Building STEM* Networks*STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

Taylor PettisSTEM Education Program ManagerMinnesota High Tech Association

tpettis@mhta.org952.230.4560 

MHTA supports the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of 

Minnesota’s technology‐based economy through Advocacy,

Collaboration and Education

ADVOCATE

EDUCATE COLLABORATE

MHTA ‐ The Voice of Minnesota’s Technology IndustriesMHTA ‐ The Voice of Minnesota’s Technology Industries

EDUCATE

A key part of fulfilling MHTA’s mission – the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota’s technology‐based economy – is to:

• Build executive knowledge base

• Generate community awareness regarding workforce education 

• Assist with development of our future workforce

The top 10 jobs that will be in demand in 2010, did not exist in 2004.

Did you know?

www.mhta.org

What is the Issue? 

• Job growth in professional, high tech industries will require anadditional 10,500 college graduates a year by 2010*

– College grads retiring rises from 9,000 to 25,000 per year by 2010*– Need 22 – 30% more technology workers over next 10 years*

• In 1950 80% of Jobs classified as “unskilled;” today 60% categorized as “skilled,” and 85% of these require education beyond high school

– 2/3 of new jobs created by 2010 and 40% of all jobs require education beyond high school

– 60% of future jobs require training that only 20% of today’s work force possess

• The number of high school graduates decreases by 10% between 2003 and 2013*

* These are Minnesota examples, but similar nationwide

Job Growth – Technology (IT)

• IT Job Growth 2004‐2014*:– Growing faster than average (18‐27%)

• Computer and Information Systems Managers• Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators

– Much faster than average (27% or more)• Computer Software Engineers• Computer Scientists and DB Administrators• Computer Systems Analysts• Systems Administrators

• IT sector unemployment: 2%*

• Jobs in Information Technology are alive and well – Great news for job seekers… less so for employers!

*Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of  Labor Statistics

More College Graduates* Required!

How does this relate to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? 

• Students who take 2 years of math (Algebra II) in high school more than double their likelihood of completing college – in any discipline – within four years

• Those with 4 years of math increase likelihood to nearly 80%• 7 of 10 parents think their kids have enough or too much math• In 2005, only 11% of middle school students indicated interest in 

pursuing a career related to Science, Technology, Engineering orMath (MDE, 2005) 

*Some Education beyond high school

Minnesota STEM Program & Policy Examples

• TIMSS Funding ‐ 2006• Science Museum STEM Summit – Fall, 2006• STEM Forums around state – Fall, 2006• Qwest Mini‐grants – 2007• Sally Ride Event – Fall, 2007• North Star STEM Alliance (Louis Stokes & NSF)• Minnesota MentorNet• Tekne Scholarships & Educator of Year• STEM Summits around state – Winter, 2008• getSTEM Clearinghouse 

STEM FORUMS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA13 Forums Held In October/November 2006Duluth

Brainerd

Marshall

St. Cloud

Rochester

Mankato

North St. Paul

Minneapolis – Patrick Henry

Brooklyn Center

Bemidji

Moorhead

Alexandria

St. Paul Harding

1100+ Participants (40‐250 at each Forum)•• K12 EducatorsK12 Educators•• BusinessBusiness•• Higher EducationHigher Education•• ParentsParents•• StudentsStudents

Purpose of the Forums• Inform attendees about Minnesota’s Plan for High School Redesign

• Hear from local community leaders to learn about STEM higher ed/workforce opportunities

• Engage in conversations to heighten awareness of current programs

• Create new partnerships to establish a pipeline of STEM activities to prepare Minnesota high school students to succeed in the global marketplace

Knowledge of STEM EducationHow knowledgeable do you consider yourself about each of the following?

48%

44%

57%

70%

68%47%

18%

20%

28%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Regional business programs to promote K-12

STEM education

Goals or purpose of Minnesota plan for High

School Redesign

Regional K-12 school programs to promote

STEM education

Minnesota Department of Education initiatives to

address STEM education

Skill level requirements of employers in STEM-

related fields

Pre-Forum

Post-Forum

(Somewhat / Very Knowledgeable)

Knowledge of National Trends

75%

59%

81%

78%

84%

80%

88%

24%

26%

27%

31%

33%

36%

37%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

K-12 student participation in advanced

mathematics and science classes

Higher education STEM degree completion rates

U.S. student performance in mathematics and

science testing

Preparedness of high school students to pursue

STEM degrees in college

Projected U.S. demand for STEM-educated

workers

Impact of shifting U.S. workforce demographics

Career opportunities in STEM fields

Pre-Forum

Post-Forum

How well informed are you about each of the following national trends?

(Somewhat / Very Informed)

12

Greatest Opportunity to Improve STEM Education

What do you see as the greatest opportunity to improve STEM education?

6%

6%

7%

9%

9%

9%

11%

14%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Motivating students

Involve parents

Early STEM education

Career pathways, information

School-business-community collaboration

Refocus, integrate curriculum

Good teachers/teacher training

General public support for STEM

School-business collaboration

MarshallFebruary 6, 2008

BrainerdFebruary 7, 2008

RochesterFebruary 14, 2008

MankatoFebruary 26, 2008

MoorheadJanuary 9, 2008

AnokaJanuary 12, 2008

BemidjiJanuary 22, 2008

DuluthFebruary 5, 2008

Eight STEM Summits ‐ January/February 2008

STEM Summit Overview• MHTA facilitated eight Regional STEM Summits with Minnesota 

Department of Education

• Designed to introduce 7‐12 grade students to educational and job opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) – within their communities

• Regional STEM Summits connected nearly 4,000 students to local technology businesses and higher education opportunities

• Business and higher education representatives presented interactive exhibits that provided students with experience and information about future education and                        job opportunities in STEM 

Nearly 4,000 Students Participated in Eight Events

– 600 Students at Moorhead

– 1,200 Students at Anoka

– 300 Students at Bemidji

– 300 Students at Duluth

– 450 Students at Marshall

– 275 Students at Brainerd 

– 325 Students at Rochester

– 350 Students at Mankato 

Moorhead Agenda ‐ example2008 Moorhead Regional STEM Summits

9:00AM‐12:00PMJanuary 9, 2008

Comstock Memorial Union BallroomMinnesota State University Moorhead

9:00am–9:30am Welcome: Kate Rubin, President, MHTAKaren Klinzing, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Dept. of EducationDavid Martin, President, Fargo/ Moorhead Chamber of CommerceRoland Barden, President, Minnesota State University Moorhead

9:30am–11:45am Students tour exhibits including:Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom (Main Room)Small group tour to PlanetariumSmall group tour to Science Building

11:45am–12:00pm  Students who complete their passport and survey qualify for a chance to win an X‐Box 360 sponsored by Microsoft, an ipod sponsored by Ulteig

Engineers, and various STEM books sponsored by EMC Publishing.

Event Sponsors Thank youMinnesota State Colleges and Universities, Minnesota State UniversityMoorhead, Microsoft, Ulteig Engineers, and EMC Publishing for your generosity and support of the 2008 Regional STEM Summits. 

Sample of Exhibitors – Greater Minnesota• Aldevron• Avicenna• Braun Intertec Engineers• Bemidji State University • Compudyne• Central Lakes College• DragonTech• IBM• ISEEK• Knife River Materials • Lake Superior College• Mayo Clinic• Microsoft• Minnesota State University 

Moorhead• Minnesota Workforce Center: Rural 

Minnesota CEP, Inc.• North Star Aerospace

• Otter Tail Ag Enterprises LLC• Packet Digital• Project Lead the Way• Prosthetic Laboratories• Qwest• Rochester Community and Technical 

College• Schwan Food Company • South Central College• Southwest Minnesota State 

University• Texas Instruments• Ulteig Engineers• University of Minnesota

– Department of Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering

– Institute of Technology• Venture Computer Systems 

Sample of Exhibitors – Metro Area

• Braas Company • Century College• EESCO United Electric• General Mills• Hennepin Technical College• INSciTE• ISEEK• LEGO Education • LifeScience Alley/Alley Institute• Metro State University• Microsoft• MINITEX• MinnesotaWorks.net (DEED)• Normandale Community College• Project Lead the Way• PTC Software

• Qwest • Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, Twin Cities• St. Cloud State University 

– Environmental & Technological Studies – St. Cloud Technical College: Manufacturing 

Programs • Society of Women Engineers (SWE)• Sun Microsystems• University of Minnesota 

– Department of Bioproducts & BiosystemsEngineering

– Institute of Technology• University of Minnesota Morris• Works Museum 

2008 Regional STEM Summits

Student Passport

STEM Summit Surveys ‐ Passports

What’s on the survey?

• Gauges student interest in STEM education

• Identifies student career and post secondary plans

• Explores career fields of interest to students

How will MHTA use the Information?

• Evaluate success of  STEM Summits

• Determine future focus areas for STEM education 

• Create mentoring programs and business‐to‐educator relationships

For Each of the Following Mark Whether You: 1 - Agree, 2 - Somewhat Agree, 3 - Somewhat Disagree, 4 - Disagree (Question 5b)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

STEM has a “nerdy” reputation,and this prevents me from

learning more

Women aren’t pursuing careersin STEM fields

High school students don’t wantchallenging courses, particularly

in STEM

Advanced STEM courses shouldbe high school prerequisites

Perc

enta

ge o

f Stu

dent

s

Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Disagree

Total from 8 STEM Summits

After the Summit, How Much Interest Do You Have in Pursuing STEM Studies and Careers

34%

53%

10%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

A lot of interest Some interest A small amount of interest No interest

Amount of Interest

Perc

enta

ge o

f Stu

dent

s

Total from 8 STEM Summits

Building Networks…

getSTEM Clearinghousewww.getSTEM‐mn.com

The getSTEM Portal Vision

• The portal for Minnesota Educators and Businesses/ Higher Education to connect and collaborate to build relationships to match STEM needs with STEM resources.  

• Key components of the tool include:– Just Ask Request List

– Just Offer Give List

– STEM Events

– STEM Successes

– My STEM

Just Ask / Request List

• Scenario:  Teachers don’t have a place to ask the business community or peers for resources / services

• Vision: Provide a Just Ask / Request List process to capture what teachers are interested in.  Similar to Craig’s List– Materials (equipment / supplies)– Services– Informational interviews– Field Trips

Just Offer / Give List

• Scenario:  Businesses/ Higher Education looking to help educators with offers of materials or services

• Vision: Provide a volunteer sign‐up form to capture information from businesses about what they are willing to provide.– Materials (equipment / supplies)

– Services/ Education Programs

– Informational interviews/ Campus Visits

– Internships

STEM Successes

• Scenario:  Users looking for a place to find what has worked, best practices related to STEM

• Vision: Provide success stories and best practices of successful STEM solutions.– Spotlight

• Business spotlight

• Teacher / student spotlights

• STEM Connections made via portal

STEM Events

• Scenario:  Users want to find out about upcoming STEM related events

• Vision: Provide an event calendar with STEM related events that can be filtered by:– Field

– Location

– Type

– More

My STEM

• Scenario:  Users want to find information that is pertinent to them, not get overloaded with information

• Vision: Provide a Profile and “tagging” system that allows content in the portal to be tagged with STEM related tags to allow the portal to be personalized for and by the user– Information to be delivered to 

user based on what they want to see

‐ Provide workforce applications to STEM education classrooms

‐ Introduce students’ to new and innovative technologies

‐ Expand students experiences without ever leaving the classroom

‐ Easily saved, shared, and replayed

Virtual Field Trips

Closing Thoughts

• How can you use an expanded network to change education?

Who’s in your network? 

• MHTA can be your connection to business! – Publicize and Promote– Task Forces and Steering Committees– Panel Discussions– And more…

Who’s in your network?