Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Partnerships for Creating STEM Pipelines

Dr. Patricia Ralston, Chair and Gary Rivoli, Outreach Director

Department of Engineering Fundamentals and Dr. M. R. Wilhelm, Dean Emeritus and Professor

Industrial EngineeringUniversity of Louisville

Kentucky Engagement ConferenceWestern Kentucky University

November 8, 2012

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Who are the STEM Partners?

Primary Partner: Speed School– Established in 2007, the Engineering Fundamentals

Department at J.B. Speed School of Engineering adopted as a specific mission to develop a K-12 Outreach Program.

Jefferson County Public School System ( JCPS) and now other school systems are partners.

Boston Museum of Science Louisville Science Center Local industry Various supporting organizations such as 4-H,

ASME, Girls STEM collaborative network.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

K-12 Outreach

Desired long-term outcomes: 1) Increase number of students interested in and

capable of studying STEM fields, with an emphasis on engineering

2) Improve understanding of STEM careers3) Improve preparation for STEM study4) Improve retention of engineering students –

(those most interested persist)

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Pipeline and Pipelines

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Effective Outreach Programs

Recent research: types of outreach vs. engineering self-efficacy (belief they can succeed in engineering) Need immediate feedback Need a “do” or “hands-on” component Promote self-learning Real-life application (problem-based) Long-term and challenging

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Programs and Pipelines Engineering is Elementary (EiE) In the Middle of Engineering (IME) Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Select schools to create a pipeline to• “pull” students into engineering in

elementary school• mentor them through middle school• and on to high school.

Develop – Sustain – Replicate

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Engineering is Elementary® (EiE)

Created by the Boston Museum of Science

“Hands-on” Integrates engineering and technology

concepts with elementary science topics

Used by over 9000 teachers and 480,000 students nationwide.

Integrated into elementary science class or as an enrichment period

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

In the Middle of Engineering (IME) Targeted Middle schools that are fed by

elementary schools with an EIE program Developed by Speed School Outreach

Coordinator– Coordinate with science teachers– Weekly enrichment program adjusted to fit

the needs of individual schools Use hands on kits from Slinky® Science

– Our Amazing Bridges, The Electro Lab, All About Gears, Solar Energy

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Program ParticipationProgram Total

Students Participating

Number of Female

Students

Number of Male

Students

Number of Minority Students

2008-2009 School Year (EiE) 157 54 103 44 (IME) 224 93 131 121

2009-2010 School Year (EiE) 186 78 108 70 (IME) 238 95 143 86

2010-2011 School Year (EiE) 250 112 138 85 (IME) 191 74 117 40

2011-Fall Programs (EiE) 1852 873 979 891 (IME) 228 102 126 77

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Students in the Pipeline In Fall 2009, there were approximately 120 students

in the PLTW program that was the primary pipeline high school.

The number increased to 220 students in fall 2011, and more than 280 students enrolled for fall 2012, a 233 percent increase over this period.

The PLTW Program Director attributes this growth to the partnership with Speed School and the resulting pipeline coupled with a principal who firmly believed in the PLTW program.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Students in the Pipeline

One elementary school (that has all students in K-5 using the EiE curriculum for the past three years) has seen math and science scores on the Kentucky Core Content Test improve 4 percent and 13.4 percent respectively over the past two years. – Data for this past year is not yet available. These

gains are based on an increase in the percent of students that score proficient or distinguished.

– They attribute these increases to the EiE curriculum use in science classes and the support Speed’s Outreach Program.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Students in the Pipeline

This same elementary school (one with significant numbers of minority and economically disadvantaged students) has seen an increase in students participating in the technology magnet program offered at the school.

– In two years, the enrollment increased from 30 students to 100 students, a 333 percent increase. The principal attributes this increase directly to Speed’s Outreach Program.

– Another impressive and quantifiable impact noted by the principal is that for the first time, students from this elementary school applied for admission to the competitive math and science magnet middle school; all five student applicants were accepted.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Challenges Program Assessment – how to define,

measure, and track outcomes of overall program

Assessment of students once in college Moving existing programs and pipeline

to a self-sustaining model Identifying new and on-going funding

sources Extending programming to replicate

pipelines in other areas

Department of Engineering Fundamentals – J.B. Speed School of Engineering – University of Louisville

Conclusion and Future Direction Program participation increases and

requests for pipeline replication is encouraging.

Assessment data from EiE program indicates concrete gains in science knowledge.

Continued emphasis on teacher training (with BMOS) is of paramount importance.

Pipeline concept – elementary – middle-high school – has high potential.