We are pleased that STEM education experts have recognized the important work that many of us have been leading for more than a decade. The STEM Learning Ecosystem Community of Practice, now a movement of 68 ecosystems across the world, has been pioneering the practice of bringing diverse stakeholders together to work for common STEM goals and greater alignment with workforce needs.

We know that our ecosystem work is transforming how students learn and how educators teach and it’s exciting that others are taking note in such a significant way.

The STEM Five Year Strategic Plan, under development for more than a year, is based on input from numerous stakeholders, including educators, business and community leaders and representatives from all 50 states, who attended a June federal STEM Summit hosted by Office of Science Technology and Policy at the White House (OSTP.)  (To view the entire report, please click here.)

The federal government has issued this plan to help states and municipalities develop local strategies that will ensure broadening participation of all citizens so they have access to high-quality STEM education and all communities have a STEM-ready workforce to meet growing demand for 21st-century careers.

Or,  more precisely, they are advising the whole country to do WHAT YOU ARE ALREADY DOING!

The upcoming Community of Practice Convening will be designed by STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Members more than ever before! We’ve listened to your feedback and are offering multiple opportunities for the event’s agenda to be created for you and by you. The hosting California STEM Ecosystems are preparing a special session and value your topics of interest. Please complete the very brief survey to indicate your priority interest areas.

Complete the survey

The upcoming Community of Practice Convening will be designed by STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Members more than ever before! We’ve listened to your feedback and are offering multiple opportunities for the event’s agenda to be created for you and by you. The hosting California STEM Ecosystems are preparing a special session and value your topics of interest. Please complete the very brief survey to indicate your priority interest areas.

Complete the survey.

Hello All,

This a final reminder that we will have a E2E conversation about ecosystem policy and advocacy strategies tomorrow, Tuesday May 22 from 11:00-12:00 pm ET.  For this conversation, we will share available resources and will open up the conversation to participants to share across ecosystems.

E2E Conversations: Join a Conversation!

Facilitated and Open Conversations for STEM Learning Ecosystems Members

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

• 11:00am ET:  Ecosystem Policy and Advocacy Strategies

As a reminder, all members of the Global Community of Practice are invited to participate in the E2E Conversations, so please forward to your partners. Registration is free but required. Use the links above to reserve your spot!

All conversations are recorded and available for playback on the Internal Community of Practice site. Check out “Webinars” under the “Resources” tab.

Should you have any issues accessing the site, please email us at info@stemecosystems.org

We hope you can join!

Angela Baber

The Florida Aquarium, Moffitt Cancer Center and the Tampa Bay STEM Network extend a special invitation to all the STEM Learning Ecosystems and guests to a special Welcome Celebration.

Doors open at 6:30pm
Program begins at 7:30pm
Last call at 8:45pm

Complimentary admission for your party, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a variety of beverages. (Must show valid ID for beer or wine)

Please RSVP your party for the welcome celebration by clicking here.

We hope to see everyone there! Participation is optional but encouraged.

Thank you to the Tampa Bay STEM Network and partners for welcoming us!

We love STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math – but this week, it’s all about the E! National Engineers Week runs February 19-25.

Engineering careers span many disciplines, from aerospace to the environment (on Earth), from computers to biomedical applications to manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the field of engineering will grow as much as 10 percent in the coming decade. It’s important to help students understand their options and see the opportunities.

Students learn in and out of school, so STEM Learning Ecosystems create and leverage partnerships among K-12 schools, museums, higher education, professional associations, employers, and more. These partners work to engage all young people in experiential learning to develop life and employment skills. This week, many Ecosystems are focusing on engineering.

The ISEP STEM Ecosystem is hosting a variety of workshops, talks and activities at the Buffalo Museum of Science, including:

• Learn how to protect wetlands, lakes and other aquatic resources with the Army Corps of Engineers
• Understand electricity with conductive Play-Doh and LEDs with engineers from Northrop Grumman
• Design a marble rollercoaster with the American Society of Civil Engineers and Engineering Society of Buffalo
• Use batteries and wiring to turn a large nail into an electromagnet with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• Join students in the University at Buffalo Engineering Clubs for a dozen STEM-related activities

After lots of hands-on activity, another way to celebrate engineering is to relax and see a movie! The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) recommends Hidden Figures, a compelling story of three African-American women whose math, engineering and computer science work was critical to the early missions of the U.S. space program. The movie is based on a book of the same title. The Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance is offering a virtual Hidden Figures book club with online discussion and video interviews with female STEM professionals. Inspiration drives learning and commitment, and Hidden Figures is inspiring millions!

The dynamic collaborations within STEM Learning Ecosystems provide a combination of practical advice and inspiration to all young people. However you approach it, take advantage of National Engineers Week to encourage a young person or group of students to consider engineering.

Learn more about the STEM Learning Ecosystems initiative and find resources for your Ecosystem at stemecosystems.org. Join our online conversations on Twitter @STEMecosystems and #STEMecosystems and on Facebook.