To counter Wisconsin’s shortage of workers in science, technology, engineering and math fields (STEM), the Wisconsin Technology Council is calling on state business leaders and educators to encourage greater emphasis on STEM education throughout the state.
“A focus on STEM education is always important, but especially now with the economy changing,” Ryann Petit-Frere of the Wisconsin Technology Council said. “Wisconsin has an opportunity to get a leap ahead of the nation and produce graduates in the fields that we know have high growth potential, the fields in science, technology, engineering and math,”
The Tech Council, an independent, non-partisan science and technology adviser to the governor and Legislature, put on a series of town hall-style meetings in January through March of this year. About 575 professionals, business owners and educators discussed the growing shortage of STEM graduates and professionals in Wisconsin.
Following the meetings, the council recently released a report, “Educating a Tech-Savvy Workforce in Wisconsin,” that issued five recommendations to leaders and educators in Wisconsin to help them create a knowledgeable workforce for the future. The suggestions are:
Use student assessments effectively. According to the Tech Council, all students could benefit from relevant assessments that support both college and vocational readiness. The assessments must be updated to make sure they are related to 21st century skills.
Provide teachers with the training they need. The Wisconsin Tech Council advocates reinstating a federally-funded program called summer teaching academies, in which teachers are educated and updated on how to gear some of their education towards practical knowledge. The teachers are then responsible for bringing those practices back to their schools. “The focus then becomes on student achievement rather than preparing for standardized testing, so students are more prepared for the 21st century jobs in a knowledge economy,” said Petit-Frere.
Engage business in meaningful ways. A Minnesota initiative called “getSTEM” supports business and educators in their efforts to connect and educate together. One way it does this is to match business resources and school needs. The Wisconsin Tech Council advises launching a similar statewide initiative.
Celebrate successes in a highly visible, public way. According to the Tech council, success in efforts to boost STEM graduation and education should be applauded, says the Tech Council. They suggest creating an annual awards program, culminating in a high-profile conference, to honor excellence in STEM education. The conference would attract researchers and investors who can benefit from a knowledgeable, trained workforce.
Make STEM education a statewide public policy priority. The efforts to use student assessments, boost education, engage business and celebrate success will be lost if STEM education does not continue to be a priority. The Tech Council suggests that the state government monitors the best programs and practices, keeps track of what is working in other states, encourages collaboration and maintains funding for the successful initiatives.
Taking these steps can ensure a highly trained workforce in Wisconsin, especially when matched with other successful STEM programs in the state like the Science Olympiad, Petit-Frere said.
The Olympiad is a national science contest that aims to reach students interested in multiple science fields such as physics, aerodynamics, engineering and science writing. Petit-Frere said these are the areas that will see growth in the future.
“Our economy has historically been driven by manual labor or learning the skills that were necessary to survive,” Petit-Frere said. “When the dawn of technology came, we very quickly shifted into a knowledge economy and the ability to utilize brainpower grew. Jobs are moving towards things that need brainpower, and advancing those skills with higher education is a huge part of that.”
