Our flagship programs address some of our society's most important education and workforce challenges.
They provide an “incubation laboratory” setting for program development and help inform discussion in the larger science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) policy arena.
They are explicitly designed for replication and scale up.
Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology (LIFT2)
(Serves middle school and high school science, technology, engineering, and math teachers)
Research-based professional learning experience that places secondary school STEM teachers in an eight week summer placement in industry (externship), connecting classroom curriculum to "real world" applications. Participating teachers also complete a four course graduate-level program designed to translate the externship experience into improved student learning.
Through this innovative collaboration of K12 schools, industry, and higher education, teachers are better prepared to raise student awareness and interest in 21st Century careers leading to improved motivation to succeed in the rigor of STEM courses.
Over sixty teachers from nine school districts have completed the program, impacting approximately 6000 students. (Twenty-five teachers currently enrolled in 2006-07 cohort.)
High School STEM Internship Collaborative
(Serves senior high school students)
Internship experiences help to overcome negative stereotypes and lack of awareness of STEM careers by exposing high school students to top-flight innovation, technology, and research companies.
Teachers and Career Specialists in the high schools identify students for internships based on their academic performance or personal interest in STEM. Students are carefully screened, evaluated, and then placed with a STEM company on a part-time basis during the school year or full-time during the summer. Student interns spend at least 50% of their time working on STEM-related tasks, and are paid a reasonable wage for their work.
During the 2004-05 academic-year, 992 students from 62 high schools in seven regions of Massachusetts were placed in STEM career-related internships in 282 businesses. (57% Female/26% African American/16% Hispanic)
The Center for Women and Minorities in STEM (WM/STEM)
(Serves grades 5–9 grade female and minority students)
WM/STEM uses a systems approach involving middle school students, teachers, parents, school leaders, company employees/retirees in a range of compelling programs.
Programs are designed to increase the math and science skills of students in grades 5-9, and raise their awareness, interest, and motivation for pursuing STEM post- secondary fields of study and careers.
Program offerings feature:
Over 500 students in four communities have participated in our Future Scientists and Engineers of America clubs since 2001 (34% girls/32% minorities).
In 2004-05, over 50 students from four communities participated in Lego Robotics clubs. An additional 24 girls currently participate in a 5th grade Lego Robotics club with female-only mentors in Framingham.