STEM Results

Why the STEM Results Project?
STEMResults™ is the first nationwide effort to identify, inventory, classify and analyze measurable results being produced by more than 5,000 STEM organizations across the U.S. STEM Pipeline. The project identifies STEM Programs within organizations, describes the goals related to STEM programs managed by participating entities, and then matches these goals and aspirations against actual results.

Goals of the STEM Results Project

• Catalog and profile STEM Education programs and interventions nationwide and at all levels and categories of involvement in the STEM talent pipeline.
• Share best practices and help to communicate the existence of successful STEM education interventions and models to others.
• Recognize and promote greater connectivity between successful groups working in the STEM education space with those who want to learn more about managing such programs.
• Coordinate STEM education initiatives to improve the STEM pipeline and STEM workforce.

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound) Metrics
The STEM Results project encourages adoption of SMART metrics for organizations that manage STEM programs. SMART metrics aid organizations in strategic planning, evaluation, and overall effectiveness by ensuring that programs are being measured and objectives are being met. Once identified and described, STEM programs that employ SMART metrics and achieve results can also be used by other STEM organizations that need role models for their own work.

Categories of the STEM Results Project
STEM organizations have a vast number of focus areas, differing audiences and geographic scope. The STEMResults™ Project has developed categories that allow groups with a similar scope of work to be clustered into groups. The following initial categories have been targeted for the pilot phase of the project:

Initial Findings

• Discovering new and unexpected metrics within STEM organizational management structures.
• Identified significant gaps in management know-how and capacity.
• STEMResults™ has established relationships with hundreds of STEM professionals.
• STEM managers desperate to find suitable role models for their own STEM programs.
• The Pilot Project demonstrates the efficacy of systematic mapping of STEM organizational programs, goals, and achievements.
• Data may be useful in creating Best Practice Models, recognizing Innovation within STEM education efforts, and enhancing the Body of Knowledge of STEM Practices for the general public and STEM education specialists.
• Positive response from invited organizations who generally seem excited about participating.

Accomplishments

• 74 organizations (non-profit, corporate, professional societies, etc. working in STEM Education have been researched and profiled by STEMResults™ during the pilot phase of the project, and have been formally invited to participate in the project.
• 25+ profiles have received organizational sign-off and may be publicly released.
• 14 model organizations presented their results in STEM Education during our October 2nd STEM Results Town Hall.
• STEMconnector website directory has been updated to include signed-off Results profiles.

For more information contact STEMResults™ Project Executive Director Robert S. Boege at rboege@comcast.net