PRISM Strategies Augmenting K-12 STEM Teaching and Curriculum

We believe STEM education success will be driven by public-private partnerships between business and industry and our school systems.  To this end, we link the business community to school leaders, teachers and students through recognition and reward programs, internships, and outstanding STEM education lesson plans and classroom practices to help students learn relevant science and math concepts leading to exciting and rewarding STEM higher education and career opportunities. 

PRISM's NEW Strategies are:

  • Recognize outstanding math and science teachers who share best practices with other teachers within their districts and include selected best practice presentations on the PRISM Repository.
  • Select and compensate a special group of these honored teachers to:
    • Serve industrial internships at leading Florida technology companies to enhance practical industrial knowledge and share it with other teachers throughout the region.
    • Demonstrate and lecture on specific STEM areas of expertise and interest and include in the PRISM Repository.
    • Work with leading technology companies to identify key knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed for selected job categories and link to college requirements and K-12 programs.
  • Establish PRISM as a primary conduit for STEM outreach between industry and the school districts in doing the following:
    • Establish a STEM outreach program aligned and integrated into the schools' curriculum plan, and assist in training for its use, and provide the mechanism to scale the magnitude and breadth of Industry outreach.
    • Develop a set of compelling in-school science projects and lectures, geared at inspiring students to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.  Create "shrink-wrapped" demonstration materials for affordable, scalable deployment.  Leverage PRISM industry partners to provide compelling role models for in-class presentations.
    • Establish linkage between STEM formal education goals and informal learning objectives, enabling area organizations (Orlando Science Center, etc.) to provide content and facilitate outreach. 
    • Leverage existing successes by partnering with best of breed ongoing projects and organizations (for example, UCF's ISTF program).
  • Develop a PRISM repository of experiments and best practices that can be easily utilized across the region.  Organize and "keyword tag" the repository content by learning objectives, subject matter and grade applicability for easy utilization.
  • Provide incentive programs for students to take more high-level math and science courses and compete in regional, state and national competitions.
    • Recognize outstanding and most-improved math and science students beginning in middle school who meet special PRISM Scholar criteria for academic rigor and success.
    • Select and compensate a special group of students to serve internships in STEM industries after 11th grade and have them share their experiences with fellow students.
    • Provide matching funds for middle and/or high school students to participate in math, science, and engineering competitions and incorporate projects for recognition on the PRISM Repository.

PRISM Metrics and GoalsPRISM Strategic Plan