Why Care About STEM
Education?
Jeff Estes
Science & Engineering Education
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
ESD STEM Summit
Seattle, WA
January 12, 2011
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PNNL-SA-74059
Context Setting
Your Goal – Discuss these questions.
What is STEM education?
How do your regional school districts define STEM
education?
What can and should the ESDs do to support STEM
conversations and STEM initiatives statewide and our
regions?
How can we collaborate across ESDs and outside of our
network to support STEM education initiatives?
What is business and industry calling for in terms of STEM
education?
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Context Setting
My Charge – Provide a perspective, both personal and
from my employer, regarding the importance of STEM.
Describe my role working in the worlds of education and
industry.
Give my perspective of what industry wants you to know
about STEM education.
Share the perspective I give to industry about K-12 STEM
education.
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My Role in STEM
EDUCATION & INDUSTRY
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A Quick Work Bio…
Work Experience
Manager, Science & Engineering Education, Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Science Education Specialist, PNNL
Energy/Science Educator, Hanford Science Center
K-12 teacher, Richland and Tacoma
Current Role – Strategy execution and evaluation of
PNNL’s efforts to:
Help strengthen STEM education in Washington State
Improve PNNL-based education programs for students,
college faculty and K-12 teachers
Deliver against the STEM education expectations of the
U.S. Department of Energy and Battelle
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The STEM Education Signature @ PNNL
Our Drivers…
Driver #1 – Supporting DOE’s, PNNL’s &
Battelle’s workforce and economic
development goals
Driver #2 – Meeting Battelle’s goal to be a
national-regional-local catalyst for positive
sustainable change in STEM education
Driver #3 – PNNL’s goal to strengthen and
advance STEM education
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Battelle Manages or Co-manages Six DOE Labs
A leader in technology
$6 billion of R&D expenditures
development and lab
20,400 staff (includes labs)
management
40+ scientific user facilities
Battelle Memorial Institute won the
contract to operate the Lab in 1964
and began management in 1965
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Ten Core Capabilities
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• World-class technical staff
• State-of-the-art equipment
• Mission-ready facilities
Mission
Outcomes
Major Education Initiative
Scientific
Discovery
Energy
Security
EMSL:
transformational
tools to advance
science
Strengthen and
Advance STEM
Education
Subsurface
science for
sequestration &
remediation
Multi-modal
chemical
imaging
& analysis
Scalable
Synthesis,
Imaging,
& Analytics
National/Homeland
Security
Signature
science for
integrated
sensing
Secure,
real-time grid
modeling &
visualization
Chemical
& materials
synthesis for
energy
Leadership
Positions
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Environmental
Stewardship
Climate
modeling &
assessment at
regional scales
Electric Grid
& Storage
Threat Signatures
& Nonproliferation
Multi-source
data integration
& info analysis
Climate
& Emissions
Management
Three Parts…One Effort
Championing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education from Cradle to Career
College/University Faculty &
K-12 Teachers
Interns, Fellows & Research Associates
Research appointments for high school,
community college, undergraduate ,
graduate and post-graduate students
Work-based learning programs for precollege and post-secondary students,
including under-represented students
Inclusion, engagement and other enrichment
programs
Science &
Engineering
Education
Education Leadership and Outreach
Strengthen and Advance STEM
Education
Catalyzing improvements in STEM
education through leadership at the
local, state, and national level
Conducting outreach efforts that enhance
STEM education in our community
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Lab-based workshops/ institutes for
faculty/teachers
Research appointments for
faculty/teachers
Research appointments for faculty and
student research teams
What We Are Telling Business
and Education
OUR EDUCATION &
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
MESSAGE
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Washington State Innovation Ecosystem
Framework
Demographics
Startup
Political
Climate
Expansion
University
Industry
Discovery
Fed Lab
NonProfit
Global Trends
Market Factors
Attraction
Investment
Infrastructure
Talent
Policy and
Regulatory
K-12 Education System
Partners &
Collaborators
What We Want K-12 to Know
About STEM Education
OUR PERSPECTIVE
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Desired Outcomes
“the direction we are trying to help influence”
Societal Benefit
Increase the number of
science and technology
literate global citizens, and the
number who choose to pursue
STEM careers
Improve the way teachers are
prepared in the STEM
disciplines
Make STEM careers more
visible, and the path to get
there
Mobilize the power of the
private sector as a core
partner in education
Improve early childhood
readiness
Renewal and Enlightened
Self-Interest
Build a long term pipeline of
new talent available to
Battelle and our
current/future affiliates by
deepening the supply chain
Diversity
Enrich regional talent base
Leveraging the collective enterprise
Within our sphere of influence, our
interest is education impact through
charitable distributions into
programs we help design or can
impact
engagement of passionate
technology-based workforce
Leveraging relationships with likeminded enterprises that want to
make a difference
creation of partnerships on key
regional/national initiatives
21st Century Workforce Qualities & Skills
Fundamental Literacy
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
Math
Science
Engineering/Technology
Civics
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Social & Personal Qualities
Leadership
Professionalism/Work
Ethic
Teamwork/Collaboration
Ethics & Social
Responsibility
Social & Cross-cultural
Skills
Lifelong Learning/SelfDirection
What to Emphasize…
More Emphasis on
Understanding subject matter in
context;
Use of knowledge, inquiry &
problem solving;
Doing investigations over time;
Reasoning, discussion &
debate;
Using evidence/strategies to
develop/revise “nuanced”
explanations; and
Assessing essential knowledge,
processes and skills.
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Less Emphasis on
Disconnected/isolated facts &
information;
Acquisition of unrelated bits of
information;
Investigations confined to one
class period;
Recitation of acquired
knowledge;
Reaching a single answer, and
Assessing what can be readily
measured.
2007 Rising Above the Gathering Storm
(National Academies)
Why are science and technology critical to America’s
prosperity in the 21st century?
Ensuring economic well-being,
Creating new industries,
Promoting public health,
Caring for the environment,
Improving our standard of living,
Securing the homeland, and
Understanding how people learn.
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The STEM Workforce Opportunity
Sobering Thoughts
Depending on the study, economists attribute 50%-80% of the historical economic
growth in the U.S. to STEM.
60% of all new jobs in the 21st century will require skills possessed by only 20% of
the current U.S. workforce.
One example – The Power Industry
The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of trained professionals to maintain the
existing power system and to design, build, and operate the future electric power
system.
The electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry employs
about 400,000 people.
30-40% of electric power workers will be eligible for retirement by 2013.
To maintain the current electric generation system, the industry will need 20,300
technicians and 11,200 engineers by 2013.
National Commission on Energy Policy’s
Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs
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Why the concern about STEM?
STEM Pipeline from U.S. High Schools Class of 2005: 96% Leakage
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Right now, in Washington:
The state ranks 4th in the nation in the number of hightech companies…but 46th in the number of STEM
graduates.
Despite Washington’s 10.2% unemployment rate, there
are at least 12,000 open jobs in STEM fields.
By 2014, 77% of family wage jobs will require education
or training beyond high school… but half of students
graduate high school unable to take college-ready math
and only one-third meet basic standards in science.
Washington STEM Center - 2010
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But When and Where Would I Ever Use This
Stuff?
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STEM is Inquiry and Problem Solving…
The Business of Farming: There are more than 350 different commodities
grown in California. In a state that provides approximately 15 percent of U.S.
agricultural products, statistics are an important tool for agricultural
economists to keep up with supply and demand.
Growing Bugs: Growing bugs is a real job…and it requires math! Organic
farmers depend on a supply of good bugs that attack bad bugs. “Bug
growers” depend on their knowledge of numbers to get the job done.
Hydroponics: With only so much good farmland available worldwide, one of
the challenges of feeding an expanding population is finding alternative ways
to grow crops. One possible solution--a hydroponic "lettuce factory" that
produces over 50,000 heads of lettuce every week.
The Futures Channel
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STEM is Design…
The Shape of Phones: As cell phones continue to shrink and the demand for
additional features like cameras, music and email continues to grow, every
millimeter counts. Designers and engineers at Motorola rely on math to make
everything fit.
Science & Sunglasses: Science and technology are behind designing, testing
and manufacturing lenses for high-end sports performance sunglasses.
Inventing Toys: Designing sailboats, ferris wheels, motorcycles and roller
coasters is a job that most kids (and a lot of adults) would envy…especially
when you can get paid for it.
Aquarium Makers: Imagine the challenge of recreating a slice of the ocean
indoors. Using volume calculations, temperature, measurement and science
lets aquarium makers create these beautiful habitats.
The Futures Channel
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STEM is Meeting Human Wants & Needs…
Percussion Instruments: Why is it that when you beat, tap or hammer on
some objects you get nothing but a “thud”, while on others you get pure
ringing tones? The answer lies in the science of vibrations and resonance,
which is nowhere better exemplified than in the design, manufacture and use
of percussion instruments.
Dancing with Geometry: Professional dancers, and the health professionals
that keep them on their toes, use principles of geometry and engineering to
achieve their goals. This art form is going high tech!
Building Custom Guitars: Alembic, one of the most influential bass and guitar
makers in the business, relies on precision numbers to craft guitars with the
best quality sound and customized fit for each musician.
The Art Director: A set is a created place where the action of a film or TV
show happens. Actors, animals and objects are placed on a set for filming.
Creating a set where everything fits just right calls for an understanding of
"area".
The Futures Channel
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STEM bridges learning, recreation, social
and work environments…
Engineering Faster Bikes: Lighter. Stronger. Faster. Science, mathematics,
engineering and innovative testing to help produce some of the fastest bikes
on the road.
Testing Bats: From the cannon room to the bat-swinging robot to the bat
handle-breaking machine, engineers are testing the latest sports equipment
for durability, performance and handling.
Windsails: Sailing the ocean no longer requires triple-masted schooners--in
fact you can do it on a vessel no larger than a surfboard. What's the secret to
designing a windsail that can skim the surface of the sea at 20 miles an hour,
yet respond instantly to a sailor's touch?
Operating a Restaurant: There’s more to running a restaurant than great
food. The restaurant business is a perfect training ground for solving
problems.
The Futures Channel
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Why the concern about STEM education?
Improving STEM education breaks down one of the
biggest barriers for low-income and minority students to
graduation and readiness for college and work.
Increasing opportunities for STEM learning can improve
the chances of post-secondary success for all students.
Equipping students with STEM skills will prepare them for
the high-demand jobs of the future.
Strengthening the quality of teaching in STEM subjects
will improve student learning in other subjects, as well.
Washington STEM Center -2010
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What We Are Telling Business &
Industry About K-12 STEM
OUR MESSAGE
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Create a STEM Education Signature
Administrative
and
Community
Support
Professional
Development
Materials
Support
Linking Your
Resources
Shared Vision & Goals
Student and
Program
Assessment
Linking Your
Resources
Curriculum
Research and Best
Practice (Standards)
How should can you use your
financial, human and technical
resources to catalyze
improvements in
STEM education?
STEM is Like Other Common Leadership
Challenges in Community Initiatives
Achieving goals requires multiple groups to cooperate
Feeling isolated or ill-qualified
Influence without direct control
Lack of resources
Multiple points of view and motivations
Distractions
Parties with vastly different priorities
Not been tried before, or was not successful last time
Disagreement on process or approach
Our situation is different; examples from elsewhere don’t
apply
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Addressing STEM challenge will require active
participation from every sector
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Educators
Parents
Students
Researchers
Business Community
Civic Leaders
Political Leaders
Foundations
Resources
Influences
Perspectives
Relevance
Greater Impact, Equitable Results
Systemic Reform
Community Alliance
Coordinated Resources
On-Going Professional
Development
All Classrooms
Benefit Equally
5-10 Year Initiatives
Standards-Based Science
Framework and Assessments
1-3 Year Projects Summer
Institutes Resource Center
Teacher Workshops
Roles for Scientists and
Engineers in K-12 Science
Education Reform
National Research Council,
Adopt-A-School
Classroom Visits
Teacher/Student Recognition
Lectures
Equipment Donations
Science Fair Judging
The CATALYST, January 1995
Some Classrooms
Benefit
Strengthen and Advance STEM Education
Providing leadership that catalyzes
innovation and improvement in STEM
education at multiple levels
LOCAL LEVEL: Delta High School Partnership, phases 1-5
STATE LEVEL: Strengthening and advancing WA State STEM
education networks through LASER
NATIONAL LEVEL: Teaming to prepare a diverse workforce of
scientists, engineers, and educators to keep the U.S. at the forefront of
innovation.
Delta HS
Partnership
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WA State
STEM Ed.
Networks
PNNL’s
Work-based
Learning
Programs
DOE’s
National
Innovation
Goal
Think
Differently…
Think Differently…
Work-based Learning: Meeting Our Pipeline
Challenge
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Commit Your Time, Talent, &
Treasure
INVEST UPSTREAM FOR
DOWNSTREAM RESULTS
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Team Work
Team Work
Team Work
Thank you