The STEMCC Model: Big Picture

The STEMCC Model works on two levels – a STEM ecosystem level and a STEM landscape level. The STEM ecosystem encompasses interdependent relationships and complex interactions between several components of the STEM field. It often includes scaffolds to help individuals and organizations in STEM succeed, such as mentorship programs. Grounding science and engineering design challenges within a local STEM ecosystem can empower underserved youth to develop their narratives and understandings of their local communities (Taylor & Hall, 2013). Similarly, attending to local knowledge enables youth to see connections between emerging technologies and their local spaces, including the cultural capital they already possess (Zwiers, 2007).