FAQs
General FAQs
IS THIS A JOB SITE?
No - this is a site connecting STEM experts and business with student classrooms. If your field of work relates to STEM, you can be one of our subject matter experts! And if you're an educator wanting someone to speak with your students about STEM on a particular topic, you can have a subject matter expert speak with your students about the importance and relevance of STEM in their field!
IS THERE A FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP?
No - there is no fee for Membership.
DO YOU ACCEPT DONATIONS?
Yes - GT2 is a 501c3 National Non-Profit. All donations are tax deductible!
WHAT IS THE STEM COLLABORATORIUM?
The STEM Collaboratorium is a platform where school teachers can find subject matter experts, whom we call experts, which can talk with their students about their expertise and how it relates to STEM. Experts can visit the classroom virtually or in-person to share what they do and answer questions the students may have.
WHO IS THE COLLABORATORIUM FOR?
The Collaboratorium is a tool for school teachers and subject matter experts in a field related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). School teachers use the Collaboratorium to find experts. Experts use the Collaboratorium to give back to the community and help future generations. Students benefit from the Collaboratorium by being exposed to different career paths and seeing the importance of STEM.
WHAT GRADE LEVELS AND TOPICS ARE BEST SUITED FOR THE STEM COLLABORATORIUM?
The STEM Collaboratorium is best suited for K-8 grades. The best topics for the Collaboratorium are the ones that get students excited for STEM. Perhaps your students would be fascinated to learn they can grow food without soil (hydroponics); surfboard making is far more technical than it seems; or how wooden rollercoasters actually work.
WHO ARE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WILL BE TALKING TO THE CLASS OR CLASSES?
Our experts are professionals, small business owners, graduate students, any adult with an in-depth knowledge of a hobby, trade, or skill.
Basic Facts about STEM Related Careers
DO STEM WORKERS GET MORE PAY COMPARED WITH NON-STEM WORKERS WITH SIMILAR LEVELS OF EDUCATION?
Among those with some college education, the typical full-time, year-round STEM worker earns $54,745 while a similarly educated non-STEM worker earns $40,505, or 26% less. (Source: pewresearch.org)
DO STEM WORKERS NEED A BACHELOR’S OR HIGHER-LEVEL DEGREE?
A substantial share (35%) of the STEM workforce does not have a bachelor’s degree. Overall, about three-in-ten STEM workers report having completed an associate degree (15%) or have some college education but no degree (14%). These workers are more prevalent among health care practitioners and technicians, computer workers and engineers. (Source: pewresearch.org)
HOW MUCH DO MOST JOBS PAY IN STEM CAREERS?
Among college-educated workers employed full-time year-round, the median earnings for those who have a STEM college major are $81,011, compared with $60,828 for other college majors. (Source: pewresearch.org)
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN EXIST IN STEM JOBS?
Women are underrepresented in some STEM job clusters, but in others they match or exceed their share in the U.S. workforce overall. In fact, women comprise three-quarters of health care practitioners and technicians, the largest occupational cluster classified as STEM in this analysis, with 9.0 million workers – 6.7 million of whom are women. (Source: pewresearch.org)
DO WOMEN HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES, OR IN COMPUTER JOBS FOR EXAMPLE?
While there has been significant progress for women’s representation in the life and physical sciences since 1990, the share of women has been roughly stable in several other STEM job clusters. In engineering, the job cluster in which women have the lowest levels of representation on average, women’s shares have inched up only slightly, from 12% in 1990 to 14% today. And, the share of women has actually decreased in one of the highest-paying and fastest-growing STEM clusters – computer occupations. In 1990, 32% of workers in computer occupations were women; today women’s share has dropped to 25%. (Source: pewresearch.org)
FOR EDUCATORS
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
The best way to become a member is to contact GT2 via the Collaboratorium website.
HOW DO I START A REQUEST FOR AN EXPERT IN THE INDUSTRY?
If you are a member of the Collaboratorium, you may make a request for an expert at any time. Log into your member profile and at the top of your member page, click Add Event. A window will pop up with a request form for an expert. Fill out the form and then click Save & Close. Your request will be sent to the experts related to the topic(s) you selected. On your homepage, your request will now show up under Pending Requests
CAN I CREATE MY OWN LESSON, SESSION, OR TOPIC?
If you do not see the topic you want, you may select “Not Listed” on the expert request form and we will be notified your topic is not listed. On the description portion of the request form, you can explain what you are looking for in order to clarify anticipated questions.
DO I HAVE TO USE ONLY YOUR EXPERTS, OR CAN I USE MY OWN ALONG WITH YOUR MEMBERS?
You can use whatever expert you like! The STEM Collaboratorium is a platform with experts wanting to give back to the community. If you have contacts outside of the Collaboratorium, you are welcome to engage with them however your school allows.
FOR BUSINESSES/EXPERTS
THIS IS MY FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH GT2, WILL SOMEONE HELP ME PREPARE FOR IT?
Absolutely! You may contact us at any time for assistance. The Collaboratorium will not notify us when engagements are scheduled so if you would like any guidance, you will need to reach out to us directly and we would be happy to provide assistance.
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED ON MY PART WHEN I COMMIT?
Time commitment varies by expert due to their areas of expertise and availability. The more areas you are considered an expert in, the more likely you will be matched with a teacher’s request. Teachers will request experts throughout the year based on what curriculum they have so some topics may be more common than others. The average engagement in the classroom (virtual or in-person) lasts between 40 – 60 minutes.
DO I NEED TO TRAVEL?
Not at all! You may participate in the classroom virtually through our virtual platform. This means you can talk with students from the comfort of your office, warehouse, greenhouse, spaceship, wherever! Not all expert requests will be for in-person engagements.
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