Transforming STEM Education & an Antonio’s Workforce Engine for Global Competitio Northwest Vista College March 2, 2007
Jan 07, 2016
Transforming STEM Education &San Antonio’s Workforce Engine for Global Competition
Northwest Vista CollegeMarch 2, 2007
A National Conversation
“This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education … whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can't think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, (and) distinguish good information from bad …” Time Magazine, December 2006
Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of
the American Workforce
The Workforce Ecosystem
Two-Year Colleges
Four-Year Colleges
Graduate ProgramsSummer
Programs
After SchoolPrograms
Assessment Services
Articulation Agreements
Policy
High Schools
Middle Schools
Magnate Schools
Academies
Cities
Counties
States
EconomicDevelopers
WorkforceBoards
INDUSTRY
Pressures on the Workforce Ecosystem
More Indian college graduates than U.S.
high school graduates
More English speakers in China than in the U.S.
“This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education … whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can't think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, (and) distinguish good information from bad …” Time Magazine, December 2006 Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
Houston Community College organizing to graduate 500 bio-
technicians
Houston stands up Robotics Education Support Center
Arlington organizing to recover manufacturing base with state grants
Greater Chamber Survey indicates corporations hire IT graduates from outside San
Antonio
STEM Education …
1. Is a critical issue for academia, governments and industries.
2. Underlies regional, national and global competitiveness.
3. Attracts industry to regions.
4. Is a basis for innovation.
5. Is the feeder system for initiatives in industry clusters.
Pathway Continuous planning and assessment …
Pathway Continuous planning and assessment …
Pathway Continuous planning and assessment …
The New Education / Workforce Ecosystem
Middle SchoolHigh School,
Magnate, Academy(or is it College?)
College / Workplace
COUNSELING
COUNSELING
HolisticAssess-
ment
Integrated courseworkand exploration
What is SpaceTEAMS?
A long-term, sustained effort to expose middle school students throughout San
Antonio to STEM education, STEM career opportunities, and the entry points to related career pathways.
What is SpaceTEAMS?
• Themed Around Our Nation’s Mission to Mars
• Robotics Summer Camp
• Teacher Training
• Robotics Support Center
• The SpaceTEAMS Online Virtual World
SpaceTEAMS 2006 Summer Camp
16 Teachers49 Elementary, 46 Middle School Students from 4 SchoolsBuilding RobotsExposure to Mars MissionFour teams competing in the Spring Botball TournamentFunded from City of San Antonio Interlocal Agreement
Why Robotics?
Math Mechanical engineering Electrical engineering Computer science Architecture and design Systems thinking Teamwork Art + Science Established material providers Engaging! (Cool Factor) Competition factor
Teacher Training
• Hands-on instruction in robotics systems• Apply lessons learned to mini-challenges• Using this technology to teach TEKS• Team development of units of study;
published on SpaceTEAMS web site• Beta-test this in SpaceTEAMS
The Robotics Support Center
Director hired by ACCD
Robotics clearinghouse
Outreach
Regional tournament
Interface to industry
Connection to pipelines
SpaceTEAMS Online Virtual World
Some of Whyville’s Sponsors
2006 Demographics
Teachers 16
Elementary Students 49
Elementary Gender Male 49%, Female 51%
Elementary Ethnicity Hispanic 94%, Black 4%, White 2%
M.S. Students 46
M.S. Gender Male 56.5%, Female 43.5%
M.S. EthnicityHispanic 82.6%, Asian 8.7%, White 6.5%, Black 2.2%
% Low SES 70%
2006 Achievements
• Small team collaboration
• Programming
• Career exposure
• Teacher – exposure to programming
• Engineering robots for tournament tasks
• Working robots
• Tournament participation
• Measurement: Perception of STEM
SpaceTEAMS: Today and Tomorrow
SpaceTEAMS Summary of Benefits
STEM EducationCareer explorationConnect to opportunityOutreach and recruiting toolWorkforce commitmentCompetitive global workforce
Transforming STEM Education &San Antonio’s Workforce Engine for Global Competition
Northwest Vista CollegeMarch 2, 2007
Needs
Recruiting – interesting schools to contact
Interesting teachers to contact
Contacts of all types
Be our PR agent
Ideas for future grant funding targets
Speaking opportunities
Educational Innovation – Trends
1. Career exploration
2. Career pathways
3. Curriculum alignment
4. Start earlier (middle school)
5. Blurring of the high school / college line
6. Community colleges driving“Pull them through”
7. The New Recruiting Paradigm
Why Robotics?
Technology
Science
Math
Arts
EngineeringSpace
SpaceTEAMS Metrics
Students in summer campStudents onlineSchool districts engagedTeachers trainedSchools competingStudents referred to pathwayStudents engaged in pathway
Who Is SpaceTEAMS?
Dr. Jackie Claunch
President, Northwest Vista College
Colleen Smith Arrey
Director, Alternative Programs, Northwest Vista College
Manuel Navarro SpaceTEAMS Coordinator, Northwest Vista College
Melissa Roel SpaceTEAMS Assistant Coordinator, Northwest Vista College
Cliff Zintgraff Principal, Green Sky Ventures
2007 Advisory Board Chair
Andrew Schuetze
Robotics Program Lead, Edgewood Independent School District, Advisory Board member
Jim Brazell Co-founder of SpaceTEAMS
Advisory Board member
Overview
• The National Conversation on Education
• The Educational / Workforce Ecosystem
• What is SpaceTEAMS?• SpaceTEAMS: Today
and Tomorrow