Thoughts on The Need For Coordinating STEM Related Programs Across the Country

1 Coordinating Council

Concept

By

Drexel L. Smith, President Drexel Consulting Group

336 ½ Glendora Avenue - Suite ‘L’ West Covina, CA 91790

Tele: 626.917.4200

[email protected]

March 01, 2009

Thoughts on The Need For Coordinating STEM Related

Programs Across the Country

Generating Interest...From a Business Perspective

For the past three years provided talks to:

•Community & Economic development groups

•Civic & Political groups •Technical Societies

The concern is real.

Academia is stuck with too many constituents.

Technical Societies can make a difference.

9 Antelope Valley Board of Trade – Palmdale - May ’06

9 Business Outlook Conference – Tehachapi – September ’06

9 Aerospace States Association – DC – September ’06

9 ITEA Conference – Key Note – Florida – October ’06

9 Rotary Clubs – Various LA area ’06 & ’07

9 ACIL Key Note – Atlanta – October ’07

9 ISPA Workshop – Key Note – December ’07

9 AIAA Teachers Workshop –Key Note – Hartford – July ’08

9 AIAA Space 2008 Workforce Panel – San Diego – September ’08

Thoughts and comments Include:

• Importance of the Aerospace Industry

• Components of our industry and

trends

• State of our current workforce

• World competition

• Education

• Alternatives going forward &

takeaways

Examples of talks….

Executive Level Meetings with: ¾ AIAA; AIA; ITEA; NDIA; STA ¾ CSA & FSA

¾ NASA

¾ University of Redlands ¾ Brevard & Mt San Antonio

3

Many Programs and Ideas with the

Same Goal: We Need Coordination….

Various Program Examples • Scholarships, Internships,

Research

• ICouldBe – Mentors

• EnCorps/SEARCH teacher credentials

• NASA Teacher Academies

• STAR & MESA Academies

• Maximizing Engineering Potential (MEP)

• Project Lead The Way

• FIRST Robotics

• AP Strategies

• MathMovesU

• NSTEP – Study Buddy

• Gateway to Technology

• STEPS

• Engineering is Elementary

• QUEST

• Others (e.g., sacred cows)

Examples of various STEM Programs with a national approach to collaboration. We are not lacking ideas, we lack a cohesive

approach to coordinate ideas/programs with potential funding sources…..

The STEM Education Coalition:

Composed of advocates from over 350 diverse groups representing all sectors of the technological workforce – from knowledge workers, to educators, to scientists, engineers, and technicians.

STEM Education Caucus:

Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Congressman Mark Udall (D-CO) launched the bipartisan STEM

Education Caucus for Members of Congress.

The National Math and Science Initiative:

“We have found that the most effective way to reinvigorate math and science education is by finding existing programs that work and scaling them up to a wider reach.”

Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM) Act of 2008: Bipartisan billby Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15], Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN); A concept for collaboration on stem education at the federal level.

The Academic Competitiveness Council Report:

Officials from federal agencies with education programs aimed at improving America's competitiveness in STEM engaged in a yearlong endeavor to assess their programs' success and to identify areas for improvement for current and future programs.

There are many pieces to the puzzle...

Currently Working With Several Exciting Science Programs

-Four Examples of STEM Related Programs with Potential….

•

Youth Science Center, Hacienda Heights, California

•

Aunt Camp, Los Angeles + South America

•

Urban Science Corps, Los Angeles, California

An exciting opportunity with a National Organization…..

•

Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles….

– In discussions to integrate a science-education program element

into the afternoon session & summer session of targeted Boys &

Girls Clubs in Los Angeles. The LA G&GC support over 200,000

children and the board is interested in adding a classroom

component with emphasis on Science.

– The proven program of the Youth Science Center, Aunt Camp

and or the Urban Science Corps could be models for this

demonstration

– If demonstrations are successful, program could be expanded

into other clubs easily.

AUNT CAMP - Smart fun for everyone! ™

•

Aunt Camp is a program supporting individualized

and small group education aimed at children who

otherwise would not have any quality exposure to STEM

related activities…..

Aunt Camp is a privately funded educational enrichment and personal development resource for students ages 8-18 (Grades 3-12). Created in 2006 as a summer program, the original goal was to offer a friendly, informal, and nurturing environment for young people to have fun while learning. Today the program has developed into a multifaceted series of quarterly events, which empower students to make smart choices, and consistently encourage their academic success and career objectives. Most students have limited exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related activities, and live in underserved communities, Aunt Camp integrates and highlights these subjects in unique, interactive, fun, more

appealing, and less intimidating experiences.

As a partner in education, Aunt Camp is committed to attract and improve the level of interest in STEM

subjects to our students. Spacethemed events and activities are currently the vanguard of our program -a dyn-amic -and f-ascin-ating world f-acilit-ates eng-agement -and -a r-apid interest in -astronomy, -aerosp-ace, aviation, and new technology. In 2009, we integrated a global initiative, The Universe: Yours to Discover, in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy. To commemorate the 400th year anniversary of Galileo’s telescope, students visited a replica telescope at the Griffith Park Observatory in July. In December, students enjoyed an astronomical treat by taking a close look at a “blue moon” thru a

Galileoscope®, which was kindly donated by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. For many students - and parents, this was their first experience using a telescope and they were thrilled!

Aunt Camp embraces several unique features. We value the close relationships shared among our students and our nurturing and caring “aunts”. We find that groups of 12 students or less provide a safer, more personalized and meaningful experience. We are able to observe and recognize the progress of each student, as he or she achieves a goal. During most events, our invitation to “Imagine and Explore at Aunt Camp™” extends to the students’ families, friends, and neighbors. We welcome everyone as citizen scientists, and encourage them to be lifelong learners. We also converge our activities with other

9 Urban ECOSYSTEMS: Enterprising Community Organizations Selecting Youth for STEM Sustainability

9

a Synergistic Approach…

Develops suite of Science Educative

Experiences for Urban Youth

Science Research Expeditions (¿NQUIRY)

Experimental Science-in-Action Theatre (XSAT)

Connects science-savvy urban youth and

the STEM Enterprise community

Recruits

pool of STEM Professionals to

Mentor

Scientific Inquiry

and

Coach the Coaches

Brokers

STEM Enterprise sponsorships to

Create &

Sustain Entry-level Jobs

for at risk urban youth

Develops STEM talent among urban youth

as Researchers & Inquiry Coaches:

–

Paid Internships

for science-savvy undergraduates

–

Paid Apprenticeships

for at risk high school-age youth

Trains Researchers & Inquiry Coaches to

Lead Science Research Expeditions and

Science-in-Action Theatre productions for

urban youth in informal venues: recreation,

afterschool, and community settings.

•

Directed by Dr. Richard Shope,

an

experienced science educator/researcher,

with oversight by the Council to Advance

Urban Science Enterprise (CAUSE).

•

Founded in 2006

, operates in Los Angeles,

Baltimore, New York City, and Mexico,

reaches over 5000 urban youth each year

.

•

Job Slots for Urban Youth:

Undergraduate

Internships provided by City of Los Angeles

Department of Recreation & Parks;

Apprenticeships & Expedition development

provided by partnering sponsors.

•

ArctiQuest Science Research Expeditions

sponsored by NASA Earth and Space

Science Mission Directorate.

•

Mentors and Sponsors

drawn from: NASA,

JPL, USC, UCLA, Caltech, Cal State LA,

Carnegie Institution of Science, University of

Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Loyola

Marymount University, Traveling Space

Museum, and the Young Science Achievers

Program (YSAP).

•

Coaches fluent in Spanish

may also work

as Inquiry Coaches for La Ciencia A Tu

Urban ECOSYSTEMS: Enterprising Community Organizations Selecting Youth for STEM Sustainability

11 11

Program benefits & Needs….

Program

Benefits

Needs

Comments

Youth Science Center

40 year program with over 160 existing STEM related programs. Program is an excellent model that could be shared.

Sharing space with public K-6 school is limited. Funds needed to construct a dedicated location. Sponsorships also needed for existing.

This program exists because of a few very dedicated people and is the best kept secret in California. Program is a model to be expanded.

Aunt Camp

A special program for individuals and small groups – under 12 – specifically for underserved areas.

Program needs time to mature and standardized curriculum. Sponsorship and funding is required to launch beyond current offerings

Founder has

demonstrated ability to motivate children and inspire interest in STEM. Program has great promise.

Urban Science Corps

Experts in inquiry-based curriculum, coaching, and mentoring. Program has developed synergy with existing informal venues, reaches 5000 youth/year.

Program needs funding/ sponsorship to sustain and expand current STEM jobs programs and to launch innovations in additional cities.

The team behind this program is experienced in curriculum development, recruiting STEM mentors, training urban youth, and implementing events.

Boys & Girls Club

Demonstration

Over 200,000 children are supported by this very mature program just in LA with a Board interested in expanding

A ripe opportunity to

expand beyond traditional afternoon sports. Interest in a demonstration

program.

An example of the need to coordinate program

We Need to Bring Idea’s and Alternative Solutions Together

• K-12 - Stimulate interest in STEM and to develop solid foundation. Provide basic tools needed to go on • Trade Schools – Industry must partner to insure curriculum matches current and future needs of

employable skills

• Community Colleges – Industry must also partner here as we as provide incentives to students to go on • Universities – Industry must partner with scholarships and incentives for students to take ‘the hard stuff’

We each Have a Piece of the solution

AIA

NDIA

_NAM

AIAA

We need a different

solution set for each level of our education system. We need new thinking

We must engage all parties – technical community, academia, political and general awareness to change the direction. Technical Societies are a key part of the solution.

13

Create a National Space Education Workforce

Coordinating Council…..

Create an Enterprise that coordinates all programs and stake holders across the country; identifies overlaps and gaps; encourages cooperation and community support and provides ‘clearing house’ type actions.

The NSEWCC would be the umbrella for the Aero-Space community that brings everyone to the table in a spirit of cooperation and support.

There is room for everyone: Government, Trade & Academic Associations; Industry and special programs like the Sally Ride Science Fairs.

Prime contractors and trade association represent several-hundred thousand people that can assist and provide other resources. We are not lacking ideas or programs, we are lacking a way to communicate and coordinate all the ideas and resources…..

National Space Education Workforce Coordinating Council (NSEWCC) – Where

Ideas and programs meet potential funding/support resources…..

NSEWCC

NAM AIA _{AIAA NDIA Industry}

Take Aways

Our workforce is the engine that drives the industry, education and training is the key element to keep the industry robust.

Government and Industry both understand the problem of our aging workforce and lack of replacement persons in the pipeline.

We are not lacking ideas, programs or

resources, we are lacking a way to coordinate all of them.

Government, trade associations, industry, special interest groups have all initiated programs without any coordination creating overlaps and leaving gaps.

NASA is also in a unique role as the biggest ‘customer’ to the industry and they also have an education charter.

We should not stifle any interest or program, rather coordinate all the activities.

The creation of a national coordinating council is a win-win for all….

We have fallen behind, but we can regain a leadership role only if we take decisive action at all levels of our society and bring our total resources into the solution.