About STEM PC

Program Summary STEM Professionals with Class (STEM PwC) provides a framework for the collaboration of STEM Professional volunteers (STEMs) and K-12 Educators.  The program emphasizes the collaboration and pre-planning activities between STEMs and Educators to ensure that students' time is spent on high-quality, engaging, and hands-on activities.  This is NOT another guest speaker program--STEM PwC volunteers are an active part of the learning process. Within the STEM PwC framework there are numerous different ways for STEMs and Educators to collaborate--there are opportunities for STEMs to make single visits to classrooms, or to make an ongoing commitment to a longer project.  The online request form allows educators to make specific requests for projects involving STEMs:  STEMs can then browse the requests for projects that match their area of expertise, availability (time commitment), and even geographic area.  There are opportunities for collaboration both within the regular school day and after-school. Time is a valuable commodity for both STEMs and Educators, and STEM PwC Program Staff are available every step of the way--from facilitating the formation of optimal partnerships and assisting in selection of appropriate activities, to recruiting new STEMs and Educators for innovative new projects based on needs and interest.

• To provide for students and teachers an awareness of STEM related industry practices that relate to what students are studying;
• To empower students to consider college and career readiness actions that might lead to a STEM career
• To guide students in investigations and high-level discussions of innovative approaches to challenging problems - developing content knowledge, enhancing discussion skills and fostering inquiry; and
• To reinforce the basic science that leads to discovery and innovation. 

What can I do?

Everyone can collaborate to bring STEM expertise into K-12 Public Schools. Whether you sign up as a teacher, STEM professional, organization, or volunteer, you will create your own profile that will be used to match needs and expertise

TEACHERS: After signing up, teachers and educators can post request for a classroom collaboration. Teacher requests will be matched with available STEM Professionals. Then teachers can communicate with STEM professionals and volunteers to engage STEM Professionals in school-based programs

SCIENTISTS/VOLUNTEERS: Any STEM professional or general community participant interested in facilitating hands-on learning can join STEM Professionals with Class to identify their skills, availability timeframe, and location.

ORGANIZATIONS: Organizations can sign up for STEM Professionals with Class as well! Organizations can host events, and reach out to their members in support of STEM Professionals with Class Any type of organization can join and help the movement.

All parties who participate in STEM Professionals with Class agree to complete required information and preparation activities or certification to assure the highest quality of STEM learning for K-12 students.

• Bringing a robot to an 8th grade classroom, explain its uses and allow students a chance to interact with it.  (approximate time commitment:  1 hour preparation, 5 hours at school site on a single day)
• Enrich a 3rd grade unit on Plant and Animal adaptations by volunteering for a series of science lessons.  (approximate time commitment:  1 hour preparation, 1 hour at school site on 4 days=4 hours)
• Work with a High School Science Club to construct a SeaPerch Underwater ROV and enter it in a regional competition.  (approximate time commitment:  8 hours planning/training, 15 hours after school)

• How It Works
• Participating Districts
• Science Content Matrix