December 2014 MCESA Link: STEM

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Every month, MCESA links you to solutions for some of education's toughest challenges throughout our newsletter. This month we are addressing STEM. Questions or comments should be directed to laurie.king@mcesa.maricopa.gov.

December 2014


Develop a STEM Identity: STEM Pro Live! Available Free Online

STE Pro Live!

Some of the minds behind the cell phones and cutting edge medical technology are inspiring thousands of Maricopa County’s future scientists and engineers.

MCESA is bringing local scientists and engineers from companies like Intel, MedTronic and Freeport-McMoRan into sixth, seventh and eighth-grade classrooms across Maricopa County.

When students envision themselves as working in science, they are more likely to pursue a career in that field. Students can be hindered by the stereotypes of “uncool” scientists or the perception that girls aren’t good at science or math. MCESA’ is working to shatter stereotypes by helping students connect to real people in science and math positions and providing a hands-on science curriculum that has students taking on the role of scientists.

ESI Pull Quote

MCESA has partnered with PBS Channel 8 to broadcast its first STEM Pro Live. The broadcast was available to any class that wanted to participate. 

Teachers just had to click a web link, and the STEM Pro was live in their classroom connecting and inspiring students. Teachers and students were able to type questions during the broadcast for the STEM professional to answer. The video is now available online.

The next STEM Pro Live is scheduled for January 20, 2015 at 10:00 am. Educators interested in participating should register below.

Register

Vision: STEM Schools Start with STEM Leaders

STEM Leader

STEM schools need a special kind of leader. The leader must have a vision for STEM, the ability to provide STEM instructional support and understand the importance of sustainability. The leader must change the campus culture while providing a safe place to take risks and innovate.

"Changing the school culture is crucial," states Linda Coyle of the Arizona STEM Network. "The STEM Immersion Guide supports a leader in being able to do that."

The STEM Immersion Guide, developed by MCESA and the Arizona STEM Network, describes four types of STEM Schools. The Guide describes the activities performed by leaders, teachers and students. 

Throughout the Guide the theme of shifting culture is present. The best place to start such a culture shift is through consistent inspection and reflection. The STEM Immersion Guide assists leaders and teachers with both.

Read More

Sign the Pledge: Commit to be Future Ready

Covey at White House

Technology allows for personalized digital learning for every student so long as leaders have the technological infrastructure and human capacity in place to ensure success.

The U.S. Department of Education is encouraging and supporting superintendents who commit to taking a leadership role in this transition with recognition and resources to help facilitate this transition to digital learning.

It Starts with The Pledge

Make sure you are on the list to receive support by signing the Future Ready Pledge. You can view the pledge and resources here.

The Future Ready District Pledge is designed to set out a roadmap to achieve technology success and to commit districts to move as quickly as possible towards our shared vision of preparing students for success in college, careers and citizenship. 

Local Leaders Recognized

Dr. Don Covey, Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools and Dr. Gail Pletnick, Superintendent of the Dysart Unified School District were both recognized at the White House on November 19 for their efforts in fulfilling the Future Ready Pledge.

In the photo above, Covey and other selected superintendents listen to comments from President Barack Obama. Covey is the nearest to the camera on the left. (Photo provided by U.S. DOE's Office of Education Technology)

Next Steps

Phoenix will be the site of an upcoming Future Ready Regional Summit. The summit will highlight experiences of districts and offer district leaders tangible ways to build capacity among their teams and throughout their districts. Each team will leave with a concrete action plan for creating a Future Ready school district. The summit will also encourage cross-district collaboration as participants join an active network of regional experts and other district leaders committed to sharing information and lessons learned.

MCESA will notify you when the date and location of the summit is announced.

Pledge

MCESA Blog: Shattering STEM Stereotypes in Maricopa County Classrooms

STEM Pros

When Jen Marckmann mentioned her love of dirtbikes, a boy’s head lifted from his desk. When she mentioned that her favorite thing she had ever made was a vending machine, one girl’s mouth dropped open. 

Jen is a chemical engineer with Medtronic in Tempe, Ariz., but she’s not just her job. She’s a woman who grew up in the Valley, has a variety of interests, including motorcycles, and who wasn’t always attracted to science and math. She’s been sharing stories from her life and work as a STEM Professional Role Model through Maricopa County Education Service Agency’s Engineering STEM Identity program for middle school classrooms. 

Read More

MCESA & The Phoenix Symphony Seeking School Partners: STE[a+]M Program is Making a Big Difference

Cello

Photo courtesy of The Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony has partnered with ASU Prep Academy to teach integrated STEAM* units to elementary students. 

This program has increased math and science achievement in 24.7% of students.

In 2012, The Phoenix Symphony launched a three-year pilot program called "Mind Over Music." The program pairs Symphony musicians with teachers to collaboratively create integrated math, science and music lessons.

Read a classroom example here.

The Symphony is currently developing plans to scale the program and offer its benefits to more schools in the Phoenix Metro Area. The Symphony and MCESA will partner to identify and support interested schools.

*STEAM = Science Technology Engineering Arts & Math

Informed

Upcoming Professional Development

Dec. 16: Writing Paragraphs, AZCCRS ELA Phase 2

Jan. 15:  Words-The Building Blocks of Communication, AZCCRS ELA Phase 2

Jan. 21: Sentence Construction and Fluency, AZCCRS ELA Phase 2

Jan. 29: Writing Paragraphs, AZCCRS ELA Phase 2