The STEM Innovation Equation

9 keys to Improving STEM Education in the Global Economy

NSTA National Conference, April 12, 2013

Diana Laboy-Rush, STEM Education Consultant

Introduction

What does this mean?

Source: The Global Achievement Gap, Dr. Tony Wagner

The Global Achievement Gap

7 Critical Skills Students Need for their Future

1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

2. Collaboration and Leading with Influence

3. Agility and Adaptability

4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism

5. Effective Oral and Written Communication

6. Accessing and Analyzing Information

7. Curiosity and Imagination

Source: The Global Achievement Gap, Dr. Tony Wagner

Culture of Schooling ≠ Culture of Innovation

Schools

• Individual Achievement

• Disciplinary Teaching

• Avoid Failure and Risk

• Passive Consumption

• Extrinsic Rewards – ‘carrots and sticks’

Innovation

• TEAMWORK is Key!

• Inter-disciplinary Solutions

• Fail Early, Fail Often! - ‘F’ is the new ‘A’

• Requires Creating

• Instrinsic Motivation, – Interest, Passion, and Purpose

To what extent are you and your school/district implementing or evaluating STEM programs?

• Just seeing what it's all about. 1 – Interested

• We have just begun exploring the integration of STEM programs into our curriculum 2 – Evaluating

• We are in the process of developing our STEM program. 3 – Planning

• We were just named a STEM school. I am excited about learning more about integrating STEM into all areas of the curriculum.

4 – Beginning

• We are a STEM school and are always in the middle of an integrated STEM project 5 – Implementing

Depth of Knowledge Framework

Source: Webb’s Depth of Knowledge,

STEM Education Objectives

• Science – Analyzing problems systematically – Inquiry process

• Technology – As a means of communication – To model and test learning

• Engineering Process – Prototype ->Test -> Debug -> Redesign

• Math – Language of science and technology – Iteration and conditionals – Coordinates, variables, and random

numbers

Solve a problem using the tools (technology) and resources (science and math) available

Primary Research

• Online Survey of >800 STEM Education Professionals

• Interviews with Leaders from >30 STEM Initiatives

• Immersion experience within 5 unique STEM programs

9 Keys to Improving STEM Education

Investigate

Focus

Collaborate Inspire

Engage

Enrich Design

Include

Integrate

Investigate

Program Goals

Economic Analysis

Community Survey

Educational Research

Potential Funding Sources

Focus Program Rollout

Teacher Training (PD)

Interdisciplinary Design

Curriculum / Lab Design

Goals / Eval Design

Advisory Board

Curriculum and Instruction Reform

Teacher Training

PD

Lab Design

Collaborate

“There's a lot of people out there who care and want to do the right thing: the businesses, they know the skills that they need for their employees, but hey don't know how to talk to the schools,. The schools know what they need to do to pass their state tests, but they don't know how to talk to businesses.” – Cindy Moss, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, 18th largest in US

STEM Advisory Committee

Assemble a core group of partners invested in the education of students in your community.

(3-4 organizations from each category)

• Intel • Nike • Microsoft • Vernier

• OMSI • Audubon

Society • Oregon Zoo

• Oregon DOE • Chamber of

Commerce • City of

Hillsboro

• OUS • PCC • CCC

STRIVE Partnership Model

Inspire

Effective STEM Teacher PD • Principal / Administration Buy-

In • Teacher Commitment to

Initiative • Mentoring and Modeling • Research Based PD Design • STEM Education Certification • Professional Learning

Communities • Authentic STEM Experiences

– Research Externships – Summer Institutes

Engage

• Project-Based Learning

• Experiential Learning

• Inquiry-Based Learning

• Place-Based Learning

• Service-Based Learning

• Interest-Based Learning

Enrich

Source: http://www.upf.edu/pcstacademy/_docs/The_95x_solution.pdf The 95 Percent Solution, John H. Falk and Lynn D. Dierking

Camp Invention

A WEEKLONG SUMMER ENRICHMENT

program for children entering grades

one through six

The Camp Invention program instills

vital 21st century life skills such as

problem-solving and teamwork

through hands-on fun!!!!

Toy Challenge Competition •A national toy design challenge for 5th-8th graders.

•A chance for teams of imaginative kids to create a new toy or game.

Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering, and the design

process! As girls and boys create a toy or game, they experience engineering

as a fun, creative, collaborative process, relevant to everyday life.

When they form their own plans and come to their own conclusions, students

not only retain what they’ve learned better, but they also feel more

empowered, motivated and fulfilled.

FIRST Lego League

Each yearly Challenge has two parts, the Project and the Robot Game. Working in teams of three to ten children and guided by at least one adult coach, teams: •Build an autonomous robot to carry out pre-designed missions in 2 minutes and 30 second

•Analyze, research, and invent a solution to a real world problem

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a global program created to get children excited about science and technology. A hands-on program for ages 9 to 16 (9 to 14 in the U.S. and Canada), FLL uses Challenges based on real world scientific problems to engage children in research, problem solving, and engineering.

http://youtu.be/QGahdbDbNPs

Design

• Engineering is Elementary

• Project Lead the Way

• Grand Challenges of Engineering

• Computer Programming / Game Design

• Making / Tinkering

Innovative approach to STEM Education Engineering’s Grand Challenges

Sample STEM Learning Unit

Making and Tinkering

The Power of Making

Caine’s Arcade, Los Angeles, CA

Barriers to STEM Participation

Attitudes and Perceptions

Attitude towards

Math and Science

STEM career awareness

Confidence in STEM activities

Use of Math and Science in Daily Life

Knowledge and Performance

Science and Math

content and process

knowledge

Test scores in Math and Science

Enroll in Higher Level

classes

Out of School STEM

activities

Gender Equity in STEM

• Abilities are expandable • Critical feedback to develop skills • Provide role models • Encourage more live experimentation in

classroom • Visual spatial skills training

Source: http://www.ed.gov/, Encouraging Girls in Math and Science, D. Halpern Ph.D.

Integration

Book Release Date: Nov/Dec 2013

• Pre-orders : Early Oct.

• 25% discount for attendees today

Any Questions?

How to contact me:

Diana Laboy-Rush

dlaboyrush@gmail.com

http://educatetoinnovatewithstem.com

http://facebook.com/PortlandWizKid

Twitter: @AuthenticSTEM

Presentation on Slideshare: dlaboyrush