Beyond Blackboards: Integrated Methods for STEM Education and Workforce Development

德克萨斯大学(UT)科克雷尔工程学院将与德克萨斯州中部的教育和劳动力发展机构Sgarpoint Alliance以及为超过40,000名学生提供多样化服务的圆岩ISD(一个快速增长的学区)合作，部署一种综合方法，让中学生、教师、辅导员、管理人员、家长和照顾者参与活动，提高对一系列STEM职业和大学道路的认识和了解。该项目建立在成功的DTEACh计划的基础上，该计划利用设计为教师提供工程教育方面的专业发展，并使教育工作者和照顾者能够让学生参与STEM活动，引导他们考虑从事信息和通信技术(ICT)职业。该计划包括五个基本步骤：培训教师；为学生提供课后计划；培训辅导员、管理人员和其他教育工作者；为学生提供密集的夏令营；以及接触照顾者。该项目支持拥有多种专业发展机会和现场经验的教师，与大师教师一起进行的辅导课程，来自德克萨斯大学工程专业学生和行业导师的支持，以及许多其他资源。对该计划对学生的影响的评估不仅取决于学生对STEM科目和职业的兴趣，还取决于对学生在STEM科目中的表现的评估和对他们高中选课的分析。对该计划对教师的影响的评估侧重于评估参与者的课程和教学方法以及对教师网络的影响。该项目制作研究工具和研究结果，建立有关方法、模型和干预措施的知识库，涉及来自代表性不足和经济困难群体的中学生及其教师--这些群体最有可能提高美国在STEM劳动力中的能力，包括ICT领域。

The University of Texas (UT) Cockrell School of Engineering is joining with Skillpoint Alliance, a Central Texas education and workforce development agency, and Round Rock ISD, a rapidly growing district serving a diverse population of more than 40,000 students, to deploy an integrated approach to engaging middle school students, teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and caregivers in activities that improve awareness and understanding of a range of STEM career and college pathways. The project builds on the successful DTEACh program that provides teachers professional development in engineering education using design and empowers educators and caregivers to engage students in STEM activities that guide them toward considering careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The program comprises five essential steps: training teachers; providing after-school programs for students; training counselors, administrators and other educators; offering intensive summer camps for students; and reaching out to caregivers. The project supports teachers with multiple professional development opportunities and field experiences, coaching sessions with master teachers, support from UT engineering students and industry mentors, and numerous other resources. Evaluation of the program's impact on students depends not only on student-reported interest in STEM subjects and careers, but on assessment of student performance in STEM subjects and analysis of their high school course selections. Evaluation of the program's impact on teachers focuses on an assessment of participants' curricula and pedagogy and impact on teacher networks. The project produces research tools and research findings that build the knowledge base about approaches, models, and interventions with middle school students from underrepresented and economically-disadvantaged populations and their teachers - the population most likely to increase United States capacity in the STEM workforce, including ICT fields.