Innovative P-12 students representing schools from underserved communities across the U.S. and the Dominican Republic recognized for creating STEM-based projects ranging from creative writing to sculptures and robotics
HOUSTON-Students came to the George R. Brown Convention Center from the Dominican Republic, Memphis City Schools (Tennessee), Prince George’s County Public Schools (Maryland) and local schools in Houston (Texas) to participate in the 2012 International CSTEM Challenge competition, now in its seventh consecutive year. The annual competition for elementary, middle, and high school students, provides a platform for historically underserved children, such as minorities and girls, to showcase their student generated artifacts developed in project-based, hands on learning experiences developed by CSTEM (communication, science, technology, engineering, mathematics), with a focused theme that “Everyone is an Artist and an Engineer.”
“And in minority and underserved communities the numbers are even lower. CSTEM-based education offers a practical solution enhanced with art and social studies. We’re developing the future workforce ─ critical thinkers and innovators who will create new products and processes that sustain our economy.”
This year, more than 2,000 students and 200 teachers from 30 schools participated in the event. Hosted by Houston-based CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc., this annual competition is held every spring and connects three levels of basic education creating P-12 pipeline teams that evolve into competitive STEM-driven feeder systems. Sponsors of the 2012 competition include Shell Oil Company, ASME, AT&T, U.S. Navy, Fort Bend Cares Foundation, GoGo Business Communications, the BTS Team and the University of Houston.
As part of the competition, student teams worked and solved problems collaboratively on projects in creative writing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), green/environmental stewardship, mural, sculpture, robotics, social media and a STEM Quiz Bowl, a series of questions testing the student’s understanding of STEM facts. Projects were judged using a scoring rubric that communicates expectations and specific skills that students must demonstrate based on the curriculum.
The following teams won first place in each of the six key competitive categories:
|
Creative Writing: Dominican Republic |
| (Los Pininos Elementary School, Los Pininos Middle School, Los Pininos High School) |
|
GIS: Houston ISD |
| (Stephen F. Austin High School, Jackson Middle School, Lantrip Elementary School) |
|
Green/Environmental: Prince George’s County Public Schools |
| (Bladensburg High School, William Wirt Middle School, Bladensburg Elementary School) |
|
Mural: Prince George’s County Public Schools |
| (Bladensburg High School, William Wirt Middle School, Bladensburg Elementary School) |
|
Robotics: Houston ISD |
| (Stephen F. Austin High School, Jackson Middle School, Lantrip Elementary School) |
|
Sculpture: Dominican Republic |
| (Los Pininos Elementary School, Los Pininos Middle School, Los Pininos High School) |
During the event, students competed in the STEM Quiz Bowl, where Prince George’s County Public Schools won first place.
“It has been well reported that the number of U.S. students studying science, technology, engineering and math is significantly lower than their counterparts from other countries,” said Dr. Reagan Flowers, CSTEM’s Founder and CEO. “And in minority and underserved communities the numbers are even lower. CSTEM-based education offers a practical solution enhanced with art and social studies. We’re developing the future workforce ─ critical thinkers and innovators who will create new products and processes that sustain our economy.”
The early registration deadline for schools to participate in the 2013 International CSTEM Challenge is May 1, 2012. Guidelines and additional information can be found at www.cstem.org.
About CSTEM
Founded in 2002, CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the achievement gaps in the areas of communication, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (CSTEM) through focused teacher training and experiential learning for students through practical application. CSTEM has positively impacted the lives of more than 50,000 students in grades P-12, and trained more than 500 teachers by helping them develop the skills needed to increase the talent pool in STEM related careers. CSTEM operates in school districts in Maryland, Tennessee, Texas and the Dominican Republic. For additional information, visit www.cstem.org.
