SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) PROFESSIONALS’ EXPECTATIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES: A REGIONAL STUDY

Abstract

The number of high school graduates that are both capable and interested in pursuing a STEM career is currently not enough to meet the growing need for a workforce equipped with STEM skills. Business and industry representatives and postsecondary educators are becoming more outspoken about their expectations for high school graduates who have interest in pursuing a STEM career. The following research questions were addressed: 1. What expectations exist among STEM professionals for high school graduates desiring to enter the workforce in a STEM field? 2. What expectations exist among STEM faculty in postsecondary education institutions for high school graduates desiring to pursue a STEM degree? An online survey was distributed to STEM professionals within a 50-mile radius of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Results indicated that adaptability, communication, responsibility and strong work ethic were among the most valuable expectations according to all participants while emphasis on advanced studies in mathematics and science at the K-12 level was not deemed as valuable. Investigating the expectations placed upon these students by the local STEM business and industry community and the local STEM postsecondary education community in this research study, K-12 educators in Shawnee, Oklahoma and surrounding communities may now have the information they need to evaluate current curriculum and instructional practices to prepare their students better for success in their chosen STEM field. Key words: STEM, education, K-12, workforce development, business, industry, postsecondary education, high school graduates