STEM Hubs and schools: partnerships that go beyond the acronym Deb Bailey – STEM Education Specialist Tom Thompson – Applied Math/Applied Science Education Specialist Josh Jannusch– North Coast Regional Coordinator, Coastal STEM Hub

Session Objectives To better understand Oregon’s view for STEM and the State’s STEM Education Plan To gain knowledge on the State’s 13 Regional STEM Hubs To begin to explore ways your school can partner with a STEM Hub to engage your students To introduce Oregon Connections – a platform to connect schools to industry Ask also on this slide who is in the room: Elementary teacher Middle school teacher High school teacher Instructional coach STEM TOSA Building or district administrator other

Quick think, Pair, share What comes to mind when you think about STEM? Or…..What does STEM mean to you? What comes to mind when you think about CTE? Or…..What does CTE mean to you? Take a second and think about these, how are they defined in your school? What do they mean to you for your school and students?

STEM Education “STEM Education is an approach to teaching and lifelong learning that emphasizes the natural interconnectedness of the four separate STEM disciplines. These connections are made explicit through collaboration between educators resulting in real and appropriate context built into instruction, curriculum, and assessment. The common element of problem solving is emphasized across all STEM disciplines allowing students to discover, explore, and apply critical thinking skills as they learn. “ Oregon STEM Education

Beyond Science….Technology....Engineering....Math STEM is not just about more content – rather it is about students learning how to critically think to solve real world problems. In that way STEM is about practical application of knowledge and skills. Students learn how to address and clarify problems and learn strategies for solving any critical question. Integration of concepts, content, and practices across subjects

Beyond the Acronym Instructional practices that highlight the interconnectedness of separate disciplines Connections are made explicit Problem solving Critical thinking Authentic/Applied Learning i.e.…………Engaged learning Like in the STEM Education plan, the strategic plan for the state of Oregon’s STEM efforts this work is acronym agnostic if you will. Hand out look fors sheet – ask them to id practices in video Stop video at 5 or 7 minutes Remind of Kristen’s view of balsa wood airplane Important to for students to learn that there is not one right answer and failure is OK. Fail Forward. Applying STEM: The Brain Safety Challenge

Why STEM? Inherent attributes of STEM education – (e.g. interconnectedness, authenticity, etc.) absolute necessity for student engagement in learning State’s STEM Manifesto – STEM Education Plan “More of our students will succeed in school when the connection between their learning and their future is clear.” Pass out STEM Education plan for reference

STEM Vision For Oregon “Reimagine and transform how we educate learners in order to enhance their life prospects, empower their communities, and build an inclusive, sustainable, innovation-based economy.” “Develop the fundamental STEM-enabled skills and mindsets to……… Pass out STEM Education plan for reference (pg. 8 and 9)

Engagement Instructional Practices Student Questioning – asking for clarification, open-ended inquiries, interviews. Also teachers posing questions that cause thinking. Purpose – Why are we doing what we are doing? Relevancy – are the learning activities meaningful to the students’ lives and interests? Integration – technology should not be seen as ‘separate’ from curriculum Choice – students have a voice in what to learn and ways to represent their learning The teacher on the Brain Challenge spoke to this in a way regarding different student strengths.

Engagement Instructional Practices cont. Scaffolding – How are we supporting different levels of learners, are we making the content accessible to all Authenticity – mimics real life activities and tied to futures Feedback – specific, timely, moves learning forward, etc. Collaboration – use of protocols and structures to allow for meaningful student talk Accessibility – text is at their level/just above in guided groups, scaffolding for harder texts, wide variety of themes, genres, interests, series, sets

Again……..Why the buzz around STEM? Engaged learning may look different for different learners however, engaged students mean…. “More of our students will succeed in school when the connection between their learning and their future is clear” – STEM Education Plan And remember……currently approximately 24% of our students do not graduate on time

STEM Education and Student Engagement How can in-school structures be leveraged to increase engagement (i.e. integration of subject areas) How can out-of-school partners promote engagement and work with schools to promote engagement? What resources are available to help promote engagement? Some questions to think about – we will address again later in the session

Career and technical education for student engagement CTE Programs of Study (POS) Designed by secondary and postsecondary partners to be a series of complete, yet non-duplicative career focused courses. Emphasize technical, academic and career knowledge and skills acquired in applied career contexts One way we promote as I work in the Secondary and Post-secondary transitions or “CTE” unit.

CTE and Graduation Class of 2014 CTE Graduation Comparison

Classroom Observations lens of engagement K-5 grade STEM Observe the students in this video at the various grades and note the engagement practices in use. Use the look fors sheet from STEM Beyond Schools

STEM Hubs A Regional STEM Hub is an action-oriented partnership that engages multiple stakeholders and organizations within a defined geographic area, working toward the common goal of increasing student interest, preparation, and success in STEM. Key Components to STEM Hubs that are critical for success: Common Vision Commitment to data and shared measures of success Aligned Action Effective Communication Backbone Organization

STEM Hubs and Schools for Student Engagement North Coast and the Coastal STEM Hub How can in-school structures be leveraged to increase engagement (i.e. integration of subject areas) Josh this is you. I am hoping you can address the three questions from the previous slide here by giving some examples of things you have done with the STEM Hub that promotes engagement

STEM Hubs and Schools for Student Engagement North Coast and the Coastal STEM Hub How can out-of-school partners promote engagement and work with schools to promote engagement? Josh this is you. I am hoping you can address the three questions from the previous slide here by giving some examples of things you have done with the STEM Hub that promotes engagement

STEM Hubs and Schools for Student Engagement North Coast and the Coastal STEM Hub What resources are available to help promote engagement? Josh this is you. I am hoping you can address the three questions from the previous slide here by giving some examples of things you have done with the STEM Hub that promotes engagement

Things we know about Dedicating professional learning half days. Librarians leading technology lessons/coding/Maker spaces STEM Hubs as a resource center Districts promoting content-based language development STEM lessons tied to literature from class STEM as a special/early release days -Salem elementary school is dedicating professional learning half days to 3-4 hour STEM project experiences instead of regular curriculum.   -Librarians are leading technology lessons/coding and in some cases incorporating Makerspaces. -ESDs as a resource center - Lane/3D printers, rockets, etc. - shared resources -Districts promoting content-based language development, lessons planned collaboratively with science and EL teachers - EL requirements -STEM lessons tied to literature from class - Google Goggles – STEM Hubs -STEM as a special for inquiry based labs -Continuous Improvement and Title Goals, STEM focus?

What resources are available for promoting STEM/CTE in my school? STEM Hub Network stemoregon.org Ed Tech Cadre OR Educator Network Oregonednet.org Oregon Ask Oregonask.org/stem/ Open Educational Resources https://www.oercommons.org/ Oregon Connections https://oregonconnections.nepris.com/ The cadre is network of participants from districts and ESDs designed to improve the practice of effective professional development with technology. Our goals are: 1. Providing forums for networking and ongoing collaborative work, 2. Effectively integrating technology standards with Common Core Content Standards, 3. Focusing on exemplary staff development skills by designing staff development structures to improve practice and educator effectiveness, 4. Modeling and practicing effective instructional strategies while demonstrating emerging technologies.

Oregon Connections

Oregon Connections

Oregon Connections

Step 1: www.OregonEdNet.org This presentation is located on Oregon Educator Network. To get to follow directions on next three slides.

Step 2: www.OregonEdNet.org Click the Featured Group

Step 3: www.OregonEdNet.org Click Join Group

Questions????? Office of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Unit Oregon Department of Education 255 Capitol Street NE Salem, Oregon 97310 Tom Thompson Applied Math and Science Education Specialist 503 947-5790 Tom.Thompson@ode.state.or.us Deb Bailey STEM Education Specialist 503 947-0046 Deborah.Bailey@ode.state.or.us Josh Jannusch North Coast Regional Coordinator Oregon Coast STEM Hub jannuschj@warrentonk12.org