• Business leaders • STEM Professionals • Policymakers, • Higher education • Foundations workforce leaders • Leaders of STEM development• PreK-12 teachers non-profit professionals, and and administrators organizations legislators• Informal educators • Community leaders • Parents, students

Want to learn more? Visit us at www.mnstemnet.org

Network GoalsWorking toward this vision, the goals of the Network are to:1. Build awareness and excitement for STEM and public appreciation of its importance to Minnesota’s future.2. Increase engagement and collaboration across sectors leveraging common interests in STEM education. 3. Promote effective STEM teaching and learning.4. Close the STEM achievement gap among Minnesota K-16 students.5. Increase the number of students selecting STEM as a career opportunity, especially by women

and underrepresented minorities.

StrategiesIn order to achieve its goals, the Minnesota STEM Network will:1 Develop key messages for promoting STEM to students, parents, and community leaders and

encourage network participants to communicate them to their audiences.2. Share research, innovations, and best practices in STEM education.3. Promote and inventory high quality teacher professional development opportunities across the state.4. Develop and maintain a public portal inventorying formal and informal STEM learning

opportunities, associating them to career pathways in higher education and employment.5. Facilitate the formation of community and regional networks in Minnesota in order to customize

Network activities to the needs and assets of different geographic regions.6. Facilitate initiatives to improve STEM learning, such as encouraging business and industry to

provide more real world learning opportunities for students and teachers.7. Serve as a resource for STEM funders and organizations seeking STEM funding.8. Communicate and collaborate with STEM networks and alliances in other states in order to

improve STEM learning in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

Design Principles These principles describe values underlying our collective action:1. STEM learning opportunities will be available to all Minnesotans regardless of income, gender,

ethnicity, or geographic region.2. Formal and informal learning opportunities will integrate science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics with each other and with the arts, humanities, and other disciplines.

(continued)

Mission StatementThe Minnesota STEM Network strengthens collaborations among business, education, civic, and community leaders to increase the appeal of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and communicate its importance to Minnesota’s future; promotes opportunities for students and their families to engage in high-quality STEM experiences; and fosters continuous improvements in STEM teaching and learning.

VisionMinnesotans will actively engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as a means toward lifelong learning, informed civic engagement, and a vibrant economy.

Who We Are The Minnesota STEM Network is a diverse statewide alliance of individuals and organizations advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in education, workforce development and community engagement. By articulating and aligning strategies, and effectively communicating the value of STEM, the Network is committed to powering STEM learning and innovation across Minnesota.

The Minnesota STEM Network is an initiative of SciMathMN,

formed in 2010 in collaboration with leading partners across Minnesota.

Together we seek to connect key stakeholders and audiences invested

in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM):

In Partnership with

www.mnstemnet.org

Performance Measures The Minnesota STEM Network will assess its progress using the following measures:For Learners1. Student results on statewide mathematics and science tests, as well as results on national and

international assessments.2. Participation rates of female students and students of color in STEM disciplines in post-secondary

education, and entry-level employment.3. Participation of learners in informal science education opportunities, including engineering/design

competitions, robotics and environmental learning programs.4. Percentage of female employees and people of color in leadership positions in STEM businesses

within Minnesota. For the Network1. A database and communications network will be established across sectors.2. Best practices will be shared across the network through network communications and meetings

including quality fairs.3. Underserved communities as well as STEM pathways within regions will be identified for the STEM

Alliance and communities at large.4. Alliance networks with local leadership will be established in geographic regions of Minnesota.5. Increased engagement of individuals from business and industry in education and more public/private

partnerships in support of active STEM learning.6. Proportion of pre-K-12 schools and classes engaged in active learning and real world examples.7. Increased outreach by colleges and universities to build teachers’ STEM knowledge and students’

interest in STEM disciplines and careers.8. More positive attitudes of students and parents toward STEM education and STEM career opportunities

SciMathMN board membersTim Barrett Minnesota High Tech AssociationJoel Donna University of Minnesota College of

Education and Human DevelopmentEd Hessler Hamline University; Minnesota

Science Teachers AssociationAnne Hornickel University of Minnesota Office of

Equity and DiversityRichard Hudson Twin Cities Public TelevisionSteve Kelley University of Minnesota Humphrey

School of Public Affairs

Mike Lindstrom Minnesota Technology and

Engineering Educators AssociationPeter Lindstrom University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs; SciMathMNDoug Paulson Minnesota Department of EducationJerry SosinskeSally Standiford SciMathMN Cassandra Svendsen Society of Women EngineersSteve Walvig The Bakken Museum; Minnesota

Science Teachers AssociationCarolyn Williams St. Cloud State University

Community membersSarah Audet Medtronic Inc.Ron Bennett University of St. Thomas College of

EngineeringRichard Bogovich Rochester Area Math and Science

PartnershipSophia Ginis University of Minnesota Humphrey

School of Public AffairsAlyssa Klein MN Department of Employment and Economic Development

James Mecklenburg Minnesota Center for Engineering & Manufacturing ExcellenceBrenda Raney Science Museum of MinnesotaEva Scates-Winston Minnesota State Colleges and UniversitiesMike Thyken Merrill CorporationKim Van Wie STARBASE MinnesotaCelia Waldock Minnesota Academy of ScienceAmy Walstien Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

2012-2013 Leadership Team

Regional STEM Networks Purpose: Network across sectors to align efforts, promote STEM, share best practices, and innovate STEM learning

Projected Outcomes of Regional STEM Networks • Students, families, and community leaders will become

more excited about STEM and better understand the value of STEM in their lives, communities, and careers.

• One portal in the region will reveal STEM education resources for students of all ages and interests.

• Career pathways associating these STEM resources will reveal opportunities for developing students’ passion and knowledge in STEM from elementary school to declared STEM college majors.

• STEM practitioners will be able to access examples of effective practices and strategies for engaging girls and underrepresented minorities.

• STEM teachers will be able to enhance classroom teaching and learning by incorporating more real world examples from business and industry into their classes.

• Leaders at regional and statewide levels will able to analyze the investment in STEM programming--revealing gaps, overlaps, opportunities, and a baseline for future metrics.

• New STEM programming will develop more rapidly through combined resources across sectors: STEM programming, audience, expertise, facilities, role models, and funding.

Leadership STEM industry leaders Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development District superintendents Colleges/Universities STEM Non-profits

Participants STEM Industry leaders School administrators Higher education deans Workforce development Foundations Environmental Learning Centers University Extension After-school programs Cultural organizations Professional STEM organizations Legislators Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts 4-H Library administrators Museums and media STEM faculty & teachers Parents and students

Network Activity • Convene gatherings of STEM stakeholders • Assess needs and inventory STEM programming • Establish common goals and metrics • Promote programming and value of STEM to

students, families, and community leaders • Innovate and leverage resources across sectors

www.mnstemnet.org

LinkedIn group: MN STEM Network www.scimathmn.org

A non-profit statewide education and business coalition advocating for quality K12 science, mathematics, and technology education based on

research, national standards, and effective practices.

© 2012 SciMathMN

Deliverables of Regional Networks in Relation to the Statewide STEM Network

Network Formation Regional network Statewide network --Network gatherings --STEM Network annual meeting

--Needs assessment --Baseline data

--Program Inventory --Statewide program inventory, including teacher professional development opportunities

External Communications Regional network Statewide network --Website promoting STEM --Comprehensive view of programming and regional programming across Minnesota

--Public awareness of STEM --Toolkit for network members to promote STEM --Policy/advocacy --Strong, coherent voice reaching public and legislators

Advanced Projects Regional network Statewide network --Cross-sector projects developing --Shared information on STEM education from needs assessment research and high quality programming;

--Business/school partnerships --Organized coalition of funders of STEM - mentoring, shared expertise provided perspective on standards for - teacher summer externships funding high quality programming - STEM summits and open houses --Targeted fund raising for innovation

Sustained Efforts Regional network Statewide network --Regional structure --Statewide leadership team facilitates - board or leadership team communications across regional networks - standing committees --Annual meeting to share effective - external communications practices and monitor progress - Part-time STEM liaison --Network leadership connects with liaison - programming

www.mnstemnet.org © 2012 SciMathMN

Passion, Knowledge & Career Exploration are Essential to Majoring in STEM

Multiple sectors provide these STEM programs

Based on Jolly, Campbell & Perlman, 2004. Engagement, Capacity, & Continuity

Black text = K12 education White text = Programming

by other sectors

A variety of STEM programs build passion, knowledge & career exploration

The STEM Network brings coherence to

this collective effort

Student engagement must be sustained

over a 15-year period

Generalized Map of Regional STEM Network Development

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January 2014

NORTH CENTRAL