March 29, 2024

Taking Work to School: STEM Volunteers Sought

Posted by The Patuxent Partnership
Pax III

With the start of the school year, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education is again looking for volunteers to participate in its STEMnet program designed to inspire high school students to pursue STEM careers.

STEMnet seeks professionals working in biology/life sciences, chemistry, or physics and others who use algebra concepts in their work. Their experiences, advice and expertise are exactly what teenagers want and need to inform their decisions, ignite their imaginations, and inspire them to pursue and achieve their goals.

Research shows that four interactions in high school with workplace professionals will result in higher earning power once students graduate. You can provide one, or more, of those interactions and change life outcomes for dozens or even hundreds of people.

STEMnet has hundreds of volunteers in Maryland, but only a handful of trained volunteers in Southern Maryland. Among the schools immediately seeking STEM volunteers is Chopticon High School in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. STEMnet is also in place for schools in Calvert and Charles counties.

The way it works: Volunteers complete an online profile of work experience and their expertise in areas of math and science. Using an online match-up system teachers invite and schedule the volunteer specialists to “co‐teach” a lesson from their class curriculum in biology, chemistry, physics, or algebra that show students real‐world applications of the skills they are learning. The lessons are designed to demonstrate how math/science is used in the workplace.

The goal is to strengthen STEM teaching and learning by showing how the applications of math/science concepts and skills are relevant in the real world.

Take these steps to help:
1. Register to participate at www.thestemnet.com.
2. Attend a 3-hour training session. (A Maryland Business Roundtable for Education instructor will come to St. Mary’s to give the training once all the volunteers are identified.)
3. Conduct four classroom presentations/demonstrations a year, choosing the schools and dates that fit your schedule.

With a limited time commitment, about two or three half-days, you can influence 100 young people in your community.

Register here.

For more information contact Nona Carroll, Program Director, 5520 Research Park Drive, Suite 150, Baltimore, MD 21228 Office: 410.788.0333

Source: Maryland Business Roundtable for Education

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