Funding Awarded: $168,774

INDUSTRY PARTNERS:

Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Otter Tail Power Company, Aldevron, Great River Energy, Lillestol Research, Perham Resource Recovery Facility, Douglas Machine, DMI, Massman Automation Designs, West Central Research & Outreach Center, North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab, NDSCS Center for Nanoscience Technology Training, StoneL and Otter Tail Ag Enterprises

Key Partners:

Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Cisco Academy Training Center, "Dream It. Do It." Campaign, Moorhead State University, MN Department of Education, DEED and MN Workforce Centers

Project Summary:

In a nine-county region in West Central Minnesota, 7th -12th grade teachers are having hands-on experiences with renewable energy manufacturing and agri-bioscience industries. Each teacher participates in a 1-week intensive STEM Training Academy, and completes a 40-hour internship provided through a partnering renewable energy related business. Additional STEM workshops and Professional Learning Communities are created to support ongoing teacher training, collaboration and support. The training is provided by the Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Project.

Project Outcomes:

•  35 teachers completed 1-week STEM Academy and an additional 10 teachers participated in workshops
•  34 teachers have completed or will complete a 40-hour internship at a STEM business impacting education in renewable energy
•  8 Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) developed to create, present and revise at least two STEM lessons each
•  6 Professional Learning community days and 3 additional workshops held throughout school year
•  16 STEM lessons developed
•  2000+ additional students expected to be trained annually as a result of the teacher training
  

Project Description:

Thirty-five high school teachers participated in a week-long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Academy training and corresponding 40-hour internship at 13 area businesses and/or colleges. The teachers formed 8 Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), each of which developed at least two STEM lessons.

Science teacher, Eric Stenehjem from Moorhead High School said, "We've made really nice connections with three local businesses (wind tower manufacturer DMI, the nanoscience center at North Dakota State Community and Technical College, and biosciences company Aldevron) that have made a tie into our classrooms. They help us teach the technologies that will benefit the kids that want to go into science after they graduate."

From the business perspective, the experience has been valuable as well. "It was a great opportunity to meet teachers from our area and educate them on what we do as a business. We have a large turnover in workers coming up in the next decade and this will help us prepare," said Steve Wevley from Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls. "One of the most rewarding moments was when we were touring the Big Stone power plant and we were talking about the type of work involved. An educator said some of the students don't want to go to attend a four-year program and this is a great opportunity for them."

Lakes Country Service Cooperative STEM Coordinator, Maria Hanson describes the long-term benefits to the teachers. "During the Otter Tail Power internships, they got to go to the different plants and experience wind energy and to talk about how & why it works the way it does. They talked to the people that work there, so that they can bring those concepts back into the classroom."

"Hopefully, we can develop a workforce that stays around this region of Minnesota and continue to grow & develop those resources," said Lakes Country Service Cooperative Executive Director, Jeremy Kovash. "I've learned so much about solar energy, wind energy, and nanoscience during this program. And, this helped make better connections between our agency and those businesses in our region."

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The LCSC Science , Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Project, made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace Alliance for Talent Development, is a collaborative project to improve teaching and learning of STEM in Western Minnesota and relay STEM concepts in regional industry to secondary curriculum. Download the STEM Project brochure for more information or click on the link below to view the LCSC website.

STEM Project Brochure.pdf

http://www.lcsc.org/186310421122857720/site/default.asp