STEM Programs & Partnerships

How do you develop programs and partnerships for STEM, especially in low socio-economic areas?

Listening to Dr. Reagan Flowers‘ podcast STEMcast, you can get a real sense of how to respond. STEM contextualizes science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in real life problem-solving.

Let’s take a look at a few potential partners to build relationships with.

Potential Partner #1 - C-STEM

Project-based learning, problem-based learning (xBL), takes on another component with C-STEM. The “C” represents Communication for Dr. Flowers and encapsulates STEM, providing students the opportunity to see the utility of tough topics in real life.

Dr. Flowers suggests that urbanization managed poorly can cause problems. In turn, students in STEM programs can be tasked to develop solutions to urbanization problems. The solutions involve robotics, civil engineering, coding, art, and film-making, all while trying to answer the questions urbanization problems present.

In addition to the C-STEM Program, schools can reach out to local businesses and organizations. For example, Joy Shwartz reached out to Lamar University and Exxon Mobil for guidance and/or funding.

Other school districts, like South San Antonio ISD in San Antonio, Texas, connect with the University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Mary’s University for their SAPREP and PREP initiatives, respectively.

Learn more about using Minecraft to Re-Design Public Spaces

Potential Partner #2 - STEM Accelerator

The Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator (STEM Accelerator) initiative provides grants to help support regional teams of education and workforce partners. Their goal is to “increase the number of students who will earn a STEM credential.” They work to provide professional development, align math pathways from K-12 to higher education to workforce, and develop sector partnerships between education and workforce. Goals include:

  • Increase retention in STEM pathways by ensuring that STEM teaching practices are engaging and supportive.
  • Ensure that institutional policies and systems support retention and completion of STEM pathways, particularly among underrepresented students.

Potential Partner #3 - Transformation Central Texas STEM Center

Per their website, the “Transformation Central Texas STEM Center strives to improve student achievement outcomes in math and science as determined by state and national standards for all students.”

The Center offers professional development that emphasizes STEM-literacy and hands-on problem-based learning experiences for students. They also showcase the all-important career pathways that help children see what they could be doing.

As Dr. Flowers points out in her STEMcasts, it’s hard for children to imagine themselves doing something when they haven’t seen it before.

What suggestions do you have for developing programs and partnerships for STEM?