Scaling STEM conference

I want to share some reflections from my attendance at the Scaling STEM conference I attend last Monday and Tuesday.

#1.    This was a powerful graphic organizer.  We are initiative RICH and seem to scrap more than scale.  Our shift usually occurs in selected classrooms and we devote out time and energies to a new challenge and leave things “hanging.”

#2.    Read the quote below;

All school employees “have done well under the old conditions” therefore are “enemies of innovation.”  Each of us that want to shift the system to reach the students who are struggling, did well in the old system.  Systems thinking trains our brain to shift perspectives.  A Vital skill for leadership and success in school.

#3.    On the systems thinking front, The sustainability presenter from the NCSSM shared a fantastic simulation – Pass the candy -  http://ncssm-snackbook.wikispaces.com/*   

#4.    The industry round table was awesome for small group interaction. 

• Carol Rockett from GSK was clear that Mindset is a key to successful communication of STEM goals. http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/#print   She also loves the concept of intellectual agility!
• Alan Badulis form Kinecticos was inspiring and shared the VOLUME of training and PD that employees in the pharmaceutical industry receive ENSURES shared vision that is actionable.

#5.    Sajan George and the closing address was inspirational.  He provided an iteration of our Engineering Design process.

Now my job is to synthesize this and tie it together with information I will glean at the NCTIES conference in the first week of March.