STEAM ME UP SCOTTY!

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones.

There is a critical need for students to pursue STEAM majors and STEAM careers in the United States to fill the many open STEAM positions. The United States Department of Labor stated that 1 in 7 students receives a degree in engineering or math in the United States, this is in comparison with 2 out of 3 students in Singapore and 1 out of 2 students in China (Desilver, 2017). The US Department of Labor indicated that these low graduation rates could threaten America’s ability to compete in the global economy and provide economic growth (Desilver, 2017).

 The US Department of Education projected that US universities are expected to produce only 29% of the required number of graduates to fill 1.4 million computer specialist job openings (US Department of Labor).

 Drones might provide an influence in STEM education that might lead to students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers. Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles can serve as an ideal entry point to stimulate curiosity and encourage students to engage in STEAM activities (Yuan, 2017). This becomes apparent when students research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones (Yuan, 2017).

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

The target population for this solution are primary through secondary disadvantaged minority and female inner city students. They are currently underserved because they lack the financial resources to be able have Internet access, emerging technologies such as drones, iPhones. iPads, access to mentors, role models, and career counselors who will  encourage these students to pursue STEAM careers. 

Students will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

As an educator, librarian, technologist, and project manager who taught in Title I schools and worked in public libraries in economically disadvantaged inner city communities, I have a plethora of experience researching, supporting, teaching, and managing projects for students in underserved communities. I have published a book on Emerging Library Technologies: It's Not Just for Geeks (Elsevier, 2018), published several articles, and presented internationally on various technologies such as AI, Robotics, Drones, Driverless Vehicles, AR/VR, 3D Printing, and other technologies. I am a doctoral candidate at Texas Wesleyan University in Curriculum and Instruction. My dissertation will focus on "The Role of Drones in Engaging Students to Pursue STEAM Careers. "

My solution aligns to that challenge because it addresses providing disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. This will alleviate many of the technological and life skill challenges that  disadvantaged minority and female inner city students encounter on a regular basis.

I selected the Concept state of development for this solution on "STEAM Me Up Scotty, " because it is an idea that I am exploring for primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students who will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to obtain and be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. 

My solution is innovative because it addresses access to emerging technologies such as drones, iPhones, and iPads that are fun and engaging for students along with the curriculum to teach them technology and life skills. It helps bridge the technology gap or digital divide between the affluent who have access to unlimited technology and resources and poor disadvantaged minority and female inner city students who might not have access to technology, STEAM resources, mentors, career counselors, quality education, and curriculum that will allow them to pursue health, wealth, and happiness through financially-lucrative STEAM careers. I expect this innovative solution to change the market and enable broader positive impacts from others in STEAM areas as they mentor and ultimately hire these students who might become software engineers, aerospace engineers, scientists, machine learning managers, or even the next Elon Musk. 

The program will begin serving 1000 students in the first year in Pittsburgh, PA 

It will be expanded to 2000 students over a period of 2 years with an increase of 1000 over a 5 year period in Pittsburgh, PA and will be expanded to other cities in the United States. This program will be expanded globally over a 10 year period.

I will measure the progress toward my impact goals by having audits, adhering to budgets, meeting with my shareholders and project sponsors on a regular basis. This will also be through interviews and testimonials from students, families, and educators.

This is a concept.

I am an Author, Technologist, Educator, International Presenter, and Doctoral Candidate in Curriculum and  Instruction at Texas Wesleyan University. I have many years of experience in the areas of project  management, technology consulting, instructional design and research that keeps me in demand as an authority and guest speaker on emerging technologies — drones, robotics, driverless vehicles, artificial intelligence, big  data, augmented/virtual reality. Some recent speaking engagements include: Presenter on An Exploration of the  Role of Drones to Engage College Students to Pursue STEM Careers, Southwest Education Research Association  (SERA) Conference (Virtual), Feb 2021; Moderator for LITA Top Tech Trends Panel (January, 2020); Opening  Keynote Speaker at Library 2019 Emerging Technologies (October, 2019); Speaker on Emerging Technologies at  Austin Community College (October, 2019); Visiting Scholar at Life Under Drones Symposium at Pacific Lutheran  University (September, 2019); Guest Speaker on the Drone Show Podcast (January, 2019); LITA Top Tech Trends  Panel (February, 2018); BOBCATTSS 2012 in Amsterdam, Netherlands; and IFLA 2009 in Milan, Italy (August, 2009) 

I am a member of the MIT Technology Review Global Panel and is also the author of the book, Emerging Library  Technologies: It’s Not Just for Geeks, as well several other shorter publications. She is completing her second  book “Are Drones in Your Library’s Future: An Introduction?” (Elsevier, August 2022).  

 Some of my awards include the Chatham University 2021 Women of Color HERstory Month Award (Facebook & Instagram) - March 2021 and  Chatham University 2020 Alumni Cornerstone Technology Award October 2020.

I have many years of experience as a project manager building and leading diverse teams in the United States and other countries. I am a Black woman. My team will be representative of the United States including other minorities and women.

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

I would like to partner with MIT faculty, initiatives, and Solve Members in the areas of:

Human Capital 
Business model 
Financial 
Public Relations 
Monitoring & Evaluation 
Technology 

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.

There is a dearth of students pursuing STEAM majors and STEAM careers globally. However, my solution to reverse this trend is included in this proposal. Students find drones and other technologies fun and engaging. To bridge the economic inequalities and ensure that all students regardless of their backgrounds have the right to pursue happy, healthy, and wealthy lives; they will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy.

Primary through secondary financially disadvantaged minority and female inner city students will be given drones, iPhones, iPads, and other technology and curriculum-based resources and training to develop technology and life skills to be successful in financially lucrative STEAM careers in the global economy. With these technologies, and drone and life skills curriculum; students will work independently and in groups to research, study, design, build, test, and fly drones. They will be given iPhones to communicate with their families, friends, and fellow STEAM members and to use their iPhones as a hotspot to connect to the Internet for their iPads and other devices wherever they need to connect. This will be provided free of charge by Internet Service Providers. They will be given the iPads to control their drones, perform their research, and complete their drone and lifeskill-related coursework to engage them to learn about and ultimately pursue financially-lucrative STEAM careers.