Educating the Next Generation Workforce

1
Educating the Next Generation Workforce

• i-STEM Conference
• Coeur dAlene, Idaho
• Twin Falls, Idaho
• July 19-22
• Melinda Hamilton
• Richard Holman
• Idaho National Laboratory

2
Why Change What and How We Teach?
60 of all new jobs in the 21st century will
require skills possessed by only 20 of the
current United States workforce.
U.S. 15-yr olds ranked 24th in math literacy and
26th in problem-solving in 2003 global assessment
Over 70 million baby boomers will retire and be
replaced by only 48 million workers
3
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 Policys
Task Force on Americas Future Energy Jobs
4
How Many Energy Jobs are There?
These are engineering and engineering technology
jobs!!
National Commission on Energy Policy - 2010
5
We Are Not Keeping Up with the Need
In the US, this is 7 out of 100 24 year olds is
considered STEM literate
6
Flat Degree Production
All Engineering Bachelors
All Engineering Technology
1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
NSF Science and Engineering Indicators, 2006
Appendix 2-10
7
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

8
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
9
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

10
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