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 Two-Year Colleges Four-Year Colleges Graduate Programs Summer Programs After School Programs Assessment Services Articulation Agreements Policy High Schools Middle Schools Magnate Schools Academies Cities Counties States Economic Developers Workforce Boards INDUSTRY

Pressures on the Workforce Ecosystem More Indian college graduates than U.S. high school graduates More English speakers in China than in the U.S. “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 Houston Community College organizing to graduate 500 bio- technicians 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.

Pathway Continuous planning and assessment … The New Education / Workforce Ecosystem Middle School High School, Magnate, Academy (or is it College?) College / Workplace COUNSELINGCOUNSELING COUNSELINGCOUNSELING Holistic Assess- ment Integrated coursework and exploration

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 Whyville Ion Engine Game Sponsored by NASA Some of Whyville’s Sponsors

2006 Demographics Teachers16 Elementary Students49 Elementary GenderMale 49%, Female 51% Elementary EthnicityHispanic 94%, Black 4%, White 2% M.S. Students46 M.S. GenderMale 56.5%, Female 43.5% M.S. Ethnicity Hispanic 82.6%, Asian 8.7%, White 6.5%, Black 2.2% % Low SES70%

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.Career exploration 2.Career pathways 3.Curriculum alignment 4.Start earlier (middle school) 5.Blurring of the high school / college line 6.Community colleges driving “Pull them through” 7.The New Recruiting Paradigm

Why Robotics? Technology Science Math Arts Engineering Space

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 NavarroSpaceTEAMS Coordinator, Northwest Vista College Melissa RoelSpaceTEAMS Assistant Coordinator, Northwest Vista College Cliff ZintgraffPrincipal, Green Sky Ventures 2007 Advisory Board Chair Andrew Schuetze Robotics Program Lead, Edgewood Independent School District, Advisory Board member Jim BrazellCo-founder of SpaceTEAMS Advisory Board member

Overview The National Conversation on Education The Educational / Workforce Ecosystem What is SpaceTEAMS? SpaceTEAMS: Today and Tomorrow