Partnership for Innovation in Education Receives Funding From Duke Energy Foundation for STEM Curriculum “Tool Kit”
Innovative Program Boosts 21st Century Career Readiness in Local Schools
CINCINNATI – (Aug. 12, 2015) 60,000 students throughout southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky are about to gain real-life experience applying 21st century career skills and STEM learning through the STEM Curriculum Tool Kit, a new program provided by Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE). In support of this initiative, the Duke Energy Foundation has awarded PIE a $25,000 grant to deploy the program throughout local schools.
Through the program, PIE will develop a Teaching STEM Tool Kit for local educators, principals and STEM business partners, which includes digital and printed teaching materials to provide K-12 students with hands-on STEM education. The program will reach 5,500 STEM educators throughout Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Cincinnati-based PIE works with students and educators to develop transformational educational tools to accelerate academic achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, especially among girls and minorities.
In 2012-2013, the Duke Energy Foundation funded PIE’s pilot “hands on” STEM program, which later received an inaugural Ohio Department of Education Straight A Innovation Award of $1,100,000.00. The new Tool Kit builds upon the success of the pilot by expanding the learning and “doing” program to all southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky school districts.
The Tool Kit features the “hands on” Socratic Learning Method, which is typically used in graduate and undergraduate STEM programs. It allows arts, business and community executives to serve as in-classroom mentors as students solve a “real life” simulation, which the organization is currently facing.
“The Tool Kit provides local students, educators and business and community partners an enjoyable and engaging way to explore STEM learning,” said Mary Welsh Schlueter, CEO for PIE. “These opportunities allow students a chance to experience a 21st century career in a fun, digital format. Students develop solutions just like an engineer, project director or plant manager. They experience the thrill of ‘doing’ and better understand the meaning of their education.”
The STEM Curriculum Tool Kit will launch throughout southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky school districts during the 2015-2016 school year.
About PIE
Partnership For Innovation In Education (PIE) develops transformational educational tools preparing the 21st century workforce for success in the global marketplace. PIE features first-ever mentoring alliances with education, business and arts organizations, providing hands-on simulations in the K-12 classroom. PIE is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, awarded the GuideStar Nonprofit “Gold Exchange” Ranking. For more information, visit www.piemedia.org or follow @PIE_Innovation on Twitter.