STEM Careers

As a sponsored project of the National Science Foundation ITEST program, MBB responds to current concerns and projections about the growing demand for professionals and information technology workers in the U.S. and seeks solutions to help ensure the breadth and depth of the STEM workforce.

According to ITEST guidelines, MBB explores cyberlearning, specifically learning with cyberinfrastructure tools such as networked computing and communications technologies in K-12 settings. MBB followed ITEST guiding questions, such as:  What does it take to effectively interest and prepare students to participate in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future?  What are the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that students need in order to participate productively in the changing STEM workforce and be innovators, particularly in STEM-related networked computing and information and communication technology (ICT) areas?  How do they acquire them?  How can the nation’s burgeoning cyberinfrastructure be harnessed as a tool for STEM learning in classrooms and informal learning environments? What will ensure that the nation has the capacity it needs to participate in transformative, innovative STEM advances?  How can we assess and predict inclination to participate in the STEM fields and how can we measure and study impact of various models to encourage that participation?

MBB presented the following rationale for STEM Careers to teacher participants:

• A requirement of the NSF ITEST grant program
• Workplace demands for a math and science literate workforce are increasing: since 1990 new STEM job openings have grown at 3 times the rate of other occupations
• 30% of current STEM work force is nearing retirement
• 25% of current STEM workers in USA are foreign born
• STEM careers on average pay 50% more than non-STEM careers (41% to 54% more)
• Minorities and women are still grossly under-represented in STEM occupations
  • Women increased from 12% of STEM workforce in 1980 to 25% today (2009)
  • Minority representation (African American & Hispanic) increased from 2.3% in 1980 to 6% today (2009)

MBB addressed the needs of teacher participants to know how to present STEM career info in their curriculum, and led workshop sessions for high school students during the summer institute as a demonstration model.

Presentations

Title	File Type
Bioinformatic Careers	PDF 1.78MB  PowerPoint 0.76MB
Biotechnology Careers	PDF 3.65MB  PowerPoint 5.06MB
Marine Science Careers	PDF 3.40MB  PowerPoint 15.80MB (large file)

Other Resources

Title	File Type
Reflecting on Teaching STEM (handout)	PDF
List of STEM Careers	PDF
ITEST Learning Resource Center Information Brief, Vol 1	PDF
“Broadening Participation in America’s Science and Engineering Workforce” Executive Summary, CEOSE 2004	PDF
Online Resources for Biotechnology and STEM Careers	PDF
“Careerlink Inventory” - Monterey Peninsula College	PDF
U.S. Department of Labor website	PDF

Lesson Plans Created by MBB Teacher-Participants

Title	File Type
How can we find a science career?	PDF
Global Warming Using Webquest	PDF