Webinar - Building Sustainable STEM in Oklahoma Schools: Time, Funding, Staffing, Buy-In

At NextWaveSTEM®, each course includes 15+, 1-hour lessons with equipment kits aligned or supported by standards from CSTA, Common Core, ISTE, P21, and relevant state standards from Illinois, Florida, Texas, New York, California and more all available in English and Spanish!

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STEM is often treated as a broad concept, which makes it harder to set goals, measure progress, and scale programs across schools. This webinar outlines a clear approach to STEM design—centered on standards alignment, implementation realities, and program sustainability.

Oklahoma connection: standards and implementation

Two Oklahoma-specific themes stand out in the webinar:

  • Dedicated STEM time in OKCPS: Amy Fullbright shares how stand-alone STEM works across elementary sites, including variations by campus (specials rotation vs. standalone schedule) and the importance of “exposure” at the elementary level.

  • Oklahoma computer science standards: The webinar highlights Oklahoma’s robust, detailed, grade-by-grade computer science standards as a strong framework for building measurable skills over time.

Key takeaways and insights

  • The most common barriers to STEM implementation are consistent across districts: time, funding, staffing, training/background knowledge, and buy-in.

  • STEM works best when districts define it with measurable pillars (process/practices, technology, and discrete skills like coding and programming).

  • Programs can be sustainable through stand-alone STEM instruction or through integration into core subjects—when leaders have a plan for standards, resources, and teacher support.

Practical use cases discussed

  • Robotics progression across grade bands (from foundational sequencing to more advanced programming and real-world applications)

  • Integration examples that fit into existing instructional minutes (including ELA and science connections)

  • Hydroponics as a cross-grade technology example tied to life science standards and real-world problem solving