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TRiSE

 

The TRiSE Program allows local youth to have a better opportunity to explore the various fields of science outside of the traditional classroom.  It allows for students to partake in hands-on experiences with different applications of science, instead of an understanding that is theoretically based.  The reason we are seeing students being taken out of the classroom is that we do not wish to have them learn a specific topic and once they take a test or move on to the next subject they merely don’t use it again.  With early exposure to science, this platform will help aid and direct young scientists by helping him or her advance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  The program correspondingly offers students the opportunity to perform hands-on experiments to build an understanding of different aspects of science, as well as learning opportunities in the classroom.  The main aspect we will focus on is that every law of nature is subject to change, refinement, and rejection based on new observation.  This aspect will be covered in areas including electricity, magnets and electromagnetism, earth science, chemistry, the solar system, thermal energy, properties of light, genetics, biology, physics, and engineering.

 

TRiSE stands for Techniques Revolving in Science and Engineering. The purposes of this organization are to design a program that helps deal with the record lows in the participation throughout the STEM degrees and activities nation wild.  The main point of this section is to illustrate how the next generation should consider going into the STEM fields for a future career plan, and as a service to the community, we will help mentor and guide the students on the path of success.  This will be achieved through workshops, learning activities, as well as good mentoring through staff and volunteers. 

 

Background

 

A primary purpose of this project is to provide inspiration to engage students from inner cities to become involved in a program focusing on the fields of science.  Through the program objectives, we can achieve a more socially diverse field in the STEM professions, since there is going to be a soon collapse due to retiring scientist.  Chart 1 was taken from the Bureau of Labor Services explaining the growth and replacement needs based upon occupational groups and is located in the appendix. 

 

This concern has been noticed by Miami Dade College who released a statement reading, “The U.S. is facing an aging task force of baby boomers approaching retirement and the difficulties of hiring foreign STEM workers due to tough immigration laws. Along with these challenges, the U.S. has to increasingly compete with emerging foreign markets focused on expanding their STEM-related industries.”2 The STEM college at Miami Dade College also mentions, “ All these reasons add to continued STEM job growth for years to come, as supported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a 34 percent increase in professional, scientific, and technical services employment by 2018.”2 This program is beneficial because there is more that can be achieved due to recent innovations in science and technology, including finding cures for modern-day diseases, such as AIDS, cancers, and influenza further down the pipeline.

 

Furthermore, there is a recent call for more scientists because of the need to increase the amount of innovation that is involved in our country currently with other countries.  These projects cover topics such as alternative energy and engineering to name a few.  The National Math and Science Initiative points out, ”United States students recently finished in 25th in math and 17th in science in the world compared to 31 other countries.” Likewise, with this program, we could increase the percentage of underrepresented minorities going to college to earn a degree or pursue a career in science. Citable by Nature Education released the following statement in 2010, “Statistics about Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) paint a troubling picture. Members of these groups make up 29 percent of the national population, and they are among the fastest-growing groups in the country. Yet they represent only 9 percent of the nation's college-educated science and engineering workforce."

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As a country, we should desire to achieve this because there is a decrease in contribution in all STEM workforce areas, as well as college programs.  By targeting STEM careers, students can be shown alternative career choices that are different from those represented in different career paths such as sports and entertainment, along with those represented in their community.  Those who can help us achieve these objectives are individuals in the schools where the TRiSE project will be active.  For example, these individuals are professors from neighboring colleges or university, and college students of any level.   By seeking these individuals who have already completed, or who are currently moving through the path of finishing their academic progress from different institutions, colleges, and universities.  By the introduction of these parties, a light can be shed on the current transition to becoming professionals in STEM-related fields.

 

The present problem occurring in the United States has been well documented through databases for example Bureau of Labor Services and the National Science Foundation showing that there is a decline in the recent STEM field.  Released from The National Math and Science Initiative states, “25 years ago, the U.S. led the world in high school and college graduation rates. Today, the U.S. has dropped to 20th and 16th.” This is within both educational and industrial areas.  The TRiSE program will bring academic experience to help influence the next generation of scientist.  With our ability to motivate and to retain underrepresented minorities’ and underprivileged you, as well as encouraging them to become involved in programs focusing on the fields of science, this proposal will bring academic experience to help influence the next generation in STEM areas.  It should be noted that there is a need to know how this opportunity can better the country we live in by utilizing funds to get today’s youth to utilize the program. We aim to change the outcome of a child’s life. Instead of them spending time with social networks or video games, students will be involved in scientific extracurricular activities.  This is all due to the recent decline of participants of individuals who are involved in STEM.  As of now, we as a country sit in the 25th and 17th position in mathematics and science respectively, in a comparison of 31 competing countries.  This proposal will show the advantages that this program will have one the community, state, and the country. 

 

There have been many students who have not had the opportunity to be exposed to professionals in STEM careers; they believe that being a scientist or an engineer is simply not an attainable dream or goal for children in low income and poverty-stricken neighborhoods.  Also, women often believe they share a similarly heavy burden in that they to their male counterparts, especially in STEM education, where 85% of the engineering is composed of men from the ages of 25 and up. The third reason why students have become so disinterested in the field is that of the lack of encouragement from the personal families or the people close to the individual.  In addition to this, there has been an outlook on the disciplines whether they are internal or external.  This is because people within their environment may not give them the proper encouragement that they need to go off in such a field of significance. 

 

This change that could possibly occur as a result of this program could have an ever-lasting effect on the community as well as the people who are involved in the program.  There are a few events that would be the introduction of students to the STEM disciplines.  These events and community activities will cover science fairs; bring your sibling, public fundraiser and live demonstrations of experiments.  By doing so we are making the effort to expose them to something that they may not be used to.  As bringing the children in, we also plan to build parent and community involvement.  While a few years after the first cohort passes through and continue to go on to college with the mindset that they will be going to study in the STEM field.  While in school the individuals could come back to mentor as well as giving back to the community during the summer or whenever they have time to speak to them and explain how there were once in the program where there currently are, in addition to sharing their personal experiences.   

 

As this comes to the end of the pipeline for a single cohort, the third event would be for the ones who went from attended the program, completing college no matter the degree level. The ultimate goal would be to have the alumni’s of the program come back and network with the same kids that replaced them years after.  This would not only help those that are in the program but those who participated in prior years to remember just because they have become successful they shouldn’t forget where they came from.  Through the public promotion of TRiSE, parents can understand the program’s involvement, and act as additional supporters of the program’s initiatives.  An additional benefit is that with each new group that graduates and moves to STEM education and careers, they can come back and contribute themselves to the program, thus reinforcing the impact of the program and its ability to give back to the community.

 

The TRiSE organization is a part of an initiative to allow current students such as underrepresented minorities and underprivileged youth who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics so that they can be exposed to the various fields of science.  This is due to the participation of individuals who attended historically black colleges and universities will be helping oversee, as the others who are assisting with the aims and purposes are those who have once been in the same position but have been able to successfully navigate to their goals of accomplishing STEM careers.

 

Objectives

 

The five objectives of TRiSE are to:

 

• Unite those individuals of the culture, patriotism and honor in the name of STEM disciplines.

• Encourage honorable achievement in every field of STEM.

• Promote the intellectual and moral welfare for those who participate in the organization.

• Assist in the aims and purposes of readying the participants of this organization to continue education in the fields of the STEM.

• Inspire service in the public interest.

 

TRiSE is a project that is based on the crystallization of a vision made clear and the awakening of a higher idea. Created by Douglas Purnell, Jr. in 2010, with the design to promote the intellectual welfare of individuals in field’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The purpose of this program is to enlighten those individuals that are involved to maintain and increase the participation in the STEM areas.  The mission statement of the program is to achieve in every field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  By doing so we will be able to make the world a better place, one scientist at a time.  This will be accomplished through our philosophy of the program which is to uplift the name and the culture of all STEM disciplines as well as to understand the knowledge while applying it to modern day issues.  Also, since there is a demand within the Department of Education we strongly believe the program being proposed will be able to reach the initiative of reaching the goals in STEM areas.  Also, since there is a demand within the Department of Education we strongly believe the program being proposed will be able to reach the initiative of reaching the goals in STEM areas.

 

This program would bring an academic experience that will help influence the next generation in STEM areas.  This proposal is not only focused on minority children but those who attend a school where funding is low or scarce.  It covers many different areas based on the income of the school.  The readers need to know that this is an opportunity that can better the country we live in by utilizing funds to get today's youth to utilize the program.  As well as how we plan to keep the youth coming.  We aim to change the outcome of a child’s life.  Instead of them spending time extra time indulging in social media or video games, they will be involved in extracurricular activities. There have been many students who have not had the opportunity to be exposed to professionals in STEM careers; they believe that being a scientist or an engineer is simply not an attainable dream or goal for children in low income and poverty-stricken neighborhoods.  Also, women often believe they share a similarly heavy burden in that they to their male counterparts, especially in STEM education, where 85% of the engineering is composed of men from the ages of 25 and up. The third reason why students have become so disinterested in the field is because of the lack of encouragement from the personal families or the people close to the individual.  In addition to this, there has been an outlook on the disciplines whether they are internal or external.  This is because people within their environment may not give them the proper encouragement that they need to go off in such a field of significance. 

 

This project is aimed to reach those people that fall within the K-12 grade range. It reaches out to those who work within the department of education, district offices and superintendents, principals, teachers, faculty, staff, parents and the press as well.  The gatekeepers being The National Science Foundation, who would oversee the entire project and its implementation since we are looking for funding through this foundation.

 

Plan of Action

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In order to provide the community with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the STEM field, we should put forth effort in the growth of future scientists and careers in the field of science. By introducing this program, there will be strides to not only encourage youth participation in the STEM field within the community but to inspire other states within the United States to push to be on the same level as our counterparts throughout the world.

 

Step 1: Study the areas where the program would be located the most successful and students would benefit the most from the program.  By exploring this avenue, we as a group will be able to dictate the proper avenues to take along with a tactical plan of how to execute our plan to get to the next step.

 

Step 2: Define the age group of the student participants and required qualification.  Along with this to figure out what are the appropriate experiments to execute.  Our expertise will enable us to construct an application as well as an aptitude test to gauge how knowledgeable the students in STEM education.

 

Step 3: Find volunteers and employees.  We will be able to find volunteers with our program by using a network that has been built through recruitment within the community and also by advertising in newspapers, social media, and the Internet websites of high schools, nearby colleges and universities, and local television news broadcast.

 

Step 4: Start the program and monitor student involvement.  Also to keep the program running until the initiative is fully filled.   By catering to the needs of the students and tracking progression we will be able to follow our successes and the downfalls we may run into while the program is in motion.

 

The facilities that will be used are the selected high schools where students are currently attending.  During the summer, the program will be held in local universities, such as New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey, Delaware State University located in Dover, Delaware and University Delaware in Newark, Delaware.  While being in these facilities we will be using equipment such as basic lab equipment to introduce the students thoroughly to the field at which they select to participate in and what peaks their interest as well.

 

The experience that is within this organization holds many years of service to the community.  Whether it is in the eyes of community service, education, and outreach.  Each member that has been named in the managerial positions as well as an executive assistant has had hands-on experience with the community and are eager, in addition to being willing to provide services for the well being of the community.  By applying everyone’s desire for community improvement we find that there will be a success within the program.  Similar to the No Child Left Behind, we will be using principles that would uplift, encourage and push the students to strive for greatness and to reach all of their goals.

 

With this being stated we plan to reinforce our organization's public correspondence by trying to influence the youth that is going into the STEM career field and making a difference in the community, state as well as the nation in the future.  Since we are a technologically advanced group, we will use advanced methods that are technology-based, up-to-date and to encourage forward thinking to push problem-solving.  Also, is how we are a new organization we will show that there is a different approach that is being selected, where at the same time using the same principles that have been implemented in the field in a fresh atmosphere.  Using innovation and creativity, our program is used to keep the attention of the students while pushing them to achieve in everything that they are involved in. 

 

Assessment Plan

 

Assessing the program will be done in several unique methods.  These methods will consist of standardized testing, a questionnaire, and through group discussions amongst the managerial staff.  The first method of standardized testing will be completed in the beginning as well as the end of the program.  By giving the group of students a standardized test at the beginning of the six-week summer program, we will be able to use the baseline data for future use.  Since the students will be involved in both courses as well as different experimental labs and live demonstrations to further their knowledge and concepts behind each educational aspect.  Towards the end of the program, students will be administered a second standardized test to gather summative learning data.  By gathering scores from the second standardized test, managerial staff, in conjunction with program employees can gauge the success of each participant and the whole group.

 

Furthermore, students who participated in the summer program will be given the chance to comment on the program through the use of a simple, student-friendly questionnaire.  A copy of the questionnaire can be found in the appendix, labeled in TRiSE summer questionnaire.  Through this process, the staff can evaluate where we made an impact, where we should focus more on, and what the students believed to be there favorite part of the program.