Beyond the Classroom…STEM Collaboratives with

Industry

Roger Smith, Instructor - CELS/Histotechnology Capital Area Career Center, Ingham ISD

Toby West, Instructor - Careers in Biochemical Technology

Lenawee ISD - TECH Center

Career Education in Lab Science (CELS) & Histotechnology

In the beginning there was Histology• STEM before there was a STEM initiative• Unique• Highly successful• Small class size

Through Histology came CELS• Broad overview of lab careers• Serve more students

CELS Curriculum Overview

CELSForensic Science

Lab Aide

Biotechnology

Molecular Pathology Clinical

Pathology

Anatomic Pathology

Lab Core

Careers in Biochemical TechLISD TECH Center, Adrian MI

• Program was established during 2007-08 school year

• Response to challenge from local chemical industry

• Promoting a variety of science careers for students of Lenawee County; Increase STEM Literacy

Biochem Curriculum Overview

Biochem

Water Treatment Tech

Chem Tech

Biofuels

Forensics

DNA TECH / Biotech

Microbiology

Lab Safety

STEM CTE WBL

Student Success in STEM Careers

An Equation for Success

What is STEM?

In its broadest sense, STEM is an initiative for securing America’s Leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and identifying promising strategies for strengthening the educational pipeline that leads to STEM careers.1

The Need for STEM Professionals• Economic Competitiveness

• The Baby Boom Retirement• 26% of workers with science and engineering

degrees are over the age of 50.2

• Students Earning Fewer Degrees

Students Earning Fewer Degrees

BS Degrees Earned

AS Degrees Earned

1985 77572 53700

2005 66133 28800

5,000

35,000

65,000

Engineering Degrees Earned in 1985 & 2005

1985 2005

Why are Students not choosing STEM Careers?• Lack of Foundational Skills

• U.S. NAEP test scores showed no improvement in math from 2004-2008 among 17 year olds despite students taking higher level math classes.3

• U.S. students are consistently scoring below students from other industrialized countries in science and math.4

• Lack of STEM Understanding• Surveyed students reported lacking

knowledge of STEM careers.5

Project Lead the Way™• Nationally recognized curriculum to

promote skills and careers used in science/engineering

• Curriculum used throughout Lenawee County

• Biotechnical Engineering Curriculum used in Biochem at LISD TECH Center

• Stress skills AND academics in a unique way. Perfect for CTE programs

How can CTE Provide a Solution?• CTE Integrates Technology with High

Level Academics• Students are earning math and science

credits in their programs along with college credits

• CTE presents STEM content differently from “normal” academic courses

• Work Based Learning Opportunities

What is Work Based Learning?

Work-Based Learning (WBL) gives students the opportunity to learn a variety of skills by expanding the walls of classroom learning to include the community. By narrowing the gap between theory and practice, Work-Based Learning creates meaning for students.6

How WBL is Utilized in the Careers in Biochemical Technology Program

Biochem Connections with Industry

Important to establish strong industry connections to promote science careersPartnered with:

• SouthCentral Michigan Works• Lenawee Economic Development Corp.• Advisory Committee Members• Personal Connections

Industry Experiences for Students

Co-op with Jackson Community CollegeField Trips/Job Shadow Experiences:

• Bixby Hospital• Wacker Chemical• Neogen Corp• TransPharm• Wheelock Pharmacy• Adrian Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratories

Jackson Community College / LISD• Laboratory Tech Co-op• Competitive 2nd yr

experience• Paid• Lab prep for chemistry,

microbiology, Gen biology classes for JCC @ LISD TECH campus

• Great experience for students!

Jackson Community College / LISD

• Great relationship

• Students get lab experience

• Students receive soft skill development

• Instructors benefit

Groeb Farms, Inc.

• One of nations largest honey processors (Onsted, MI)

• Instructor training on pesticide & antibiotic testing in honey

• Testing above government regulations

• 5 students trained

Groeb Farms, Inc.

• Students involved in production testing of honey

• Students were paid for their labor during and after school hours

• Invaluable work experience, especially with record keeping. Great experience with lab notebook.

Current Industry Connection:Greener Planet Solutions (a BioDri Michigan Company)

• Start-up technology company

• Development of many products

• PrO2 oxygen delivery system for wastewater treatment; has most immediate market potential

• Instructor was hired as part-time consultant

GPS / LISD Partnership

Development of partnership between LISD and GPSWin – Win

• GPS gets a lab to help with technical data development

• LISD gets work experience for students

Lessons Learned

Success:• Great work experience for students

• Students received great soft skill development (communication & record keeping)

• Insight into today’s business world

• Help local companies grow!

Challenges• Major Pitfall: R&D / Technical vs. Production testing!

• Make sure you work with administration to have contract in place that protects the school and student

• Liability, OSHA responsibilities, & safety training

How WBL is Utilized in the CELS/Histotechnology Program

WBL in CELS/Histotechnology

• Need for New Affiliates• How we Obtained new WBL Sites• Information to Think about When

Contacting a New WBL Site• Before, During, and After the WBL

Experience

The Need for New WBL Sites

• The CELS curriculum is much more broad than the Histotechnology program.• Broad Overview of Lab Careers

Current Affiliates• MSU Investigative

histopathology Laboratory• MSU Diagnostic Center for

Population and Animal Health

• Sparrow Hospital Histopathology Laboratory

• Capitol Area Pathologists Histology Laboratory

• Allegiance Health Hospital Histology Laboratory

• U of M Hospital Histology Laboratory

• St Joseph Ann Arbor Histology Laboratory

• Borgess Research & Hospital Histology Laboratory

• Hurley Medical Center• U of M Research Institute• St. Mary’s Hospital

Histology Laboratory• Lansing Urology Histology

Laboratory• Genesis Diagnostic

Histopathology Laboratory

Its Not What You Know, Its Who You Know………

Anatomic Lab

Clinical Lab

MolecularLab

Medical Laboratory Institution

HT’sPA’s Path’s

ElectroPCR Cytogen

Immuno

Micro

Hematology

Making Connections with New Departments• Contacts for lab personnel

• Advisory committee members as references

• Advisory committee members to approach new departments • Personal testimonies

Before Contacting New Sites

• Draft a letter to include• Information about your program• Training• Student Background• Students outcomes• Observers vs Workers• Time period

Information to Think about when Contacting a New WBL Site• What limitations?

• Vaccinations• Insurance• Age requirements

• Transportation• Can they drive themselves?

• Environment• Is it appropriate for the student

you are sending?

Before, During, and After the WBL Experience

Before the WBL Experience• Documentation Required from

Students• Medical Release Form

• Photocopy of immunizations• Negative TB Test• Tetanus Booster• Emergency Contact Information• Documentation of Health Insurance

• Transportation• Copy of driver’s license

Before the WBL Experience• Student Preparation

• Expected behavior • Work attire• Directions to site

• Ensure students have folders containing WBL documents:• Immunizations• Personal health insurance• Emergency contacts• Attendance forms• Assignments

Before the WBL Experience• Communication is key!

• E-mail, Phone, Dropping In• Before the visit

• Confirm dates, times, meeting places• Confirm with both the site and the students

During the WBL Experience• Instructors/WBL Specialists

• Be available!• Potential problems

• WBL sites complete student evaluation

After the WBL Experience• Debrief Students

• Classroom discussion• Students complete:

• Skills log• Reflective Questionnaire• Thank you letters to mentor

• Communicate with the site

References

1. Alliance for Education, “S.T.E.M.,” www.sbcalliance.org/stem.htm

2. National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2008

(Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation, 2008)

3. Zehr, Mary Ann, “Older Students Less Successful on Math NAEP,”

Education Week 28, no. 31 (April 28, 2009)

4. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education

Statistics, The Nation’s Report Card: Long-Term Trend 2008

(Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, April 2009)

5. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, “PISA

2006: Science Competencies for Tomorrow’s World Executive

Summary,”

6. http://schools.utah.gov/cte/wbl.html

Any Questions?

Contact info:

Roger Smith, Instructor - CELS/Histotechnology rsmith@inghamisd.org

Toby West, Instructor - Careers in Biochemical Technologytoby.west@lisd.us