Designing a Professional Development Program

to Support STEM Initiatives

Danilo M. Baylen, University of West Georgia

Who’s Here?
 What is STEM?

S – Science
S
T – Technology

E – Engineering
T E
M – Mathematics
M
 S

T E

M
 Tertiary
Education

National,
Early
Policy, Secondary
Childhood
Education
Education Security &
Immigration

Workforce
Education
 STEM Disciplines
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lists disciplines including
Acoustical engineering Civil engineering Mathematical biology
Actuarial Science Computer engineering Mathematics
Aerospace engineering Computer Science Mechanical engineering
Applied Mathematics Computational Science Nanotechnology
Astronomy Educational research Neurobiology
Astrophysics Educational/instructional Nuclear physics
Atmospheric sciences technology Operations research
Biochemistry Electrical engineering Optics
Bioinformatics Electronics Physics
Biology Geographic information Psychology
Biomechanics systems Robotics
Chemical engineering Industrial engineering Software engineering
Chemistry Information science Statistics
Information technology
 Industry

K-12 Education
Who has Higher Education
expertise?

Government NGOs
Developing Skills for Global Competitiveness

Adulthood

Young Adulthood

Childhood

Early Childhood
 Knowledge

Skills Context

Disposition
STEM Education is “an integrated
curriculum (as opposed to science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics
taught in isolation)” --- driven by
• Problem solving
• Discovery
• Exploratory project/Problem-based
learning
• Student-centered development of
ideas and solutions.

The saturation of technology in most fields means that all students – not
just those who plan to pursue a STEM profession – will require a solid
foundation in STEM to be productive members of the workforce.
 Engage

Evaluate Explore
Model of
Instruction

Elaborate Explain
 Varied
Duration

Specific Formal vs.

Population Informal

Professional
Single vs.
Focus Development
Series
Experiences
 Design and Development Process

Creating a
Budget &
Identifying Related
Partnerships & Resources
Defining Project Team
Program
Developing a Evaluation
Plan of Parameters &
Setting Up Operations Processes
Goals &
Identifying Objectives
Demonstrated
Need
Defining a Need

Want Wish

Need
 Sources of Need

External Internal
External Needs

Respect
 Internal Needs

Knowledge •Performance
Skills •Behaviors
Disposition •Interactions
 Demonstrated Need

• Standards
Internal External
• Competencies
• School
• State / Province
• National Government
• International
 Sample Data
Comparison of Percentages of Elementary Student Performance in
Science and Mathematics Content Areas on the 2015 Georgia Milestones
Assessment from Henry (HCS) and Meriwether (MCS) County Schools

Source: Georgia Department of Education (2015). Retrieved from http://www.gadoe.org

Sample Literature
 Goals & Objectives

S
• Broad M • Specific
• Global • Measurable
A
• Program • Achievable
level R • Relevant
T
• Time-bound
 Focus

Deepening Improving
Content Teaching
Knowledge Practices

Student Learning
 Plan of Operations

Content

Delivery Delivery
Format Strategies

Technology Timeline
 Plan of Operations
Content Format Strategies Technology Timeline

• Topic-based • Lecture- • Lecture • Specific Tool • Hour(s)

• Discipline- Demonstration • Demonstration • Specific App • Half Day
Specific • Seminar • Small Group • Multiple Tools • Week Day
• Workshop • Individual Work • Multiple Apps • Weekend
• Coursework • On-site/Off-site • Combined Tool • Multiple Days
• Field Work • Input/Follow and App • Week
• Online Up • Multiple Weeks
• Blended • Month
• Multiple
Months
 A C E – Three Stage Model

E for
A for Activity Engagement
“Show or Do” “Share or Reflect”

C for
Content
“Read or
Discuss”
Sample Summer Schedule for Science Content
Final Session of Professional Development

Outcome/
Demonstration

Retention/ Assessment/
Growth Impact
 Program Evaluation

Data Data
Goals Objectives Summative Timeline
Formative
Data Collection Procedures by Program Objective
Partnerships & the Project Team

Partners

Team Support
Budget & Related Resources

Fringe Salary
Benefits

Support
Travel
Personnel

Other
Supplies
Costs
Needs Process Outcomes

Activity One
Thank You!