University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service students have spent the year working with the Arkansas STEM Coalition to compile a repository of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, resources, and assets across Arkansas.
The information will be used to support the Arkansas STEM Coalition’s work of leading the Arkansas STEM Ecosystem Initiative and assessing where STEM gaps exist in the state, as well as to create a searchable database of programs accessible to the public.
The Arkansas STEM Coalition is a statewide partnership of leaders from the corporate, education, government, and community sectors which coordinates and advocates policies supportive of excellence in STEM teaching and learning in order to expand the economy of Arkansas and produce higher paying jobs.
The team – Liz Hall (North Little Rock, Ark.), Kate Jenkins (Memphis, Tenn.), and Jaylin Sprout (Hope, Ark.) – worked closely with Kristin Koenigsfest, Development and Program Specialist for the Arkansas STEM Coalition.
“This work allows us as an organization, and as we work with our STEM Ecosystem partners, to analyze where gaps are in the STEM learning ecosystem,” Koenigsfest said. “We can make recommendations and work together to try to fill those gaps so more kids have access to these programs.”
The team distributed more than 1,000 surveys statewide, focusing on public, private, and charter school administrators. The surveys also targeted afterschool programs and organizations like Boys Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, and Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the state. In addition to location, the team wanted to know details of each program, including cost, type, and if the program was exclusive to certain groups. “It was helpful to us because our organization is so small that we didn’t have the capacity to do this on our own,” Koenigsfest said.
Using the information collected by the Clinton School team, the Arkansas STEM Coalition plans to create an online database where teachers, parents, students, and even other STEM programs can access the state’s full range of STEM options.
“It’s helpful information not just for us, but helpful for students and families that want to get their kids into a program,” Koenigsfest said. “It’s also helpful information for organizations that are already doing STEM, to see where they can partner and leverage one another.”
The team presented its findings online on Tuesday, April 21. Arkansas STEM Coalition staff members, the organization’s board of directors, and STEM stakeholders throughout the state were invited to join.
Responses