STEM: National Goals, Local Realities and A Time to Set MSU Goals

1
STEM National Goals, Local Realities and A Time
to Set MSU Goals

• Tammy Jahnke, Dean
• College of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Missouri State University

2
STEM

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics

3
National Goals

• Ensure coherence in STEM learning
• Ensure an adequate supply of well-prepared and
  highly effective STEM teachers
• Provide opportunities for excellence
• Cast a wide net
• Foster a supportive ecosystem

4
Key Conclusions

• To improve STEM education, we must focus on both
  preparation and inspiration.
• The federal government has historically lacked a
  coherent strategy and sufficient leadership
  capacity for K-12 STEM education.

5
Where do these recommendations and conclusions
come from?

• National Science Board
• Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and
  Technology (PCAST)
• White House Office of Science and Technology
  Policy (OSTP)

6
National Science Board

• Established in 1950
• Two Roles
• Establishes policies of NSF
• Identifies issues critical to NSFs future
• Approves NSFs strategic budget directions and
  annual budget submission
• Approves new programs and awards
• Serves as independent body of advisors to
  President and Congress
• 25 Members appointed by the President and
  confirmed by the Senate. The NSF Director is an
  ex officio member.

7
Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Established in 1976
• OSTP mission
• To provide the President and his senior staff
  with accurate, relevant, and timely scientific
  and technical advice on all matters of
  consequence
• To ensure that the policies of the Executive
  Branch are informed by sound science
• To ensure that the scientific and technical work
  of the Executive Branch is properly coordinated
  so as to provide the greatest benefit to society.

8
September 2010Report to the PresidentPrepare
and Inspire K-12 Education in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for
Americas Future

• Prepared by the Presidents Council of Advisors
  on Science and Technology (PCAST).
• Administered by the White House Office of Science
  and Technology Policy (OSTP).
• Co-Chairs John P. Holdren, Eric Lander, Harold
  Varmus
• Purpose of Report to translate these ideas
  into a coherent program of Federal action to
  support STEM education in the United States that
  responds to current opportunities.

9
Professional Organizations

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Physics Society (APS)
• American Mathematical Society (AMS)
• American Society of Mammologists (ASM)
• American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB)
• American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)
• Geological Society of America (GSA)
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
• American Association for the Advancement of
  Science (AAAS)

10
State of Missouri

• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary
  Education Missouri DESE
• Missouri Department of Higher Education MDHE
• Program Review Summary Report
• Recommendations and conclusions
• 1. Improve the productivity of high-priority
  programs.
• Many of the programs that fell below the
  productivity thresholds were in fields designated
  as state priorities STEM (science, technology,
  engineering and mathematics), foreign language
  and teacher education. (See Table 1.3) The MDHE
  agreed with the institutions justifications for
  retaining programs in these key areas as an
  investment in the states future growth and
  development. As such, efforts must continue to
  strengthen these programs and develop appropriate
  and effective means of improving their
  productivity.
• 8. Conduct follow-up reviews in three years.
• Missouri Mathematics and Science Coalition

11
National Science Board

• 2007 Report - A National Action Plan for
  Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S.
  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  Education System
• 2010 Report - Preparing the Next Generation of
  STEM Innovators Indentifying and Developing our
  Nations Human Capital

12
2007 - A National Action Plan for Addressing the
Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Education System

• The Board believes that the Nation is failing to
  meet the STEM education needs of U.S. students,
  with serious implications for our scientific and
  engineering workforce in the 21st century.
  Addressing this issue is absolutely essential for
  the continued economic success of the Nation and
  its national security. All American citizens must
  have the basic scientific, technological, and
  mathematical knowledge to make informed personal
  choices, to be educated voters, and to thrive in
  the increasingly technological global
  marketplace.

13
2007 Report

• The Nation faces two central challenges to
  constructing a strong, coordinated STEM education
  system
• Ensuring coherence in STEM learning, and
• Ensuring an adequate supply of well-prepared and
  highly effective STEM teachers.
• Therefore, the Board makes the following two
  priority recommendations to the Nation. First,
  ensure coherence in the Nations STEM education
  system, and second, ensure that students are
  taught by well-prepared and highly effective
  teachers.

14
2010 Report

• Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Innovators
  Indentifying and Developing our Nations Human
  Capital
• STEM innovators are defined in the report as
  those individuals who have developed the
  expertise to become leading STEM professionals
  and perhaps the creators of significant
  breakthroughs or advances in scientific or
  technological understanding.
• Key Recommendations -
• Provide opportunities for excellence.
• Cast a wide net.
• Foster a supportive ecosystem.

15
September 2010Report to the PresidentPrepare
and Inspire K-12 Education in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for
Americas Future

• Key Conclusions
• To improve STEM education, we must focus on both
  preparation and inspiration.
• The federal government has historically lacked a
  coherent strategy and sufficient leadership
  capacity for K-12 STEM education.

16
September 2010 Report

• Key Recommendations
• Standards Support the current state-led
  movement for shared standards in math and
  science.
• Teachers Recruit and train 100,000 great STEM
  teachers over the next decade who are able to
  prepare and inspire students.
• Teachers Recognize and reward the top 5 percent
  of the nations STEM teachers, by creating a STEM
  master teachers corps.

17
September 2010 Report

• More Key Recommendations
• Educational Technology Use technology to drive
  innovation, by creating an advanced research
  projects agency for education.
• Students Create opportunities for inspiration
  through individual and group experiences outside
  the classroom.
• Schools Create 1,000 new STEM-focused schools
  over the next decade.
• Ensure strong and strategic national leadership.

18
STEM Education Coalition

• The Science, Technology, Engineering, and
  Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition works to
  support STEM programs for teachers and students
  at the U. S. Department of Education, the
  National Science Foundation, and other agencies
  that offer STEM related programs.

19
America COMPETES Act

• White House Blog January 2011
• Signed by President Bush August 9, 2007 and
  reauthorized in January 2011 by President Obama
• Funds NSF, NIST, OSTP and STEM education at NASA
  and NOAA through 2013

20
Initial Thoughts

• General Education Program Natural World and
  Mathematics requirements
• The importance of science and math in our general
  education curriculum.
• All American citizens must have the basic
  scientific, technological, and mathematical
  knowledge to make informed personal choices, to
  be educated voters, and to thrive in the
  increasingly technological global marketplace.
  NSB 2007 Report
• Teacher Education Programs
• The importance of our science and math education
  programs.

21
Continued thoughts

• Science and mathematics majors (BS and MS
  programs)
• The innovators of the future.
• Outreach Activities to Inspire new Innovators
• K-12 Student Opportunities
• Regional Science Olympiad and Science Fair
• Pummill Relays
• State Mathematics Competitions (MSU hosts
  Middle/Elementary)
• JETS competition
• Missouri State opportunities
• Undergraduate Research Including presentations
  at conferences
• Programming Competitions
• Problem Solving Group in Mathematics (results
  have been published)

22
Alignment of GoalsCoherence of STEM Education

• Curriculum Alignment Initiative
• CNAS Faculty served on state-wide committees to
  set learning outcomes for incoming science and
  mathematics courses at colleges and universities.
  These state-wide committees began to articulate
  learning outcomes for these college courses.
• Missouri State University Dual Credit Program
• Common finals, syllabi and textbooks approved
  annually, course instructor credentials reviewed
• Discipline/Program
• Discipline specific nationally normed exams are
  used for some courses.
• MFAT exams and other nationally normed program
  exams

23
(No Transcript)
24
Alignment of GoalsWell-prepared and highly
effective STEM teachers

• Secondary Education Programs in mathematics and
  science (categorical and unified science)
• Evidence of Excellence
• Mathematics SPA report accepted by NCTM. DESE
  reports now in progress.
• Professional Development for current math
  teachers through funded projects (Campbell,
  Plymate, Killion PIs)
• Faculty stay in touch with teachers through math
  competitions and other informal mentoring.
• Science DESE report in progress.
• Professional Development for current science
  teachers chemistry and physics now offering
  programs.
• Faculty stay in touch with teachers through
  science competitions and other informal
  mentoring.

25
CNAS Education Graduates
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Biology BSED 3 7 9 7 7 8
Chemistry BSED 4 3 2 2 2 2
Earth Science BSED 0 6 1 0 0 2
Physics BSED 0 0 1 2 1 0
Mathematics BSED 5 14 7 9 8 18
130 BSED graduates from 2005-2010. 19 Total MSED
graduates from 2005-2010. Some MS students choose
the MNAS degree or discipline specific degrees
rather than the MSED.
26
Alignment of GoalsGeneral Education
ProgramImportance of Science and Mathematics

• Course Transformation Projects in CNAS
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Geography
• Honors sections of general education science
  courses.

27
Alignment of GoalsInnovators of the Future

• Recruitment
• April 16 Showcase Event
• CNAS Public Science Lecture Series
• Hosting K-12 science and mathematics competitions
• Department specific recruiting efforts
• Retention
• Concern for students student success, academic
  advising
• Opportunities for Excellence
• Undergraduate Research
• Internships
• Service Learning

28
Regional Science Olympiad
Year of middle school teams of high school teams
2011 30 24
2010 30 28
2009 26 21
2008 30 23
We host one of the largest regional Science
Olympiad competitions. This year we were able to
send five middle school teams and five high
school teams on to the state competition which
will be held in April.
29
Alignment of GoalsInnovators of the Future

• High Quality Enrichment Activities for HS
  students
• Missouri Innovation Academy
• SPS Summer school JVIC/CNAS partnership
• Physics Department has recruited six HS students
  to work in research labs.
• CNAS faculty have helped to mentor Science Fair
  projects.
• CNAS Public Lecture Series

30
Alignment of GoalsPublic Affairs Intensive
Experiences

• Missouri State University students in CNAS have
  the opportunity to actively participate in the
  following
• Undergraduate Research
• Internships
• Service Learning
• Problem Solving Groups
• Regional/National/International Competitions

31
Undergraduate Research

• Typically 100 undergraduate students/year are
  involved in undergraduate research projects in
  CNAS
• Recent data indicates that 10 of these students
  will have their name listed on a peer-reviewed
  publication and 30 of these students will
  present their research at a professional
  conference
• We are currently collecting more detailed data on
  undergraduate research and internships.

32
Building Excellence

• Coherence of STEM education
• STEM Teacher Education Programs
• General Education Science and Mathematics for
  the masses
• Outreach
• High Quality Activities
• Cast a wide net
• Foster a supportive ecosystem

33
Building Excellence

• What would you add to the list?
• What would you take away from the list?