Digital Playbook: Enhancing STEM + Computer Science Career Readiness

Enhancing STEM + Computer Science Career Readiness

Introduction

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 o ­ pportunities 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

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Reach out to local funding sources such as local nonprofits and ­corporate foundations interested in growing the STEM+C pipeline

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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)

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Provide district administrators with an overview of the project (slide deck template)

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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Invite 3-4 Amazon employees for panel discussion on Day 2 of ­programming.

Amazon’s community division can be reached at ­classchats@amazon.com.

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Contact Michael Fierle, director of the AIU MSC, to request a sample Storytime STEM+C Adventure (Wild Blue Girl)

Activities & Processes

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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

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STEM+C immersion activities

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Educator experiences with CS Journeys (webinars and interactive virtual experiences with corporations that use computer programming)

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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

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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

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Mathematics

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Science

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Career awareness planning

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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).

J a n u a r y – M ay

Day 1

Hosted at IU*

Day 2

Hosted at IU*

Day 3

Visit Corporations*

Day 4

Hosted at IU*

Introduction to the Program

Amazon Fulfillment Center Virtual Tour

Career­ ­Opportunities and Readiness through STEM+C

Panel Discussion with Amazon ­employees

Shifts in Math, Science, and Computer Science Education

Engagement in Storytime STEM+C and Hour of Code Programming Activities

Orientation to Professional Learning Opportunities and STEM+C Resources

Adult Learner Immersion in Science and ­Mathematics Lesson

Debrief on Computer Science Practices

STEM+C Action Planning

Reflections with Colleagues

Reflections with Colleagues

* Teams of 8

Reflection on Corporate Experiences Corporate Immersion Experiences

District STEM+C Program Assessment Where are you now in terms of K-12 math, science, and computer science programming?

including ­Community ­Engagement ­Brainstorming

Reflections with Colleagues

Reflections with Colleagues

S u mm e r – M a y 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, IProblem-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

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Districts make their own STEM+C Action Plans that ­determine chosen professional learning paths and resulting program improvements

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Teachers increase knowledge of how to implement the Code.org computer science curriculum with fidelity

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Districts expand their capacity for offering computer science courses through increased number of certified computer science teachers

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Teachers increase knowledge of the new Pennsylvania ­science standards and are ready to fully implement the ­revised standards by 2025-2026 school year

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Teachers increase knowledge of best instructional practices in the mathematics classroom to support ­unfinished learning

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Teachers increase knowledge of computer science ­instruction at the early childhood level through ­engagement in Storytime STEM+C adventures

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Families gain more awareness of the district’s STEM+C ­initiatives and opportunities through the district’s ­marketing and community event

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District teams ­present what they learned throughout the ­initiative and how they are ­applying that knowledge within their ­community

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

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K-12 educators increase their understanding of the requirements of the modern STEM+C workforce

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K-12 educators enhance STEM+C instruction and curriculum based on their deepened understanding of practice standards from corporate immersion and professional learning experiences

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Schools realign their science curriculum and ­instruction to the newly adopted PA science ­standards

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Students increase their achievement in mathematics and science standards

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Increased equity/access for student participation in computing education

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Students at all levels demonstrate increased interest in pursuing college or career pathway in STEM+C

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Increased understanding among corporate partners of K-12 STEM+C and the needs of their communities

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Increased collaboration between corporate partners and K-12 education

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Increased awareness of the importance of STEM+C education across families and communities

Proposed Outcomes

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