STEM Summit VI

University of Massachusetts > STEM > STEM Summit VI Morning Sessions

STEM Summit VI Morning Break-out Sessions

Strand 1: Diversity - Advancing Diversity and Access in STEM

This session will provide an overview of diversity and access in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education & careers for individuals with disabilities by examining current trends and issues, recent research developments, and best practices for education to support students with learning disabilities and attention disorders. We will also review how students with various disabilities (including cognitive/psychological) are typically accommodated and what is the typical process for their receiving those accommodations. The session will specifically include discussion of access in Massachusetts K-12 and higher education contexts, assistive and adaptive technologies, web and instructional technology accessibility, and issues related to learning and cognitive disabilities such as ADHD and Autism-spectrum disorders.

Our panelists are the best national experts in the field. There will be ample time for questions and structured discussion.  Attendees will leave with resources for their own institutions for improving programming activities for individuals with disabilities.

Moderator: 

• Larisa K. Schelkin, CEO, Co-Founding Director & President, DOME Foundation, Inc.

Panelists: 

• Dr. Terrill Thompson, Technology Accessibility Specialist, University of Washington (Access Computing Project funded by the National Science Foundation)
• Mweusi L. Willingham, Headmaster, The Engineering School - Boston Public Schools; DOME Foundation Board of Directors
• Diane S. Webber, Professor, Director, Program for the Advancement of Learning (PAL), Curry College
• Dr. Steven Fadden, Director, Landmark College Institute for Research and Training; Director of Research, Landmark College
• Massachusetts K-12 representative (To be determined)

Strand 2: District-Level STEM Planning

What do we mean by a STEM agenda, and what is the role of school districts?  This session will help school district leaders develop a vision and strategic plan of action.  Drawing on SAT survey data about intended college majors, we will discuss strategies for increasing students' interest in, preparation for, and success in pursuing STEM careers and fields of study.  Who should attend?  We encourage teams of two to four district leaders to attend. These might include science and mathematics coordinators, guidance directors, and administrators responsible for district-wide planning. SAT data on intended STEM college majors from 2005 through 2008 will be available to all who attend.  Preliminary handouts will be emailed to those who register at least two weeks in advance so that teams can preview the information to be discussed.  These data will help districts to develop their own STEM talent plan.

Moderator: 

• Ronit Carter, Education Consultant; President, The Promise of Excellence; Acting Associate Director, Leadership Initiatives for Teaching & Technology

Panelists: 

• Jean Supel, Research Manager, UMASS Donahue Institute
• Ed Wiser, Curriculum Coordinator for Science, Brookline High School
• Lisa Glickstein, Grants Coordinator, Andover Public Schools
• Sheila Thomas, Technology Integration Specialist, Fitchburg High School

Strand 3: Wingspread - Immersion in STEM through Teaching Innovation

Enlightening, engaging and interactive are just a few descriptors that should be used when describing the 21st Century learning environment in all our schools.  Using Web 2.0 tools with Web 3.0 quickly taking shape accelerates the need for teachers to be continually one step ahead of their students. The Wingspread "fishes" will divulge resources and opportunities available to support 21st Century innovations in the classroom.

Moderators: 

• Annamaria Schrimpf, Director of Educational Technology, Winchester Public Schools
• Lori Weir, Program Coordinator, Information Technology, Middlesex Community College

Panelists: 

• Tom Daccord, Educational Technology Specialist, Center for Teaching History with Technology
• Romeo Marquis, Executive Director, Learning Curve
• Joanne Najarian, Instructional Technology Specialist, Winchester Public Schools

Strand 4: Career Awareness - Life Science Career Development Initiative

Young people need information about STEM careers, exposure to various work environments, role models with whom they can identify and personal encouragement in order to imagine themselves in these roles.  Often there is little or no opportunity for them to imagine career options beyond those pursued by their immediate family or their neighbors.  The challenge is to create meaningful effective models that provide these missing ingredients to the lives of students.

These sessions will highlight programs that are operating in Massachusetts and creating different avenues for middle and high school students to become aware of, and connected to, future careers in STEM.

The morning session will feature the Life Science Career Development Initiative, an innovative high school-based program sponsored by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation. Participating high school science teachers and guidance counselors will discuss the varied approaches their schools have taken to connect students with the biotechnology industry's career information and role models. Data derived by researching the effort will be shared by the program's external evaluator, TERC. We have evidence of real change in the way students seek and use career information resources.

Moderator:  

• Bob Ross, Director, BioTeach Program

Panelists: 

• Paula Beisheim, Science Department Chair, Norton High School
• Janice Chiappone, Director of Guidance, Bellingham High School
• Karen Mutch-Jones, Senior Evaluator, TERC

Strand 5: Resources from Informal Education - Thinking Outside the Classroom, Opportunities for Educators and Students:  Professional Development Opportunities

What kinds of resources and professional development opportunities are available for formal educators through museums, aquariums, nature centers and other science education facilities?  This session will highlight successful graduate-level, professional development opportunities these organizations offer which carry graduate credit from colleges and universities. We will discuss the unique resources offered by these courses as well as the follow-up support provided for the classroom and teachers. Some of these courses can be tailored to the specific needs of a school system and offered during the school year; others are offered during the summer.

Moderator: 

• Terry Kwan, Education Consultant, MITS Board of Directors

Panelists:   

• Sandra Ryack-Bell, Executive Director, Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS, Inc.)
• Jayshree Oberoi, Director, Teacher Resources, New England Aquarium
• Alexander Goldowsky, Director of Education, EcoTarium
• Raji Patel, Co-Director, Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium
• Annette Sawyer, Director of Education, Museum of Science

Strand 6: Building STEM Teacher Capacity - An Interactive Session Showcasing Innovative Approaches to Professional Development

How can school districts effectively choose and develop a strategic approach to professional development for STEM teachers and programs with the support of the STEM industry? We will briefly discuss a framework for selecting professional development opportunities (meaningful, measurable, sustainable, scalable and regional). Participants will then engage in hands-on small-group activities and discussions from two innovative experiential professional development programs: Three Steps to Engaging Student Learning in Science and the Mathematics Professional Learning Community curriculum. Attendees will leave with a sampler of STEM professional development programs (including online options) and a framework for evaluating and planning professional development programs.

Moderators: 

• Robert W. Richardson, East Coast Education Manager, INTEL
• Barbara Libby, STEM Director, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Panelists:  

• Cora Beth Abel, Executive Director, Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair, Inc.
• Dona Apple, Mathematics Consultant, Regional Science Resource Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Sandra Mayrand, Director, Regional Science Resource Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Coordinator, Mathematics Learning Community Curriculum
• William F. Rigney, Science and Technology/Engineering Coordinator, Grades 6-12, Marlborough Public Schools

Remarks: 

• Jim Stanton, Director, The Technology Initiative, Metro South/West Regional Employment Board

Concurrent Meeting

Tapping Massachusetts' Potential Step II: Advancing the STEM Movement Through A Leadership-Employer Alliance

STEM Summit VI is proud to host the second in a series of meetings following the STEM Business Leaders Breakfast held June 18th, 2009, at the Museum of Science which featured the release of the report:  Tapping Massachusetts' Potential - The Massachusetts Employers' STEM Agenda.  Building on the discussion that was begun in June, today's meeting will focus on the critical role STEM education plays in the future of the Massachusetts economy, a review of STEM incentive programs, and an inventory of STEM best practices.
 
A facilitated discussion will identify gaps, redundancies, challenges and opportunities in STEM education in Massachusetts.  The session will involve participants developing, and formulating a consensus around, specific strategies that will identify ways in which they and others can advance the STEM movement in Massachusetts.

Results of the discussion from this morning meeting will be reported out on at one of the afternoon break-out sessions where the conversation will be furthered and additional recommendations gathered.

Welcome:

• Secretary Paul Reville, Executive Office of Education 

Inspiration:

• Stephen Vinter, Engineering and Site Director, Google

Moderator: 

• Greg Sheldon, President, Sheldon Collaborative

Consensus/Next Steps:  

• Ellen J. Ferraro, PhD, Deputy Director System Validation Test and Analysis Directorate, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
• Deborah Boisvert, Executive Director, BATEC, UMass Boston 
• J.D. Chesloff, Deputy Director, Massachusetts Business Roundtable

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