Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Partnerships for Creating STEM Pipelines
Dr. Patricia Ralston, Chair and Gary Rivoli, Outreach Director
Department of Engineering Fundamentals and Dr. M. R. Wilhelm, Dean Emeritus and Professor
Industrial EngineeringUniversity of Louisville
Kentucky Engagement ConferenceWestern Kentucky University
November 8, 2012
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Who are the STEM Partners?
Primary Partner: Speed School– Established in 2007, the Engineering Fundamentals
Department at J.B. Speed School of Engineering adopted as a specific mission to develop a K-12 Outreach Program.
Jefferson County Public School System ( JCPS) and now other school systems are partners.
Boston Museum of Science Louisville Science Center Local industry Various supporting organizations such as 4-H,
ASME, Girls STEM collaborative network.
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
K-12 Outreach
Desired long-term outcomes: 1) Increase number of students interested in and
capable of studying STEM fields, with an emphasis on engineering
2) Improve understanding of STEM careers3) Improve preparation for STEM study4) Improve retention of engineering students –
(those most interested persist)
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Pipeline and Pipelines
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Effective Outreach Programs
Recent research: types of outreach vs. engineering self-efficacy (belief they can succeed in engineering) Need immediate feedback Need a “do” or “hands-on” component Promote self-learning Real-life application (problem-based) Long-term and challenging
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Programs and Pipelines Engineering is Elementary (EiE) In the Middle of Engineering (IME) Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Select schools to create a pipeline to• “pull” students into engineering in
elementary school• mentor them through middle school• and on to high school.
Develop – Sustain – Replicate
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Engineering is Elementary® (EiE)
Created by the Boston Museum of Science
“Hands-on” Integrates engineering and technology
concepts with elementary science topics
Used by over 9000 teachers and 480,000 students nationwide.
Integrated into elementary science class or as an enrichment period
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
In the Middle of Engineering (IME) Targeted Middle schools that are fed by
elementary schools with an EIE program Developed by Speed School Outreach
Coordinator– Coordinate with science teachers– Weekly enrichment program adjusted to fit
the needs of individual schools Use hands on kits from Slinky® Science
– Our Amazing Bridges, The Electro Lab, All About Gears, Solar Energy
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Program ParticipationProgram Total
Students Participating
Number of Female
Students
Number of Male
Students
Number of Minority Students
2008-2009 School Year (EiE) 157 54 103 44 (IME) 224 93 131 121
2009-2010 School Year (EiE) 186 78 108 70 (IME) 238 95 143 86
2010-2011 School Year (EiE) 250 112 138 85 (IME) 191 74 117 40
2011-Fall Programs (EiE) 1852 873 979 891 (IME) 228 102 126 77
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Students in the Pipeline In Fall 2009, there were approximately 120 students
in the PLTW program that was the primary pipeline high school.
The number increased to 220 students in fall 2011, and more than 280 students enrolled for fall 2012, a 233 percent increase over this period.
The PLTW Program Director attributes this growth to the partnership with Speed School and the resulting pipeline coupled with a principal who firmly believed in the PLTW program.
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Students in the Pipeline
One elementary school (that has all students in K-5 using the EiE curriculum for the past three years) has seen math and science scores on the Kentucky Core Content Test improve 4 percent and 13.4 percent respectively over the past two years. – Data for this past year is not yet available. These
gains are based on an increase in the percent of students that score proficient or distinguished.
– They attribute these increases to the EiE curriculum use in science classes and the support Speed’s Outreach Program.
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Students in the Pipeline
This same elementary school (one with significant numbers of minority and economically disadvantaged students) has seen an increase in students participating in the technology magnet program offered at the school.
– In two years, the enrollment increased from 30 students to 100 students, a 333 percent increase. The principal attributes this increase directly to Speed’s Outreach Program.
– Another impressive and quantifiable impact noted by the principal is that for the first time, students from this elementary school applied for admission to the competitive math and science magnet middle school; all five student applicants were accepted.
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Challenges Program Assessment – how to define,
measure, and track outcomes of overall program
Assessment of students once in college Moving existing programs and pipeline
to a self-sustaining model Identifying new and on-going funding
sources Extending programming to replicate
pipelines in other areas
Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville
Conclusion and Future Direction Program participation increases and
requests for pipeline replication is encouraging.
Assessment data from EiE program indicates concrete gains in science knowledge.
Continued emphasis on teacher training (with BMOS) is of paramount importance.
Pipeline concept – elementary – middle-high school – has high potential.