STEM Job Preparedness Pipeline Research
Abstract
The rapid advancement of technology has been viewed with both a sense of wonder and trepidation. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) innovations like PCs, the world-wide web, social media and smart phones have fundamentally changed the way we work, communicate, govern and educate. This change has been so rapid and so profound, that the educational system in the U.S. finds itself trying to catch up. In the past 50 years, we have experienced a technology revolution and demand for a tech-savvy workforce is rapidly outpacing the supply. Many efforts have been and continue to be underway at the state and national level to expand the STEM job preparedness pipeline, including programs targeting under-represented groups like women and minorities. Yet, despite initiatives over the past 30 years, the proportion of women in STEM remains 15-20% and the demand for STEM workers is outpacing supply. This participatory research action study explores the intersection of education and culture as it relates to the local STEM job preparedness pipeline and offers recommendations to expand the pipeline.
Author: Kim Wilkens
Keywords: STEM pipeline, gender gap, computer science, STEM culture, STEM education
Full Text (PDF): STEM Job Preparedness Pipeline: Addressing Education and Culture Locally
The rapid advancement of technology has been viewed with both a sense of wonder and trepidation. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) innovations like PCs, the world-wide web, social media and smart phones have fundamentally changed the way we work, communicate, govern and educate. This change has been so rapid and so profound, that the educational system in the U.S. finds itself trying to catch up. In the past 50 years, we have experienced a technology revolution and demand for a tech-savvy workforce is rapidly outpacing the supply. Many efforts have been and continue to be underway at the state and national level to expand the STEM job preparedness pipeline, including programs targeting under-represented groups like women and minorities. Yet, despite initiatives over the past 30 years, the proportion of women in STEM remains 15-20% and the demand for STEM workers is outpacing supply. This participatory research action study explores the intersection of education and culture as it relates to the local STEM job preparedness pipeline and offers recommendations to expand the pipeline.
Author: Kim Wilkens
Keywords: STEM pipeline, gender gap, computer science, STEM culture, STEM education
Full Text (PDF): STEM Job Preparedness Pipeline: Addressing Education and Culture Locally
