PAST Foundation to Team on STEM Programs

Online, December 8, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Columbus Ohio - December 7, 2009 - After a decade of successfully building STEM innovative educational programs in Ohio, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma Florida, California, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia and documenting the strengths of thriving STEM schools in Ohio and Texas through ethnographic knowledge capture, PAST Foundation (Partnering Anthropology with Science and Technology) is open and prepared to team with qualified partners on Race to the Top proposals.

The key to the PAST Foundation is a deep understanding of STEM school fundamental systems and design principles. The primary tactics are two-fold; embedding experienced anthropologists throughout the entire STEM development and implementation process to provide ongoing knowledge capture and developing transdisciplinary problem-based programs that optimize content delivery in exciting ways. Anthropology by its very nature looks at the interdependencies of systems within systems. PAST finds the links within cultural, ethnographic, geographic, community and economic systems to create unique learning environments specifically suited to place, culture and time.

By partnering anthropology with science and technology PAST offers a suite of educational services and products that can transform any school, town, region and state. PAST anthropologists understand the need for education to transcend current boundaries and use field experiences, film, digital access and social networking as a new way of learning that enables students, schools, districts and states to access education that motivates students, teachers, parents and communities to rise above current expectations and constraints to achieve greatness.

To this end, PAST in partnership with Metro Early College High School created the PAST/Metro Program Design Center, where the vision of PAST and Ohio's leading STEM High School reach out to schools and districts across the nation. The exceptional track record of students graduating from STEM schools tells the whole story, 100% college and workforce readiness.

PAST assists communities to design education platforms that encompass trans-disciplinary teaching and learning. PAST utilizes ethnographic knowledge capture, innovative scientific bridge programs, project based learning, and emerging school culture to allow students to exceed their goals for the 21st century.

Ten years of successful case studies gives PAST the unique ability to utilize deep experience to benefit Race to the Top projects. PAST invites the world to design, construct and engage in experiences that link learning to life.
.
Link to the PAST Foundation video (http://bit.ly/PAST-STEM) to hear from Principals and Teachers who have worked directly with PAST on STEM schools in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Metro Early College High School and at the Linden McKinley STEM academy.

Between 2000 and 2010 PAST has:
• Built over 25 STEM Bridge Programs (PreK-20).
• Created the PAST/Metro Design Center.
• Touched over 4,000 students.
• Reached out to students in 21 states and 7 countries.
• Provided graduate and high school internships for over 25 college and high school students.
• Partnered with schools to provide high school students with Social Studies, Biology, Engineering and PE credit as well as collegiate credit for Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biology.
• Became proud partners with Battelle Memorial Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Metro Early College High School, MC2 STEM High School, Cleveland Design Lab, Linden McKinley High School, Reynoldsburg City School District, Texarkana Morris Elementary School, Princeton High School, Hughes High School, Dayton Regional STEM School, California State Parks, National Park Service, The National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Ocean Partners Program, US Minerals Management, C&C Technologies, Droycon Bioconcepts, the Ohio State University, Texas A&M University, East Carolina University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Montana State University, Bozeman, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Indiana University, Cabrillo College, Napa College.

Bio of Annalies Corbin, Ph.D.
Annalies Corbin is the Executive Director and founder of the PAST Foundation. Under her direction the PAST has successfully emerged as one of the nation's leading developers of PreK-12 bridge programs, STEM teachers professional development and STEM ethnographic knowledge capture. Her ground-breaking STEM bridge program with the Nebraska Zoo School excavating Yellowstone's historic Marshall Hotel earned her the 2001 National Park Service award. Currently, she leads the Ohio STEM Learning Network's Technical Assistance team helping STEM hubs and emerging schools throughout Ohio build sustainable networks and programs. Dr. Corbin received her doctorate from the University of Idaho in History and Historical Archaeology.

Bio of Monica S. Hunter, Ph.D.
Monica Hunter leads all PAST ethnographic studies. As a leading small community ethnographer, Hunter joined PAST bringing insight and understanding to the underlying systems of STEM educational reform. Using ethnographic methods Dr. Hunter led the interdisciplinary anthropology and policy research team that published the Metro High School: An Emerging STEM Community study in 2008. Since then she has led teams studying the emerging systems and infrastructure of STEM in Ohio, Texas and North Carolina and New York. Dr. Hunter received her doctorate in Anthropology from University of California, Los Angeles.

Bio of Anne Corscadden Knox, MSc
Anne Corscadden Knox directs all PAST STEM bridge programs. Over the past five years Corscadden Knox has honed the transdisciplinary structure of PAST bridge programs creating and disseminating rigorous and engaging programs that leverage community and involve kids in solving real world issues. Notable among her programs are Forensics in the Classroom, Growing America, Cultural Landscapes and Marine Ecology in the Florida Keys. Corscadden Knox received her Masters in Anthropology from University of Ulster.

Bio of Marcy Raymond, MA
Marcy Raymond is the founding principle of Metro Early College High School in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2005 Raymond has been one of the guiding designers for Ohio's lead demonstration STEM school. Her success in melding public school open enrollment, rigorous problem-based learning and early college access produced a senior class where 59% completed their high school requirements by their third year and are now enrolled in 5-18 credits per quarter in university courses carrying an average grade point of 3.86. Raymond received her Masters in Education at the Ohio State University.

Bio of Sheli Smith, Ph.D.
Sheli Smith directs Operations and Programs at PAST. For over three decades, Smith has been involved in groundbreaking public outreach programs. Since joining PAST, Smith has developed award winning STEM problem based programs including Garbology, the Blacklick Watershed (an elementary STEM program), and is the principal author of Problems, Programs, and Projects: Designing Transdisiplinary Problem/Project-Based Learning. Smith directs the activities of the Program Design Center and consults with schools and districts in forming innovative partnerships for successful STEM application. Dr. Smith received her doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania.

The PAST/Metro Program Design Center
Created in 2006 as a place to incubate rigorous STEM programs, the Design Center is where teachers, interns, and students come to participate in the design, development, implementation and sustainability of problem-based learning programs. As a partnership between PAST, the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, Metro Early College High School and the Ed Council, the Program Design Center is an excellent training ground and incubator for STEM development.

Link to PAST Foundation video
http://bit.ly/PAST-STEM

Link to PAST website
http://www.pastfoundation.org/index.htm

Contact:
Annalies Corbin
The PAST Foundation
1929 Kenny Road
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 340-1208
[email protected]