The Vermont STEM Collaborative: Partnerships Within and Beyond the University Regina Toolin, Associate Professor, College of Education and Social Services Donna Rizzo, Professor, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences University of Vermont John Hanning, CEO, Archimedes Aerospace, Montpelier, VT Association for Public Land Grant Universities Science and Math Teacher Imperative Conference June 3rd, 2015 The Vermont STEM Collaborative seeks to address important issues, questions and gaps in K-16 STEM education through the establishment of a professional network that seeks as its mission to coordinate, energize and advance STEM* opportunities for all students and educators from across Vermont that promote informed, creative and sustained problem solving, investigation and design practices (STEM* is defined as: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education is an integrated and applied approach to problem solving, investigation and design.) The VSTEM collaborative comprises a partnership of over 60 professionals that include formal and informal STEM educators, school administrators, state agency representatives, university faculty and STEM businesses partners The primary goals of VSTEM include the following: Create a unified message about what STEM is and what it means for Vermont Coordinate a statewide STEM workforce/business, university/college and school partnerships and research initiatives Promote STEM professional development programs and mentorship for Vermont’s teachers Develop and manage the VSTEM Commons Online Portal http://vstem.w3.uvm.edu/vstem-commons Increase STEM collaborations with multiple state agencies including the AOE, DPH, DCFS, etc Coordinate a STEM Faculty Network - Serve as a liaison between STEM faculty and VT schools Through VSTEM it is our intent to expand upon existing STEM education models and programs that have been previously implemented across Vermont to include more innovative and comprehensive initiatives, research programs and collaborations that span STEM disciplines throughout grades K-16 that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Standards in Mathematics One of the primary goals of the VSTEM Collaborative is to promote research that investigates the most effective models for STEM teaching and learning as well as models to attract, educate and retain highly qualified STEM professionals, particularly those from underrepresented groups VSTEM Partnerships VSTEM began as a grassroots effort by UVM and other VT college faculty, teachers and UVM graduate students in 2013 The idea was to promote engaging STEM curriculum, instruction and programs that support STEM thinking and achievement as well as interest in STEM majors & careers across Vermont The following institutes and organizations are partners in the VSTEM Collaborative: UVM Colleges and Programs: CESS, CEMS, CAS, Rubenstein, College of Medicine, NSF EPSCoR, UVM Extension, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Vermont Cancer Center, VT Genetics Network, GEAR-UP CREST, NSF Noyce, NSF SWAC Other Colleges: Norwich, Johnson, Lyndon Schools: Vergennes HS, Montpelier HS, Essex HS, Vermont Commons School, Winooski MS/HS, Northfield MS, Hannaford Career Center State Agencies: VT Agency of Education Non-profits & Informal STEM: VEEP, VT Afterschool, NEK Observatory, Champlain Watershed Alliance, VT State Math and Science Fair, Big Picture Learning, Community Sailing Center Businesses: Archimedes Aerospace, External Drive.Org, NRG Systems , Renewable Energy Systems VSTEM Initiatives and Research Projects Recent initiatives and research projects that have been funded by the Math Science Partnership Program and GEAR-UP Grants include the following: US DOE Math Science Partnership Program - VSTEM Leadership Institute - July 2015 – July 2018 Research Question: How are NGSS, CCSS and Transferable skills evident in teacher pedagogy and student learning in participating high need schools? VSAC GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) – 2nd Year of Funding - Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers – CREST – June 2015 Research Question: How are CREST Touchstones (principles and practices) evident in teacher pedagogy and student learning in high need classrooms? VSTEM Commons Portal The VSTEM Commons is an online website and clearinghouse of STEM education resources created by the VSTEM team that includes an open access site where STEM partners can upload STEM resources, programs and initiatives that is available to all http://vstem.w3.uvm.edu/vstem-commons Next Steps Launch VSTEM Leadership Institute – July 2015 Future Initiative: Coordinate a STEM Faculty Network - Serve as a liaison between STEM faculty and VT schools