MISSION

MISSION

The primary goal of STEM CORE is to produce a broader and deeper pool of STEM talent in Oregon through the development of efficient and effective models for student learning and engagement and by forging new collaborations between educators, researchers, and administrators.

GOALS

Goal 1. Enhance STEM education, outreach and education research by supporting and designing competitive proposals for research grants and outreach grants.  STEM CORE will provide both intellectual and practical resources to collaborations among COE and CAS researchers, K-12 and industry partners as they write proposals to fund projects intended to study STEM learning and teaching.  In this effort, STEM CORE will strive to serve underrepresented students in STEM.

Goal 2. Recruit mathematics and science majors to K-12 teaching by developing undergraduate courses and programs that support a pathway to teaching careers. STEM CORE will coordinate efforts by COE and CAS faculty to engage undergraduates in the joy and challenge of teaching K-12 mathematics and science. For example, COE and CAS faculty could design a seminar for undergraduates that includes an early field placement with an exceptional math and/or science teacher in a K-12 school.

Goal 3. Support outreach projects that will inspire STEM education throughout the state of Oregon by building the infrastructure needed for sustainability. The infrastructure will include state-of-the-art scientific equipment to pursue inquiry-based projects, research-based pedagogy for using the equipment with K-12 students, and professional development for teachers engaged in the outreach projects.

INITIATIVES

  • Assist faculty in developing and writing successful, funded grant proposals
  • Engage College of Arts and Science STEM faculty in College of Education teacher preparation programs to create research-based and industry-modeled classrooms
  • Develop cross-campus STEM collaborations, coordinate STEM education and outreach efforts and share expertise, data, assessment/evaluation, project coordination and communications/publicity
  • Develop effective, successful collaborations among local, state and national partners in public schools, community colleges and industry to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees for careers in STEM fields and public instruction with STEM expertise
  • Designing and implementing engaging STEM curricula using state-of-art technical equipment for classroom and out-of-class opportunities for students in grades 1-12
  • Building institutional bridges among industry partners, school districts, community colleges and universities
  • Developing and delivering professional development opportunities for teachers in pre- and in-service training programs using web-based tools and workshops
  • Securing external funding in partnership with public school to fund new STEM programs
  • Increasing  the breadth and depth of the STEM talent pool by targeting underrepresented groups such as; girls and women, first generation college attendees, and minority students