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