CSI Corridor STEM Initiative

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CSI (Corridor STEM Initiative)

• Building Students Interest in Careers That
  Require Science and Mathematics Skills

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I-380 Technology Corridor
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What is STEM?

• Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics

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Why is STEM education so important?
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Lets start with a few questions
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What two countries have most recently launched
lunar satellites?
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Japan China
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What other country has announced its intention to
launch a lunar satellite in the next year?
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India
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What country produces the most number of
engineers annually?
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China

• In 2005, it had 1.6 million young engineers
  more than any other country.
• 50 percent of its undergraduates receive degrees
  in natural science or engineering.
• In Singapore 67 percent do.
• In the U.S. only 15 percent do.

Sources Tough Choices or Tough Times, 2007 and
Rising Above the Gathering Storm by the National
Academy of Sciences
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Iowas Governor Culver has predicted that within
five years, the state will have how many unfilled
jobs?
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150,000 and most of them in fields requiring
math and science skills
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• That is why we must start now to make sure that
  Iowas youth are involved in math and science
  programs. By doing so, we can ensure that when
  todays students graduate from college, they have
  the knowledge and skills they need to fill the
  high-paying, quality jobs that will be waiting
  for them.
• Gov. Chet Culver, August 2007

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In China, the top 25 of the population with the
highest IQs is greater than the total population
of North America
Source Karl Fisch, Arapahoe Schools, Did You
Know
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TranslationThey have more honors kids than we
have kids
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Name this country . . .
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• Richest in the World
• Largest Military
• Center of world business and finance
• Strongest education system
• World center of innovation and invention
• Currency the world standard of value
• Highest standard of living

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England.
In 1900.
Source Karl Fisch, Arapahoe Schools, Did You
Know
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Sobering Economic Facts

• Wal-Mart (nations largest employer) McDonalds
  created 44 of new jobs.
• High-wage employers created 29 of new jobs.
• IBM has sold its personal computer business to an
  entity in China.
• In 2005, Americans invested more new money in
  foreign stock funds than in domestic stock.

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Want to hear more?

• Of 120 chemical plants built in the world with
  price tags of 1B (50 in China and 1 in the
  U.S.)
• Spring 2005, out of 16 countries surveyed about
  most attractive place to live in the world ,
  respondents in only one country India
  selected the U.S.
• A company can hire nine factory workers in Mexico
  for the price of one in the U.S.

Source Rising Above the Gathering Storm
National Academies Press
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More?

• 2004 China graduated 350,000 engineers, computer
  scientists, information technologists (4 year
  degrees)
• U.S. graduated 140,000
• Over the past 3 years both China India doubled
  3 and 4 year degrees U.S. engineers - stagnant
• The U.S. had twice as many physics BA degrees in
  1956 than in 2004

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Its no longer business as usual for our
students and the schools they attend.
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Future shock is now

• According to former Secretary of Education
  Richard Riley, in 2010 the top ten in-demand jobs
  werent even in existence in 2004

Source Karl Fisch, Arapahoe Schools, Did You
Know
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36 out of the 50 top paying jobs in America
currently require significant science and/or
mathematics skills
Source careerbuilder.com
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The current, best-paying jobs

• Top paying jobs for HS graduates
• Computer software engineers
• Computer/information systems managers
• Computer programmers
• Network systems and data communications analysts
• General and operations managers
• Database, network and computer systems
  administrators
• May not require advanced science or math
  training.

Source careerbuilder.com
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The current, best-paying jobs

• Top paying jobs for 2-year college degrees
• Healthcare practitioners
• Business analysts
• Electrical and electronic engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• General and operations managers
• Computer and information systems managers
• May not require advanced science or math
  training.

Source careerbuilder.com
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Iowa can no longer rest on its laurels based on
past educational accomplishments
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Education must change

• The core problem is that our education and
  training systems were built for another era, an
  era in which most workers needed only a
  rudimentary education. It is not possible to get
  where we have to go by patching that system. We
  can get where we must go only by changing the
  system.

Source Tough Choices or Tough Times, 2007
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Mathematics and science must become a priority in
schools

• Less than 1/3 of U.S. 4th graders and 8th graders
  performed at or above proficient level in
  mathematics
• In 1994, 52 of parents felt their kids were not
  taught enough math and science and it was a
  serious problem in their schools.
• By 2006 only 40 felt this way.

Source Rising Above the Gathering Storm by the
National Academy of Sciences and Public Agenda
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Sobering Facts on K-12 Education

• 1995 U.S. 12th graders performed below the
  international average for 21 countries in a
  general knowledge science test
• Growth in Iowas 11th grade science student
  proficiency only 1 since 2001
• Only 26 of Iowa students take physics
• Districts lt250 19.7
• Districts gt7,500 30.0

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How the CSI STEM initiative started
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It began at a superintendents meeting

• Superintendents have met for 20 years to
  collaborate on various key initiatives
• Rising Above the Gathering Storm raised concerns
• Tough Choices or Tough Times

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Reasons for starting STEM

• We realized STEM is not just an education issue -
  its an economic development issue
• Community leaders were deeply interested in
  increasing the number of students involved in
  STEM education

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Other science-based initiatives

• Grant Wood AEA Van Allen Science Teaching (VAST)
  Center
• Project Lead the Way statewide
• Rockwell Collins support of FIRST Lego Leagues
• The Science Station

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The group set three key goals

• Build awareness and recognition of the need for
  quality STEM education for all learners
• Increase understanding for the workforces need
  to be more proficient in STEM
• Cultivate the quantity and quality of math,
  science and technology teachers

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Six areas of focus identified

• Public awareness an information clearinghouse
  and speakers bureau
• Evaluation of student data to guide our efforts
• Active collaboration between schools re
  curriculum and graduation requirements

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Six areas of focus identified

• Increase after-school, weekend and summer
  learning activities in STEM
• Improve quantity and quality of professional
  development for teachers
• Raise additional dollars and/or find grants to
  support these initiatives

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Other groups soon got involved

• Rockwell Collins has played an active role
• The Iowa Business Council supports this project
• State regent universities, some of the private
  colleges and the area community college have
  joined the effort
• The Science Station and local Chambers of
  Commerce
• Other businesses are interested and involved

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How it is governed

• Loose collaboration of volunteers
• Weakness accountability and time commitments
• Strength those who care are involved
• Next iteration of structure a smaller steering
  committee to oversee the work
• A program coordinator/facilitator

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What weve done so far

• Began a summer enrichment program in
  collaboration between
• Iowa State University Extension
• Grant Wood AEA
• Kirkwood Community College
• University of Iowa College of Engineering
• Local schools
• Rockwell Collins

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Students learned about

• What technology is and what it isnt
• Problem identification
• Problem solving
• Engineering basics
• Contexts of rocketry and wind power

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The program will be expanded next year to include
more schools
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CSI grant created by legislature

• In 2007, the Iowa legislature passed a bill
  creating a grant for a demonstration and trial
  science and mathematics enrichment program.
• Grant Wood AEA received the grant.

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The grant provides for

• A demonstration program at six sites within the
  Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area
• After-school science enrichment programs
• A Teacher-in-Residence loaned to AEA10 by Iowa
  City
• Well share statewide what we learn

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Summer ScienceEnrichment Program

• Engineering is Elementary!

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Engineering is Elementary

• Nine summer programs in Johnson, Iowa, Linn
  Counties
• Day camp sites, schools, community centers
• 226 youth ages seven to twelve

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Learn about Technology
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What Is A Machine?
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Engineering Design Process
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Ask
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Imagine
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Plan
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Create
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Fly
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Improve
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Sailboats
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Visit From Engineer
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Scientific Conference
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Results from this work
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Summer program results

• 96 of the parents were very satisfied or
  satisfied with the Engineer is Elementary program
• 98 said his/her child participated in hand on
  engineering projects

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Summer program results

• 95 said his/her child learned that an engineer
  is a person that uses creativity, tools, and
  skills to design things that solve problems for
  people
• 90 said his/her child learned that technology is
  a thing or process that people create and use to
  solve a problem

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Summer program results

• 88 said his/her child practiced the engineering
  design project through hands on projects.
• 73 received and read the book, Leif Catches the
  Wind, A Mechanical Engineering Story

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Summer program results

• 52 said his/her child talked about the engineer
  who visited the Engineering is Elementary
  program.
• 35 talked about being an engineer in the future.

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Students asked to identify process steps

• 94 youths participated in this assessment the
  following percentage of youth identified each
  step correctly
• Ask 88
• Imagine/Plan 74
• Create 74
• Improve 83

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How can others replicate this effort?
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Next steps
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Get Involved

• Share this information with others
• Tell students it is important to take advanced
  math and science courses in school

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Contact Us to Get Involved

• Contact
• Jim Thornton - jdthornton1_at_msn.com
• 319-399-6555, x 6640
• or
• George Held gheld_at_gwaea.org
• 319-399-6714