[ Workgroups 2007 ][ Marketing Help ][ Master Resources List ]

links to Detailed Notes follow agendas

Agenda #13 - August 6, 2008

Meeting Objective	Planning for "A Community Conversation: Diversity in the CS Classroom" event, August 19, 2008 at North Salem High School, 9:00 - 5:00 (8:30 reg/ coffee)
	Phone in 1.866.232.8377 conference ID 3090# -- Say your name -- Meet and greet
3:30 - 3:35	A. Meet and greet -- Guest Tom Thompson, ODE
3:35 - 3:45	B. Review Agenda for the Event Best Practices in Diversity in the K12 Classroom – overview (30 minutes? Speaker?) Exemplars Don Kirkwood - 45 minutes Don Domes -- ESL engineering aide - 15 minutes Brainstorm best practices – break into groups, use prompts. Recorder/facilitators: Jo and Chris (2 hours) What materials needed? Flip charts? Box Lunch on site – (30 minutes) Continue brainstorming (1 hours) Report back of small groups (30 minutes) Reflect and write – initial implementation plan – coffee break (45 minutes) Eda's template planning documents (teacher's) Strategic Implementation - pdf (teacher's) Plan of Action pdf Share plans (45 minutes) Fill out the Equity minigrant (1 hour)
3:45 - 4:30	C. Discuss Prompts for Facilitated Brainstorming Session Develop a list of key components for your existing and especially new CS programs What factors help or prevent you from starting and keeping a CS program/class? {avoid “bitch” session” à therefore, may want to skip this part?} Students Administrators State-national mandates Parents Teacher background Which of the "Best Practices" discussed do you like the best? Specifics – Recruiting: How do you recruit new students? Does your current recruiting favor some certain group? Sibs of previous students? Certain math teacher's students? Band kids? Chemistry students but not physics students ... What are your particular barriers? What pieces do you have that North Salem/Hillsboro doesn’t? : What are some unique opportunities in your location? Students Parents Community Local higher ed? What North Salem/Hillsboro pieces can you use? Which do you see as "easily" do-able? Are there other partners you should engage? Strategic thinking: where is the building administrator on this?  How to gain support of building administrator? Community businesses/colleges/individuals What particular district or building goals can you link to?
4:30 - 4:45	D. Discuss application problems/ selections Registration application form – doc - pdf
4:45 - 4:50	E. Other materials for the event day – approve or rework? Minigrant application - doc Event Agenda/ flip side annotated roster with contact info (Jo) “Fostering STEM Diversity” white paper - pdf Additional resource links?  Suggestions? Solicitation “kit” for in-kind donations – boilerplate letter (Jo and ?) CD of resources (Don)
4:50 - 4:57	F. Other agenda items Update from the Steering Committee (Jo)
4:57 - 5:00	Next Meetings

Meeting Record for August 6, 2008 - in process

Summary: The Succeed Workgroup met at SuperQuest at WOU on August 6; collaborators also present were Chris Brooks, Don Domes, Natasha Macdonald and Ron Tenison.  The focus was planning for the August 19 Workshop “A Community Conversation: Diversity in the CS Classroom”.  Agenda and additional materials were set, and the top priority was identified as recruiting teachers to attend.  Ron Tenison volunteered to email a notice to the OCSTA listserv, and others committed to personally contacted likely teachers.

The August 19 workshop was held in North Salem. Eda Davis-Lowe, Don Kirkwood, and Don Domes presented best practices in diversity and instances of particular implementations to 10 teachers. A brainstorming exercise focused on particular challenges to and resources for implementing best practices in a teacher’s local environment. A group discussion on the necessary and sufficient conditions for pioneering a CS program, or any technology program, at a school finished the day. Initial feedback from all participants was positive.

Prior and subsequent activity sparked by the need for substantial door prizes at recruiting events may result in an ongoing relationship with Best Buy, which Jo is pursuing.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, September 5, 2008

Agenda #12 - July 18, 2008

Meeting Objective	Good progress on nitty-gritty for "A Community Conversation -- Diversity in the CS Classroom" event
3:30	Phone in 1.866.232.8377 conference ID 3090# -- Say your name -- Meet and greet
	Chris Brooks and Dick Knight agreed first priority is that Succeed meets its goals; they are willing to work around that Chris commits Techstart minigrant funds $500 - $1,000 total of $5,000 – heads up at $5K, may be able to go as far as $10K. Bruce commits $2,500 for stipends & refreshments -- budget worksheet -- xls Eda commits workgroup. Jo commits to looking for laptop doorprizes Intel -- do not donate new or used for doorprize/raffle IBM -- long, long lead time for very few machines Free Geek -- linux only Best Buy still a possibility -- need to follow up; maybe with Chris Brooks or Don Kirkwood coming along?
	Planning Minutia What Date? Chris Brooks and Eda Davis-Lowe expressed a preference for August 18-19 Reserve Room (Don) Start Calling Candidate teachers (Jo? Don?)
	Draft Agenda for the Day (totals 8 hours including breaks) -- need to tweak?: Best Practices in Diversity in the K12 Classroom (speaker Eda? 30 min incl Q&A) Exemplars Don Kirkwood - 45 minutes Don Domes -- ESL engineering aide - 15 minutes Brainstorm best practices (2 hours) Break into groups – recorder/ facilitators (Jo, Chris) Collaborate on prompts (see next agenda box) What pieces do you have that Don doesn’t? What pieces that Don has can you use? What are some unique opportunities in your location? What are your particular barriers? Are there other partners you should engage? Strategic thinking: where is the building administrator on this?  How to gain support of building administrator? Develop a list of key components for existing and especially new CS programs Box Lunch on site – (30 minutes) Continue brainstorming (1 hours) Report back of small groups (30 minutes) Reflect and write – initial implementation plan – coffee break (45 minutes) Eda's template planning documents (teacher's) Plan of Action - doc - pdf (teacher's) Strategic Implementation - doc - pdf Share plans (45 minutes) Fill out the Equity minigrant (1 hour) Reference documents: OACTE Report - Don Kirkwood (Oregon Association for Career & Technical Ed) slides - ppt - color pdf ODE's "Guidelines, Scenarios and Resources for Offering Credit in Applied Academics - pdf
	Brainstorming prompts: (Chris) Collaborate on key points we want to cover, make workgroup points of view transparent to attendees to reduce redundancy and confusion Which of the "Best Practices" discussed do you like the best? Which do you see as "easily" do-able? What are your local opportunities/resources? What are particular challenges at your school? What particular district or building goals can you link to? What factors made you able to start and keep a CS program/class? How do you recruit new students? Does your current recruiting favor some certain group? Sibs of previous students? Certain math teacher's students? Band kids? Chemistry students but not physics students ... ...
	Other materials need to be developed/ polished? Minigrant application -- see pages 6 & 7 of "Propagating CS Success" - doc - pdf Day's roster Day's agenda Day's resource links (OPAS White paper "Fostering STEM Diversity"? Don's OACTE report?) Day's webpage (Jo) Solicitation boilerplate for donations in kind (pizza!)
	Action Items
4:57 - 5:00	Next Meetings

Meeting Record for July 18, 2008

 

Summary: Three members attended the July 18 Succeed Workgroup meeting, welcoming Don back from his Habitat for Humanity vacation in the South Pacific. Much activity has taken place with the project formerly known as “The Propagator”:

• A collaboration with the Prepare Workgroup, ETIC CS Task Force, and Techstart Education foundation has been structured and by common consent, Succeed’s goals have top priority;
• Minigrant funds have been committed by Techstart;
• OUS/ OPAS has committed $2500 for stipends and refreshments;
• Succeed committed workgroup effort including review panel members and documents.
• Eda Davis-Lowe of the Succeed Workgroup, Chris Brooks of the Prepare Workgroup, ETIC CS Taskforce and Techstart Education Foundation had a very productive meeting on June 20 which drafted an agenda for the event and generated the name “A Community Conversation: Diversity in the CS Classroom.” The Steering Committee had a chance to comment on goals and potential issues after that meeting; their concerns were brought to the attention of this meeting.
• We are still looking for a potential donor for computers-as-doorprizes; Intel has said no; IBM’s previous history of donation makes them unlikely; Free Geek’s linux machines are a possibility.
• We are still working on a package to help teachers solicit donations in kind from local vendors.
• Don will check with North Salem High School administration and set a date of August 18 or 19.
• The draft agenda, brainstorming prompts, and template planning documents, and list of supporting materials were critiqued.
• The minigrant program description and application forms were critiqued; Jo will re-draft.
• The review timeline was laid out. A rubric is needed; Jo will draft it.
• The review panel should probably be 3-5 people including representatives from Succeed, Prepare, and Techstart – Chris Brookes, Mary Bunn, Tom Thompson.
• Don will make a CD of supporting materials.
• Don Kirkwood expressed his pleasure with the progress to date.

OPAS-related activity updates:

• Occupational Outlook Data - pdf . Don is happy to see this, as ODE did not publish their usual update which he uses.
• McNary PLTW Site Visit - pdf
• ODE RFP - Superintendent's Summer Institute Aug 4-6 session: "PLTW: Practicing Literacy, Numeracy, and Essential Skills"
• Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) -- possibility of a collaborative effort of ETIC, OPAS, ORTOP and others on a Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth one-day family event themed around robotics, probably at PSU in March 2009
• Math in CTE – Don Kirkwood is also involved in this effort in Oregon, and says “it is the tightest research I have seen” and calls the program “very productive”.
• STEM Equity Pipeline --train the trainer; not a large source of funds, but access to a group of practitioners – primarily driven by Tom Thompson and Tim Brower at this time, they may apply for state partner status in 2009.
• ETIC Student Marketing - Getreal 3.0 with engineering content Feb 2009; when the future possibility of an interactive quiz for “what kind of engineer do you want to be?” came up, Don suggested that might be a good student capstone project or a contest project for the Techstart Technology Student of the Year.

Next Meeting: Jo will poll for a date before August 18, 2008.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, July 21, 2008

 

Agenda #11 - May 22, 2008

Meeting Objective	Discuss Don's Program in North Salem and possible ways to propagate it; Discuss Gender and URM strategies across the POP
3:30	Meet and greet
	Status & Activity OGPC 1.0 -- Declared a success; originally 30+ teams; 21 actually came to tournament; Champion team mixed gender; with 69 of 99 participants reporting: 88% male, 12% female; eyeball estimate of ethnic diversity: miniscule
	Computer Science Program at North Salem HS (Don) North Salem High School, Don Kirkwood's CS Program - last update May 19 - pdf Because of current discussions among Motivate, Prepare, and ETIC CSTF Jo circulated this document to Dick Knight, Chris Brooks, and Bruce Schafer; ETIC CSTF has been discussing a brainstorming meeting among experienced CS teachers to identify factors both necessary and sufficient to implement a successful CS program; much discussion around using math and science teachers rather than a CTE-certified teacher Because of this potential consensus, we may have a shot at finding some funding Reference documents: OACTE Report - Don Kirkwood (Oregon Association for Career & Technical Ed) slides - ppt - color pdf ODE's "Guidelines, Scenarios and Resources for Offering Credit in Applied Academics - pdf
	OPAS Policy Option Package through ETIC Discussion - reference the ETIC Proposal to OPAS - pdf Gender and URM strategies and metrics across the POP
4:50	Last Thoughts, Action Items and Next Steps
4:57 - 5:00	Next Meeting -Thursday, June 26 - 3:30 - 5:00 ?

Detailed Meeting Record for May 22, 2008 - in process

Summary: Five members of the committee attended the May 22 meeting which focused on a thorough discussion of further developing methods of propagating successful models such as Don Kirkwood’s Computer Science Program in North Salem (hereinafter “The Propagator”).

• John Ossowski of Techstart is very interested in working together on the Equity minigrant portion of The Propagator, based on Jo’s sketch of potential roles for OPAS and Techstart.
  

OPAS	Techstart
Fundraise (Jo to ask Kathy Miller if she is still willing to make phone calls)	Publicize the program for donors and grantees (Paragraph on the “Contribute” webpage? Followup letters to phone calls.  Donation receipts. Note on SuperQuest materials?)
Provide program and selection criteria	Collect funds
Provide substantial draft of application form	Collect applications; answer applicant questions
Provide personnel for review of applications, selection of awards, possibly host meeting	Staff support for review committee (screen applications for compliance; distribute packets, possibly host meeting)
Review progress reports/ results	Disburse funds (to schools? Direct to teachers? Cf. InvenTeam model)
Recommendations for future changes	Collect and collate/summarize progress reports

• The group agreed to keep the focus tight for this year, to promote the possibility of quick implementation of a pilot Propagator program.  Jo will edit and circulate the document describing the Propagator.
• Open questions:
• What additional information do we need to get funding?  There is a possibility amounts in the few thousand dollar range from ETIC.
• Are there barriers or issues to OUS labeling itself as a “partner” in the minigrant program?
• Can we track free-and-reduced-lunch percentage at the classroom level?  Does this differ by district?
• How rigorous a review is needed?
• Can we put this together for summer 2008?
• A short list of potential partner/ exhibitor/ sponsors for this type of event/ activity was generated.

On a related issue, it was determined that it is unlikely that the teacher mentoring program funded in response to HB2574 and granted to various collaborations of schools districts and ESDs will be an avenue for targeted mentoring of CS or engineering teachers.  These programs are much more wide-ranging.  We might be able to provide the award-winning districts lists of potential mentors or exemplar programs, perhaps on some prestigious letterhead.

At the next meeting, the group will focus on gender and URM equity strategies across the OPAS Proposal for ETIC, as previously requested by the other workgroups.  Jo will poll the workgroup chairs to see if they have evolved more particular questions or issues in the meantime.  
Next Meeting: Friday, July 18, 2008 3:30 – 5:00 via teleconference.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, 5/23/08

Agenda #10 - April 24, 2008

Meeting Objective	Bring the group up-to-date on ETIC/OPAS Activity especially the Proposal and align our contributions to that.
3:30	Phone in 1.866.232.8377 conference ID 3090# -- Say your name -- Meet and greet
	Status & Activity OACTE Report - Don Kirkwood (Oregon Association for Career & Technical Ed) slides - ppt - color pdf ODE's "Guidelines, Scenarios and Resources for Offering Credit in Applied Academics - pdf Motivate & Prepare are working on more detailed planning for implementation of programs in the ETIC/OPAS Proposal Motivate - engineering team challenges; coach stipends Prepare - survey of curricula/programs in addition to PLTW Steering continues to work on the ETIC/OPAS proposal plan and has begun preliminary research for alternate funding Pathways is working on turning last year's graphic on the Manufacturing Engineering Technology degrees state-wide articulation agreement into a brochure more tightly aimed at students and parents.
	Current Status on Road Show File size has been cut down using more appropriate photo storage (thanks Ken) Photo credit correction to Girls in Science Community college slides analagous to OUS slides in progress Current files: STEM Diversity Show - Best Practices- rev a: ppt - pdf STEM Diversity Show - General Roles - rev b: ppt - pdf STEM Diversity Show - OUS - rev b: ppt - pdf STEM Diversity Show - Community Colleges - rev a: ppt - pdf STEM Diversity Benefits - Dec 21, 2007 - doc Practical Guide to STEM - Nov 12, 2007 - doc
	OPAS Policy Option Package through ETIC Discussion - reference the ETIC Proposal to OPAS - pdf Gender and URM strategies and metrics across the POP
4:50	Last Thoughts, Action Items and Next Steps
4:57 - 5:00	Next Meeting -Thursday, May 22 - 3:30 - 5:00 ?

 

Detailed Meeting Record for April 24, 2008

Summary: Four members of the committee attended the April 24, 2008 teleconference.

Don Kirkwood reported on his presentation at the Oregon Association of Career and Technical Educators (OACTE) conference, titled “ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMath: with all your concerns, why should you care?” and given to a standing-room-only crowd of 40-50 people.  He estimates that 1/3 were administrators and 1/3 teachers.

• The talk was well-received, and “knocked a lot of illusions out” of the audiences heads concerning occupational outlook, cost of creating programs, and availability of resources and examples.
• Three administrators and 4 or 5 teachers spent additional time with Don; some of these intend further followup, perhaps with on-site visits.  Don will follow up with these administrators to ask if COSA is an appropriate venue for this presentation.  We have probably missed this year’s window unless we finagle some special handling.
• Don has just received his enrollment numbers for next year’s AP CS; in the last three years at North Salem, it has doubled.  He will send these numbers to Jo.
• Next year at OACTE, Don plans a session centered on specific techniques to achieve gender and other kinds of equity.
• The workgroup discussed how to leverage both this presentation and Don’s work in North Salem to enhance replicability.  Some elements that might be folded in to more detailed planning of the ETIC/ OPAS Proposal:
• Creation of a support structure for these programs.
• Mentoring for new teachers:  both new to teaching these courses, and new to teaching.
• Hosting visiting teachers in Don’s classroom (there is a state-wide mentoring program for new teachers that may help with this.)
• On-site visits to new programs by mentor teachers.
• Perhaps a one or half-day conference/workshop.
• Would a teacher on special assignment format be appropriate?
• SuperQuest might be a good starting point for some or all of this.
• This discussion returned to the idea of minigrants previously discussed.  Don uses funds for refreshments and door prizes at recruiting events such as “No Boys Allowed”; cannot use school district money for these costs.
• If a minigrant program could be established at a non-profit, it would address many issues.
• Structure the program to target SuperQuest attendees only at first; 10 – 15 schools at around $2,000 each.
• Could extend advertising the program to events such as ORTOP, PSU Engineering Day, etc.
• Criteria include teachers; minority recruiting to pre-engineering and CS in-class programs; enrichment to such programs (field trips, additional materials)
• Small grant amounts
• Possible matching structure would make the program more attractive to funders in the long run.
• Support for seeking in-kind donations from the local community
• Boilerplate ask letters
• Endorsement
• Possible contacts at the state-wide level (state chamber of commerce, state Rotary)
• Don gives out computers as door prizes – seek out a single donation of multiple computers as an in-kind donation to the minigrant program?

 

A short brainstorming session on how the group might contribute to equity-creating strategies across all segments of the ETIC/ OPAS Proposal resulted in a recommendation to be very intentional about creating equity, and in planning for family involvement.  Discussion will continue.

Some concern was expressed about an engineering coaches program creating equitable compensation issues with other science-based extracurricular activities.  Careful implementation might minimize this risk.

Next Meeting:  May 22, 2008 3:30 – 5:00 via teleconference.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, April 25, 2008

 

Agenda #9 - February 21, 2008

Meeting Objective	Focus on turning the ETIC presentation into a solid proposal by March 7 in preparation for the ETIC allocation meeting
3:30	Meet and greet
3:35 - 3:45	Presentation of the OPAS Program for Change to ETIC slides as presented - pdf more slides were developed for background; contact Jo if you need to refer to them Bruce's summary For this ask we need to ensure we focus on the E in STEM, (Engineering, Computer Science, and Materials Science) as that is what ETIC wants to buy questions
3:45 - 4:50	Further refinement for writing the actual proposal to ETIC results in restating programs in terms of criteria and results to avoid violation of state agency procurement rules – to support rolling the subproposals up, we need to generate: Paragraph characterizing the elements of exemplar program(s). How is this program likely to deliver more well-prepared college freshman choosing engineering, CS, or materials science? How does this program achieve sustainable systemic change – that is, change that will outlive the OPAS committee structure and its solicitation and oversight of allocation of ETIC funding. Delineate the balance of quantity, quality,  and diversity Describe how to stage the growth in terms of geography, types of schools, target student audiences (ultimately a 6 year time line) The criteria question – to allow us to write the proposal “un-branded” to correctly follow procurement rules as a state agency – some ideas to consider: Why you picked a particular “brand” – what qualities, metrics, strategies, resources make it an exemplar program; if you think they are missing a piece, by all means include it. What the metrics are and/or should be What qualities/resources demonstrate that a particular organization can deliver the program Delivery vehicle/model What are your metrics? How do they relate to ETIC interests? Reference materials:   Subproposal for OST programs - doc - pdf
4:50	Last Thoughts, Action Items and Next Steps Any additions or modifications to the review of the meat for the proposal Get the Road Show done for Don's mid-April OACTE Presentation
4:57 - 5:00	Next Meeting - Wednesday, March 27 (Spring Break) or March 20, 3:30 - 5:00 ? Time to reset default schedule?

Detailed Meeting Record for February 21, 2008 - in process

Summary - in process

 

Agenda #8 - December 20, 2007

3:30 - 3:35	Welcome and Introductions
	OPAS Steering Committee (Bruce/ Jo) DRAFT Investment Model (Rev G, December 20, 2007) Based on Legislative Concepts work and associated survey. This version includes some changes based on Steering Committee meeting on Dec. 17. Relationsship to OPAS workgroups Motivate - under discussion Prepare - PLTW advocacy role; possible CS Pathways - working on CS articulation How would Succeed like to be involved?
	Road Show (Eda/ Jo) - Not reviewed in November STEM Diversity Benefits (.doc) dated 12/20/07 now with pictures! Formatting tweaks still needed. Practical Guide to STEM (.doc) dated 11/12/07 STEM Diversity Show with Talking points as "Notes" .ppt - has pictures, color - huge file - .pdf - handouts with 1 slide & notes per page dated 12/20/07 with changes from November meeting and Eda's tweaks; photo changes not (yet) done
	Venues and Forums for STEM Diversity Presentations Any updates? COSA - Eda OACTE - Mary Oregon Math Leaders - Don Superintendent's Summer Institute - Mary, Bruce via Jo CTAG 2008 - Mary Workforce Investment Groups - Jo
	Targeting our efforts for the current academic year Identifying and recruiting new members Jo's question: can we bring some value to recruiting and retention efforts in high school classes such as PLTW, pre-engineering, higher math and physics?
4:55 - 5:00	Happy Holidays! Next meeting: Thursday January 24, 2008 ?

Detailed Meeting Record for #8 December 20, 2007

Summary: Four members of the workgroup met on December 20.  Bruce Schafer (OUS/ETIC) gave a presentation on the Draft Investment Model being developed by the Steering Committee and OUS staff, in preparation for a legislative policy option package.  The workgroup liked the concept, the unifying structure, and the inclusion of partner groups.  Critique points:

• Make the diagram boxes bigger and subsume the “post-its” into the boxes.
• Make much more explicit the social and educational goals/outcomes that this investment supports.
• “Increase student opportunities to practice rigor, problem-solving and critical thinking in a relevant and engaging context that prepares them for real-world career options.”
• Tie to new diploma requirements, transferability of skills
• Emphasize gender, ethnicity, SES, location diversity
• Present programs as tools/strategies to create the desired outcome rather than an end in themselves.
• Hook into existing efforts especially Perkins IV and new diploma requirements, workforce prep
• Potential Partners – the more the better; the more places a partner can slot in to the diagram the better (e.g., BEC). Absolutely must get community colleges into the picture.
• Saturday Academy on the engineering side
• ISEF
• Discovery Channel Middle School Science Challenge [sic?]

The workgroup also reviewed the latest draft of the Road Show documents.   Endi Hartigan has done an excellent job polishing these.  We are closing in on a final version. The community college/university piece will be pulled out into a separate file.  Jo will scout out community college material.  The review of the remaining documents will be continued via email.

The next meeting will be scheduled between January’s two Steering Committee meetings.  Jo will poll for a date of January 17.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, December 20, 2007

Agenda #7 - November 15, 2007

3:30 - 3:35	Welcome and Introductions
	OPAS Steering Committee Brainstorming Legislative Concepts Ballot - please be sure to click SUBMIT ETIC/OPAS RFP awards final short presentation on awards Workgroup Summary Status reports
	Road Show (Eda) - reformatted documents; edits thanks to Endi Hartigan of the OUS Chancellor's Office STEM Diversity Show with Talking points as "Notes" .ppt - has pictures, color - huge file .pdf - handouts with 1 slide & notes per page dated 11/14/07 STEM Diversity Benefits (.doc) dated 11/12/07 Practical Guide to STEM (.doc) dated 11/12/07
	Venues and Forums for STEM Diversity Presentations Any updates? COSA - Eda OACTE - Mary Oregon Math Leaders - Don Superintendent's Summer Institute - Mary, Bruce via Jo CTAG 2008 - Mary Workforce Investment Groups - Jo
	Targeting our efforts for the current academic year Identifying and recruiting new members Jo's question: can we bring some value to recruiting and retention efforts in high school classes such as PLTW, pre-engineering, higher math and physics?
	Don Kirkwood asked me to share this 1991 paper on why there are so few female Computer Scientists -- subtleties rather than direct discrimination - http://people.mills.edu/spertus/Gender/pap/pap.html
4:55 - 5:00	Happy Thanksgiving! Next meeting: December 20 ?

Meeting Record for November 15, 2007

Summary: Four members of the Workgroup attended the November 15 meeting, due to several last-minute schedule conflicts.

The ETIC/OPAS RFP awards were reviewed; three of these are Project Lead the Way (PLTW) implementations.  Jo Oshiro and Mary Bunn discussed possible ways to aid PLTW teachers in particular and CTE, calculus, physics teachers in general on best practices for recruitment and retention of particularly girls and URM in general.  Mary suggests both the PLTW Summer Training Institute and especially the ESDs and the Regional PTE Coordinators as excellent starting points.

The talking points of the STEM Diversity Show were reviewed in depth. Some key revisions:

• On the title slide, use italics, bolding, or the like to make STEM stand out
• Every 5-6 slides, repeat the full definition of “STEM”
• Jo will get a validated figure for “80% of Oregon’s high-tech jobs are not in high-tech industries” working with Brenda Turner.
• Bullets will be changed to look less like the letter “o”.
• On the “Barriers are Real” slide 7, “Performance Levels” will be re-stated so as to be less open to the interpretation that women and minorities are inherently less capable – we will make it more clear that differences in performance are likely due to social constructs.
• Slide 9 “Effective Efforts in STEM Diversity” will give Oregon examples.
• Slide 10 and 11, the loaded “citizen” will be changed to “Oregonians”
• Slide 14 “Colleges and Universities have a role” will be expanded with additional slides:
• Map with OUS schools
• Individual OUS school slide with website/address info – outreach contact?
• Slide 15 “Businesses and Industries have a role” will give specific examples of professional organizations: IEEE, ACS, ASCE.  Specific examples on others?
• Slide 18 & 19 – Change “Embed engineering …” to talk only about college planning and career awareness; add bullet “Use real-world, hands-on application of theory and knowledge in STEM” with example programs.
• Slide 20 – “Families have a role” – add a slide on “Use of STEM in daily life”
• Slide 21 – Do we have a photo with greater #’s of people working on a problem?
• Slide 23 – Add a slide – Who to contact

Any comments on the other two documents need to be sent to Jo via email.

We are still awaiting word from OACTE on the possibility of a presentation.  Trish Lytton, a teacher at North Eugene High School has mentioned the possibility of an OPAS presentation at the Math Leaders conference.  Jo will touch base with Don Kirkwood and pursue this.

Bruce is currently reworking the Legislative Concepts ideas into a package; input via the ballot is still appreciated.  Gayle liked the survey and the serious gathering of input.  Jo is holding the ballot open.

Jo will poll for a next meeting date of December 20.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, 11/16/07

Agenda #6 - September 27, 2007 (as drafted at the last meeting & progressively updated)

1:00 - 1:05	Welcome and Introductions
	OPAS Steering Committee Brainstorming Legislative Concepts ETIC/OPAS RFP. 25 in the reviewer's hands; reviewers include current representatives from all workgroups except Succeed, but a member of the 2006 Diversity committee is reviewing. 8 reviewers; 2 women; 2 people of color; 2 with strong ties outside of the Metro area; 3 from industry; 4 higher ed; 4 strong K12; Bruce's concerns with a Seed Fund Grant review, selection, and administrative overhead Workgroup Summary Status reports
	Road Show (Eda) - reformatted documents STEM Diversity Show .ppt - has pictures, color - huge file .pdf - handouts with 2 slides per page, color Talking Points for the STEM Diversity Show .ppt - slides .pdf - handouts with 2 slides per page, color STEM Diversity Benefits (.doc) Practical Guide to STEM (.doc)
	Venues and Forums for STEM Diversity Presentations Any updates? COSA - Eda OACTE - Mary Oregon Math Leaders - Don Superintendent's Summer Institute - Mary, Bruce via Jo CTAG 2008 - Mary Workforce Investment Groups - Jo
	Targeting our efforts for the current academic year
4:55 - 5:00	Next meeting: October 25?

Detailed Meeting Record for September 27, 2007- in process

Summary:

Agenda - #5 - July 26, 2007

1:00 - 1:05	Welcome and Introductions
	Opportunities for STEM Diversity Presenations Results of Research COSA - Eda OACTE - Mary Oregon Math Leaders - Don Superintendent's Summer Institute - Mary CTAG 2008 - Mary Workforce Investment Groups - Jo
	Review - Action Items and Information Points from May 24th Meeting Current perceptions of teachers and students about STEM - any research out there? Larry Enochs at OSU recommended a paper Connections with OPAS Motivate Workgroup
	Workgroup Priorities Feedback: Administrators' perspective of the new graduation requirements
	New Items and Information ETIC ratified a list of pre-college proposals July 20
2:55 - 3:00	Next meeting: Reschedule August 23 meeting or declare summer break? Items for agenda? Road show finals

Detailed Notes for July 26, 2007 - coming soon

Summary: Six members of the workgroup met face-to-face at Chemeketa Community College (thank you, Ron Jantzi) to reinforce relationships made via phone and email. 

• Kathy Miller was able to join us for the first time; her presence here complements her activities with ETIC and ONAMI. She’s very passionate about innovation, product-to-market, manufacturing, technology transfer and is currently working with start-ups.
• Jill Tucker has had a long career overseas.  Her current work with the Lemelson Foundation includes talking with experts on opportunities and barriers as the foundation strives to make a coherent strategy for their US programs to create deliberate links between invention, education, and enterprise development.
• Don Kirkwood also has considerable overseas experience, growing up as a service brat and teaching.  He is a passionate advocate for his underserved students and for fostering teacher creativity.  He is currently working on a special project for the Prepare Workgroup concerning implementation of CTE and especially CS programs.  He will share results with us shortly.
• Eda Davis-Butts, Jo Oshiro, and Mary Bunn all come to equity work with personal experience of societal attempts to limit their choices as young students.

Eda will circulate the next draft of the “Road Show” documents for review at our September meeting.  This will involve additional photos and substantial reformatting.  Venues for presentation of the material were discussed:

• COSA, Seaside, June 19-21, 2008.  May require a sponsoring administrator; Don may have a willing sponsor.  Sean Gallagher of the Prepare Workgroup is another possibility.   Need to identify the appropriate magic words and hot buttons to give session descriptions the right buzz.
• OACTE, Sunriver, April 17-18, 2008.  We have an opportunity to present a thumbnail sketch to the Board in August.
• Math Leaders, Linfield College, August 5-7, 2007.  While too late to present this year, we will look for an ally/advocate among the members this year, and target next year for a presentation.
• Superintendent’s Summer Institute, Portland, August 6-8, 2007.  This mix of keynotes, classes, breakouts, and “nuts and bolts” sessions with local people and national experts is attended by 1200 teacher and administrator teams.  Mary Bunn and Bruce Schafer will be attending.  Jo will post a session schedule (and eventually at least a partial program) on the OPAS Master Resources List.
• CTAG, Portland, May 9, 2008.  The current assumption is that the conference will happen again; the banquet for presentation of sponsored awards to school districts which are doing well at closing the achievement gap is already planned.
• More research is needed on Workforce Investment groups, including OWIB (which has a State Youth Committee serving foster and incarcerated kids), Oregon Innovation Council, and Worksystems, Inc.
• Possible additional venues or forums:
• Oregon School Boards Conference, annual, November.
• Oregon School Counseling Association
• Groups that are not formal educators – remember that research says that “OST is key” (Out of School Time) for underserved students, especially of low socioeconomic status, during both the school year and the summer.
• NWREL (Northwest Regional Education Laboratory)
• Head Start
• Church Groups
• In-school before and after care providers
• Parent-Teacher Organizations
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• PALs (Police Activities League)
• 4H

The group shared some articles and results of a focused e-interview with two school administrators; Jo will post these on the Master Resources List.

Funding was discussed; we would like to support grass-roots efforts of teachers trying to create these programs and an appropriate culture locally.  Ways and means for creating a seed fund for mini-grants were discussed.  Because of Don’s growing awareness of funding issues, he is attempting a more analytical and data-based approach to tracking his new interdisciplinary honors geometry and computer science course this year.  Any seed funding criteria must include diversity, replicability/scalability, and performance metrics.

Additional concerns:  education is the only industry that does not focus on human capital; the preference for programs over people may be a poor strategy; we need to connect to the pre-service world; how to support parents as effective advocates for their children in school as a piece of family involvement and empowerment.

The next meeting is scheduled for September 27, 2007.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, 7/28/07

Agenda - #4 - May 24, 2007

3:30 - 3:35	Welcome and Introductions
	Opportunities for STEM Diversity Presenations Review of Current Conferences -- Tom Thompson's Spreadsheet of Events Is there a need for a new event? What, when, for whom?
	Review - Action Items and Information Points from May 10th Meeting Hillsboro School-to-Work demographics - they have no data Chalkboard - year-round school - identified as an issue - "alternative school formats" not yet a priority Current perceptions of teachers and students about STEM - any research out there? Connections with OPAS Motivate Workgroup
	Review - Volunteer form
	Face-to-face Succeed Workgroup Meeting Where? Corvallis? When - June 28? Topics?
	New Items and Information
4:55 - 5:00	Next meeting: June 28? Items for agenda?

Detailed Notes for May 24, 2007 coming soon

Summary: The most recent meeting was held via teleconference May 24, 2007.

The group reviewed a list of currently known educator conferences, events, and meetings as possible venues for presentation of the Succeed Workgroup materials – the “Road Show” under development and the White Paper “Fostering STEM Diversity”.  The group added substantially to the list and prioritized these venues for informal contact in 2007 and formal presentations in 2008.  Workgroup members volunteered to further research these venues.

• COSA (Council of School Administrators) - Eda
• OACTE (Oregon Association of Career and Technical Educators) - Mary
• Oregon Math Leaders - Don
• Superintendent’s Summer Institute (ODE) - Mary
• CTAG (ODE’s Closing the Achievement Gap Conference) - Mary
• Workforce Investment Groups – Jo

The group decided that planning a new event is not the best use of resources at this time, but that if another workgroup or closely allied group such as NOISE decides to host another event, we are willing to collaborate to ensure inclusiveness issues are addressed.  We will keep our eyes open for additional opportunities for informal and formal presentation of materials, viewpoint, and contacts.  Jo will work on a one-page issue brief on OPAS and the Succeed Workgroup.

Eda plans to work on completing the “Road Show” documents for the first meeting following the summer break.

Action items and information points from the previous meeting were reviewed.  Eda and Don agreed to forward additional information on current perceptions of teachers and students around STEM; Jo will summarize and distribute the results of the collective research.  The group would like to raise a flag about using the Hillsboro School-to-Work program as a model when no demographic data exists; Jo will bring this point up with Mary Beth Horton of the BEC who is on a relevant leadership team (see the Motivate Workgroup meeting summaries).

The Volunteer form draft was reviewed; Eda will collate the comments and the document will be shared with the Motivate Workgroup.

The next meeting is planned to be face-to-face; Jo will poll for a specific time and arrange a room in Salem, probably at Chemeketa Community College.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro, 5/25/07

Agenda - #3 - May 10, 2007

3:30 - 3:35	Welcome and Introductions
	Further Discussion of High School Graduation Changes - warnings and opportunities? New Requirements - ODE 2 Pager New Requirements - ODE Draft - explicitly mentions use of CTE classes such as CS and engineering to meet science and math requirements
	Roadshow Presentation Discussion of the Draft(s) Powerpoint - STEM Diversity Handout(s) Practical STEM Guide STEM Diversity Benefits OPAS "PR notebook" (Jo) Identifying best fits among existing venues Tom Thompson's Spreadsheet of events Discussing options for a new event
	Setting Priorities for the Workgroup
	Action Items
4:55 - 5:00	Next meeting: Thursday May 24, 3:30 - 5:00 ? June 28? Items for agenda?


Detailed Notes for May 10, 2007 coming soon

Summary for May 10, 2007: Jill Tucker of the Lemelson Foundation was able to join us for the first time.  Lemelson’s Oregon grants constitute a small part of the foundation’s giving, and these concentrate on science, technology, STEM education and underrepresented groups.  The foundation is currently re-evaluating its US programs in general to focus on invention-led economic opportunity for underserved communities.  Jill hopes that her involvement with OPAS will help inform Lemelson’s collaborations and approach to funding in the US.

The new ODE graduation requirements were discussed, including the 1999 requirement for Career Related Learning Experiences (CRLEs) which recently took effect.  The group agreed that the need to implement these requirements may lower many barriers to change. The intent is to better understand how use this opportunity to further our mission; the group agreed that additional input is needed from at least one teacher and one administrator.   Possible discussion points with teacher(s) and administrator(s):

• Given the participation and achievement gap in STEM disciplines, what do you perceive as new challenges resulting from the new requirements?  Will things be better or worse?
• How do you believe the community beyond the immediate family can support the success of students in meeting the new requirements?
• Do you see new opportunities for students resulting from these requirements?
• How might the Succeed Workgroup support the success of underrepresented, underserved students in meeting the new requirements?
• What do you see as the biggest barriers to implementing the new graduation requirements, including the CRLEs?

Math is likely the highest priority.  Succeed’s optimal role may be as an advisor to ongoing activity in the Motivate Workgroup concerning connecting volunteers to the classroom and CRLEs; we will furnish them with the roadshow documents as a starting point.

Information was shared on the differential loss of learning over the summer by socioeconomic group, and the workability of various lengths and formats of summer camps.  For URM especially, out-of-school time is key to closing achievement and participation gaps.

The roadshow documents were reviewed; a photo and story component will be added.  Wendy and Jo will forward photos to Eda so that students from ORTOP, MESA, SMILE, and OIT will be represented.  Text will be incorporated in to the notes rather than the slides themselves.

We will have a short meeting at the regularly scheduled time on Thursday, May 24, 3:30.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro 5/14/07

Agenda - #2 - March 22, 2007

3:30 - 3:35	Welcome and Introductions
3:35 - 3:40	Website Enhancements Workgroup Index Page with Status Summaries Succeed Strategy Page Roster Previous Agendas Working Documents Master Resources List
3:40 -	Funding Analysis Worksheet for the Steering Committee
	Further Discussion of High School Graduation Changes New Requirements - ODE 2 Pager New Requirements - ODE Draft
	Related Activity AeA Scholarships (Jo) NBA (Don) UMSAAT (Eda)
	Roadshow Presentation Discussion of the Draft(s) Powerpoint - STEM Diversity Handout(s) Practical STEM Guide STEM Diversity Benefits OPAS "PR notebook" Identifying best fits among existing venues Tom Thompson's Spreadsheet of events Discussing options for a new event
	Setting Priorities for the Workgroup
	Action Items
4:55 - 5:00	Next meeting: Thursday April 26, 3:30 - 5:00 Items for agenda?


Detailed Notes for March 22, 2007

Summary: The workgroup welcomed new member Sue Peters of MESA, whose day-to-day work closely aligns with that of OPAS and the workgroup. Due to the last-minute addition of the Funding Analysis exercise to the agenda, several items were tabled.

• Funding I: How would the workgroup spend a hypothetical $1 million? Recommendations centered around establishing teacher learning communities including pre-service teachers, perhaps starting with a conference, and direct opportunities for students, with mentoring as a favored vehicle, perhaps using ASPIRE as a model.
• Funding II: How should the goals and criteria for a possible $400K RFP be framed? Recommendations centered around increasing STEM content and awareness among teachers, students, or families and expanding capacity in the state for STEM education and careers. Framing the RFP should include how the needs which proposed projects address tie to the focal strategies of the OPAS workgroups. Criteria should favor existing programs over new programs, quality over quantity, demonstrated success, extensibility and replicability, and encourage but not require collaboration.
• AeA Scholarship: This year, thanks to collaboration with OPAS members, there was a 17% increase in total completed applications, with 4.8% Hispanic Latino(33% increase), and 36.5% female (54% increase).
• No Boys Allowed: This year's event was very successful and two of the student organizers will be presenting this program at the OACTE conference in April. Next year's event is planned for a day when high school is not in session but middle school is, with busses provided.
• UMSAAT: Eda has asked for a slot on th spring or fall meeting agenda to begin establishing a relationship with this group.
• Roadshow draft documents: A powerpoint presentation and two supporting handouts were reviewed. Several of the powerpoint slides represent a menu of audiences to whom to address specific action items. The group lauded Eda's work. Any further edits and comments are to be emailed to Eda by Friday, April 20 and she will circulate the next draft before the next meeting on Thursday, April 26.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro 3/22/07

Agenda - #1 - February 22, 2007

3:30 - 3:45	Welcome and Introductions
3:45 - 4:00	Some resources: "Fostering STEM Diversity" - white paper After School Alliance tells Congress ... Issue Brief: At the STEM of Learning The Coalition for Science After School Science Learning Opportunities in the Afterschool Landscape
4:00 - 4:10	Review of Recommendations from November 2006 OPAS Workshop Workshop Final Report (see pages 4-6, 11-12)
4:10 - 4:20	Review of High School Graduation Changes
4:30 - 4:50	Setting Priorities for the Workgroup
4:50 - 4:55	Action Items
4:55 - 5:00	Next meeting: Thursday March 22 3:30 - 5:00 Items for agenda?

Detailed Notes for February 22, 2007

As of the first meeting, Succeed Strategy has 11 members including Jo and 2 advisors/interested observers. The workgroup discussed ways of bringing our message - the importance of inclusive STEM education and our research-based summary of best practices to achieve that inclusiveness - to a wider audience, probably through presentations to educators and administrators in venues where they are already gathered such as professional association conferences. Based on this discussion and the OPAS White Paper "Fostering STEM Diversity", Eda will draft slides and handouts as for a presentation that we hope to package so that any workgroup(and perhaps steering committee) member could use as the basis for a tailoring delivery -- perhaps accompanied by role model teachers and students when appropriate -- to specific audiences. The workgroup is also thinking through more articulate definitions of target audiences and venues. The Succeed Strategy Workgroup meets on the fourth Thursday of the month via phone.

On March 14, the draft materials discussed above were posted on the workgroup website, both attached to the next meeting agenda and in a separate "Working Documents" section. The White Paper "Fostering STEM Diversity" has been given final approval and will be released shortly.

Respectfully submitted, Jo Oshiro 3/14/07

For questions or information regarding OPAS and its workgroups, please email Jo Oshiro or call (503) 725.2910.

last update to this page June 12, 2007 jco