NSF Awards: 1649231, 1649213, 1649220, 1649267, 1649316
Minority males are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce as compared to their representation in the US population. Roadblocks that continue to challenge minority males include: disparity in access to high quality STEM educational resources, a lack of role models, and a shortage of highly trained, minority STEM educators. Drawing on findings from current work, this Design and Development Launch Project, led by Morgan State University, will build on an existing regional partnership of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are working together to improve STEM outcomes for middle school minority male students local to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, North Carolina A & T University, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jackson State University in Mississippi, and Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. Additional partners include eight minority serving institutions, the National CARES Mentoring Network, the Verizon Foundation, and SRI International. Using collective impact-style approaches, these partners will address two common goals: 1) Broaden the participation of underrepresented minority males in science and engineering through educational experiences that prepare them for careers in STEM fields; and (2) Create a Network Improvement Community focused on STEM achievement in minority males. Our vision for collective impact of the eSEM project is to leverage a Network Improvement Community that will help to increase the number of minority males in grades 6 – 12 who are prepared for college and STEM careers, with the skills needed to participate in the STEM workforce.
Cindy Ziker
Senior Researcher
Welcome to our INCLUDES Launch and Development Pilot "Early STEM Engagement for Minority Males through a Network of Minority Serving Institutions (eSEM). Leveraging collective impact approaches, our project builds on the Verizon Innovative Learning Minority Male Program at 16 minority serving institutions across the country. Visit our website to learn more about our efforts to support underrepresented students in science and engineering at esem-includes.org
Donna Charlevoix
This looks like a very interesting project and I imaging it will be able to ramp up quickly since you are tied in to an existing community of HBCUs. Could you talk a little bit about the logistics of how you are connecting the secondary students with the university network? Are faculty helping to run the program (and is it mainly out of school, informal learning)? Thanks!
Lauren Amos
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
Each HBCU and HSI recruits students in their local community, using approaches that build relationships and work well for their target population group. Many of the universities have existing relationships with the school districts. During the summer, each campus has a STEM program that lasts two - four weeks. These students are also engaged during the academic on the University campus, or at their school. The activities occur outside of the school day. many participating universities involve teachers, who are able to infuse their lessons with new technology.
Marcelo Worsley
Assistant Professor
Thanks for sharing this video. You have brought together a great group of institutions and organizations. I'd love to hear more about your program. In particular, can you share more about the culturally responsive practices that you are using and how you are measuring the impact of the program?
Michael Lach
Director of STEM Policy and Strategic Initiatives
I was wondering about this same thing!
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
Each site has the the flexibility to select topics of interest to their participant pool. At Morgan State University, we integrate culturally responsive practices in two ways. The first is in the selection of projects. Many of our activities are project based and we select topics that may be very familiar or facilitate brainstorming for an appropriate problem. For example, have them apply their 3D design skills to develop models of bus shelters, which many of them would encounter on the way to school. Second, we integrate creative time, that allows students to contextualize what they have learned. For example, when we teach new skills, we provide time for participants to apply the skills in their own way.
Michael Lach
Director of STEM Policy and Strategic Initiatives
I'm also curious about how your "collective impact" model works. What can you share to others who might want to build similar partnerships?
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
As we are building our network, we are exploring networked improvement communities and collective impact as two models for solving complex social problems. The NIC will allow us to identify and develop solutions to some problems impacting minority male achievement in an iterative cycle. Collective impact allows us to consider a structure that creates an Alliance between multiple partners.
Here are two links for more information:
- Why a NIC? https://www.carnegiefoundation.org/blog/why-a-nic/
- Collective Impact https://ssir.org/articles/entry/collective_impact
Lauren Amos
Associate Director
Such a great program! Is your project at a stage where it could serve as a model for other HBCUs and HSIs that wish to replicate your program? Are you able to offer documentation, training, or technical assistance of any kind?
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
While our program is not yet ready for replication, we are happy to provide some of our published best practices.
Lauren Amos
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
While our program is not ready for replication, we are happy to share our published best practices.
Cindy Ziker
Senior Researcher
Hi Marcelo, Thanks so much for your comments. Culturally responsive practices are built in to the mentoring component of our program, which is described in a webinar that can be found on our web site at esem-includes.org
We measure increases in student's interest in STEM careers and STEM course work through an online pre and post survey, and student academic performance using a program-based assessment. We are in the beginning stages of measuring progress towards our goal of building a NIC and have collected data on such indicators as the number of hits to our website and the number of attendees at our webinars.
Lauren Amos
Valerie Butler
Thank you for sharing your important work. I am a life science content provider in Baltimore working with teachers and students in multiple grandes in about 40 schools in the Baltimore City Public School district. I would be interested in exploring ways we might be able to partner together. You can explore our work via video #1025 or bioeyes.org. I attended a wonderful conference at Morgan State University last year on the topic of culturally responsive pedagogy and came back and worked with my colleagues on ways to integrate those practices into our curriculum. I would love to offer our students more opportunities but we are limited in our capacity to take on a mentoring component at this time. I look forward to watching the NIC grow and develop over time.
J. Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Associate Professor
I am excited about the work you are doing in Baltimore City and am definitely interested in talking with you more offline. I would be happy to share more about our approach to mentoring.
https://whse2.morgan.edu/apex/f?p=372:1:0::NO:::
Further posting is closed as the showcase has ended.