Digital Playbook: Enhancing STEM + Computer Science Career Readiness
Enhancing STEM + Computer Science Career Readiness
This initiative was originally funded by the Richard K. Mellon Foundation to enhance career readiness in high-needs school districts with a focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM+C).
The Math & Science Collaborative at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit worked in partnership with the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, the Consortium for Public Education, and Code.org to provide school district teams with professional learning coupled with action planning and corporate immersion experiences.
Those teams evaluated their STEM+C programming to identify an area that they could strengthen by offering real world, problem-solving opportunities that teach the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed in a global, knowledge-based 21st century economy. This digital playbook was created to help others work with school districts to identify where they can strengthen their STEM+C programming to better prepare their students with those same skills.
Goal
This project seeks to help school districts answer the question: How might we strengthen our STEM+C programming so that all students experience authentic, real-world problem solving and acquire the essential skills and knowledge required to be career ready and successful in a 21st century STEM+C corporation?
Getting Ready
n Reach out to local funding sources such as local nonprofits and corporate foundations interested in growing the STEM+C pipeline
n Recruit local school districts interested in enhancing their STEM+C programming to better prepare their students for future opportunities in STEM and computer science (email template)
n Provide district administrators with an overview of the project (slide deck template)
n Have districts determine teams of eight to lead this work, including one administrator, one school counselor, and six teachers representing K-5 computer science, K-5 math, K-5 science, grades 6-12 computer science, grades 6-12 math, and grades 6-12 science (team info sheet template)
n Secure enough corporate partners to provide sufficient variety for district educators to attend corporate immersion experiences, with focus on computer science, math, and/or science career paths
n Support corporations in creating an event for educators to understand how the standards of practice are at play in their corporation and what they need in their future employees
n Book rooms and locations for all events:
– Book rooms at your local IU for days 1, 2, and 4 between January and May. Days 1 and 2 should be back-to-back dates in January while Day 4 should be in April or May
– Determine dates for corporate immersion experiences in February and March
– You may also want to book the date and location for the symposium occurring the following May
n Invite 3-4 Amazon employees for panel discussion on Day 2 of programming. Amazon’s community division can be reached at classchats@amazon.com.
n Contact Michael Fierle, director of the AIU MSC, to request a sample Storytime STEM+C Adventure (Wild Blue Girl)
Activities & Process es
District teams will participate in 32 hours of STEM+C engagement, corporate immersion experiences, and action planning across four days to enhance STEM+C and career readiness programming:
n Review state standards and best practices
– Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
– PA Core Standards for Mathematics
– Computer Science Teachers Association practice standards
n STEM+C immersion activities
n Educator experiences with CS Journeys (webinars and interactive virtual experiences with corporations that use computer programming)
n Full-day educator immersion with corporation(s) to interact with STEM+C professionals, and learn about careers within the corporation, workplace expectations, critical job skills, and competencies
n STEM+C action planning to apply learnings from the corporate experience, CS Journeys activities, family/community interviews, and wrap-around professional development to enhance STEM+C programming
Team members will participate in professional learning aligned with action planning from choices below:
n Computer science
n Mathematics
n Science
n Career awareness planning
n CS Certification pathways for educators
Teams will attend two district check-in meetings during the school year to monitor progress and prepare for the community event and symposium
Check-in #1: September
Check-in #2: January
*as outlined in the chart on the following page.
STEM+ Computer Science Career Readiness
For access to all daily slide decks, click on the link in the header (Day 1–Day 5).
Day 1
Hosted at IU*
Day 2
Hosted at IU*
Day 3
Visit Corporations*
Introduction to the Program Amazon Fulfillment Center Virtual Tour Corporate Immersion Experiences
Career Opportunities and Readiness through STEM+C
Panel Discussion with Amazon employees
Shifts in Math, Science, and Computer Science Education
Adult Learner Immersion in Science and Mathematics Lesson
Engagement in Storytime STEM+C and Hour of Code Programming Activities
Debrief on Computer Science Practices
Reflections with Colleagues Reflections with Colleagues
* Teams of 8
Day 4
Hosted at IU*
Reflection on Corporate Experiences
District STEM+C Program Assessment
Where are you now in terms of K-12 math, science, and computer science programming?
Orientation to Professional Learning Opportunities and STEM+C Resources
STEM+C Action Planning including Community Engagement Brainstorming
Reflections with Colleagues Reflections with Colleagues
S u MM er – M ay of the following school year
Ongoing
Any district educators designated by team Day 5 Hosted at IU*
Each team member engages in one of the following professional learning offerings:
• Computer Science Professional Learning
• Mathematics Professional Learning
• Science Professional Learning
• Educator in the Workforce, I Problem-Based Learning, and Human-Centered Design PProfessional Learning
• Storytime STEM+C Professional Learning
• Computer Science Certification Pathways
Team Check-In #1 (September Meeting)
Implementation of Professional Learning in the Classroom Aligned with District Action Plan
Team Check-In #2 (January Meeting)
Community Event
Symposium of Learning with District Presentations and Corporate Attendance
Proposed Outputs
n Districts make their own STEM+C Action Plans that determine chosen professional learning paths and resulting program improvements
n Teachers increase knowledge of how to implement the Code.org computer science curriculum with fidelity
n Districts expand their capacity for offering computer science courses through increased number of certified computer science teachers
n Teachers increase knowledge of the new Pennsylvania science standards and are ready to fully implement the revised standards by 2025-2026 school year
n Teachers increase knowledge of best instructional practices in the mathematics classroom to support unfinished learning
n Teachers increase knowledge of computer science instruction at the early childhood level through engagement in Storytime STEM+C adventures
n Families gain more awareness of the district’s STEM+C and opportunities through the district’s marketing and community event
n District teams present what they learned throughout the initiative and how they are applying that knowledge within their community
n K-12 educators increase their understanding of how the Pennsylvania STEELS, PA Core Mathematics, and Computer Science Teachers Association practice standards are utilized in the workplace
n K-12 educators increase their understanding of the requirements of the modern STEM+C workforce
n K-12 educators enhance STEM+C instruction and curriculum based on their deepened understanding of practice standards from corporate immersion and professional learning experiences
n Schools realign their science curriculum and instruction to the newly adopted PA science standards
n Students increase their achievement in mathematics and science standards
n Increased equity/access for student participation in computing education
n Students at all levels demonstrate increased interest in pursuing college or career pathway in STEM+C
n Increased understanding among corporate partners of K-12 STEM+C and the needs of their communities
n Increased collaboration between corporate partners and K-12 education
n Increased awareness of the importance of STEM+C education across families and communities
