Science Mentoring Science Mentoring ProgramProgram

Hughes STEM High SchoolHughes STEM High SchoolCommunity Partnership Community Partnership

ExperiencesExperiences

February 7, 2012February 7, 2012

Kent Buckingham, Ph.D., Program Kent Buckingham, Ph.D., Program CoordinatorCoordinator

Science Mentoring Program Science Mentoring Program OverviewOverview

Initiated 2010-11 at Hughes STEM High SchoolInitiated 2010-11 at Hughes STEM High School Involved 80 ninth grade students and 33 adult Involved 80 ninth grade students and 33 adult mentorsmentors

Sessions held 1-hour/week, fall term and Sessions held 1-hour/week, fall term and spring termspring term

Focus on 9th grade curriculum, and on core Focus on 9th grade curriculum, and on core skillsskills Critical thinking and problem solvingCritical thinking and problem solving Reading comprehension (scientific) and analyzing Reading comprehension (scientific) and analyzing datadata

GoalGoal: to help students excel in the sciences : to help students excel in the sciences and feel motivated to pursue college degrees and feel motivated to pursue college degrees and careers in STEM-related fieldsand careers in STEM-related fields

Partners in Science Partners in Science MentoringMentoring

Ninth grade science studentsNinth grade science students Primarily minority, prevalent economic disadvantagePrimarily minority, prevalent economic disadvantage About one-third of ninth grade classAbout one-third of ninth grade class

Adult STEM professionalsAdult STEM professionals Diverse cohort of volunteers from the communityDiverse cohort of volunteers from the community Commit 1 hr./week, most for more than 1 school term (fall, Commit 1 hr./week, most for more than 1 school term (fall, spring)spring)

Science teachersScience teachers Select students for the program, and set expectations for Select students for the program, and set expectations for studentsstudents

Develop weekly hands-on activities, and post on mentor Develop weekly hands-on activities, and post on mentor websitewebsite

Program coordinatorProgram coordinator Recruit mentors, training, background check, logistics, Recruit mentors, training, background check, logistics, mentor feedbackmentor feedback

Track metrics, and lead continuous quality improvement (CQI)Track metrics, and lead continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Partners in the Partners in the Development ofDevelopment of

the Science Mentoring the Science Mentoring ProgramProgram

Hughes STEM High SchoolHughes STEM High School Manager for STEM CurriculumManager for STEM Curriculum

PassionPassion for students; for students; FocusFocus on teaching, student on teaching, student engagementengagement

University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati OSLN Asst. Director, College of EducationOSLN Asst. Director, College of Education

PassionPassion for teaching principles; for teaching principles; FocusFocus on on information sharinginformation sharing

Industry Scientist from the CommunityIndustry Scientist from the Community Volunteer, retired scientist/manager (P&G)Volunteer, retired scientist/manager (P&G)

PassionPassion for science; for science; FocusFocus on mentors, metrics, on mentors, metrics, CQICQI

Two Unique Elements ofTwo Unique Elements ofScience Mentoring ProgramScience Mentoring Program

FirstFirst: : positive interaction between positive interaction between students and adult STEM professionalsstudents and adult STEM professionals Student/mentor pairings are sustained for Student/mentor pairings are sustained for termterm

Discuss cultural backgrounds, learning stylesDiscuss cultural backgrounds, learning styles Involves tutoring (re; STEM subjects and Involves tutoring (re; STEM subjects and concepts)concepts)

Involves mentoring (re; STEM college Involves mentoring (re; STEM college education and STEM career opportunities)education and STEM career opportunities)

Mentors share personal “STEM Stories”Mentors share personal “STEM Stories” Students see real-world STEM career Students see real-world STEM career opportunitiesopportunities

Mentor Diversity Mentor Diversity (33 (33 Volunteers)Volunteers)

Hughes STEM School Year 2010 – Hughes STEM School Year 2010 – 20112011

Highest STEM Degree

BS PhD, MS, MD

Age DiversityStudent

Employed

Retired

Gender Diversity

Female

Male

STEM FieldChem,Physics,MathBiology,Life Sci,MedicineEngineer

36%36%30%30%

33%33%

58%58%42%42%

Ethnic Diversity

Non-WhiteWhite79%79%61%61%

21%21%39%39%

30%30%

33%33% 36%36%

Partners in the Recruiting Partners in the Recruiting of Adultof Adult

STEM Professionals as STEM Professionals as MentorsMentors

Professional Scientific SocietiesProfessional Scientific Societies Local Industrial CompaniesLocal Industrial Companies Local Scientific Staffing Local Scientific Staffing CompaniesCompanies

Local Nonprofit OrganizationsLocal Nonprofit Organizations Government Scientific AgenciesGovernment Scientific Agencies Local Universities/CollegesLocal Universities/Colleges

Professional Scientific Societies Professional Scientific Societies – 10– 10

Local Industrial Companies Local Industrial Companies – 6– 6 Local Scientific Staffing Local Scientific Staffing Companies Companies – 3– 3

Local Nonprofit Organizations Local Nonprofit Organizations – 7– 7 Government Scientific Agencies Government Scientific Agencies – 2– 2 Local Universities/Colleges Local Universities/Colleges – 11– 11

Partners in the Recruiting Partners in the Recruiting of Adultof Adult

STEM Professionals as STEM Professionals as MentorsMentors

Recruiting Efforts = 39Recruiting Efforts = 39

Partners in the Recruiting Partners in the Recruiting of Adultof Adult

STEM Professionals as STEM Professionals as MentorsMentors

Mentors Recruited = 47Mentors Recruited = 47 Professional Scientific Societies Professional Scientific Societies – – 88

Local Industrial Companies Local Industrial Companies – 0– 0 Local Scientific Staffing Companies Local Scientific Staffing Companies – 19– 19

Local Nonprofit Organizations Local Nonprofit Organizations – 0– 0 Government Scientific Agencies Government Scientific Agencies – 1– 1 Local Universities/Colleges Local Universities/Colleges – 19– 19

Two Unique Elements of Two Unique Elements of Science Mentoring Program Science Mentoring Program

(Cont’d)(Cont’d) SecondSecond: : a rigorous metrics plan to a rigorous metrics plan to evaluate the impact of student evaluate the impact of student participation in the program during the participation in the program during the 2011 – 2012 school year2011 – 2012 school year Student academic performance (grades, test Student academic performance (grades, test scores)scores)

Student attitudes (science, college, STEM Student attitudes (science, college, STEM careers)careers)

Metrics Plan MethodologyMetrics Plan Methodology

Criteria for student selection (120 Criteria for student selection (120 students)students) Middle of Middle of ““bell curvebell curve”” for performance for performance Desire to participate and improve performanceDesire to participate and improve performance

Randomization for test vs. control Randomization for test vs. control cohortscohorts Test Group A (40 students mentored fall 2011)Test Group A (40 students mentored fall 2011) Test Group B (40 students mentored spring Test Group B (40 students mentored spring 2012)2012)

Control Group (40 students not mentored)Control Group (40 students not mentored)

Measurement of Student Measurement of Student AttitudesAttitudes

Attitudes assessed via surveyAttitudes assessed via survey Pre-Attitude Survey (Oct 2011)Pre-Attitude Survey (Oct 2011) Post-Attitude Survey (May 2012)Post-Attitude Survey (May 2012)

Students can select their survey Students can select their survey responses from:responses from: Strongly disagreeStrongly disagree DisagreeDisagree Somewhat disagreeSomewhat disagree Somewhat agreeSomewhat agree AgreeAgree Strongly agreeStrongly agree

Six Survey StatementsSix Survey Statementsabout Student STEM Attitudesabout Student STEM Attitudes

1.1. I am planning to continue my education I am planning to continue my education after I graduate from high schoolafter I graduate from high school

2.2. I am interested in pursuing a STEM I am interested in pursuing a STEM related careerrelated career

3.3. I am interested in learning more about I am interested in learning more about STEM careersSTEM careers

4.4. I enjoy learning about scienceI enjoy learning about science5.5. I have the skills and abilities to learn I have the skills and abilities to learn

sciencescience6.6. Adults in this school want me to succeedAdults in this school want me to succeed

Multiple Partners for Multiple Partners for Metrics PlanMetrics Plan

Implementation Partners for Metrics Implementation Partners for Metrics PlanPlan Cincinnati Public School District Cincinnati Public School District (Director of (Director of Research)Research)

Hughes STEM High School Hughes STEM High School (Teachers, Pre-Attitude (Teachers, Pre-Attitude Survey)Survey)

Strive Partnership Strive Partnership (Learning Partner Dashboard – (Learning Partner Dashboard – Grades)Grades)

Industry Industry (Data Analysis – Grades and Attitudes)(Data Analysis – Grades and Attitudes) Program Coordinator Program Coordinator (Overall Leadership)(Overall Leadership)

Perspective about PartnersPerspective about Partners Motivation (what’s in it for them)Motivation (what’s in it for them) Expertise (who does what)Expertise (who does what) Leadership (who, how to interact and to track Leadership (who, how to interact and to track progress)progress)