Student engagement plays a pivotal role in meeting the goals of STEM workforce development and literacy. It is one of four federal policy priorities in America Competes reauthorization. Intentionally and strategically inspiring student engagement in STEM is critical for filling the talent pipeline. There are growing but often uncoordinated collections of resources from business, education and community-based organizations that seek to engage students in meaningful STEM experiences. State STEM networks are connecting the dots and spreading both promising and proven practices through STEMx. Expert leaders will demonstrate strategies for coordinating STEM resources into an engine of engagement and introduce STEMx tools for spreading innovation and fueling the talent pipeline.
Many schools, districts and states are interested in STEM but have difficulty getting initiatives off the ground. After determining that STEM is a good idea, the task then becomes moving from concept to implementation. Who are the “right” stakeholders? How do the business and education communities communicate and arrive at shared vision? In this workshop session, state STEM network leaders will discuss methods that have successfully moved initiatives forward at the local, regional and state level, using tools developed by practitioners in the field. Experience the STEMx open innovation model for exchange that builds on “how we did it” across multiple STEMx states.
More and more communities across the nation have formed STEM partnerships with a shared vision and action plans. They are engaging partners from across the spectrum of business, education, government and community-based organizations in their work, and are already beginning to see the fruits of their collaboration. Many communities also experience growing pains in evolving from start-up initiatives to – ultimately – the ongoing delivery of collective impact. This challenge exists at the local, regional, statewide and even national level. Join this workshop with leaders from STEMx states who are engaged in the work on the ground required to move networks along the continuum toward collective impact. Learn how to apply STEMx tools – developed by the states, for the states – to your own community.
Have you ever wondered how policy could help you achieve goals like closing opportunity gaps in STEM education, scaling a best practice or building a STEM capable workforce? Or wanted to get expert advice on how to champion STEM in the media, with policymakers and the grassroots? Then this workshop is for you. Get ready to roll up your sleeves alongside colleagues who have led successful policy and advocacy campaigns in STEMx states. STEMx will debut actionable solutions that STEMx state leaders have put into practice. Working with a breakout group and a STEMx peer consultant, you will gain new tools and resources that will help you identify high-impact state policy levers and develop advocacy strategies in support of your STEM goals.
