Transforming STEM Education &
San Antonio’s Workforce Engine for Global Competition
Northwest Vista College
March 2, 2007
A National Conversation
“This is a story about the big public
conversation the nation is not having about
education … whether an entire generation of
kids will fail to make the grade in the global
economy because they can't think their way
through abstract problems, work in teams, (and)
distinguish good information from bad …”
Time Magazine, December 2006
Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of
the American Workforce
The Workforce Ecosystem
Middle Schools
High Schools
After School
Programs
Two-Year Colleges
Four-Year Colleges
Magnate Schools
Academies
Summer
Programs
INDUSTRY
Graduate Programs
Cities
Policy
Counties
Articulation Agreements
States
Assessment Services
Workforce
Boards
Economic
Developers
Pressures on the Workforce Ecosystem
“This is a story about the big public
conversation the nation is not having about
education … whether an entire generation of
kids will fail to make the grade in the global
economy because they can't think their way
through abstract problems, work in teams,
(and) distinguish good information from bad
…”
Time Magazine, December 2006
Quoting the New Commission on the Skills of
the American Workforce
More Indian college
graduates than U.S.
high school graduates
More English speakers in
China than in the U.S.
Houston Community College
organizing to graduate 500 biotechnicians
Houston stands up Robotics
Education Support Center
Arlington organizing to recover
manufacturing base with state grants
Greater Chamber Survey
indicates corporations hire IT
graduates from outside San
Antonio
STEM Education …
1. Is a critical issue for academia,
governments and industries.
2. Underlies regional, national and global
competitiveness.
3. Attracts industry to regions.
4. Is a basis for innovation.
5. Is the feeder system for initiatives in
industry clusters.
The New Education / Workforce
Ecosystem
Middle School
Integrated coursework
and exploration
Pathway
Holistic
Assessment
Pathway
Pathway
C
O
U
N
S
E
L
I
N
G
High School,
Magnate, Academy
(or is it College?)
Continuous planning and assessment …
Continuous planning and assessment …
Continuous planning and assessment …
College /
Workplace
C
O
U
N
S
E
L
I
N
G
What is SpaceTEAMS?
A long-term, sustained effort to expose
middle school students throughout San
Antonio to STEM education, STEM
career opportunities, and the entry
points to related career pathways.
What is SpaceTEAMS?
• Themed Around Our Nation’s Mission to Mars
• Robotics Summer Camp
• Teacher Training
• Robotics Support Center
• The SpaceTEAMS Online Virtual World
SpaceTEAMS 2006 Summer Camp
16 Teachers
49 Elementary, 46 Middle School Students from 4 Schools
Building Robots
Exposure to Mars Mission
Four teams competing in the Spring Botball Tournament
Funded from City of San Antonio Interlocal Agreement
Why Robotics?











Math
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
Computer science
Architecture and design
Systems thinking
Teamwork
Art + Science
Established material providers
Engaging! (Cool Factor)
Competition factor
Teacher Training
•
•
•
•
Hands-on instruction in robotics systems
Apply lessons learned to mini-challenges
Using this technology to teach TEKS
Team development of units of study;
published on SpaceTEAMS web site
• Beta-test this in SpaceTEAMS
The Robotics Support Center
Director hired by ACCD
Robotics clearinghouse
Outreach
Regional tournament
Interface to industry
Connection to pipelines
SpaceTEAMS Online Virtual World
Some of Whyville’s Sponsors
2006 Demographics
Teachers
16
Elementary Students
49
Elementary Gender
Male 49%, Female 51%
Elementary Ethnicity
Hispanic 94%, Black 4%, White 2%
M.S. Students
46
M.S. Gender
Male 56.5%, Female 43.5%
M.S. Ethnicity
Hispanic 82.6%, Asian 8.7%, White
6.5%, Black 2.2%
% Low SES
70%
2006 Achievements
•
•
•
•
•
Small team collaboration
Programming
Career exposure
Teacher – exposure to programming
Engineering robots for tournament
tasks
• Working robots
• Tournament participation
• Measurement: Perception of STEM
SpaceTEAMS: Today and Tomorrow
SpaceTEAMS Summary of Benefits
STEM Education
Career exploration
Connect to opportunity
Outreach and recruiting tool
Workforce commitment
Competitive global
workforce
Transforming STEM Education &
San Antonio’s Workforce Engine for Global Competition
Northwest Vista College
March 2, 2007
Needs
Recruiting – interesting schools to contact
Interesting teachers to contact
Contacts of all types
Be our PR agent
Ideas for future grant funding targets
Speaking opportunities
Educational Innovation – Trends
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Career exploration
Career pathways
Curriculum alignment
Start earlier (middle school)
Blurring of the high school / college line
Community colleges driving
“Pull them through”
7. The New Recruiting Paradigm
Why Robotics?
Space
Engineering
Science
Math
Technology
Arts
SpaceTEAMS Metrics
Students in summer camp
Students online
School districts engaged
Teachers trained
Schools competing
Students referred to pathway
Students engaged in pathway
Who Is SpaceTEAMS?
Dr. Jackie
Claunch
President, Northwest Vista College
Colleen Smith
Arrey
Director, Alternative Programs, Northwest Vista College
Manuel Navarro
SpaceTEAMS Coordinator, Northwest Vista College
Melissa Roel
SpaceTEAMS Assistant Coordinator, Northwest Vista College
Cliff Zintgraff
Principal, Green Sky Ventures
2007 Advisory Board Chair
Andrew
Schuetze
Robotics Program Lead, Edgewood Independent School
District, Advisory Board member
Jim Brazell
Co-founder of SpaceTEAMS
Advisory Board member
Overview
• The National
Conversation on
Education
• The Educational /
Workforce Ecosystem
• What is SpaceTEAMS?
• SpaceTEAMS: Today
and Tomorrow