Science Mentoring Program Hughes STEM High School Community Partnership Experiences February 7, 2012 Kent Buckingham, Ph.D., Program Coordinator

Science Mentoring Program Overview Initiated at Hughes STEM High School Initiated at Hughes STEM High School Involved 80 ninth grade students and 33 adult mentors Involved 80 ninth grade students and 33 adult mentors Sessions held 1-hour/week, fall term and spring term Sessions held 1-hour/week, fall term and spring term Focus on 9th grade curriculum, and on core skills Focus on 9th grade curriculum, and on core skills Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving Reading comprehension (scientific) and analyzing data Reading comprehension (scientific) and analyzing data Goal: to help students excel in the sciences and feel motivated to pursue college degrees and careers in STEM-related fields Goal: to help students excel in the sciences and feel motivated to pursue college degrees and careers in STEM-related fields

Partners in Science Mentoring Ninth grade science students Ninth grade science students Primarily minority, prevalent economic disadvantage Primarily minority, prevalent economic disadvantage About one-third of ninth grade class About one-third of ninth grade class Adult STEM professionals Adult STEM professionals Diverse cohort of volunteers from the community Diverse cohort of volunteers from the community Commit 1 hr./week, most for more than 1 school term (fall, spring) Commit 1 hr./week, most for more than 1 school term (fall, spring) Science teachers Science teachers Select students for the program, and set expectations for students Select students for the program, and set expectations for students Develop weekly hands-on activities, and post on mentor website Develop weekly hands-on activities, and post on mentor website Program coordinator Program coordinator Recruit mentors, training, background check, logistics, mentor feedback Recruit mentors, training, background check, logistics, mentor feedback Track metrics, and lead continuous quality improvement (CQI) Track metrics, and lead continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Partners in the Development of the Science Mentoring Program Hughes STEM High School Hughes STEM High School Manager for STEM Curriculum Manager for STEM Curriculum Passion for students; Focus on teaching, student engagement Passion for students; Focus on teaching, student engagement University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati OSLN Asst. Director, College of Education OSLN Asst. Director, College of Education Passion for teaching principles; Focus on information sharing Passion for teaching principles; Focus on information sharing Industry Scientist from the Community Industry Scientist from the Community Volunteer, retired scientist/manager (P&G) Volunteer, retired scientist/manager (P&G) Passion for science; Focus on mentors, metrics, CQI Passion for science; Focus on mentors, metrics, CQI

Two Unique Elements of Science Mentoring Program First: positive interaction between students and adult STEM professionals First: positive interaction between students and adult STEM professionals Student/mentor pairings are sustained for term Student/mentor pairings are sustained for term Discuss cultural backgrounds, learning styles Discuss cultural backgrounds, learning styles Involves tutoring (re; STEM subjects and concepts) Involves tutoring (re; STEM subjects and concepts) Involves mentoring (re; STEM college education and STEM career opportunities) Involves mentoring (re; STEM college education and STEM career opportunities) Mentors share personal “STEM Stories” Mentors share personal “STEM Stories” Students see real-world STEM career opportunities Students see real-world STEM career opportunities

Mentor Diversity (33 Volunteers) Hughes STEM School Year 2010 – %30% 33% 58%42% 79%61% 21% 39% 30% 33%36%

Partners in the Recruiting of Adult STEM Professionals as Mentors Professional Scientific Societies Professional Scientific Societies Local Industrial Companies Local Industrial Companies Local Scientific Staffing Companies Local Scientific Staffing Companies Local Nonprofit Organizations Local Nonprofit Organizations Government Scientific Agencies Government Scientific Agencies Local Universities/Colleges Local Universities/Colleges

Professional Scientific Societies – 10 Professional Scientific Societies – 10 Local Industrial Companies – 6 Local Industrial Companies – 6 Local Scientific Staffing Companies – 3 Local Scientific Staffing Companies – 3 Local Nonprofit Organizations – 7 Local Nonprofit Organizations – 7 Government Scientific Agencies – 2 Government Scientific Agencies – 2 Local Universities/Colleges – 11 Local Universities/Colleges – 11 Partners in the Recruiting of Adult STEM Professionals as Mentors Recruiting Efforts = 39

Partners in the Recruiting of Adult STEM Professionals as Mentors Mentors Recruited = 47 Professional Scientific Societies – 8 Professional Scientific Societies – 8 Local Industrial Companies – 0 Local Industrial Companies – 0 Local Scientific Staffing Companies – 19 Local Scientific Staffing Companies – 19 Local Nonprofit Organizations – 0 Local Nonprofit Organizations – 0 Government Scientific Agencies – 1 Government Scientific Agencies – 1 Local Universities/Colleges – 19 Local Universities/Colleges – 19

Two Unique Elements of Science Mentoring Program (Cont’d) Second: a rigorous metrics plan to evaluate the impact of student participation in the program during the 2011 – 2012 school year Second: a rigorous metrics plan to evaluate the impact of student participation in the program during the 2011 – 2012 school year Student academic performance (grades, test scores) Student academic performance (grades, test scores) Student attitudes (science, college, STEM careers) Student attitudes (science, college, STEM careers)

Metrics Plan Methodology Criteria for student selection (120 students) Criteria for student selection (120 students) Middle of “ bell curve ” for performance Middle of “ bell curve ” for performance Desire to participate and improve performance Desire to participate and improve performance Randomization for test vs. control cohorts Randomization for test vs. control cohorts Test Group A (40 students mentored fall 2011) Test Group A (40 students mentored fall 2011) Test Group B (40 students mentored spring 2012) Test Group B (40 students mentored spring 2012) Control Group (40 students not mentored) Control Group (40 students not mentored)

Measurement of Student Attitudes Attitudes assessed via survey Attitudes assessed via survey Pre-Attitude Survey (Oct 2011) Pre-Attitude Survey (Oct 2011) Post-Attitude Survey (May 2012) Post-Attitude Survey (May 2012) Students can select their survey responses from: Students can select their survey responses from: Strongly disagree Strongly disagree Disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Somewhat agree Agree Agree Strongly agree Strongly agree

Six Survey Statements about Student STEM Attitudes 1. I am planning to continue my education after I graduate from high school 2. I am interested in pursuing a STEM related career 3. I am interested in learning more about STEM careers 4. I enjoy learning about science 5. I have the skills and abilities to learn science 6. Adults in this school want me to succeed

Multiple Partners for Metrics Plan Implementation Partners for Metrics Plan Implementation Partners for Metrics Plan Cincinnati Public School District (Director of Research) Cincinnati Public School District (Director of Research) Hughes STEM High School (Teachers, Pre-Attitude Survey) Hughes STEM High School (Teachers, Pre-Attitude Survey) Strive Partnership (Learning Partner Dashboard – Grades) Strive Partnership (Learning Partner Dashboard – Grades) Industry (Data Analysis – Grades and Attitudes) Industry (Data Analysis – Grades and Attitudes) Program Coordinator (Overall Leadership) Program Coordinator (Overall Leadership) Perspective about Partners Perspective about Partners Motivation (what’s in it for them) Motivation (what’s in it for them) Expertise (who does what) Expertise (who does what) Leadership (who, how to interact and to track progress) Leadership (who, how to interact and to track progress)