An Introduction to STEM Ambassadors

Presentation Slides

Insert STEM Ambassador Contract Holder Contact Name Here

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Introduction

Today’s objectives

• The STEM Agenda in a Nutshell• Overview of the STEM Ambassadors Programme• Guidance on volunteering opportunities and available support• STEMNetworking – the online tool for STEM Ambassadors• Advice on planning your first STEM Ambassador activity• Guidance on working with schools and young people

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STEM Agenda in a Nutshell

HMG’s STEM Agenda aims to ensure that:

1. The needs of employers are met

2. The STEM curriculum is sufficiently challenging for the top 25% and increases STEM literacy of the population at large

3. There are good enrichment and enhancement activities as part of STEM education - the STEM Ambassadors Programme is a key part of this

Among those firms that need employees with STEM skills and knowledge, two in five currently have difficulties recruiting staff...Businesses know they have an essential role to play in promoting the study of STEM subjects by young people...One element in this process is encouraging employees to become STEM Ambassadors.

CBI education and skills survey 2012

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What is a STEM Ambassador activity?A STEM Ambassador activity is any activity and/or school visit that is:

• Voluntary and free of charge to schools• Aimed at individuals aged 5-19 years (including supporting teachers STEM CPD training)• Linked to Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Maths in some way (including careers

based activities)

All STEM Ambassadors are required to take part in a at least one activity

a year and we’d be delighted if you decide you want to take part in more!

Your STEMNET Contract Holder will keep you informed of local volunteering

opportunities. STEM Ambassador activities can also include those organised

through your employer, Professional Institution or your own school contacts.

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STEM Ambassador Activities can Include:

• Providing careers advice as part of e.g. a careers speed networking event

• Delivering a hands on activity with Primary or Secondary school students

• Being interviewed over Skype as part of a school lesson or taking part in a webinar

• Taking part in a teacher/Ambassador networking event at a school

• Supporting an on-going STEM Club activity at a local school

• E-mentoring a student as part of an established e-mentoring scheme

• Creating a sustained relationship with a local school

• Working with Science Learning Centres to support teacher CPD training

• Visiting your old school as a STEM Ambassador (if educated in UK only)

• Supporting STEMNET activities advertised through the UK-wide quarterly newsletter e.g. BBC Bang Goes the Theory roadshows, Big Bang Fair.

You can also view the latest requests on STEMNetworking

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Hopes and expectations [compulsory]

Teachers

Ambassadors

Students?

??

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STEM Ambassadors – Hopes and Expectations

Why did you decide to become a STEM Ambassador?

• It’s a new and exciting challenge

• It’s a chance for me to share my enthusiasm for my subject and inspire young people to have a more positive view of STEM and STEM careers

• It’s an opportunity for me to give something back to the community

• It sounds like fun!

In the 2011 survey, STEM Ambassadors said volunteering in schools had:

• contributed to their personal and professional development (88%)

• improved their communication and presentation skills (63%)

• increased their understanding of young people’s capability and skills (65%)

• their employer benefits from a higher profile in the local community (82%)

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Teachers – Hopes and Expectations

Why do you think teachers want STEM Ambassadors to visit their school?

Because STEM Ambassadors can:• Act as a role model to students and potentially raise their aspirations• Demonstrate how what students are learning in school can link to real life examples• Provide an insight into the wide range of STEM careers available• Provide teachers with contacts to assist them in making better links with industry• Put teachers back in touch with the latest developments and activities in STEM

subjects and careers• Add excitement and interest to a curriculum subject

STEM Ambassadors are a FREE OF CHARGE resource to schools!

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Students – Hopes and Expections

What do you think students gain from having STEM Ambassadors visit their

school?

The chance to meet an adult (STEM) role model that is not their teacher or

relative can:• Give them an alternative view point on STEM and STEM careers• Provide them with a chance to participate in something new and different to normal

lessons• Raise the aspirations of the students and challenge stereotypes • Increase students’ understanding of how their learning in school links to examples in the

real world• Provide an insight into the wide range of STEM careers and opportunities available to

them• Enthuse them to consider a STEM career in the future

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How does the STEM Ambassadors Programme work?

You are now part of a cohort of about 28,000 STEM Ambassadors UK

wide and ‘insert as appropriate’ in ‘insert sub region’!

Your local STEMNET Contract Holder will provide you with:• Regular updates on volunteering opportunities available in your local area at a

variety of times and locations• Guidance on developing more sustained links with schools• Support on any questions and queries you may have• Advice and guidance on how to organise your own activities within the framework of

the STEM Ambassadors Programme• Follow up your volunteering activities with formal feedback from both you and any

teachers involved• Information on upcoming teacher/Ambassador networking events at local schools (3

per year in each sub region)

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Useful Information for STEM Ambassadors

All STEM Ambassadors are required to take part in at least one activity a

year and we’d be delighted if you want to take part in more!

• The Programme is UK-wide including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• If you move to another sub region at any point then it is very easy for us to transfer you to the appropriate STEMNET Contract Holder in that area

• Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to provide travel expenses for STEM Ambassadors

• Your local STEMNET Contract Holder is there to provide you with support and guidance whenever you need it.

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STEMNetworkingOnce you are an Approved STEM Ambassador you will also have access to

STEMNetworking, the online tool for Ambassadors. This enables you to:

• Have an online STEM Ambassador profile which we suggest you make publically accessible to highlight your STEM expertise and volunteering activities to schools and teachers

• Add blog posts and share your ideas on engaging with schools• Share innovative ways in which you may have worked with schools that may not be a

physical visit e.g. a Skype interview as part of a lesson• Access activity ideas and support resources via the online resource bank• View and respond to the latest online requests from teachers• Link your STEM Ambassador profile with your employer, Professional Institution or

another STEM Role Model Scheme linked to the Programme

No personal or contact information is shared on your STEMNetworking profile

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Let’s take a look at STEMNetworking...

http://networking.stemnet.org.uk

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Why not take a look atSTEMNetworking for yourself during the short break...

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STEMNetworking – Activity 1 [optional]

What can I offer Schools?

In your groups discuss for a few minutes:

• What do you think you can offer schools as an Ambassador e.g. an insight into your STEM career, work experience opportunities etc

• How do you think STEMNetworking could be used to help raise awareness of what STEM Ambassadors can offer?

• How do you think you could use your STEMNetworking profile to highlight your volunteering with schools?

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STEMNetworking – Activity 2 [optional]

How can I use STEMNetworking to help me prepare for my first

activity?

Each group has been provided with an example activity request for a STEM

Ambassador. In your groups discuss for a few minutes:

• How you might use the different functions on STEMNetworking to help you prepare for this activity

• Write down what you come up with on blank paper provided

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Planning Your First STEM Ambassador Activity

When you volunteer for your first activity:

• We will put you in direct contact with the teacher who made the request• You will then be able to ask the teacher any questions you may have• After your activity, we will ask for feedback from you and the teacher

If you’re nervous about your first activity we can potentially organise for you to

‘buddy up’ with a more experienced STEM Ambassador

The teacher is the best point of contact for any questions you might have

in relation to the activity. Your local STEMNET Contract Holder can also provide

you with any support and guidance you may need at any time.

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Activity: Demonstrating What I Do [recommended/optional]

In your groups, design a 15-20 minute hands-on activity for a class of

13-14 year olds that relates to your work

• How will I make this interactive?

• How will I help the students relate to the subject?

• What careers information will I include?

• What will be the STEM (science, technology, engineering and/or maths) learning?

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Working with Schools – What do you need to know?

What do you think is the right answer to the questions below?

1. What do you think is a STEM Ambassador’s main role?

2. Should you, as a STEM Ambassador, ever be left alone with student(s)?

3. For whose health and safety are you responsible?

4. If a teacher tells you some personal information about a student, how should you treat this?

5. What do you do if a student wants to tell you something in confidence?

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Working with Schools – What do you need to know?

And the correct answers are:

1. Your main role is as a support to the teacher in helping to provide a more positive and informed view of STEM subjects and careers

2. You should never be left alone with student(s) at any time as it is the teacher’s responsibility to supervise the students

3. You are responsible for your health and safety. You should also ensure the teacher knows what you are planning for your activity and any risks that may be involved so they can risk assess and make an informed judgement on whether to go ahead with the proposed activity.

4. If a teacher tells you any information about a student(s), you must keep this confidential

5. You should not keep anything confidential on behalf of a student

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Working with Schools – What do you need to know?

What do you think?

1. What do you do if student(s) request your friendship on Facebook?

2. If a student has more questions after your activity, should you give them your email address?

3. You’d like to take some photos of your activity for your company newsletter, how should you approach this?

4. What do you think are the boundaries between adults and students in a school setting?

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Working with Schools – What do you need to know?

And the answers are:

1. If a student(s) requests your friendship on Facebook or a similar networking tool then you should politely refuse the request

2. Never give out your contact details directly to student(s). If they have more questions after your activity, ask the teacher to forward any further questions on to you

3. Ask the teacher to take any photos of your activity and then email them to you afterwards.

All parents have to provide consent for their child’s photograph to be taken so the teacher will have the best knowledge of which parents have and have not provided consent

4. You should refrain from any physical contact with students. If you have any concerns e.g. if a student approaches you, inform the teacher.

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The Education System & the National Curriculum

The ‘Education System’ handout (also available online) provides lots of

information about the current UK education system including:

• What you need to know as a STEM Ambassador volunteer.

• The different types of schools in the UK.

• How S, T, E and M are covered within the National Curriculum.

• What non-vocational i.e. academic, qualifications can students study?

• What vocational qualification can students study?

• How does the National Curriculum differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

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The Education System & the National Curriculum

Points to Note for you as a STEM Ambassador:

• The Teacher is your most valuable resource so use them!

• It is a complex and constantly changing system - currently undergoing a major review.

• To be a STEM Ambassador you don’t need to be an expert on the Education System and National Curriculum.

• Doing some extra research before you go in to do your activity is highly recommended.

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Diversity

What do you think are some of the challenges associated with diversity in

STEM careers?

Some useful hints to help you promote diversity:

• Research your audience• Use photos and case studies where possible to show the variety of individuals working

in your STEM profession• When asking students questions, alternate between boys and girls• Ask the students to draw a scientist, engineer, IT professional, mathematician etc then

get them to discuss their drawings• Don’t perpetuate stereotypes

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Important Information!

• Before you start volunteering in schools as a STEM Ambassador you must have received an acceptable check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS Disclosure)

• The DBS Disclosure, as well as our insurance, helps to protect you if anything were to go wrong

• BUT – if you don’t tell your STEMNET contract holder in advance when you visit a school you will not be covered by the dedicated STEM Ambassadors insurance so make sure you do keep them in touch with your activity plans

• You can let your STEMNET Contract Holder know about your activities by phone, email or by adding them to your STEM Ambassadors record on the STEMNET database (https://db.stemnet.org.uk).

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STEM Ambassadors Insurance covers…

• public liability• employers’ liability• professional indemnity• personal accident and business travel

BUT – none of this will apply if your STEMNET Contract Holder

doesn’t know in advance when and where you are doing an activity

More detailed information about the insurance can be found on the

STEMNET website www.stemnet.org.uk

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Next Steps...

• If you are applying for an Enhanced DBS Disclosure:– Make sure your DBS Application ID checks have been completed and that all your documents have

been returned before you leave today– Your completed DBS Application will then be sent off to be processed which normally takes 2-3

weeks

• Once your DBS Disclosure has been approved you will receive an email to confirm• Don’t forget to sign up to the Update Service on the DBS website: www.gov.uk/dbs • You’ll also receive a STEM Ambassadors ID card and folder in the post within 10

working days of becoming an Approved STEM Ambassador

You can sign up today for future volunteering opportunities!

If you have any questions in the meantime please contact STEMNET Contract

Holder email address here and/or telephone number here

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