Plenary: It’s All About STEM Outreach: IEEE’s New Approaches to Maximize Impact

Abstract

Pre-University STEM education has become a high priority for technical professional associations like IEEE. IEEE is committed to encouraging pre-university students to pursue STEM careers and become changemakers who can improve the world through technology. Each year IEEE’s global community of volunteers conduct hundreds of locally-based STEM outreach activities engaging thousands of preuniversity students, educators and parents. However, while the number of events and students engaged might seem impressive, IEEE had no way to collectively determine the effectiveness and impact of these programs. I will share the strategy developed by IEEE Educational Activities Board to support IEEE volunteers conducting STEM outreach to reach as many students as possible. This included the development of a set of design principles and IEEE’s Pre-University STEM Education Theory of Action, the IEEE Volunteer STEM Portal creation and other related initiatives. I will share some outcomes and examples of volunteers impact that can inspire the next generation of technology professionals.