GEARing UP for STEM
Creating a Pathway from Secondary Education
to the Workforce
Presented at:
STEMtech Conference
Indianapolis, IN
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Presenter: Briana Hervet
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Where we were…
 Economic issues
 Unemployment
 Local & state budgets
 Workforce shortages
 Disconnect between business
needs and graduates
 Different programs, different goals?
 Programs not working together
 Targeting the SAME folks!
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Where we are now…
A Pathway: Beginning with ensuring
secondary student success
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GEAR UP Ohio Communities
Model for Statewide Success
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GEAR UP Ohio Program
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Helps students and their parents see the
value college can provide
Prepares students to successfully
participate in postsecondary education
Promotes lighthouse site programming
for statewide replication and sustainability
Develops self-sustaining sites by
encouraging civic participation
GEAR UP Ohio has partnered with
Choose Ohio First and Avetec in
Springfield, OH
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GEAR UP Ohio
Site Program Model
 One middle and one high school per
lighthouse site
 GEAR UP coordinator and one to three
in-school advisors per local site
 Local goals and objectives established
with help from program evaluators
 Achieve local goals that align with
statewide goals
 Local advisory councils to provide
direction and community support
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GEAR UP Ohio Menu of
Lighthouse Site Services
 Early college and career advising
 After-school services
 Summer/Cultural enrichment activities
 Academic preparation and enrichment
 Achievement test preparation (ACT)
 Tutoring and mentoring
 Financial aid planning
 Teacher professional development
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GEAR UP Springfield
Educational Programs
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Made possible through partnerships with area schools,
universities and community programs
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Covers all ages from kindergarten through postgraduate school
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Educational outreach focuses primarily on Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
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GEAR UP Springfield
 STARS program (Elementary level)
 Overview – STARS is an elementary school
program. 5th grade students are introduced to
real-world engineering challenges by building
LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a
thematic playing surface. STARS FLL teams,
guided by their imaginations and STARS
Program coaches, discover exciting career
possibilities and through the process, learned
to make positive contributions to society.
 STARS Students:
 Designed, built and programmed robots using LEGO
MINDSTORMS® technology
 Applied real-world math and science concepts
 Researched challenges facing today’s scientists
 Learned critical thinking, team-building and presentation
skills
 Participated in tournaments and celebrations
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GEAR UP Springfield
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Gateway to Technology (GTT) (Middle School)
 Overview - Gateway to Technology is offered to
middle schools as an introduction to the later high
school courses. Each school may implement a
minimum of two of the five GTT modules in an
existing science class or offer any or all of the
modules in a stand alone enrichment class. The two
modules that EVERY Gateway to Technology
program is required to offer are Design and
Modeling and Automation and Robotics.
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GEAR UP Springfield
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Project Lead the Way (High School)
 Overview - Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national
program established to help the schools give students the
knowledge to excel in high tech fields. It works through
business, industry, colleges and secondary schools to
create partnerships which support effective engineering
programs.
Foundation Courses:
 Introduction to Engineering Design
 Principles of Engineering
 Digital Electronics
Specialization Courses:
 Aerospace Engineering
 Biotechnical Engineering
 Civil Engineering and Architecture
 Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Capstone Course:
 Engineering Design and Development
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GEAR UP Springfield
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GEAR UP Springfield
Benefits to the Community
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Workforce Development
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Support for Public Education (Secondary &
Postsecondary)
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Economic Development
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Career Exploration and Awareness for Students
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Effective use of resources
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Building on Secondary success to link
Postsecondary and the Workforce
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What is Choose Ohio First?
 A premier model of recruiting and
retaining students in STEM education
 A program to support increased
participation in STEM disciplines
 Offers students the opportunity to focus
on education, and not a financial barrier
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By the Numbers
 28 programs around the state
 WWF
 PCMH
 45 public and private colleges and
universities house COF students
 Over 4,500 COF Scholars across Ohio
 Over 100 majors, minors, and certificate
programs
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By the Numbers
 Springfield offers strong opportunities
for students to benefit from early
awareness and readiness activities,
state involvement, and business
collaborations.
 A list of all programs available statewide is
available here:
http:www.uso.edu/opportunities/partnership
/chooseohio1st/programs/index.php
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Springfield, Ohio
 Campuses near Springfield who participate
in COF include:
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Clark State Community College
Central State University
Franklin University
Wittenberg University
Sinclair Community College
Edison Community College
Wright State University
University of Dayton
The Ohio State University
Columbus State Community College
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Connections in Springfield, Ohio
 Program offer scholarship dollars
 Program strives to retain students through
mentoring, faculty interaction, and early
intervention services
 Several graduates of Springfield High
School are now COF Scholars at Wright
State University, Central State University,
and Clark State Community College
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In Your Small Groups…
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Business Sectors
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Key businesses in your area
Emerging business sectors
Higher Education
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Community Colleges
Public & Private Universities
Government Agencies
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OBR
ODJFS
ODE
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Contact Information
Briana N. Hervet
Director, Choose Ohio First
Ohio Board of Regents
(614) 644-9602
[email protected]
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