North Central Region STEM Network Working collaboratively to improve STEM Education Opportunities for all Iowans

Dr. Cathann Kress VP of Extension and Outreach Lynne Campbell North Central Regional STEM Manager Jay Staker Interim North Central Regional STEM Manager

Overview of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and STEM Network System

Iowa’s Alarming STEM Statistics Iowa Ranks Below the National Average on: Percent of community college and university enrollees majoring in STEM disciplines (12% versus a national average of 15%) Iowa shows the least growth in NAEP student achievement Students lack of pursuit in the study of STEM disciplines spans across all student groups

Iowa STEM Education Reform

Quiet Crisis “Because it takes fifteen years to create a scientist or engineer, starting from when that young man or woman first gets hooked on science and math in elementary school, we should be embarking on an all-hands-on-deck no holds-barred crash program for science and engineering education immediately. The fact that we are not doing so is our quiet crisis.” Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat (2005) p. 275

Iowa’s STEM Solution Governor’s Executive Order 74 Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Goal to Boost student interest & achievement in STEM Eight Strategic Drivers Student interest and achievement in STEM STEM for all STEM learner readiness for post-secondary education and career Public/private partnerships, mapping STEM to economic development Public awareness of the importance of STEM STEM teacher recruitment and preparation Technology-enhanced

Governor’s STEM Advisory Council  40 dedicated leader from the state  Member representation includes: education, business, non-profit, legislators, state agency directors and national STEM Experts  Operations are managed by IMSEP at UNI  Created a regional STEM Network

4. Overview of STEM Scale-up Programs A World in Motion KidWind FREEProject Hope First Lego LeagueCASE First Tech Challenge Science/Tech Fair HyperStreamPEERS iExploreSTEMiExploreSTEM Corridor STEM InitiativeCorridor STEM Initiative

North Central STEM Region Advisory Board 1. Guidance 2.Advocacy 3.Working Groups 4. Other roles

North Central Region Short Term Plans: 1. Operationalize scale-up programs 2. Iowa State University STEM Festival Leverage April Include DMACC Ames Campus

3. Regional STEM Festivals A. Mason City NIACC and Waldorf B.Marshalltown Iowa Valley CC MCC Ellsworth C. Fort Dodge ICCC

Medium Term Plans: 1. Destination STEM  Create STEM Destinations at ISU and at our partner higher education institutions in the NC Region and beyond our regional boundaries  Facilitate the development of a basis understanding of STEM so that students are prepared to become the the next generation of civic leaders  Cultivate increased access and interest in STEM experiences to foster an increased interest in students pursuing STEM Careers

Medium Term Plans: 2. Systemic change Informal Formal Framework for K-12 Science Standards Next Generations Science Standards

Medium Term Plans: 3. STEM Network Partnerships Higher Education Community Schools Out of school learning partners (informal) Business and Industry Non-profits Community-based groups

Medium Term Plans STEM Network Partnerships: From your perspective, how can we leverage the work you do to support this STEM education initiative?

Governor’s STEM Initiative: Next Steps 1.In partnership with Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, establish a STEM Professional Development center that provides vision and leadership for all PD providers in STEM education. 2.Improve STEM teacher training, licensure, and retention. 3.Build a web portal to house a best-practices clearinghouse 4.Establish regional STEM-focused schools. 5.Increase public awareness of the importance of STEM 6.Incentivize Iowa businesses to commit workforce, facilities and other resources STEM education. And in turn promote the Iowa Workforce Development Skilled Iowa initiative through schools, colleges, and informal educational facilities.

Collaboration is