Innovative Space, STEM and Entrepreneurship Inspired Learning: Empowering an Agile STEM Talent Pool
Abstract
PROBLEM: The nation’s STEM workforce gap, which has resulted in a shortage of skilled STEM workers, begins at the high school level. Only 20 percent of high school seniors possess the skills necessary to succeed in STEM, and underserved (minority, first generation, and low-income) students are much less likely to be prepared for STEM collegiate coursework. Black and Hispanic students are even more likely to be underserved and attend high-poverty schools that do not offer high-quality STEM education, exacerbating the sector’s diversity gap. Further, STEM education in this country often fails to address the real-world applications of STEM curriculum in ways that inspire students to seek career opportunities in STEM. OBJECTIVES: Over the course of the project, staff will: influence at least 50 percent of total participants to register for non-required STEM classes in the school year following their participation; increase the total number of participants who identify themselves as likely to pursue a post-secondary STEM degree, certification, or career by at least 25 percent from pre-exposure; increase the total number of participants who identify themselves as likely to pursue a career with the Department of Defense upon the completion of their formal education by at least 20 percent from pre-exposure; achieve at least 75 percent of holistic increases in classroom grade averages compared to pre-exposure, as reported by all participating classroom teachers. APPROACH: “Innovative Space, STEM and Entrepreneurship Inspired Learning: Empowering an Agile STEM Talent Pool” (SSEL) marries entrepreneurship and STEM to cultivate the skills necessary in students who will soon enter the workforce as well as the educators who prepare them to do so. Over 60 hours of delivery, high school students will be immersed in STEM via the vehicle of entrepreneurship as they successfully execute a simulated Mars mission and concurrently design, execute, and promote their own product or service inspired by their Mars mission. Professional development will also be provided to participating educators. The project has been designed to be executed virtually or in-person and in both classroom and out-of-school settings, positioning it as an accessible program for both schools and community organizations. The project will serve 10 cohorts of 30 students annually over three years for a total audience of 900 students. Four Colorado Springs school districts, the Colorado Springs branch of Upward Bound, and the Pueblo branch of Educational Talent Search will participate; the school districts serve a combined 42.3 percent of Free/Reduced Lunch students and 12.5 percent of military-connected students, expanding equity and access to underserved communities. OUTCOMES: SSEL will prepare area youth to secure STEM positions within the aerospace and defense industries and will contribute to a better-prepared workforce pipeline. The project will also alleviate some of the disparities in access to high-quality STEM activities among local underserved students. The project’s impact will extend beyond the grant period as participating educators will gain skills and tools to deliver on parts of the program into the future. DoD RELEVANCE: Colorado has one of the highest concentrations of DoD employees in the nation. The project’s proposed involvement from the DoD will increase exposure among high school students to the DoD’s research and career opportunities. Additionally, the project addresses goals 2.0 and 4.0 identified in the DoD STEM strategic plan to inspire youth in STEM education and increase participation of underserved audiences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 10, 2021
- Source ID
- HQ00342110019
Entities
People
- Gina Taranto
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Space Foundation
- Washington Headquarters Services