IN THIS ISSUE
Promising Gains, Vexing Challenges Define Annual Assessment
STEM Programs and Working Group Advancements Take Center Stage at 24th STEM Council Meeting
New Chapter for STEM Youth Advisory Group
Mauree Haage Joins STEM Network Team as North Central Regional STEM Manager
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August 21, 2022 - 9:00 a.m.
STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair
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Promising Gains, Vexing Challenges Define Annual Assessment |
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Participation in the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s STEM Scale-Up Program has nearly doubled for Latino/a youth while engagement of Black/African American youth has been variable over the last five years. |
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The essential service of measuring effect of programming by the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is provided by an inter-university consortium of Iowa State University’s Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE), the University of Iowa’s Iowa Testing Programs (ITP) as well as their Center for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) and the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Social and Behavioral Research (CSBR) which leads the coordination. Results of their annual study for the fiscal year 2021 (academic year 2020-21) are now in, and the story depicted is mostly encouraging with a few challenges identified as well.
As shown by the chart above, the dedication of programmers to reach youth of diversity appears to be paying off with regard to Latino/a students while failing to show the same effect for Black/African American participation. Encouragingly, when compared to youth who did not take part in STEM, a higher percentage by +2 points of non-White STEM students met science benchmarks on the statewide student assessment while White STEM students were +1 better, suggesting STEM programming may contribute to closing the achievement gap among youth of diversity. Conversely, however, the percent meeting mathematics benchmarks were +1 for White students and no difference for non-White students, when compared to non-participants.
Increased student interest in STEM is a founding goal of the Council. Educators who worked with youth in STEM Council programs reported observing increased interest in STEM at a 73 percent rate. According to Iowa Testing Programs, youth in STEM programs expressed greater interest in STEM than their peers and 43 percent were “very interested” in working in Iowa someday compared to 35 percent of non-participants.
Among adult Iowans, a statewide public survey by the CSBR revealed steady growth in awareness of STEM to a rate of 72 percent, up from 49 percent six years ago. And among those surveyed, 95 percent think STEM should be a priority in their local school district while 29 percent do not think it is a priority with 12 percent unsure.
The full annual assessment report will be published later this summer. Direct any questions about the report to lead coordinator Dr. Erin Heiden at the UNI CSBR, Erin.Heiden@uni.edu.
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STEM Programs and Working Group Advancements Take Center Stage at 24th STEM Council Meeting |
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Iowa State University chemical engineering student Emily Wilkerson closed the 24th STEM Advisory Council meeting. Wilkerson serves on the STEM Advisory Council as a student representative. |
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Council member, student representative and Iowa State University chemical engineering student Emily Wilkerson wrapped up the 24th Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council meeting held at the Des Moines Area Community College Urban Campus. She summarized the STEM Council’s momentum by the numbers as presented by working group chairs, STEM Council partners and network team members during the course of the meeting.
Wilkerson highlighted the 96 STEM BEST Program models and indicated this is nearly one model for every county in the State of Iowa.
David McMurrin, former engineer, U.S. Air Force veteran and STEM scholarship recipient from the Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure (RAPIL) Program, provided a glimpse into his background and path to a teaching career.
Wilkerson added, “We have 22 scholarships for people in industry who want to get into the teaching field. That is something that is so amazing to me because we have that all the time at the college level. I have so many people who teach me things that I’m doing in industry because they worked in industry and came back. This is something that I’m so happy to see in the high school and junior high levels.”
Dr. Erin Heiden, University of Northern Iowa Center for Social and Behavioral Research Assistant Director, shared insights from the 2020-2021 annual STEM assessment, including an 11-point increase of Iowans who think STEM education is a priority in their local district.
The co-chairs of five STEM Council working groups also provided brief updates and next steps in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, creativity and innovation, STEM career guidance, rural Iowa STEM education, and computer science.
Thanks to ongoing support and contributions from Council members, STEM education continues to gain momentum and demonstrate impact.
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New Chapter for STEM Youth Advisory Group |
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Students from communities across Iowa take part in the STEM Council Youth Advisory Board. |
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An inspiring group of 24 Iowa youth, ranging from middle school through college age, were recently appointed to the STEM Youth Advisory Group. These students will represent their peers across the state as they contribute to the STEM Council’s mission and will provide a valuable evaluative lens for Council activities.
This group of young people has potential to help shift the discussion from teachers motivating students about STEM to students influencing STEM involvement in their schools and communities.
Though members have a broad array of experience in STEM education, they all have one thing in common – a strong interest and passion for STEM.
“Before I joined FIRST Lego League (FLL) I never really had an interest in STEM. My coach that year also happened to be my 7th grade science teacher. As the FLL season progressed, I got closer to my team members, as well as my coach. Their passions for STEM grew on me, and I realized that this was the type of community I always wanted to be a part of,” said Ella Meyer, STEM Youth Advisory Group member. “I am on this board to lead, to grow, to impact, to mentor and to embrace others into this wonderful experience!”
The group is led by Amber Pargmann, John Deere Distinctive Product Quality Manager and South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board member, and Allison Plunkett, John Deere Full Tree Engineering Manager and Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board member.
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Mauree Haage Joins STEM Network Team as North Central Regional STEM Manager |
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Mauree Haage will join the STEM Council Network Team on June 1 as the North Central Regional STEM Manager.
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The STEM Council welcomes Mauree Haage as the new North Central Regional STEM Manager operating out of Iowa State University. Starting in June, she will join five regional manager counterparts to effectively implement STEM programming, create connections and collaborate with community and business partners, educators and others to increase student interest and achievement in STEM education and careers.
Haage has been a science and computer science teacher for the past 10 years, most recently teaching at North Mahaska Junior and Senior High School. Haage has been a strong advocate for STEM Council programming, previously served as co-chair of the South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board, as well as on several state working groups advocating and providing recommendations for STEM, computer science education and computer science standards for Iowa youth. She has presented on various STEM topics at state and national conferences in addition to facilitating hands-on workshops for practicing teachers who want to learn more about STEM teaching methods throughout the Midwest and other states.
“I am passionate about introducing students and teachers to the world of STEM and firmly believe all students should have access to quality science education and opportunities,” said Haage.
Haage earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary science education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also earned a master’s degree in science education from University of Northern Iowa.
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Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
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