Google is investing millions in teaching AI skills across Oklahoma, and Tulsa students are reaping some of those rewards.
Last month, the tech giant wrote a $225,000 check to the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance for its MOMENTUM program, which is similar to Eagle Scouts — but for STEM. Students demonstrate skills they’ve learned in or out of the classroom in science, technology, engineering and math, then earn a digital badge to recognize their abilities.
“It’s giving students a transcript of what they can actually do, not necessarily just what classes they sat in,” said Emily Mortimer, vice president of ecosystems at TRSA. “Then they actually become the authors of their own STEM story, instead of adults having to guess what all they’ve learned.”
Levi Patrick, executive director of TRSA, says Oklahoma employers haven’t been satisfied with technical and durable skills in the workforce, but after-school programs are well positioned to adapt to those needs.
“Kids can find the next best opportunity for them, document the knowledge, skills and abilities that they learn along the way and be celebrated,” Patrick said to higher education leaders at an October conference.
According to TRSA, Google’s funding will help train 20 new program partners, create new badge opportunities and issue a minimum of 2,500 badges to kids across the city.
Since the MOMENTUM program launched two years ago, TRSA has issued more than 700 badges. The alliance is tracking those badges to connect them to workforce needs in fields like computer science and engineering. That data will highlight where the local STEM workforce needs more talent.
“We’ll get a better view — as well as how students are moving through experiences, not just with their organization, but across multiple programs,” said Mortimer.
Currently, MOMENTUM offers 19 badges and 32 topic-based groupings. TRSA certifies after-school programs to issue badges, establishing specific requirements that show evidence of student impact beyond attendance.
The alliance is still looking for more providers and says the greatest need is in research, lab opportunities and internships for high schoolers.
TRSA is considering expanding the MOMENTUM program to allow school districts to issue badges, which would allow students with specific STEM skills to graduate with endorsements alongside their high school diplomas.
“There’s no real mechanism that schools have access to to track the occurrence of in-school and out-of-school opportunities that align to these requirements,” Patrick said. ”I think it could create a better mechanism that allows schools to understand where they need to create more opportunities.”
Ensuring equal access to MOMENTUM’s badges has been a concern — and priority — since the program’s inception. Transportation, Wi-Fi access and financial barriers could prevent a student from participating.
“Digital badging can be inherently inequitable,” Mortimer said, but noted visibility is the first barrier the organization hopes to tackle. “Families don’t often see the full picture of those opportunities. And so one big part of MOMENTUM is to try to help make that picture visible.”
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