Greetings Makers!  

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others and most importantly please provide feedback so that we may tailor each issue to your needs. All inquiries and feedback may be sent to kalyn@educationalliance.org . Happy Making!                   
  
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WV Maker News 
A Newsletter of The Education Alliance 


Maker Spotlight 
by Ping Lee, STEM VISTA Leader 

George Washington High School (GWHS) has been planning on creating a MakerSpace for over a year and it has  finally  come together. The teachers of GWHS have jumped into the school year by creating lesson plans around the Makerspace and its equipment. Currently t he science department will do 3D modeling and scaling, math will use the Laser Cutter to teach the math in Pinewood Derby racing.  The Business department will create school GWHS gear  to sell to sustain the Makerspace. And finally, the Physical Education Department will be using the space to set up a hydroponics garden to teach students about plants and farming. As you can see GWHS Makespace is off to a great start and keeping students engaged in STEM. 

RCBI's Annual Festival 
by Robert C. Bryd Institute 

The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) and a group of statewide partners will present the West Virginia Makes Festival - a celebration of ingenuity and creativity to inspire artists, inventors, hackers, makers and students of all ages - on Friday, October 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Huntington on Marshall University's Memorial Student Center Plaza. Educators and teachers are encouraged to bring their students so they can engage with makers and entrepreneurs. Buses and vans will have a special parking area after they drop off their passengers at the 5th Avenue entrance to the Student Center.
 
The annual Design Challenge will provide makers the opportunity to demonstrate new ideas and skills, and will reward their original inspirations. Hobbyists, engineers, inventors, enthusiasts, artists and students of all ages who enter the Design Challenge are eligible for one of several prizes. Entrepreneurs are invited to join us 6 p.m. at RCBI Huntington (1050 Fourth Avenue) to pitch fresh business ideas or products to a panel of industry experts and experienced professionals who will offer evaluations and reviews.
 
For more information or to register, please call 304.781.1675 or visit www.rcbi.org/go/wvmakes.

Innovative Ideas

How to balance reusable/non consumable activities with make and task. Many of the activities in Makerspaces tend to be based around reusable and non-consumable supplies. But project made with reusable material don't always get displayed. To balance things out, and save try to find projects and activities that you can add to your Makerspace that use affordable materials that students can take home. Click here to learn how to save your non consumable products. 
Maker Updates      

Grant Opportunities: 

Enter your STEM programs, events, clubs, camps, or activities to the WV EcosySTEM online searchable directory at  wv.stemrc.com  to be e ntered into a random drawing of $2,000 in prizes. Click here  for more information. 

By working closely together with members of the STEM Education Research Network, WVUCE-STEM is able to provide expert advice, support, and hands-on help that can increase grant approval rates dramatically. Contact stemcenter@mail.wvu.edu to get involved today.

The Industry-based Design  Challenge project  matchs West Virginia companies with some of tomorrow's brightest young minds to engage in hands-on improvement projects to solve real world projects. Applications due November 15, 2017. Click here to download the application. 

Educator & Professional Opportunities:

The WV Statewide After School Network is offering two day train-the-trainer workshop for  CryptoClub on October 7 and November 4  in Charleston or Huntington.  Click here to register by September 29, 2017. 

WV Science Public Outreach Team can provides  your K-12 School with a  college role model  to talk about science that's happening right here in West Virginia.  Click here to 
 fill out an online request!