Empire State STEM Learning Network
Connect. Collaborate. Compete.- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Central New York
The CNY STEM Hub wants your VOTE!
We have applied and are seeking funding through the CNY Community Foundation‘s CNY85 Project: http://mygiving.cnycf.org/cny85
We have many partners including the MOST (Museum of Science and Technology), TACNY (Technology Alliance of CNY) and the CNY STEM Hub.
The plan is to develop a STEM-based program using the NASA BEST Model, targeting 6-8 grades. It is an engineering design model based on satellites and space vehicles (kind of timely with Rover landing!). For more information: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/best/activities.html
In brief, we have requested funding for 10 middle schools in the region to receive a NASA BEST kit for their school. Training would be at the MOST and delivered by NASA and MOST education staff. A corporate partner(s) would be trained to work with your teachers to deliver the modules (9). There is a voting component during the month of September...the most votes WINS!
We had to answer 2 questions:
With an extra $8,500 we could: introduce a new engineering design curriculum which will potentially impact over 2,000 middle school students each year through a collaboration with the partners in the CNY regional STEM Hub including the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), local school districts, corporations and institutional partners, as well as NASA.
NASA’s Beginning Engineering Science & Technology (BEST) 6-8 grade Curriculum will be the basis for our program, and BEST classroom kits will be purchased with these funds for use in the classroom. The NASA BEST curriculum was developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Office of Education in support of NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) with whom the MOST has a strong STEM connection. This curriculum features inquiry based engineering lessons on creating satellites, planet rovers, landing pods, robotics work, launching balloon rockets, and other engaging activities. The engineering design model, which includes a rebuild session, is practiced during each of the nine modules in the curriculum. Continued implementation of the BEST program by the trained teachers in subsequent years will impact numerous students annually. Trained corporate volunteer specialists may be available for future partnerships/relationships with their partner schools.
The project will create opportunities for learning by: Highlighting many of the New York State Math, Science, and Technology standards, as well as incorporating features of the Next Generation Science Standards. We envision participation by ten different schools, each with two teachers matched with corporate volunteer specialists. The MOST will coordinate the program, provide a location for training (conducted by NASA representatives), and provide support to teachers and the corporate volunteers. Training would include practice in implementation of the activities as well as team bonding.
A one day training program will be conducted for twenty teachers and corporate volunteers on the BEST curriculum by a NASA consultant. These teaching teams will learn to implement nine engineering based science lessons. The goal is to bring these lessons to the classroom where middle school students will learn in an inquiry based manner through engineering projects that are completed in teams, important for strengthening communication and interpersonal skills, while also creating a more realistic work environment. Each lesson will be supported by a MOST specialist with prior BEST experience supporting this program.
The program’s first year impact would include STEM learning for twenty teachers, ten school districts, corporate volunteers, and over 2,000 middle school students. Based on prior experience, we anticipate trained teachers will continue to use their reusable kits on a yearly basis. The grant would be used to provide the teacher training and science kits for each of the teachers. In addition, lessons learned and best practices by the participating teachers will be shared to allow for teacher development and greater student learning.
The CNY STEM Hub Team is led by
Dr. Donna DeSiato, ES-M School District ddesiato@esmschools.org
Joe Vargo, PEB- CNY STEM Hub Steward joev@macny.org
Liverpool, New York, October 13, 2011 – The Empire State STEM Learning Network (Empire STEM) today announced the launch of the Central New York (CNY) regional STEM hub at the 2nd annual Manufacturing Careers Day hosted by Partners for Education & Business, Inc., MACNY – the Manufacturers Association, and Lockheed Martin. Empire STEM‐CNY is a community collaborative that is committed to interconnecting people in business, higher education, community organizations, cultural institutions and PK-12 schools to design, develop and demonstrate innovative, sustainable and transferable STEM learning experiences. It recognizes the importance of STEM education in preparing all learners for success in the 21st century economy.
Vision: The CNY STEM Hub will design and incubate educational models of excellence empowering all PK-20 students to excel in a rapidly changing world.
Mission: The CNY STEM Hub will interconnect business, higher education, community organizations and PK-12 schools to design, develop and demonstrate innovative, sustainable and transferable STEM learning experiences.
Goals:
1. By 2014, the CNY STEM HUB will exemplify the attributes of a professional metropolitan learning community by creating and sharing knowledge and successful, innovative learning experiences that ignite and strengthen problem solving and critical thinking abilities in K-12 learners for success in our global society.
2. By 2014, the CNY STEM HUB will strengthen instructional practices in K-12 STEM HUB classrooms through professional development for teachers and administrators in inquiry and design learning models.
3. By 2014, the CNY STEM HUB schools will design and develop trans-disciplinary learning experiences through design and inquiry with real-world context/application.
4. By 2014, the CNY STEM HUB will design, develop and incubate STEM literacy educational models that prepare students for college and career through the integration of 21st Century knowledge and skills.
5. By 2014, the CNY STEM HUB will systematically document effects of new learning experiences on short term and long term student learning, student motivation, and college and career trajectories and performance, with the intent to regularly publish new findings in the education literature.
If you are interested in joining the CNY STEM Hub, send Empire STEM a message on our contact page, or contact the CNY STEM Hub steward Partners for Education & Business, Inc. here.
The Syracuse / Central New York progressive dialogue was held at the Warehouse in downtown Syracuse and was co-hosted by Syracuse University, the Air Force Research Laboratory, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Say Yes to Education, Inc. and the Syracuse City School District. 70 stakeholders participated who represented diverse communities across Central New York. The dialogue included introductory remarks to frame the challenge, perspectives on strengthening STEM in New York State from a panel, sharing of an existing model of innovation and collaboration, and reflections at the end of the day. Participants developed recommendations in small groups and shared their top ideas in plenary session. They also individually assessed each group’s recommendation and four summary statements.
Ethnographic observation of the small group and plenary sessions was led by the PAST Foundation with support of local undergraduate and graduate students. The PAST ethnographic bullet point report is incorporated in the regional dialogue report available to the right.
