Youth Development Educator
Maria E. Gutierrez stays abreast of current research regarding the rise of 21st-century skills, with a primary focus on educational technology targeting Latino youth to ensure equity in success for Latino youth. A study by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Student Research Foundation from 2020 found that STEM jobs in areas like computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, data, science, machine learning, and software development are on the rise; however, Latinos comprise only 8% of the STEM workforce, despite being 17% of the workforce overall. In her current role as a 4-H Youth Development Educator, she aspires to close the gender gap in the STEM workforce by creating innovative and creative solutions that can help improve the lives of minorities, particularly Latinos. The mission of the University of Illinois Extension and land-grant institutions remains at the forefront of Gutierrez's mind. Maria E. Gutiérrez began her tenure with the University of Illinois Extension in 1997 and has worked her way up in a diligent manner. Gutierrez has assessed local needs and developed and implemented relevant programs to address the needs of the Latino communities.
Maria E. Gutierrez stays abreast of current research regarding the rise of 21st-century skills, with a primary focus on educational technology targeting Latino youth to ensure equity in success for Latino youth. A study by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Student Research Foundation from 2020 found that STEM jobs in areas like computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, data, science, machine learning, and software development are on the rise; however, Latinos comprise only 8% of the STEM workforce, despite being 17% of the workforce overall. In her current role as a 4-H Youth Development Educator, she aspires to close the gender gap in the STEM workforce by creating innovative and creative solutions that can help improve the lives of minorities, particularly Latinos. The mission of the University of Illinois Extension and land-grant institutions remains at the forefront of Gutierrez's mind. Maria E. Gutiérrez began her tenure with the University of Illinois Extension in 1997 and has worked her way up in a diligent manner. Gutierrez has assessed local needs and developed and implemented relevant programs to address the needs of the Latino communities.
What's your learning style?
As an educator, it is important to identify all learning styles of my audience.
Tactile. If you are a tactile learner, you learn by touching and doing. You understand and remember things through physical movement. You are a "hands-on" learner who prefer to touch, move, build, or draw what you learn, and you tend to learn better when s some type of physical activity is involved.
Education Planner.Org
I:
As an educator, it is important to identify all learning styles of my audience.
Tactile. If you are a tactile learner, you learn by touching and doing. You understand and remember things through physical movement. You are a "hands-on" learner who prefer to touch, move, build, or draw what you learn, and you tend to learn better when s some type of physical activity is involved.
Education Planner.Org
I:
- Make every effort to participate in activities that involve touching, building, drawing, moving
- I do LOTS of hands- on activities such as art projects and acting out stories
- Take frequent breaks, especially during reading and studying ( not long)
- Remind myself that it is ok to hold on to something while processing new information
- Use a computer or mobile device to reinforce my own learning (sense of touch)
Photo Credit: Dr. Courtnye Jackson