Goals and Activities

NWO Vision:

The Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence aims to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for people of all ages. Our purpose is to work with community partners to (a) generate new knowledge about the science of teaching and learning, (b) apply this knowledge by developing the expertise of K-12 educators and higher education faculty, (c) increase public support for, and understanding of, the STEM subject areas, and (d) stimulate the interest of young people, especially those in underrepresented groups, in these rewarding fields of study and career opportunities. The following NWO goals guide this vision.

NWO Goals & Activities:

NWO will attain the above goals through the following goal-aligned activities:

Goal 1: Develop the expertise of pre-service and in-service teachers in STEM and STEM education disciplines.

NWO Activities

• NWO Inquiry Series
• NWO Symposium on Science, Mathematics, and Technology Teaching
• Undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation courses or program modification

Affiliated Activities

• Grant Projects (Project pi r2, etc.)
• Undergraduate Professional Organizations (BGCTM, BGSECO, etc.)
• Community Resources Workshop
• Continued support of the MAT degree programs

Goal 2: Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines through a progression of educational opportunities for students, teachers, and faculty.

NWO Activities

• Ohio Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (OJSHS)
• STEM in the Park
  

Affiliated Activities

• Grant Projects (ACTION, GRAMS, BOSEF, etc.)
• You be the Chemist
• Support and assist with other University recruiting activities

Goal 3: Conduct and communicate collaborative research in STEM and STEM education disciplines

NWO Activities

• COSMOS Research Learning Community
  

Affiliated Activities

• Faculty/staff research and participation in NWO
  
• Continued support of the development of the Learning Sciences PhD Program
  
• Grant projects

Goal 4: Develop and sustain a regional collaborative alliance including university, school, informal education, and business partners through a shared vision and collaborative spirit for tackling current STEM education issues.

NWO Activities

• NWO Collaborative Council (NWOCC)
  
• NWO Advisory Board
  
• NWO website
  
• STEM in the Park
  
• NWO Newsletters (e-newsletter and print “NWO STEM Connection”)
  
• Ohio STEM Learning Network Hub activities (i.e. clearing house)
  

Affiliated Activities

• Ohio STEM Learning Network Hub activities (i.e. Putnam County courses)
  
• Community Resources Workshop
  
• Business and community partnerships on grant projects

Goal 5: Support higher education faculty and future faculty in pursuit of the best practices in STEM and STEM education disciplines to enhance undergraduate and graduate education.

NWO Activities

• Professional Development for higher education faculty at NWO Symposium
  
• COSMOS Research Learning Community
  

Affiliated Activities

• Continued support of the development of the Learning Sciences PhD Program

NWO gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and Square One Education. NWO also appreciates the valuable assistance of the Ohio STEM Learning Network in fostering collaboration throughout the State for optimizing STEM learning outcomes.