The Nuts & Bolts of Building a STEM Learning Community

1. The Nuts & Bolts of Building a STEM Learning Community Dr. Loretta Tokoly Dr. Bernadette Sandruck Howard community college

2. National Science Foundation Scholarship Program In the areas of Computer Science, Computer Support Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics For further Information: Attend the 7 p.m. Information Session on Feb. 14, 2002 in the Galleria at HCC or contact us at An information session will be held on February 14 410-772-4599, TDD# 410-772-4822, hsinfo@howardcc.edu

3. Orientation Week Activities for NSF Scholarship Program (Year One)

4. Results of First Scholarship Program

5. Results of First Scholarship Program 2002-2005

6. Second Try => Second Grant Key components Increased scholarship amounts Raised GPA Required a STEM Seminar

7. Decisions, decisions, decisions…. What needs to be in this seminar? Emphasis on “soft skills” and Team work.

8. Decisions, decisions, decisions…. • Criterion • College level –Pre-Calculus & Science Prep courses in high school • Major – Expanded Science -No Health Science majors • High School or College GPA >2.8 • Not limited to traditional students • Required to participate in the 1 credit Human Development seminar each semester

9. We advertized • High school guidance counselors /College Advisors • Science Fair • High School Math Competitions • On HCC website • Letters to applicants in select majors • Members of the Rouse Scholars program • “Girl Power” an event at Johns Hopkins APL • Freshman Focus

10. Topics for the Pilot Year • Time Management • Myers-Brigg • Career Speakers • Career investigation • Resume Building • Mock Interviews • Ethics (in the Sciences) • How in give presentations

11. Early (Inexpensive) Field Trips Maryland Science Center Fridays after Five National Aquarium also has Fridays after Five

12. Results from Pilot Year’s Efforts • Positive feed back from students • Students reflected on their majors • One student received $10,000 scholarship • One moved toward medicine • Students who transferred received NSF Scholarships from 4-year institutions.

13. Seminar Themes I. Individual Gifts/ Diversity II. Teamwork III. Preparing for a career IV. What Comes Next

14. Seminar I. Individual Gifts/ Diversity • Time management • Library Skills – Scholarly vs Popular sources • Celebrating Diversity & Odd Man out Theory – • Sharing our stories • Celebrating what we like in our field

16. Seminar II. Teamwork • Read, “Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon” • Bridge project working in teams • Small Brainstorming team rated projects • Car races or compound machines on display

18. Seminar IIIPreparing for a career • STRONG Interest Inventory • type of work within a career • Career Speakers • Investigate careers • Possible professional mentors • Prepare resumes • Mock Interviews • Career Presentation

20. Seminar IV.What Comes Next • Ethics in the sciences • How to WOW your audience (tips on doing a PowerPoint show) • Selected topics( e.g. Statistics, Cryptography) • Opportunity for a Honors designation for a 200 level Math or Science course • Student presentation of a topic in a field related to a current course.

22. Field Trips • A favorite part of the seminar • Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab • Chesapeake Bay Foundation • Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt • Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, Laurel • NSA and National Cryptographic Museum • Maryland Science Center • National Aquarium

25. Our numbers have grown Participation in the Seminars 19 students in Fall 2008 –Spring 2009 31 active students in Fall 2011 Interest 48 % N =15 NSF 52 % N = 16

26. Majors in 2010 MAJORS IN 2008

27. Some Successes • Results of a survey Feb. 2011 • ALL of the students surveyed said that they had more friends here because of the Seminar • 85% said they now knew someone who might be a study partner • 55% said that it led to their being more committed to their field of study • 25% said the seminar led to their taking more classes at HCC

28. Student success 2 of our students were among only 80 students nationally selected to work at a NASA site for 3 days. A Computer Science major took part in a one-to-one mentoring program and internship in Germany summer 2010, she is now at the University of Washington

29. More Successes A Math-Physics major interned 5-10 hours a week for 3 months at Johns Hopkins. A Science major works with HoLLIE, Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment An Astronomy majorhas co-written 2 papers and is now attending Villanova University in Astronomy A Physical Science major just obtained a job in a research lab at her 4-year school.

30. Demographics for Fall 2010-Spring 2011

31. Of the students attending the seminars for 2 or more semesters: 52% have gotten (AA) degrees (13/25) 92% went on to continue in a STEM field (23/25)

32. Additional BenefitGrowth in these majors

33. Future Plans • Have already received additional scholarship funds and Internship opportunities • Will apply for additional NSF grants. • Develop an honors program focused on STEM majors • Increase entrance requirements • Additional social activities • Include a Service Learning activity • Incorporate a short session Study Abroad activity

34. Time to Share Please take a few minutes to share with the rest of us the STEM Initiatives on your campus.