NEWESD STEM Leadership Forum

NEWESD STEM Leadership Forum

NEWESD 101 STEM Team

Welcome

I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when you looked at it in the right way, did not become still more complicated.

~ Paul Anderson

PROJECTED OUTCOMES

• Develop a common understanding of STEM education

• Examine a variety of perspectives on STEM education

• Discuss STEM initiatives and resources• Investigate potential STEM collaborative

partnerships• Break down silos between STEM content areas

Why STEM? Why Now?a pre-thinking activity

INTEL Math & Science Confidence Study• US teens’ – perceptions of the importance of math and science– perceptions of the US’ standing on math and science

relative to other countries– confidence in these subjects and the implications of these

attitudes

• 1000 teens (13-18) between September 24 and 28, 2010

What percentage of students believe it is important to be good at math and science?

A. B. C. D.

40%

20%20%20%

A. 99%B. 78%C. 56%D. 43%

*Intel survey of 1000 teens (13-18) between September 24 and 28, 2010 more info at: www.intel.com/newsroom/education

What percentage of students believe that strong backgrounds in math and science

will be required of most jobs in the future?

A. B. C. D.

40%

20%

30%

10%

A. 33%B. 47%C. 69%D. 91%

*Intel survey of 1000 teens (13-18) between September 24 and 28, 2010 more info at: www.intel.com/newsroom/education

When asked which country is best at math and science today, what percentage selected a

country other than the United States?

A. B. C. D.

10%

50%

20%20%

A. 25%B. 60%C. 74%D. 90%

*Intel survey of 1000 teens (13-18) between September 24 and 28, 2010 more info at: www.intel.com/newsroom/education

Of those students who say that the United States is not the best at math and science,

what do they believe is the reason?

A. B. C. D.

20%

40%

20%20%

A. Math and science are not funded enough in school

B. Students are not disciplined enough

C. Heard/read that the US is not as good at math and science as in other countries

D. They just aren’t important subjects

*Intel survey of 1000 teens (13-18) between September 24 and 28, 2010 more info at: www.intel.com/newsroom/education

DEVELOPING A COMMON UNDERSTANDING

• Four corners protocol– Move around the room looking at different

representations of “STEM”

– Decide which representation best fits your school/district current efforts• Stand at that representation

DEVELOPING A COMMON UNDERSTANDING

• Introduce yourself to your colleagues

• Discuss your understanding of that representation and why you chose it

• Identify a reporter to share out

DEVELOPING A COMMON UNDERSTANDING

• Move to the representation that you want to guide your work

• Discuss the representation and why it is preferable to the others

• Be prepared to share your discussion points

WASHINGTON STATE DEFINITION

STEM literacy is the ability to identify and apply concepts and content from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to understand and solve challenges or problems that cannot be resolved by any one disciplinary approach.

• Recommendations for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Report to Christine Gregoire, Governor, and the Washington State Legislature (2010)

On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your district staff’s overall interest in implementing

STEM programs in their schools.

1 2 3 4 5

30% 30% 30%

0%

10%

1. Strong Interest2. Some Interest3. Neutral4. Little Interest5. No Interest

What do you believe to be the most important element in improving STEM

learning in schools? (pick 2)

A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

10%

21%

10% 9%

15%

34%

0%

A. STEM focused curriculumB. Improved assessment systems

(performance/formative/summative)

C. Community and business partnerships

D. Creating project/problem-based learning environments

E. Increased fundingF. Improving professional

development for teachers and administrators

G. Greater flexibility in school structures

TURN AND TALK Why did you choose those?

What do you believe to be the most important element in improving STEM learning in schools? (pick 2)

A. STEM focused curriculumB. Improved assessment systems

(performance/formative/summative)C. Community and business partnershipsD. Creating project/problem-based learning environmentsE. Increased fundingF. Improving professional development for teachers and

administratorsG. Greater flexibility in school structures

STEM RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES

• Mark Lewis– Washington STEM

• Sarah Pooler– MOBIUS

• STEM efforts from the room

AFFINITY WALL

Purpose: To discover common interests among districts

• Write 1 STEM idea per sentence strip

• Place a “dot” on the ideas or initiatives that are currently being implemented in your district/school

QUICK BREAK

TABLE TALK

• Posters representing categories from the Affinity Wall are on the tables

• Move to a table that represents an interest for STEM education in your district

• TALK!!!

TABLE TALK GUIDING QUESTIONS

• What do you want to see next year?

• How would you like to be involved?

• How can we collaborate?

• What PD would you wish for your school or district?

What squared (agreed) with something you already know?

What did you see from a new angle?

What did you learn that was new, that completed a circle of knowledge?

What new direction will you go in? What action will you take?