STEM IN ACTION: TRANSFERRING KNOWLEDGE FROM THE WORKPLACE TO THE CLASSROOM HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011 Serial No. 112–50 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 70–974PDF WASHINGTON : 2011 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HON. RALPH M. HALL, Texas, Chair F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas Wisconsin JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ZOE LOFGREN, California ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland BRAD MILLER, North Carolina FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona W. TODD AKIN, Missouri DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia PAUL D. TONKO, New York SANDY ADAMS, Florida JERRY MCNERNEY, California BENJAMIN QUAYLE, Arizona JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland CHARLES J. ‘‘CHUCK’’ FLEISCHMANN, TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama Tennessee FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida E. SCOTT RIGELL, Virginia HANSEN CLARKE, Michigan STEVEN M. PALAZZO, Mississippi MO BROOKS, Alabama ANDY HARRIS, Maryland RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois CHIP CRAVAACK, Minnesota LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana DAN BENISHEK, Michigan VACANCY SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION HON. MO BROOKS, Alabama, Chair ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois BENJAMIN QUAYLE, Arizona HANSEN CLARKE, Michigan STEVEN M. PALAZZO, Mississippi PAUL D. TONKO, New York ANDY HARRIS, Maryland JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas DAN BENISHEK, Michigan RALPH M. HALL, Texas (II) C O N T E N T S Thursday, November 3, 2011 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter ...................................................................................................... 3 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Mo Brooks, Chairman, Subcommittee on Re- search and Science Education, Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- nology, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................................... 8 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 9 Statement by Representative Daniel Lipinski, Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................... 9 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 10 Witnesses: Dr. Michael Beeth, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 12 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 14 Mrs. Christine Sutton, Secondary Math Teacher, Virgil I. Grissom High School, Huntsville City Schools, Alabama Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 18 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 19 Ms. Robin Willner, Vice President, Global Community Initiatives, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM Corporation Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 22 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 24 Mr. Jason Morrella, President, Robotics Education and Competition Founda- tion Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 27 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 30 Dr. Jennifer Jones, Principal Clinical Scientist, Abbott Vascular Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 35 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 37 Discussion 40 Appendix: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Dr. Michael Beeth, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ....................................................................... 58 Mrs. Christine Sutton, Secondary Math Teacher, Virgil I. Grissom High School, Huntsville City Schools, Alabama ......................................................... 60 Ms. Robin Willner, Vice President, Global Community Initiatives, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM Corporation ....................................... 62 Mr. Jason Morrella, President, Robotics Education and Competition Founda- tion ........................................................................................................................ 63 Dr. Jennifer Jones, Principal Clinical Scientist, Abbott Vascular ....................... 65 (III) STEM IN ACTION: TRANSFERRING KNOWLEDGE FROM THE WORKPLACE TO THE CLASSROOM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Mo Brooks [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding. (1) 2 3 HEARING CHARTER COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STEM in Action: Transferring Knowledge from the Workplace to the Classroom THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011 10:00 AM–12:00 PM 2318 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING Purpose On Thursday, November 3, 2011, the Subcommittee on Research and Science Edu- cation held the fourth in a series of hearings to highlight Science, Technology, Engi- neering, and Math (STEM) education activities across the Nation, their role in in- spiring and educating future generations, and their contribution to our future eco- nomic prosperity. The purpose of this hearing was to examine approaches and pro- grams that encourage and assist STEM professionals looking to transition their knowledge and skills from industry to a second career in teaching or to give back to classroom education as a mentor. Witnesses • Dr. Michael Beeth, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. • Mrs. Christine Sutton, Secondary Math Teacher, Virgil I. Grissom High School, Huntsville City Schools, Alabama. • Ms. Robin Willner, Vice President, Global Community Initiatives, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, IBM Corporation. • Mr. Jason Morrella, President, Robotics Education and Competition Founda- tion. • Dr. Jennifer Jones, Principal Clinical Scientist, Abbott Vascular. Overview In the United States, student mastery of STEM subjects is essential to thrive in the 21st century economy. As other nations continue to gain ground in preparing their students in these critical fields, the U.S. must continue to explore a variety of ways to inspire future generations. The 2007 Rising Above the Gathering Storm report called for an increased empha- sis on recruiting, educating, training, and increasing the skills of K–12 STEM edu- cation teachers and increasing the pipeline of American students who are prepared to enter college and graduate with a degree in STEM. The U.S. workforce is in a state of flux due to shifting employment demographics and continues to be aggravated by the current economic situation and the upcoming retirements of the baby-boomer generation. Many STEM industry professionals may be looking to make a career transition that could put them in a classroom by incor- porating their professional experience with teaching or by mentoring students or teachers in and out of the classroom. Programs working to connect STEM industry professionals to the classroom and students, including alternative certification opportunities and employer-driven men- tor and volunteer opportunities, help to solidify the connection between class work and real-life needs for students. The connection between STEM industry professionals and students, in the class- room and through mentoring and volunteer opportunities, illustrates for students the opportunities and rewards associated with STEM careers and may help to pre- pare and inspire them to pursue STEM educational opportunities and careers. 4 Background STEM industry professionals offer a unique perspective to students due to a com- bination of hands-on experience and content knowledge. Working to increase the in- volvement of these professionals both inside the classroom and through outside ac- tivities, as teachers, mentors or volunteers is of interest to many concerned with the need to strengthen STEM education in the U.S. STEM