The Hawaii Excellence in Science & Technology (HiEST) Academy Program
The goal of the HiEST Academies is to increase the readiness and motivation of Hawaii high school students to pursue higher education opportunities and eventual career options in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. The program provides participating students high school and community college credit for completion of a rigorous STEM curriculum that combines experiential project-based learning with a standards-based, applied science and math curriculum. HiEST Academies currently serve an estimated 2,300 students at Baldwin, Campbell, Kahuku, Ka'u, 'Olomana, Waialua and Waipahu High Schools. Governor Linda Lingle announced in her State of the State Address on January 25, 2010, that she has authorized the use of $3,156,402 in federal stimulus funds to support the HiEST Academies. For more information, please read the program overview (PDF) and the Governor's news release.
The Fostering Inspiration and Relevance through Science & Technology (FIRST) Pre-academy Program
The FIRST pre-academies are envisioned to provide structure and resources to programs that spark interest in middle school students by involving them in solving real-world problems, combining academic learning and hands-on experience. The idea is to provide the motivation for students to choose a path leading to enrollment in a HiEST Academy. School participation is voluntary, and to date, 26 middle schools have established FIRST Pre-Academies. Governor Linda Lingle announced in her State of the State Address on January 25, 2010, that she has authorized the use of $3,063,000 in federal stimulus funds to further expand this program. For more information, please read the program overview (PDF) and the Governor's news release.
Professional development opportunities for practicing elementary, middle and high school teachers to improve STEM content and teaching methods
A component of the Hawaii STEM Innovation in Education Initiative is the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program within the University of Hawaii. Administered by the University of Hawaii College of Engineering, the RET supports the development of middle school teacher technology skills and knowledge, and the development of middle school curriculum materials in science, technology, engineering, and math subject areas, with a focus on wireless communications. To learn more about RET, and how teachers connect with professionals and industry in academia to advance STEM-related curriculum in schools and allow professional to offer research and technical ideas, please go to SIP Hawaii.
Another component of the initiative is a professional development program to provide practicing elementary, middle, and high school teachers of science and mathematics with opportunities to increase their knowledge and understanding of recent developments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The professional development program is administered by the University of Hawaii's College of Education and will be open to both certificated and non-certificated teachers. Since its inception, intensive professional development has been provided to 137 elementary and secondary teachers in math and 375 elementary and secondary teachers in science. As a result, 9,000 elementary and 19,000 secondary students have been impacted. For courses on professional development in STEM fields, please see the UH Course Schedule.
Internships/Mentorships
Part of experiential learning involves placing students in businesses and other organizations outside the school setting to work, observe or to be mentored by those currently engaged in STEM professions. This most often involves internships, mentorships, and job shadowing opportunities. Internships/Mentorships gives students a realistic understanding of what the work place is like and what people in various fields actually do on the job, including how people really interact and accomplish goals in the workplace. This experience is invaluable in helping students make education, career, and lifestyle decisions. Internships/Mentorships also provide added and often essential value for Hawaii's business community, and ultimately the economy as a whole. A number of national companies have begun establishing intern/mentorship programs as far down as middle school in an attempt to ensure a future workforce. This is a mutually beneficial opportunity. To see how students and industry may connect, check out SIP Hawaii.
Creativity Academies
Creativity Academies (CA) is a new curriculum paradigm for the 21st century that fuses the creative arts, science and technology in a dynamic course content which excites and engages students in STEM education. CA is grounded in Art 112 and Physics 100, and integrates the creative disciplines of animation, game design, creative writing and digital media in a standards-based curriculum for middle and high school students statewide. The CA concept evolved through a series of discussions between students, teachers, industry leaders in STEM, digital media and government. Through a partnership between DBEDT's Creative Industries Division, the University of Hawaii Community Colleges/ Kapiolani Community College, Department of Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), students in STEM and New Media Arts, Ulua Media, and business and industry, the concept is to fuse arts and science in a modular curriculum. The goal of CA is to produce students with strong foundations in the concept of art and physics and career-aligned industry-standard competencies in digital media production. For more information, please see Creative Academies.
Robotics Organizing Committee
The Hawaii Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) serves as the foundation of support for the six pillars of robotics programming in the state of Hawaii: FIRST Robotics, Botball, FIRST LEGO League, VEX, Underwater ROV and Micro Robotics, and provides support in areas of fundraising, team development and professional development. Over the past 3 years, student participation in robotics education has grown tremendously. Currently, 182 public, charter and private schools have robotics teams in one or more of the six robotics programs, accounting for 47 percent of Hawaii's schools. Scholastic robotics programs have shown to increase students' interest STEM fields, develops leadership, organization, communication, media and public relations skills, promotes team work, time management, and problem solving–all life skills that every employer is seeking in any young person, regardless of profession. Governor Linda Lingle announced in her State of the State Address on January 25, 2010, that she has authorized the use of $2,805,200 in federal stimulus funds to enhance robotics education programs in Hawaii's schools. For more information, please visit the ROC.