Regional multi-organizational approach to K-12 STEM promotion

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how two local engineering firms (with international reach), a regional technology council, a community college and the Engineering School of a local university have partnered to offer and promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities at the K-12 level in a 2000-square mile region. Their STEM outreach efforts have concentrated not only on reaching principals, teachers and students at traditional city/county, private and Christian elementary, middle school and high schools, but also numerous home school groups, a center for at-risk youth, and a house for unwed mothers (which are predominantly high-school aged). These interactions have resulted in the sharing of resources (material and financial), talent (particularly forjudges, mentors and student volunteers) and facilities. In 2003, a National Science Foundation grant was acquired by the community college to help promote STEM in the K-12 schools. Since then, this grant has provided the impetus for several organizations to work together and initiate the following STEM outreach activities: Junior FIRST LEGO League; FIRST LEGO League; a STEM-oriented website and magazine for yout Summer Academies and Camps; Future Focus EXPOs; VEX Robotic competitions; and Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) competitions. Significant impacts of these STEM activities have been measured at several levels. Participatio among students and schools have doubled and tripled at most of these events in the past several years, and have allowed a few teams to advance to national competitions or attain the top divisional ranking in the nation. One of the students who competed on a winning robotics team was awarded a 25% tuition scholarship and is currently a junior majoring in Electrical Engineering at a local university. A particular collaboration was recognized and awarded at the International Economic Development Council, Excellence in Economic Development Awards i September 2011. These activities are dedicated to helping educate local students and promoting regional career opportunities in the STEM fields, which are expected to experience a 21% growth in the region by 2016.' The paper presents the main organizations partnering in the offering and promotion of STEM outreach activities in the region, a description of each of the activities and their participation levels, a summary of the cooperating efforts and benefits achieved, and recommendations for how other people interested in STEM outreach can successfully pursue offering and promoting these events. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.