Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Welcome to Your
STEM Ambassador Induction
Please introduce yourself and tell us briefly about:
Your background & your current role in your
company/organisation
Why you have signed up to be involved in the STEM
Ambassador scheme
Your own experience of STEM subjects at school
Whether or not you have worked with young people before
Today’s Focus:
The STEM agenda
Overview of the STEM Ambassadors Programme
Guidance on volunteering opportunities and available
support
STEMNetworking – the online tool for STEM Ambassadors
Advice on planning your first STEM Ambassador activity
Guidance on working with schools and young people
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
The STEM Agenda
The Government’s
Welcome STEM
to yourAgenda:
STEM Ambassador
Induction
2002 Roberts
Report, & other government department
publications, called for commitment to increasing the
number of students studying STEM subjects post 16
‘Science and Innovation: Working towards a Ten-Year
Investment Framework’, published by HM Treasury, the
DTI, BIS and DfE
2014-2017 ‘Your Life’ campaign www.yourlife.org.uk
What’s So Important About STEM?
2011 CBI education and skills survey
‘STEM skills shortages are widespread – 43% of employers currently have difficultly
recruiting staff…’
2011 IMechE ‘Meeting the Challenge’ Report
‘217,800 is the estimated number of engineering graduates that would be needed to meet
the Institute of Employment Research forecast of demand by 2017. To meet this demand
we would have to increase annual engineering graduations from about 12,000 per year to
about 31,100–with immediate effect.’
2007 Trends in International Mathematical & Science Study’ Report
1999 to 2007: Proportion of 15 year-olds in England with a high positive attitude dropped
from 76% to 55% in science, and from 65% to 40% in maths
‘Pupils are doing well in science (and maths) but with relatively low levels of
enjoyment.’
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Overview of the
STEM Ambassadors Programme
STEMNET is a UK-wide organisation, which works
with an extensive range of partner organisations
across government, industry, professional
institutions and its UK network of local contract
holders to promote STEM to schools and young
people.
STEMNET creates opportunities to inspire
young people in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
STEMNET helps young people and
their teachers access a range of STEM
Enhancement & Enrichment (E&E)
opportunities
£ Central government £
STEM skills central to future economic success
Department of Business, Innovation & Skills
STEMNET
Local Regional Contract Holders
[Schools STEM Advisory Network & STEM Ambassador Programme Contracts]
Manchester
Merseyside
Cheshire
Lancashire
Cumbria
1. Schools STEM Advisory Network Contract
Professional
Bodies
National Schemes,
Awards &
Competitions
Museums &
Galleries
Conferences &
Exhibitions
HE Institutions
Deliverers
Employers
State-Funded
Secondary Schools
2. The STEM Ambassadors Programme
The STEM Ambassadors Programme enables anyone with Science,
Technology, Engineering or Maths [STEM] skills to volunteer their time &
expertise to inspire young people and demonstrate the possibilities of
STEM subjects and careers. Local contract holders identify, recruit & train
volunteers to support the work of schools.
Why become a STEM Ambassador?
To receive support/advice from local STEMNET contract holder
To receive your enhanced DBS check
To ‘badge’ any voluntary work you already do (The STEM Ambassador
Programme is nationally recognised)
To enable the reporting of your activity to national government (CSR
policies/impact/funding)
Make sure you’ve agreed to STEMNET’s Employer Terms
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Go to www.stemnet.org.uk
Log in
Your Profile – Edit & update personal details
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Click the Data Protection tab
Tick to agree to the Employer & DBS Update Service terms
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Guidance on
volunteering opportunities
and available support
STEM Ambassador Activity Requirements
Required to take part in at least one activity per year
Voluntary and free of charge to schools
Aimed at individuals aged 5-19 years (or their teachers)
Linked to STEM in some way (including careers based activities)
MerseySTEM will keep you informed of local volunteering opportunities
& you can also view the latest national requests on STEMNetworking
Activities can also be organised through your employer, professional
institution or your own school contacts etc
Example STEM Ambassador activities:
Providing careers support as part of e.g. a careers speed networking
event
Delivering a hands on activity with primary or secondary school students
Being interviewed either face to face or over Skype as part of a school
lesson or taking part in a webinar
Taking part in a teacher/Ambassador networking event at a school
E-mentoring a student as part of an established e-mentoring scheme
Creating a sustained relationship with a local school
Working with Science Learning Centres to support teacher CPD training
Visiting your old school (if in UK) as a STEM Ambassador
Supporting large-scale events e.g. BBC Bang Goes the Theory
roadshows, Big Bang Fair
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STEM Club Activities
STEM Clubs are an opportunity for students to explore subjects in more depth, or
to cover topics that are not included in the curriculum.
• 80% of pupils in a STEM Club say they enjoy science, vs 55% of all pupils
• 61% of pupils in a STEM Club say they want a job that involves STEM, vs 37%
of all pupils
NFER Interim report, October 2013
Why volunteer in a STEM Club?
Often after school activities which can be easier to fit around a working day.
Practical, hands-on activities with motivated students
Can be a one-off or a regular commitment
Less bound by the national curriculum
Possibility of longer-term projects or competition entries such as the National
Science and Engineering Competition, the Broadcom MASTERS or TeenTech
What could you offer to do? We could ‘sell’ you to a school!
Does it work?
The National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) carries out longterm, independent evaluation of STEMNET’s programmes, including the STEM
Ambassadors Programme & states that, after engaging with a STEM
Ambassador…
Pupils are 90% more likely to be interested in continuing to study STEM
subjects
76% of pupils think that science is important for every day life; 78% for
maths
More than 75% of teachers report that students have an increased
awareness of STEM career and employment options
71% of teachers report their own understanding of STEM business and
industry has increased
NFER Interim report, October 2013
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Additional MerseySTEM Opportuntities
Engineering Your
Future
STEM Hubs
North West Big Bang
Chemistry at Work
VEX Robotics Challenge
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Activity
What are the benefits of the
STEM Ambassador Programme?
Teachers…?
Students…?
Ambassadors…?
Teachers – Hopes and Expectations
Ambassadors act as role models to students and potentially raise their
aspirations
Demonstrate how what students are learning in school can link to real
life examples
Provide an insight into the wide range of STEM careers available
Provide teachers with contacts to assist them in making better links
with industry
Put teachers back in touch with the latest developments and activities
in STEM subjects and careers
Add excitement and interest to a curriculum subject
STEM Ambassadors are a FREE OF CHARGE resource to schools!
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Students – Hopes and Expectations
Give them an alternative view point on STEM and STEM careers
Provide them with a chance to participate in something new and
different to normal lessons
Raise the aspirations of the students and challenge stereotypes
‘What’s the point…? Increases students’ understanding of how their
learning in school links to examples in the real world
Provide an insight into the wide range of STEM careers and
opportunities available to them
Enthuse them to consider a STEM career in the future
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STEM Ambassadors – Hopes and Expectations
It’s a new and exciting challenge
It’s a chance for me to share my enthusiasm for my subject and inspire
young people to have a more positive view of STEM and STEM careers
It’s an opportunity for me to give something back to the community
Great evidence for my CV!
It sounds like fun!
In the 2011 survey, STEM Ambassadors said volunteering in schools had:
Contributed to their personal and professional development (88%)
Improved their communication and presentation skills (63%)
Increased their understanding of young people’s capability and skills
(65%)
Provided a higher profile for their company in the local community (82%)
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
STEMNetworking
STEMNetworking
STEMNetworking enables you to:
Have an online STEM Ambassador profile which we suggest you make
publically accessible to highlight your STEM expertise and volunteering
activities to schools and teachers
Add blog posts and share your ideas on engaging with schools
Share innovative ways in which you may have worked with schools that
may not be a physical visit e.g. a Skype interview as part of a lesson
Access activity ideas and support resources via the online resource bank
View and respond to the latest online requests from teachers
Link your STEM Ambassador profile with your employer, professional
institution or another STEM role model scheme linked to the programme
No personal or contact information is shared on your STEMNetworking profile
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Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Advice on planning
your first STEM Ambassador activity
MerseySTEM Ambassador Request Mailings
Volunteering For Your First STEM Ambassador Activity
If you volunteer for an activity advertised by MerseySTEM:
We will put you in direct contact with the teacher who made the request
You will then be able to ask the teacher any questions you may have
After your activity, we will ask for feedback from you and the teacher
If the teacher doesn’t respond within a reasonable time, please let us know
Unfortunately travel expenses are not included but insurance cover is
Planning Your First STEM Ambassador Activity
How will I make this interactive?
How will I help the students relate to the subject?
What careers information will I include?
What will be the STEM (science, technology, engineering and/or maths)
learning?
36
Tower of Strength Activity
Item
Score
5 sheets of A4 paper
50 points for each piece
(UNUSED)
20cm strip of tape
50 points for each 10cm
(UNUSED)
Time
200 points for balancing bottle
for 30 seconds
Height of tower above the
ground
10 points per 1cm above
ground
TOTAL
Actual
Diversity
Some useful hints to help you promote diversity:
• Research your audience
• Use photos and case studies where possible to show the variety
of individuals working in your STEM profession
• When asking students questions, alternate between boys and
girls
• Ask the students to draw a scientist, engineer, IT professional,
mathematician etc then get them to discuss their drawings
• Be careful not to perpetuate stereotypes
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Recording Your Activity/Updating Your Profile
Please ensure your STEMNET User Profile is kept up to date!
To activate our insurance cover, let your local contract holder know about
your activities by phone, email or by updating your User Profile on the
STEMNET database BEFORE the activity takes place
Record your Ambassador activity/update your personal details by logging
into your STEMNET Profile at www.stemnet.org.uk
- Click the login/register instruction in the top right-hand corner
- Use the email address & password you first registered with
Alternatively, send activity details to us & we can update your profile for you
Complete our Ambassador Feedback form after each activity
You will be invited to attend STEM Hubs or Network Meetings
Additional Information
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Welcome to your STEM Ambassador
Induction
Guidance on working
with schools and young people
Working with Schools – What do you need to know?
1. What do you think is a STEM Ambassador’s main role?
To support the teacher to provide a more positive and informed view of STEM
1. Should you ever be left alone with student?
Never as it is the teacher’s responsibility to supervise the students
1. For whose health and safety are you responsible?
Your own, but ensure the teacher knows what you are planning so they can
do a risk assessment & make a decision about whether to go ahead.
1. If a teacher tells you some personal information about a
student, how should you treat this?
Confidentially
1. What do you do if a student wants to tell you something in
confidence?
You should not keep anything confidential on behalf of a student
6. What do you do if student requests your friendship on Facebook?
Politely refuse the request.
7. What should you do if a student asks for your email address?
Never give out your contact details directly to student. Ask the teacher
to forward any further questions/correspondence on to you.
8. You’d like to take some photos of your activity for your company
newsletter, how should you approach this?
Ask the teacher to take any photos of your activity and then email them to
you afterwards. [School policies/parental consent]
9. What sensible boundaries should there be between adults &
students?
You should refrain from any physical contact with students. If you have
any concerns e.g. if a student approaches you, inform the teacher
Refrain from being too familiar in terms of the language you use & the
topics you talk about too. Keep it professional
And, finally...
DBS Information
You can’t take part in activities under the umbrella of the scheme until we
have received a clear DBS certificate for you
You should receive your DBS certificate in the post within 6-8 weeks
‘Please wait to view applicants certificate’ message
DBS Update Service – register with DBS & tick box on STEMNET profile
– within 14 days of issue date!
DBS Update Service
The End!
ID card will be sent in the post, once your clear DBS is received
[Photo shoot today?]
Keep your wallet, ID card & DBS certificate together & take them
to all Ambassador activities
Get active! Record your activity & provide some feedback.
If you have any questions in the meantime please contact
ambassadors@merseystem.co.uk