In order for all California students to have access to high quality STEM teaching and learning it is critical to address statewide gaps in California's education system.CSLNet's Statewide Initiatives address key STEM learning challenges by building coherence among California's many STEM-related programs and identifying solutions that can be addressed by a concerted statewide effort.CSLNet is working with its Regional Networks and other partners around California to advance a set of Statewide Initiatives that scale high quality STEM teaching and learning across regions and throughout the state.
Because too many of California's students lack access to STEM programs, CSLNet's first statewide initiative is focused on expanding the number of students who participate in high-quality STEM programming during out-of-school time, including afterschool and summer programs.
Out-of- school settings are a primary focus because they are:
Student-centered, inquiry-based, project-based, and complementary to the academic curriculum
Ideal places to deliver STEM activities in innovative ways that have relevance to students
Reach a diverse group of students at a time when they often lose interest
Provide an excellent training ground for future STEM educators
CSLNet is collaborating with the California Afterschool Network and STEM-rich institutions such as museums, aquaria, zoos and science centers to expand the number of hours students spend engaging in quality STEM activities.Together with these partners and the California Department of Education, we are working to provide high-quality STEM programs to after school sites across the state. In its pilot phase, more than 250 sites are participating across the state, with plans to expand up to 1,000 more sites during the coming year and beyond. For more information on our STEM in Out-of-School-Time program please go to The Power of Discovery: STEM 2
In recent years, business leaders and educators from K-12 and higher education have become increasingly aware of workforce shortages and skill gaps in engineering fields. Key barriers related to our addressing these challenges in our education system include the lack of K-12 engineering standards and assessments, limited teacher training and professional development opportunities in engineering, and few instructional resources available to assist teachers. The recent development and expected adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards provides an opportunity to address a number of these barriers, as the new standards will encompass expectations for what students should know and be able to do across K-12 science, engineering and technology fields.
As a first step towards overcoming existing barriers and ensuring that all students in the state have access to high quality engineering education, CSLNet is working with engineering educators, employers, students and other stakeholders to:
Identify a core group of individuals committed to working together to create K-14 engineering education pathway models that include engineering-specific communities of practice to share best practices, resources, curriculum, internships/apprenticeships, etc.
Identify and leverage existing assets and resources and any gaps that need to be addressed
Ensure students in underserved communities including inner cities and rural communities are served
For more information on CSLNet’s work on Engineering Pathways in California or to get involved in the planning process, please contact Marcella Klein Williams, CSLNet’s Chief Educational Officer at mkleinwilliams@cslnet.org.
Digital learning has the potential to provide students with access to high-quality learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. Yet, as recent research has shown, California lags many states in the use of technology in our education system, especially among those students in underserved and in rural areas.Barriers to the effective adoption of digital learning in STEM fields are wide ranging. Often, cultural and legal barriers restrict the use of technology in the classroom. In addition, many schools have limited access to broadband and technology tools or have obsolete technology and labs that limit students’ ability to access high-quality online resources.
To address these challenges, CSLNet will:
Convene a task force of experts and stakeholders from K-12, higher education, and business and industry committed to working together to strengthen STEM digital learning in grades K-14 with a focus on addressing the needs of underserved populations and those students in urban and rural areas of the state.
Identify and leverage existing assets and resources and any gaps that need to be addressed
Develop a detailed strategy for supporting STEM education through greater access to and use of technology, open education resources and tools.
For more information on CSLNet’s work on Digital Learning in California or to get involved in the planning process, please contact Marcella Klein Williams, CSLNet’s Chief Educational Officer at mkleinwilliams@cslnet.org.
According to a recent Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) report, enrollment in California teacher preparation programs is rapidly declining. Their analysis found that enrollment in these programs declined by 13% between 2008-09 and 2009-2010 and almost 40% since 2005-06. These numbers paint a dire picture for the future teaching workforce of California.As proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math is increasingly necessary for student success in school, work and daily life, it is imperative that we have highly trained teachers in place to lead our students in these fields.The California STEM Learning Network (CSLNet), believing that all students should have access to high-quality STEM teaching and learning opportunities, is working with state and regional partners to close California’s STEM achievement gap by strengthening post-secondary pathways and professional development opportunities to produce a highly skilled K-12 STEM teaching workforce in California.CSLNet, in partnership with 100Kin10, a multi-sector mobilization that responds to the national imperative to train 100,000 excellent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers over the coming 10 years, has committed to work with K-12, postsecondary and business partners to launch a statewide STEM Teacher Pathways initiative that increases awareness and opportunities for students from community colleges, informal education and other settings to pursue STEM teaching careers and to use open education resources.For more information on CSLNet’s work in STEM Teacher Pathways or to get involved in the planning process to ensure the next generation of California teachers become STEM experts, please contact Marcella Klein Williams, CSLNet’s Chief Educational Officer at mkleinwilliams@cslnet.org.
