STEM Alliance Update
Central Florida School Board Coalition
Goals and Focus
• Goal – Achieve the critical mass to make a real difference in STEM
– “One stop shopping” for STEM education initiatives
– Link Education and Industry with scalable STEM programs/ projects
– Create a sustainable and scalable funding and support ecosystem
• Focus
– STEM Workforce/ student preparation – Responsible for “content” and
projects -- in-class projects, lectures, industry outreach, student competitions,
etc.
– Teacher Professional Development – Augmenting existing teacher capacity
and improving STEM readiness of graduating teachers
– Community - Community awareness and involvement in STEM
Summary
• Progress (2014/2015)
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Funded programs reached > 100 teachers and 1500 students
Continued successful recognition and STEM coordination efforts
Doubled Industry investment in the Alliance
Instituted partnership with stemCONNECT for Experts in the Classroom
• Plans (2015/2016)
– Continue ongoing programs
– Increase funded programs by 2X
– Take Experts in the Classroom to the next level, grow number of programs
and events
Alliance Membership
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Industry
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Lockheed Martin
EA/Tiburon
Disney
Craig Technologies
Curley & Pynn
Engineering & Computer Solutions
Finfrock Construction
Grant Thornton, LLP
Brighthouse Networks
Legoland
OUC
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Cubic Corporation
Education
– Central Florida School Board Coalition
– UCF - Colleges of Education,
Engineering, Science, and Medicine
– USF
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Government/NFPs
– The Corridor (Florida High Tech
Corridor)
– Orlando Science Center
STEM Alliance - Strong Partnership, Growing Every Day
2014/15 Progress - Programs
•
Engineering is Elementary (EiE)
– 20 units of EiE with two years of program materials, partner with Orlando
Science Center for teacher training
– Awards - Cypress Ridge Elementary (Lake), R. Bruce Wagner Elementary
(Polk), and South Ocala Elementary (Marion).
– provided training for approximately 40 Teachers, and reached over 500
Students. Pre- and post-program testing indicated significant improvement in
awareness of engineering principles and solving relevant problems.
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LEGO EV3 Robotics
– Lego EV3 equipment, laptops, and teacher training in a minimum of 4 middle
schools.
– Awards - Passport School (Orange) and Milwee Middle School (Seminole).
– Impacted approximately 200 students Students learned how to construct and
program robots to perform tasks that can be used to solve real-world problems.
2014-15 Progress - Programs
 Digital Gaming Academy

EA Tiburon/iCarnegie Global Learning Partnership
 3 Academies funded and implemented in Osceola County
 Poinciana, Harmony and Celebration HS, including teacher training.
 Reached over 500 students. Students created their own games for the end of
year project. Harmony HS educational game recognized nationally by
Zulama.
 Experts in the Classroom
 Partnership with The Corridor to distribute and expand stemCONNECT
program.
 Virtual TechCamps: presented live and archived for broad distribution
 Ex: Robotic Surgery demo’d to 400 students at Timber Creek HS from
Celebration Health
 Piloted classroom version in Flagler and Hillsborough
2014/2015 Progress Recognition and Coordination
 STEM Alliance Teacher Awards …
 40 awards of $250 each to recognize four teachers in each district.
Teachers received crystal prism and certificate in presentations made by
Alliance representatives before their county school board.
 STEM Alliance Outstanding Scholar Awards …
 Awards range from $25 (elementary) to $50 (middle) and $100 (high
school)
 24 students per district, presented before their parents and school board
 Lead bi-monthly STEM meetings with STEM leaders
 Exchange ideas on emerging best or effective STEM education projects
 Identify special STEM programs and projects for future funding
 Obtain input and feedback
2015/2016 Plans
• Expand to service new Coalition counties
• Increase membership, funding - 2X goal
• Grow current programs, selectively add new programs
• Expand Experts in the Classroom
– Develop and capture cadre of modules
– Grade appropriate, synchronized to curricula
– Partnership between Industry and Education (STEM Coordinators)
growth
increasing
impact
• Continue
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School Membership
Membership Investment Model - based on latest projected full
time enrollment in k-12 schools
Enrollment (Proj.
FTE’s)
Less than 50,000
50,000-100,000
100,000-150,000
150,000 and up
Annual
Membership Fee
$3,000
$5000
$7,500
$10,000
School investment ~ 3X payback in 2015/2016
How to Get Involved
• Funding
– Your support puts needed STEM programs in classrooms
• People
– Help our with committees
– Provide subject matter experts for schools
• Ideas
– Give us ideas and feedback
– For more information, see the Alliance Website – www.STEMAllianceCFL.org
– Contact: Jeff Pridmore
jeffprid@ucf.edu
Help us create critical mass to make a real difference in
Central Florida STEM Education
STEM Alliance - Strong Partnership, Growing Every Day