U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference 2013 (Dr. Barbara Bolin, Executive Director, Michigan STEM Partnership)

(Click-on Watch on Vimeo to Review Video)

VIDEO: Highlights From the U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference

Watch the video to catch up on highlights from the U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference.

By LYLAH ALPHONSE

August 5, 2013

More than 2,000 business, government, and education leaders gathered in Austin, Texas, to discuss the state of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in the United States as part of theU.S. News STEM Solutions conference in June. We're pleased to be able to offer a few highlights (above)for those who weren't able to attend.

[READ: The Not-So-Simple Roadmap To Solving STEM Problems]

The theme for the conference was "Teach. Hire. Inspire." Speakers included neuroscientist (and actress)Mayim Bialik, science journalist and author David Ewing Duncan, National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle, and Surya Kant, president of the IT consulting firm Tata Consulting Services.

[READ: The State of STEM and Jobs]

"This is the absolutely perfect time to be talking about STEM education," explained Barbara Bolin, executive director of the Michigan STEM partnership. "Because STEM education is not simply an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM education is a new way of educating people."

Experts estimate that fewer than 40 percent of students who major in science, technology, engineering, or math actually graduate with a degree in those fields. Instead, they switch majors after a semester or two, with many of them later reporting feeling isolated, discouraged, or overwhelmed by the course requirements.

"I found out I wasn't as prepared as I should be," Mallory Hytes Hagan told a panel during the conference. "I hit that first chem lab and thought, 'Whoa. What's going on?'"

[READ: The Best High Schools for STEM]

Hagan spent a year at Auburn University as a biomedical science major, but transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology to study cosmetics and fragrance marketing instead and went on to be crowned Miss America 2013. She's had a successful career, but still, she says, if she had been shown how science could apply to her everyday life, she might have remained a STEM major.

"If I'd have known I could have made my own lipstick instead of just wearing it I might have had a different path," she added.

Lylah M. Alphonse is the Managing Editor of Special Reports for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at LAlphonse@usnews.com.

Review Video: (Click-on blog-site link below)

STEMxCon 2013 (Update: Our friends @Classroom 2.0 Steve Hargadon / International Presentation Opportunity)

Conference 2.0 Updates - STEMxCon Proposals Open, Library 2.013 Acceptances, GlobalEdCon, & More

This is an update of the worldwide virtual conferences from Web 2.0 Labs. These are "peer professional development" opportunities that (I humbly submit) are unlike anything else available online: they are completely free, and they emphasize connecting, creating, and collaborating. We've been calling them "Conference 2.0," but I'm thinking instead of calling them SMOOChes--Synchronous and Massive Open Online Collaborations. Like MOOCs, only more intimate. :)   Because the events are virtual and we don't have the traditional time/space/travel constraints of a physical event, we've boldly gone past the traditional conference model of "vetting and selecting" presenters to inclusion and audience choice. We know that educators and learners often learn the most from their peers, and so give everyone who wants to the chance to present. We also know that presenting before a worldwide peer audience is often a life- and career-changing moment, and everyone deserves that chance. The once-surprising (but now expected) result is that the caliber of the presentations is extremely high. Another positive result is the amazing breadth and depth of content presented. Last year we had almost 1,000 practitioner presentations on a vast array of engaging topics (and close to 100,000 attendee logins). These events truly are great fun, and are distinguished by inclusiveness, high-volunteer participation, and true community-building. Please join us for one or all of these events. Important date updates are included below. See you online! Steve Steve Hargadon http://www.stevehargadon.com 2013 GLOBAL STEMx EDUCATION CONFERENCE September 19 - 21, 2013 http://www.STEMxCon.com The world’s first massively open online conference for educators focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and more (the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics acronym is no longer adequate, as it is missing well over 20 letters that represent key skills & disciplines). Therefore, x = Computer Science (CS), Computational Thinking (CT), Inquiry (I), Creativity & Innovation (CI), Global Fluency (GF), Collaboration ( C ), ...and other emerging disciplines & 21st century skills. Important Dates: The call for proposals is currently open at the website and acceptances have started. Proposals can made between now and September 1st. News and Information: As this is the first year of the conference, we're working hard to reach out to all organizations involved in STEMx endeavors, and encourage you to become a conference partner (it's free, and comes with some benefits!). We are also looking for global advisory board members who can help publicize the conference in their local areas. More information on the conference site. A big shout-out of thanks to sponsors Hewlett Packard, ISTE, and ePals--other organizations interested in supporting this event can email me directly. LIBRARY 2.013 - THE FUTURE OF LIBRARIES CONFERENCE October 18 - 19, 2013 http://www.library2013.com Join us for our third annual Library 2.0 conference on libraries, librarians, and librarianship. The worldwide reception to this conference has been terrific, and within a few short years it has become extremely well-known. There are eight conference strands covering a wide variety of timely topics, such as, MOOCs, e-books, maker spaces, mobile services, embedded librarians, green libraries, and more! Important Dates: The call for proposals is currently open at the website and acceptances have started. Proposals can made between now and September 30th. News and Information: There are already over 50 accepted presentations for the conference, and the topics are amazing and well-worth a quick browse. Big shout-outs here for amazing conference founding sponsor The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at San José State University and for new sponsor ePals! Potential sponsors, partner organizations, and global outreach advisory board members are encouraged to go to the site and sign up. 2013 GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE November 18 - 22, 2013 http://www.globaledcon.com This is the great "mother ship" of our virtual conferences. Coming into our fourth annual event, we are so excited for another five days of all-out connecting and collaborating. If you've never been a part of this event, you MUST find some time to participate. Focused on helping teachers and students connect globally, we're proud of the amazing network that has been formed around this conference. We might just hit 500 presentations this year! Important Dates: We haven't yet opened the conference call for proposals but will do so this month. News and Information: iEARN will again be a major sponsor of the conference, and ePals rounds out their significant commitment to these events by also helping out. We appreciate them! 2014 OZeLIVE - ED TECH DOWN UNDER January 17 - 18, 2014 http://www.ozelive.com (coming) We're in our early planning stages for an Australia / New Zealand time-zone friendly educational technology virtual conference. There some definite excitement building. More information to come. 2014 RETHINKING HIGHER ED February, 2014 http://www.rethinkinghighered.com (coming) Also in the early planning stages, but very excited about this event! 2014 SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT March 27, 2014 http://www.schoolleadershipsummit.com After a terrific first summit this year, TICAL, the founding sponsor, has enthusiastically committed to doing this again! Look for more news in the fall. OTHER CONFERENCES WE'RE WORKING ON If any of the conferences below are of interest to you--as a sponsor, partner, or organizer--let me know. The first-ever worldwide homeschool and alternative education conference, trying to pull of in August (just a few weeks away). Look for an announcement this week! Gaming in Education. Not sure when and how we're going to get this scheduled, but the interest level is high. Finding a founding sponsor would help (call me!). Search Matters - Digital and Search Literacy Future of Museums Hacking Education Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Open Education Conference FINAL THANKS Special thanks to Blackboard Collaborate for the amazing virtual platform that keeps all of this humming. Visit The TICAL Community at: http://admin20.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

REMINDER: STEMconnector & Next Steps Institute Town Hall Meeting (TODAY LIVE! Tuesday, July 9, 2013 5:00PM ET)

STEMconnector® and Next Steps Institute Announce Town Hall Series: Supporting STEM Schools 7/9, 7/30 & 8/20

Submitted by Brian Jackson on July 2, 2013

STEMconnector® and Next Steps Institute Announce Town Hall Series: Supporting STEM Schools 7/9, 7/30 & 8/20

STEMconnector® and the Next Steps Institute will host three Virtual Town Halls this summer on the topic of STEM Schools. The webinars will serve as pre-conference workshops in advance of the Next Steps for STEM Schools Conference that will be held in Charleston, SC on September 30^th–October 2^nd. Each Town Hall will focus on engaging key stakeholders in supporting STEM schools and identifying resources and best practices.

Register to attend the first Town Hall here.

The first Town Hall will take place on Tuesday, July 9^th at 5PM ET and is entitled “Leveraging Federal and State Resources to Support STEM Schools.” The following speakers will offer their unique institutional perspectives on this dynamic issue followed by a brief discussion and Q&A:

1. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) – Danielle Carnival, Ph.D., Senior Advisor
2. National Science Foundation – Jim Colby, Education and Human Resources Directorate
3. Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council – Jeff Weld, Ph.D., Executive Director
4. South Carolina Coalition for Math and Science - Tom Peters, Ed.D., Executive Director
5. Delaware Department of Education - April M. McCrae, Education Associate, Science Assessment/STEM Coordinator

Other Town Halls in the series will focus on aspects of supporting STEM Schools. On July 30^th, the second webinar will take place with a focus on how corporations are supporting STEM education and STEM schools. Representatives from DuPont, 3M, Duke Energy and Fluor Corporations have been invited to participate.

The final Town Hall in the series will be held on August 20^th and will focus on specific schools and districts where STEM schools are operating. Key discussion areas include: policy drivers and constraints, professional development infrastructure, funding mechanisms and assessment. Speakers are still being determined and will be announced at a later date.

During the Town Halls, STEMconnector® and Next Steps will moderate a Twitter Chat. Those wishing to participate in the Twitter discussion should use the “hashtag” #NS4STEM. Participants will have the opportunity to Tweet questions for the panelists.

Next Steps Institute and STEMconnector® are producing these Town Halls in an effort to increase public discussion around STEM schools among the funding and implementation communities. The webinars lead up to the “Next Steps for STEM Schools” Conference to be held in North Charleston, SC from September 30^th–October 2^nd. To learn more about the conference visit http://www.nextstepsinscience.org/

STEMconnector® is "the one-stop-shop" for STEM information. With several products and services, STEMconnector® supports its members design, implement and measure their STEM strategies. Since its launch in 2011, STEMconnector® has been the leader in leveraging a network of STEM stakeholders and "making things happen. "STEMconnector®'s charge is to identify, inform and connect entities working in STEM Education/Careers to assess smart STEM investments and results.

Next Steps, powered by Earth Force, is a program committed to getting learning into students' hands. Formerly the Association of Science Materials Centers (ASMC), Next Steps is evolving to tackle the hands-on learning needs of the growing STEM landscape. Partnered with South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics & Science at Clemson University, Next Steps is working hard to bring a workforce perspective to STEM and STEM learning.  

Meeting: Pontiac "Too Much Fun Club" @The Downtown Pontiac "Hole in the Wall" (Rescheduled: Sunday, July 14, 2013 / Time: To be Determined / Intention: Start Early & Stay Late!)

STEMconnector Town Hall Meeting (Tuesday, June 9, 2013 5:00PM to 6:00PM)

Don't Forget to Register for our Upcoming Town Hall Added and Confirmed Speakers - White House Confirmed Registration Filling Quickly  Don't forget to register for our Town Hall next week entitled "Federal and State Resources to Support STEM Schools"  to be held on Tuesday, July 9th at 5PM - 6PM ET. The following speakers will offer their unique institutional perspectives on this emerging topic in STEM education: White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) - Danielle Carnival, Ph.D., Senior Advisor National Science Foundation - Jim Colby - Division or Human Resource Development - Education and Human Resources Directorate Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council - Jeff Weld, Ph.D. - Executive Director South Carolina Coalition for Math and Science - Tom Peters, Ed.D. - Executive Director Delaware Department of Education - April M. McCrae - Education Associate, Science Assessment/STEM Coordinator  Event will be held on WebEx and we will host a Twitter Chat using the Hashtag #NS4STEM  REGISTER HERE Upcoming Calls - This is just the first in an exciting new series of Town Hall webinars on the topic of STEM Schools. On July 30th, 2013, we will host a second Town Hall, "Engaging Industry - Promising Models of Corporate Engagement in STEM Schools." Speakers will discuss promising practices of industry engagement in STEM School support. Finally, on August 20th, 2013, we will host "Field Report: STEM Schools in Action" with perspective from the STEM school supporters, administrators and teachers. Tune in to STEMconnector® and the Next Steps Institute for more information as the Town Hall date approaches.

Bi-National Blue Water Regional Collaboration Conference (October 2, 2013)

To All,

Thanks to everyone for sending us their logos.

Here is the Save the Date flyer for the October 2 Conference that's ready to send out. Please send this out to your networks and listservs tomorrow if possible.

Thank you for you continued dedication and participation in the planning of the Bi-National Blue Water Regional Collaboration Conference.

Best,

Leslie Grimm
Research Assistant
Michigan State University
Center for Community and Economic Development
1615 East Michigan Ave.
Lansing, MI, 48912
Office: 517-353-9555

SaveTheDate LCG 6-26-13 (3).pdf 691K   View   Download

Global STEMx Education Conference *Call for Presenters! (MOOC: September 19-21, 2013)

Global Online STEMx Ed Con: Call for Presenters!
by Jim Vanides

ShareThis

Imagine this: The world’s first massively open online conference for STEMx educators. If you are an innovative teacher, this is a great opportunity to share your favorite technologies & pedagogies with teachers from around the world!

The Global STEMx Education Conference will be held online, around the clock, over the course of three days,September 19 - 21, 2013, and will be free to attend! HP is serving as the founding sponsor. Core conference support also comes from our partner, the International Society for Technology in Education® (ISTE), and the organizers of the Global Education Conference.

There is a growing demand for improving STEMx learning around the world, requiring new ways of thinking about STEMx education. The STEMxCon will be a highly inclusive and engaging event that will encourage primary, secondary, and tertiary (K-16) students and educators around the world to share and learn about innovative approaches to STEMx learning and teaching. The call for presenters is now open, covering the following strands/topics:

• Science Education Re-Imagined
• IT Education Re-Imagined
• Engineering Education Re-Imagined
• Math Education Re-Imagined
• Adding the “x” in STEMx Education
• Technology Tools for STEMx
• Online Learning for STEMx
• Informal & Nonformal STEMx Learning
• Expanding Global Competency for STEMx Students
• STEMx Professional Learning for Teachers
• Innovations in Assessment
• Research on STEMx Teaching and Learning
• Leadership, Policy and Partnerships
• Opportunity, Equity, and Diversity

To submit a proposal or simply stay informed, sign up today at www.catalyst-academy.org. 

U. S. News STEM Solutions Conference Trailers (June 17-19- 2013 Dr. Barbara Bolin, Executive Director, Michigan STEM Partnership)

Hello Everyone:

I think you all know that MI is part of the STEMx Network of 19 states. At next week’s US News STEM Solutions conference in Austin, TX, STEMx will be featuring a series of 4 sessions that will take participants through the initial planning stages of setting up a statewide STEM partnership through to getting complete community involvement (3 sessions) and one on changing state policy for better STEM education. I have just received the video promos (above) for the first three sessions. 

You will note that videos of the sessions will be available online JULY 11. http://www.usnewsstemsolutions.com

Just as an FYI, I have represented the Partnership as part of the planning team for the 3^rd session, and I think it will be of particular interest to us in MI because this is where we are in our STEM initiative.

Please pass this information on to anyone who is interested in STEM education, and remind them of the online opportunity in July. I will post these promos on our web site.

Thanks and have a great weekend,

Barbara

Barbara Bolin, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Michigan STEM Partnership

517-899-4233

www.mistempartnership.com

Michigan STEM Partnership "Call to Action" Seminar (Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / Brief: The Dance of Fact's) MORE TODAY!

@The Henry Ford (Michigan STEM Workforce "Call to Action" Seminar June 4-5 2013)

Detroit Free Press Saturday, June 1, 2013

HISTORY DRIVES UP TO ROCHESTER HILLS SCHOOL

   Third-grade students at Long Meadow Elementary School in Rochester Hills got a surprise Friday as Steve Shotwell of the Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village brought his grandfather’s fully restored Ford Model T to show off to four classes — and dressed up for the occasion.

   Shotwell, formerly a Troy schools administrator, now spends his life sharing his true passion, the Model T.

   The 100 third-grade students have been learning about Michigan and the growth of its economy. Shotwell’s visit was organized by teacher Krista Hadel as the culmination of the students’ year of Michigan fun.

Long Meadow students get an up-close look at Steve Shotwell’s 1916 Model T. REGINA H. BOONE/DFP

STEM Symposium (Engineering Society of Detroit Institute May 15, 2013)

ESD Urges STEM Education Authority, More And Earlier STEM Education

May 15, 2013 9:20 PM

Reporting Matt Roush

Filed Under

Tech, Technology Report

Related Tags

engineering, Engineering Shortage, engineering society of detroit, ESD Institute, mathematics,science, STEM Authority,STEM Education, technology

SOUTHFIELD — The looming shortage of engineers and scientists in the United States is a frequently told story.

Concrete measures to solve the shortage? Not quite as frequently discussed.

Enter the Engineering Society of Detroit Institute, which has issued five recommendations for a sustainable, collaborative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics blueprint in order to help fill the pipeline.

The recommendations are the product of a two-day symposium in March, attended by more than 120 stakeholders.

The five recommendations are:

* Urge the Michigan legislature to enact a STEM authority to provide a sustainable and unified voice for the promotion of STEM and the advancement of Michigan as the center of STEM-based investment and jobs.

* Increase student proficiency skills in reading and math and incorporate STEM into reading.
* Create early exposure to STEM education for students in pre-kindergarten.

* Organize a STEM stakeholder steering group with all key stakeholders to plan next steps and achieve political consensus for legislative action.

* Integrate best curriculum and behavior practices for students in Michigan’s underachieving schools.

“One of the economic problems that a number of our communities face today is the lack of STEM competencies of its residents,” said Christopher J. Webb of the ESD Institute. “Tomorrow, Michigan as a state could face the same consequence. We cannot continue to fail our youth by not providing them with the necessary skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., attendees at the symposium represented academia, labor, management and business. The event kicked off with presentations by various stakeholders.

Included were:

* Barbara Bolin, Executive Director of Michigan STEM Partnership
* John Calabrese, Vice President, Global Vehicle Engineering, General Motors
* Amy Cell, Senior Vice President of Talent Enhancement, MEDC
* Dave Dugger, Director, Early College, Eastern Michigan University
* David Hecker, President, American Federation of Teachers Michigan
* Alan Lecz, Director of Employer Strategies, Workforce Intelligence Network
* Julie VanPortfliet, Program Manager, Transportation and Civil Engineering Program
* Rich Wells, Vice President Operations Canada/U.S. North and Site Director Michigan Operations, Dow Chemical

The ESD Institute will issue detailed action steps in the following two weeks to help implement these recommendations.

More information about the STEM symposium can be found on www.esdinstitute.net, or by calling Della Cassia at 248-353-0735, ext. 112.

Founded in 1895, ESD is a multi-disciplinary society uniting engineering, scientific and allied professions to enhance professional development and foster excitement in math and science to produce our next generation of leaders. Serving this generation of engineers and fostering the next. For more information, visit www.esd.org 

REPORT: http://www.esdinstitute.net/stem/docs/ESDI-STEM-Report.pdf

Michigan STEM Partnership "Call to Action" Seminar (Barbara Bolin: June 4-5th 2013)

Hello Everyone. Preparations for the Call-to-Action Seminar June 4-5^th are on-going but I have attached the agenda for the event, as it stands at the moment. I have also attached a pdf form for registration if you have been having problems with the on-line registration process.

Thank you.

Barbara Bolin, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Michigan STEM Partnership

517-899-4233

www.mistempartnership.com

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NDIA-STEM Partnership seminar agenda 5.17.13.pdf 530K   View   Download

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