THE STEM ONE PROJECT: A COLLABORATION BETWEEN A TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston, Georgia

Dr. Natoshia AndersonDr. Mariam Dittmann

STEM ONE PROJECT

The focus of the STEM One project is on highlighting STEM, STEM-related, and technical careers to high school students.

DCSS, Career Academies

Using the career academies adopted by the local school system, GPTC and local business partners were able to develop a series of programs that: Have assisted in retaining students in technical and STEM

career academies at the high school level, Have been an active recruitment tool for GPTC Allowed students to explore alternative options for

postsecondary education and Provided awareness of alternative career choices.

GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Established in 1961, Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) is one of the oldest and most respected of Georgia's 24 technical colleges.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College prepares individuals with the education, training, and skills to enter the workplace ready to make a difference in their hiring companies and in the ever changing global economy.

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMCAREER ACADEMIES

DeKalb County School System(DCSS) enrolls more than 100,000 students annually.

DCSS is the 3rd largest school system in the State of Georgia

CAREER ACADEMIES

A career academy is a personalized, smaller learning community (SLC) within a high school, selecting a subset of students and teachers for a two-, three-, or four-year span.

GOALS OF CAREER ACADEMIES To provide students with the academics and career-focused

electives to graduate with a college prep diploma or dual diploma with specialization in a concentration in humanities, math/science, or career technology

To show the connection between academic courses and careers in the real world

To develop knowledge regarding careers that utilizes a student's talents and aptitudes

CAREER ACADEMIES

Major Student Benefit of Career Academies

Post Secondary Opportunities

Articulated Credit

Dual Enrollment

Joint Enrollment

Simultaneous Diploma/Degree Completion

Business, Marketing, and Computer Science Academy

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Academy

Health Science and Human Services Academy

Creative and Performing Art Academy

CAREER ACADEMIES

PROJECT BEGINNINGS

Research has lamented the lack of qualified employees in STEM, STEM-related, and non-traditional careers

Dr. Anderson’s story

Garnered support from College, Business Partners and Community Leaders

PARTNERSHIP-LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

College already had a partnership with the local school systemArticulation AgreementsDual EnrollmentAdmissions

Leveraged Partnership through STEM One Project

STEM ONE (Opportunities and Explorations)

FUNDING SOURCES ENERGE Grant

Atlanta Women’s Foundation

DCSS- Smaller Learning Communities

Business and Industry Partnerships

Perkins

PBI

Complete College Georgia

STEM ONE PROJECT EVENTS

Touch of Tech

Girls On Tech Day

Non Traditional Career College Fair

Mini Projects-Girls Love STEM!!!

STEM Carnival

STEM Teacher Training

STEM Night Out

Tapestry Project

STEM ONE PROJECT EVENTS Done during semesters (1 Fall Semester, 1 Spring Semester)

Non-traditional Career College Fair- 500 high school students STEM Carnival- in May to coincide with Georgia STEM day if

possible Teacher Training- done at the request of the school system STEM Night Out- done at the request of individual schools

Girls on Tech Day Each visit had a theme, focused on girls 20 girls from each school Featured Criminal Justice, Architecture and Construction,

Engineering, Welding, Commercial Refrigeration, Drafting Technology, Automotive Technology, Electronics

One big event at GPTC

MAKING ICE CREAM AND LAMPS

STEM ONE PROJECT EVENTS

Three Day Nontraditional Career Workshop for Women Result of work with teen girls

Funded by AWF Grant

Designed for women in community that were unemployed or underemployed

Focused on women empowerment, education opportunities, nontraditional career exploration. Dream Board Activity Automotive ,Welding and Electrical Demonstration Career Tours

NCWW ACTIVITIES

TEN BEST PRACTICES

1. Connect with and form a working relationship with the CTAE Director and/or staff of the local school system

2. Get College Administration buy-in

TEN BEST PRACTICES

3. Connect with the STEM Coordinators/Directors

4. Use all available resources

5. Use Your Business and Industry Relationships

TEN BEST PRACTICES

6. Keep good records (record meeting minutes, pictures of the events, surveys or some other assessments to measure the “success” of the program, event, etc.)

7. Learn from past mistakes

8. Don’t lose sight of the ultimate objective

9. Events/projects must contain energy, excitement and provide a hands on experience

TEN BEST PRACTICES

10. Use the data to tweak and change project if necessary.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College STEM Related Program Enrollment by Gender

2010-2012Program of Study Female Male

STEM Related Programs Total

34.60% 65.40%

Automotive Technology

6.57% 93.43%

Computer Information Systems

30.50% 69.50%

Criminal Justice 63.47% 36.53%

Drafting Technology 24.19% 75.81%

Welding and Joining Technology

5.83% 94.17%

Questions

For More Information

Dr. Natoshia AndersonDirector of STEM Initiatives404.297.9522 x1239anderson@gptc.edu or stem@gptc.edu

Dr. Mariam DittmannVice President of Academic Affairsdittmannm@gptc.edu