solve problems• work on a team• build consensus• grow in both competence and

confidence.

• What BEST students learn is what is what industry needsindustry needs in its future workforce.

• It is less robotics and more It is less robotics and more problem-solving.problem-solving.

BEST ResultsBEST Results

As a result of participating in BEST, students…

• Understand real world use of mathematical concepts and applied physics.

• Experience real-world science and engineering real-world science and engineering challengeschallenges, training that is transferable to all academic disciplines and career pursuits.

• Understand what engineers do - engineering is “demystified.”engineering is “demystified.”

• Experience “design-to-market” product development - experience experience that is transferable to all career that is transferable to all career pursuits.pursuits.

Further BEST ResultsFurther BEST Results

• It establishes an engineering culturean engineering culture in participating schools.

• Students become technologically proficienttechnologically proficient - better prepared for tomorrow’s workforce.

• Students become competent and confidentcompetent and confident in:abstract thoughtself-directed learningteamworkproject managementdecision-makingproblem-solvingleadership.

Program ImpactProgram Impact

• BESTBEST provides participating students recognition and acclaim typically reserved for their peers in sports.

• BESTBEST enhances teacher effectiveness.

• BESTBEST helps prepare students to be technically proficient in tomorrow’s workforce.

Broader ImpactBroader Impact

• BESTBEST is an outstanding educational program accessible to all students, schools, and communities.

• BESTBEST provides a vehicle for corporate America to become an educational partner with the K-12 community.

• BESTBEST is a great “community builder,” as teachers, parents, mentors, students, and others in the community rally their support around their local BEST team.

Industry’s View of BESTIndustry’s View of BEST

• The many businesses and industries involved in BEST see it as an ideal workforce development an ideal workforce development programprogram because in the process of building their robot, students learn to identify and analyze design problems, brainstorm solutions for them, and build and test their designs, all in a team-building setting.

• That’s the kind of workforce That’s the kind of workforce industry needs:industry needs: people who understand technology and know how to use it to solve problems.

• That is why BEST is about That is why BEST is about developing technological literacy developing technological literacy in students.in students.

A Teacher TestimonialA Teacher Testimonial

“We have around 50 students from the robotics team at Austin currently enrolled in college in the following fields of study: aerospace, chemical, electrical, biomedical, and mechanical engineering; computer science; applied math; physics; international business; and finance.

When they entered college, they knew they had selected the correct field of study for them — not because a guidance counselor or I told them they would be a good engineer, but but because they had spent four years as because they had spent four years as active members of our BEST team.active members of our BEST team.”

Susan Haddock, Math TeacherAustin High School Decatur, AL


“I can only tell you from the experiences that my students and I have had that BEST is one of the BEST is one of the most phenomenal student competitions most phenomenal student competitions available.available. To be able to take materials — literally a load of “stuff” — and watch them transform it into a workable, tasking robot is something that no something that no textbook alone could teach.textbook alone could teach.”

Angel Findlater, Science Teacher

South Girard Middle SchoolPhenix City, AL


“I think the most important lesson learned by I think the most important lesson learned by all was not to give up.all was not to give up. Our robot never worked until the Saturday morning of the competition. No matter what we did, it always failed throughout the six weeks. It was not until that Saturday morning, with time running out, that as a team we pulled it together. It was an incredible boost to team morale to have a working ‘bot for the competition. I believe this showed them to never, ever, give up.”

Jeremy Raper,Science & Robotics TeacherBob Jones High SchoolMadison, AL


“In many ways, the BEST experience is like an education greenhouse; what happens during what happens during six weeks of competition would take an six weeks of competition would take an entire year in the classroom.entire year in the classroom.”

Dr. Mark Conner, HeadThe Engineering

Academy at Hoover High

SchoolHoover, AL


“Several of our students were failing school and at risk of dropping out until they joined the robotics team and found their niche. The challenges of BEST Robotics were just what they needed to inspire them to do better in their studies so they could stay on the team. They are now some of our top academic students!”

John Hoffmaster,

Science TeacherBillingsley High

School


“I am a better teacher thanks to BEST Robotics. The students, parents, mentors, community, and I have become, not only a team during the 42 days of BEST, but remain a team throughout the year. As a result of participating, I experience more enthusiasm in my classroom from my students. I now treat all of my students as future engineers andscientists and they now respond positively to this teaching technique, thanks to BEST. ”

Robin Fenton,Science Teacher McGill-Toolen

High SchoolMobile, AL

So, What Can You Do?So, What Can You Do?

• Contact BESTContact BEST to learn how to start a BEST hub in your community.

• Provide fundingProvide funding for a BEST hub in your community.

• Lobby school systemsLobby school systems and state departments of education for teachers to obtain stipends or release time to participate.

• Recruit potential sponsorsRecruit potential sponsors for BEST hubs in your community, state, or region.

• Recruit mentorsRecruit mentors for local BEST teams.

A Quick Fix?A Quick Fix?• Becoming a sponsor or helping to mentor BEST

students is an investment, not a quick fix.is an investment, not a quick fix.

• The crisis that we’re in – the shortage of engineers and the declining number of students going into engineering – did not happen overnight.did not happen overnight.

• The engineering profession and engineering educators have known this for at least the last 15 years. Change will take time, but we have to Change will take time, but we have to act NOW!act NOW!

• Will BEST make a Will BEST make a difference? Come see for difference? Come see for yourself.yourself.

In closing…In closing…

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get you’ll get run over if you just run over if you just sit there.sit there.”

- Will Rogers

Documents

The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists, and Technical Professionals BEST Middle and High School Robotics Competition A Workforce Development