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Educating the Next Generation Workforce

i-STEM ConferenceCoeur d’Alene, IdahoTwin Falls, IdahoJuly 19-22

Melinda HamiltonRichard Holman Idaho National Laboratory

Why Change What and How We Teach?

Innovation

New Job Skills

Global Citizenship

New Ways of Thinking

U.S. 15-yr olds ranked 24th in math literacy and 26th in problem-solving in 2003

global assessment

60% of all new jobs in the 21st century will require

skills possessed by only 20% of the current United

States workforce.

Over 70 million baby boomers will retire and be replaced by only 48 million workers

Example: Power Industry

• The “United States is facing a critical shortage of trained professionals to maintain the existing electric power system and design, build, and operate the future electric power system”

• The electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry employs about 400,000 people

• 30-40 % of electric power workers will be eligible for retirement by 2013.

• To maintain current electric generation system, the industry will need 20,300 technicians and 11,200 engineers by 2013

Reference: National Commission on Energy Policy’s Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs

How Many Energy Jobs are There?

National Commission on Energy Policy - 2010

These are engineering and

engineering technology

jobs!!

We Are Not Keeping Up with the Need

In the US, this is 7 out of 100 24 year olds is considered STEM literate

00000

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

500000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

All Engineering Bachelors

All Engineering Technology

NSF Science and Engineering Indicators, 2006 Appendix 2-10

Flat Degree Production

Idaho is No Different

DOL projects by 2016

• Need for Computer Engineers to grow over 50%

• Need for Agricultural Engineers to grow 25%.

• Need for Environmental Scientists and Specialists to grow over 20%

• Need for Medical Scientists with Doctoral Degree will grow 25%

These areas require:•Critical Thinking•Problem Solving

•Use of Technology•Math and Engineering fundamentals

Idaho is Falling Behind

• 45% H.S. graduates going on to college

• 62% of those return after their freshman year

• 30% at or above proficient on NAEP Math Scores (2005 data)

• 38% at or above proficient on NAEP Science Scores (2000 data)

Data from National Center for Higher Education Management Systems

2008 Major Private Employers in Idaho

• Albertsons Inc.

• Battelle Energy Alliance- INL

• BYU-Idaho

• CH2M-WG Idaho

• Fred Meyer Inc/Kroger

• Hewlett Packard Inc

• J. R. Simplot Co.

• Micron Technology, Inc.

• Potlatch Corp.

• St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center

• St. Luke's Regional Medical Center

• Wal-Mart

• Wells Fargo Bank

STEM Education Can:

• Interest students in STEM careers

• Expose students to new ideas

• Stimulate innovation and critical thinking skills

• Meet Education Standards AND integrate into existing curriculum

• Prepare Idaho students for 21st Century careers