teacher guidebook | 1€¦ · 4 | educator’s guidebook stem types offer the unexpected because...

TEACHER GUIDEBOOK | 1

2 | EDUCATOR’S GUIDEBOOK

INTRODUCTION

What is STEM?STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These are critical areas of activity to develop for our country to maintain its competitive edge. They are also fields in which there is a shortage of talent for jobs at all levels, from assembling complex machinery to leading the biotechnology companies that are hard at work creating cures for the diseases that afflict mankind.

STEM sounds like it requires a lot of natural talent and hard work—science, technology, engineering and math have a reputation as difficult subjects that are hard to grasp at the best of times. Indeed, depending on one’s ambitions, it’s possible to pursue a lifetime of education in these fields and still have much more to learn. Practically speaking, good jobs are available at almost any level of preparation, and to suit a wide range of interests in these fields.

From STEM to STEM TypesAs you might suppose, STEM covers a wide range of interests—so wide, in fact, that we’ve developed a database of nearly 500 different jobs related to STEM. The array of choices can be overwhelming, so we looked for a way to help people focus on the areas and jobs that are most likely to interest them.

Using sophisticated statistical techniques, we grouped the different jobs in our STEM jobs database according to the different activities that people perform on the job, such as working with computers or operating mechanical equipment. Our analysis led us to create eight different groupings of jobs where people did a lot of similar things, even if they might do them in different industries or different work settings.

We called these different groups STEM Types, and the idea is that people who enjoy the types of activities that characterize a given STEM Type will probably find a job in that group that is a good fit for them. The following page provides a brief overview of the eight STEM Types. More detail on the eight STEM Types can be found in Appendix I.

Definitions:

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

STEM Types: Groups of jobs that share common work activities.

EDUCATOR’S GUIDEBOOK | 3

THE EIGHT STEM TYPES

AdvisorAdvisors are focused on improving the quality of life for all living things, and are involved in aspects of care ranging all the way from providing personal aid for the elderly to delivering medical care to providing counsel and guidance.

DesignerDesigners design and plan products, solutions and projects. They are often the technical workers and engineers who take plans and ideas and make them into real things.

ExplorerExplorers use science to make basic discoveries about the world around us, and teach them to others.

IntegratorIntegrators are managers and leaders at all levels, ranging from experts in charge of projects to supervisors of small teams to CEOs of major organizations.

InvestigatorInvestigators use specialized training, knowledge and skills to get information about situations, evaluate it and put together a plan of action.

MakerMakers are involved in many different aspects of construction. Their jobs often go well beyond performing their crafts—makers often have to coordinate complex work projects, build and manage effective teams of workers and train new workers to do their jobs efficiently and safely.

ProducerProducers typically use complex machinery in their work, usually in industrial settings. Many of the jobs involve assembly and maintenance.

SolverSolvers prepare, repair and install products. They use specialized knowledge to understand situations, diagnose problems and come up with solutions that they can implement.


STEM Types Offer the UnexpectedBecause the jobs in each STEM Type are grouped together by common job activities, each STEM Type has jobs that have more in common than you might expect. For example, the Integrator Type has both CEOs and Forest Firefighters. You might not think they have a lot in common, but these jobs—like the others in the Integrator Type—involve a lot of building teams, developing objectives and strategies, thinking creatively and other activities that are part of the job whether you’re running a Fortune 500 technology firm or keeping a forest fire from overrunning a town.

As a result, it’s important not to make too many assumptions about the different STEM Types, but to keep an open mind to the possibilities and recognize that different jobs may have a lot in common beneath the surface.

The STEM Type ProfileOnce the STEM Types were defined, we wanted to learn more about what made each STEM Type special. We went back to our database and looked at the different skills and other capabilities that stood out for each one. We put all of this information together into profiles of each STEM Type, which you can find in Appendix I.

Is that really a STEM Job?We wanted to make sure we captured a wide range of jobs that require STEM skills in our database, so here’s how we determined which jobs to include:

Many jobs are obviously dependent on science, technology, engineering or math skills—for example, you can’t be a physics teacher without knowing physics!

Other jobs may depend heavily on STEM skills, but in ways that aren’t always obvious. Bakers make bread and pastry, which doesn’t sound very technical, but getting baked goods to turn out perfectly requires a lot of chemical reactions to go right, and bakers need to be on top of them.

Last are notable positions that may be found in industries in which STEM plays a strong role. Though CEOs can be found far from the world of STEM, a CEO of a biotechnology firm will have to have a sufficient grasp of the area to function effectively.


THE STEM TYPE ASSESSMENT

To help people determine the best match (or matches) for them, we created a short assessment that asks how much they like different types of activities that are associated with the different STEM Types. The simple idea is that if they like doing those activities, then those jobs are probably a good starting point to research potential careers.

Using the STEM Type Assessment for GuidanceThe assessment is designed to serve as a starting point for exploring STEM jobs and careers that might be of interest. The assessment takes as little as ten minutes to complete and returns the top three STEM Types for each individual (unless there are ties). Here are some important guidelines for using the STEM Type assessment in guiding career choices:

1. Maker, Producer and Solver are “hands-on” jobs. These STEM Types are all different, but they all require some degree of using one’s hands directly to do the work. It is common for people who like to work with their hands to be have more than one in their top three STEM Types, and anyone who scores highly in at least one should be advised to explore the others.

2. The STEM Type system is only a starting point for exploration. The STEM Type system is a great way to quickly figure out where to start looking for promising career matches. However, just because someone scored highly on a STEM Type doesn’t mean that their ultimate career fit may not be elsewhere, due to personality or other factors. This is an important point to emphasize.

3. Explore all of the possibilities. As noted above, each STEM Type has some jobs that aren’t immediately obvious fits. These can be excellent sources of explanation and exploration for people who may not initially feel a connection with their dominant STEM Type.

4. Consider the fit to the overall STEM Type profile. Appendix I provides some good food for thought on how well someone is likely to fit with a certain STEM Type job. It is not meant to suggest that a perfect match to the skill and personality information is necessary for success. Instead, it is worth exploring the differences. If a STEM Type highlights dealing with the public—as in Advisor—someone who has no interest in that will be well-served to give it careful thought and consider either accepting it as a necessary aspect of a career that may be a great fit in many other ways, or look carefully for a job within that STEM Type in which undesirable elements play less of a role.

5. Have students complete the assessment before teaching them about the STEM Types. The STEM Type Assessment is most effective when students complete it with an open mind. When they have a sense of what the assessment is “looking for” they may try to “outguess” or “game” it and force the results to come out in some way that they wish to see. While this might be an interesting exercise for them, it does not help to uncover their true interests and as a result will offer them limited value in determining a career choice.

Teaching the STEM TypesThe following lesson plan suggestions are based on the popular Madeleine Hunter format.

Anticipatory Set—The popularity and ubiquity of smartphones (iPhone and Android) offers an easy way to engage students. You can foreshadow many of the STEM Types by asking them questions about their experiences with smartphones:

• Advisor: Who has used text messaging to help a friend deal with a problem?• Designer: Who has had an idea for a new app or game?• Explorer: Who has used their smartphone to do research and discovered something they never knew?• Integrator: Who has used their smartphone to get people organized, either for a school project or outside of school?• Solver: Who has installed an app for someone else or helped them to get it to work right?

Objective/Purpose—By the end of the lesson, students should have an understanding of the meaning of STEM, the range of STEM fields (the STEM Types) and the wide variety of occupations that can be found in STEM.

Instructional Input—Using fitness tools that work with smartphones as the example, like the Jawbone Up or the Fitbit, talk about all of the different types of jobs that contribute to how they are built and used to help people, and use it as a way of introducing and outlining the different STEM Types. The following is a limited example that you can build on:

• Someone has to come up with the idea for how the hardware and software should work together: Designer.• Someone has to manufacture all the electronic parts and put them together: Producer.• Someone needs to build the factory to very careful specifications: Maker.• Someone has to manage all the different people working on the project: Integrator.• Someone needs to do tech support and fix units that break: Solver.• Someone needs to make sure that the products are safe to use: Investigator.• Someone needs to figure out how to get information about biological processes such as heart rate and oxygen intake from something that wraps around your wrist: Explorer.• Someone needs to help people use the information in a way to help themselves be healthier: Advisor.

Checking for Understanding—To verify students’ understanding, name different jobs listed for each profile in Appendix I and see if the students can identify which STEM Type they belong to. It may be helpful to provide hints by describing the job activities in some detail. Use the “unexpected” jobs as a means of expanding their understanding of the STEM Types and ensuring that they keep open minds.


APPENDIX I: STEM TYPE PROFILES

The following pages describe each STEM Type profile in detail. Here’s what you’ll find:

• STEM TYPE Name (Number of Jobs)

• Description

• Core Jobs—A sample of jobs that are highly representative of the STEM Type.

• “Unexpected” Jobs—A sample of jobs that are unintuitive members of the STEM Type based on their focus or on the context in which they are performed. As described earlier, these jobs are part of the STEM Types in which they fall because of the similarity of their job activities.

• Job Activities—Job activities that are important aspects of jobs in the STEM Type. It is important to note that some STEM Types had more common job activities than others, and that all of the listed job activities for any given STEM Type will not apply to every job in it.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities—The talents commonly found as highly important for these jobs. As with job activities above, not all knowledge, skills and activities will apply to each job in the STEM Type.


ADVISOR (67 JOBS)

Advisors are focused on improving the quality of life for all living things, and are involved in aspects of care ranging all the way from providing personal aid for the elderly to delivering medical care to providing counsel and guidance. Advisors operate complex technical equipment, and typically work in healthcare-related facilities, though they may also work in the field.

Work Activities• Assisting and caring for others• Coaching and developing others• Developing and building teams• Documenting/recording information• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships• Interpreting the meaning of information for others• Performing for or working directly with the public• Resolving conflicts and negotiating with others• Training and teaching others• Updating and using relevant knowledge

Core Jobs• Marriage and Family Therapists• Registered Nurses• Health Educators• Pharmacists• Veterinarians

“Unexpected” Jobs• Municipal Firefighters• Fire Investigators• Coroners• Park Naturalists

Knowledge• Biology• Clerical• Customer and personal service• Education and training• English language• Foreign language• Medicine and dentistry• Philosophy and theology• Psychology• Sociology and anthropology• Therapy and counseling

Skills• Active learning• Active listening• Coordination• Instructing• Learning strategies• Monitoring• Persuasion• Science• Service orientation• Social perceptiveness• Speaking• Writing

Abilities• Inductive reasoning• Oral expression• Problem sensitivity• Speech clarity• Speech recognition• Time sharing• Written expression


DESIGNER (74 JOBS)

Designers design and plan products, solutions and projects. They are often the technical workers and engineers who take plans and ideas and make them into real things. Designers often use specialized computer software, and they must often be highly trained to do their jobs successfully. Designers generally work in office settings.

Work Activities• Drafting, laying out and specifying technical devices, parts and equipment• Interacting with computers• Repairing and maintaining electronic equipment

Core Jobs• Aerospace Engineers• Electrical Engineers• Architectural Drafters• Tool and Die Makers• Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

“Unexpected” Jobs• Financial Analysts• Database Administrators• Chemists

Knowledge• Computers and electronics• Design• Engineering and technology• Mathematics• Physics

Skills• Mathematics• Operations analysis• Programming• Systems analysis• Technology design

Abilities• Information ordering• Mathematical reasoning• Visualization


EXPLORER (44 JOBS)

Explorers use science to make basic discoveries about the world around us, and teach them to others. Explorers have deep knowledge of their area of specialty, and are skilled in performing scientific research to expand their knowledge and communicate their findings to others. Explorers often work in educational settings, as well as in the public and private organizations where they may work in lab/office settings.

Work Activities• Analyzing data or information• Coaching and developing others• Developing objectives and strategies• Estimating the quantifiable characteristics of products, events or information• Getting information• Interacting with computers• Interpreting the meaning of information for others• Making decisions and solving problems• Processing information• Provide consultation and advice to others• Thinking creatively• Training and teaching others• Updating and using relevant knowledge

Core Jobs• Biologists• Economists• Archeologists• Geography Teachers, Postsecondary• Market Research Analysis and Marketing Producers

“Unexpected” Jobs• Software Developers, Applications• Air Traffic Controllers

Knowledge• Biology• Communications and media• Computers and electronics• Education and training• English language• Geography• History and archeology• Mathematics• Philosophy and theology• Physics• Sociology and anthropology

Skills• Active learning• Active listening• Complex problem solving• Critical thinking• Instructing• Judgment and decision making• Learning strategies• Mathematics• Operations analysis• Programming• Reading comprehension• Science• Speaking• Systems analysis• Systems evaluation• Writing

Abilities• Category flexibility• Deductive reasoning• Fluency of ideas• Inductive reasoning• Mathematical reasoning• Memorization• Number fluency• Oral expression• Originality• Speech clarity• Written expression


INTEGRATOR (57 JOBS)

Integrators range from experts in charge of projects to supervisors of small teams to CEOs of major organizations. Because Integrators succeed through others, communication and building working relationships are as important as their business skills. Integrators work in all types of environments, and may be found anywhere from small businesses to large corporations.

Work Activities• Coaching and developing others• Communicating with persons outside organization• Communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates• Coordinating the work and activities of others• Developing and building teams • Developing objectives and strategies• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships• Guiding, directing, and motivating subordinates• Judging the qualities of things, services, or people• Making decisions and solving problems

• Monitoring and controlling resources• Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work• Performing administrative activities• Provide consultation and advice to others• Resolving conflicts and negotiating with others• Scheduling work and activities• Selling or influencing others• Staffing organizational units• Thinking creatively• Training and teaching others

Core Jobs• Chief Executives• General and Operations Managers• Logisticians• First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers• Ship Engineers

“Unexpected” Jobs• Dentists, General• Forest Firefighters• Chefs and Head Cooks

Knowledge• Administration and management• Clerical• Communications and media• Economics and accounting• Food production• Law and government• Personnel and human resources• Psychology• Sales and marketing• Transportation

Skills• Active learning• Active listening• Complex problem solving• Coordination• Critical thinking• Instructing• Judgment and decision making• Learning strategies• Management of financial resources• Management of material resources• Management of personnel resources• Monitoring• Negotiation• Operations analysis• Persuasion• Service orientation• Social perceptiveness• Speaking• Systems analysis• Systems evaluation• Time management

Abilities• Category flexibility• Deductive reasoning• Fluency of ideas• Oral expression• Originality• Problem sensitivity• Speech clarity• Speech recognition• Written expression


INVESTIGATOR (76 JOBS)

Investigators use specialized training, knowledge and skills to get information about situations, evaluate it and put together a plan of action. Investigators typically have strong math skills and often work with computers to get their jobs done. On the other hand, they have to be great communicators and be very good at working with others. Investigators operate in a wide variety of environments—both indoors and out—and across both public and private sectors.

Work Activities• Communicating with persons outside organization• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships• Estimating the quantifiable characteristics of products, events or information• Getting information• Interacting with computers• Performing administrative activities• Performing for or working directly with the public• Processing information• Resolving conflicts and negotiating with others

Core Jobs• Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage• Fire Inspectors• Police Detectives• Construction and Building Inspectors• Commercial Pilots

“Unexpected” Jobs• Log Graders and Scalers• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

Knowledge• Clerical• Customer and personal service• Economics and accounting• Law and government

Skills• Active listening• Negotiation• Speaking

Abilities• Oral expression• Speech clarity


MAKER (27 JOBS)

Makers are involved in many different aspects of construction. Their jobs often go well beyond performing their crafts. Makers often have to coordinate complex work projects, build and manage effective teams of workers and train new workers to do their jobs efficiently and safely. Makers can be found in industrial, residential or business settings.

Work Activities• Coaching and developing others• Controlling machines and processes• Coordinating the work and activities of others• Developing and building teams • Drafting, laying out and specifying technical devices, parts and equipment• Estimating the quantifiable characteristics or products, events or information• Guiding, directing and motivating subordinates

• Handling and moving objects• Inspecting equipment, structures or material• Monitoring and controlling resources• Operating vehicles, mechanized devices or equipment• Performing general physical activities• Repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment• Scheduling work and activities• Staffing organizational units• Training and teaching others

Core Jobs• Construction Carpenters• Boilermakers• Electricians• Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers• Construction Managers

“Unexpected” Jobs• [None]

Knowledge• Building and construction• Design• Mechanical• Transportation

Skills• Equipment maintenance• Equipment selection• Installation• Operation and control• Operation monitoring• Quality control analysis• Repairing• Troubleshooting

Abilities• Arm hand steadiness• Auditory attention• Control precision• Depth perception• Dynamic flexibility• Dynamic strength• Explosive strength• Extent flexibility• Far vision• Finger dexterity• Glare sensitivity• Gross body coordination• Gross body equilibrium• Hearing sensitivity• Manual dexterity• Multilimb coordination• Night vision• Peripheral vision• Rate control• Reaction time• Response orientation• Sound localization• Spatial orientation• Speed of limb movement• Stamina• Static strength• Trunk strength• Visual color discrimination• Wrist finger speed


PRODUCER (104 JOBS)

Producers typically use complex machinery in their work, usually in industrial settings. They often have strong technical knowledge and skills to do their jobs. Many of the jobs involve assembly, maintenance or repair. Producers generally work in commercial and industrial facilities.

Work Activities• Controlling machines and processes• Handling and moving objects• Inspecting equipment, structures, material• Operating vehicles, mechanized devices or equipment• Performing general physical activities• Repairing and maintaining electronic equipment

Core Jobs• Machinists• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas• Logging Equipment Operators• Power Plant Operators• Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders and Finishers

“Unexpected” Jobs• Dental Laboratory Technicians• Bakers• Plumbers

Knowledge• Mechanical• Production and processing

Skills• Equipment maintenance• Equipment selection• Operation and control• Operation monitoring• Quality control analysis• Repairing• Troubleshooting

Abilities• Arm hand steadiness• Auditory attention• Control precision• Depth perception• Dynamic flexibility• Dynamic strength• Extent flexibility• Finger dexterity• Glare sensitivity• Gross body coordination• Gross body equilibrium• Hearing sensitivity• Manual dexterity• Multilimb coordination• Night vision• Peripheral vision• Rate control• Reaction time• Response orientation


SOLVER (38 JOBS)

Solvers prepare, repair and install products. They use specialized knowledge to understand situations, diagnose problems and come up with solutions that they can implement, and it’s very important to them to keep their knowledge up to date. They are very “hands on” and often use specialized tools that require advanced training. Solvers may work in specialized facilities or in the field.

Work Activities• Controlling machines and processes• Handling and moving objects• Inspecting equipment, structures or material• Operating vehicles, mechanized devices or equipment• Performing for or working directly with the public• Performing general physical activities• Repairing and maintaining electronic equipment• Repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment• Selling or influencing others

Core Jobs• Elevator Installers and Repairers• Automotive Master Mechanics• Home Appliance Repairers• Watch Repairers• Locksmiths and Safe Repairers

“Unexpected” Jobs• Farm and Ranch Managers• Embalmers• Skincare Producers

Knowledge• Mechanical• Sales and marketing

Skills• Equipment maintenance• Equipment selection• Installation• Operation and control• Operation monitoring• Quality control analysis• Repairing• Troubleshooting

Abilities• Arm hand steadiness• Control precision• Depth perception• Dynamic strength• Extent flexibility• Finger dexterity• Glare sensitivity• Hearing sensitivity• Manual dexterity• Multilimb coordination• Night vision• Peripheral vision• Response orientation• Sound localization• Static strength• Trunk strength• Visual color discrimination• Visualization• Wrist finger speed

For more information visit edu.STEMjobs.com

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