IN THIS ISSUE
Amplifying the "T" in STEM
STEM Scale-Up Program to Open a World of Possibility for 113,000+ Students This Fall
STEM Teachers Gain Valuable Summer Workplace Experience
STEM Council Launches Program Logos
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August 10, 2021 - 11:00 a.m.
Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
August 17, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.
North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
August 22, 2021 - 9:00 a.m.
STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair
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Amplifying the "T" in STEM |
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This report will be delivered to the Iowa Legislature on July 1 to move Iowa forward on computer science education. |
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Folks at the Iowa Capitol get it: computer science is right there with reading, writing and arithmetic when it comes to essentials for thriving in modern society. Whether at work, at home or at play, computer technology permeates every aspect of our lives. That is why the legislature in 2020 directed the Iowa Department of Education (via House File 2629) to create a working group of experts in computer science education to make recommendations for how to expand computer science opportunities for learners.
Convened in December, 2020, by co-chairs Kathy Kay, Chief Information Officer at Principal Financial Group and Jeff Weld, Executive Director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, the working group met regularly over the course of six months to accomplish their assigned mission. Made up of leaders across academia – K-12 and higher education, business and industry and government, they brought varied perspectives and priorities to the table, united by a common passion and commitment to deliver solutions to Iowa’s computer science imperative. The work of the group and the resultant report, were ably facilitated by Linda Fandel, Governor’s Liaison for Future Ready Iowa at the Department of Education and Wren Hoffman, Computer Science Consultant for the Department.
Eighteen total recommendations were brought forth by the working group, all aimed at strengthening computer science instruction and promoting the value of computer science to youth and adult Iowans. The top three recommendations are summarized as:
- Create a standing body of experts to advise the Iowa Department of Education on professional development and licensure to assure that every child has a highly qualified computer science teacher.
- Equalize opportunity for all students to enjoy top quality computer science education through creative solutions such as shared resources and instructional partnerships.
- Provide all students across Iowa with the opportunity for work-based learning experiences in computation and information technology, now embedded aspects of nearly every career path.
These and fifteen other recommendations may be queued up for implementation as early as summer of 2022, and shortly thereafter, depending on legislative support and capacity at the Department of Education. The report, Building on Iowa's Vision for Computer Science Education, will be posted at the Iowa Department of Education website shortly.
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STEM Scale-Up Program to Open a World of Possibility for 113,000+ Students This Fall |
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Storytime STEM-packs is one of twelve STEM Scale-Up Programs that will be implemented in classrooms across Iowa this fall. |
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Now in its tenth year, more than 113,000 Iowa students will benefit from STEM Scale-Up Programming with nearly 2,000 educators across the state implementing the newly selected programs for the 2021-2022 academic year. Educators were able to apply for one or more programs with topics including coding, genetics, medicine, agriculture and mathematics.
“The Council designed Scale-Up as a means for bringing the best of STEM education to every young Iowan,” said Jeff Weld, executive director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. “Each year about one-fifth of all preK-12 learners take part, both in and out of school, with results that prove the concept works.”
To create the annual STEM Scale-Up Program menu, the STEM Council reviews applications from programs that serve students from preschool to high school. There were 12 high-quality programs selected for the 2021-2022 menu.
The Regional STEM Advisory Boards, guided by the respective Regional STEM Manager, review Scale-Up Program applications and base Program recipient selection upon criteria such as need, student diversity, geographic distribution and sustainability plans, among other factors. Since 2012, funding from the Iowa legislature has enabled more than 900,000 PreK-12 Iowa students to participate in STEM Scale-Up Programs.
According to results of the annual Iowa STEM Evaluation Report, students who participate in STEM Scale-Up Programs score higher on annual, statewide tests. Program participants in grades 6–10, scored five points higher in mathematics and four points higher in science on average.
Educator training for this year’s STEM Scale-Up Program recipients will begin this summer. Find a complete list of 2021-2022 STEM Scale-Up Program recipients at iowastem.org/scale-up.
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STEM Teachers Gain Valuable Summer Workplace Experience |
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West Branch High School Science Teacher Kristen Westpheling is completing a summer STEM Teacher Externship at Vectronic Aerospace in Coralville, maker of GPS collars and other wildlife telemetry equipment for tracking. |
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Following a year of shutdowns and remote work scenarios, the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program has rebounded with 70 teacher externs partnering with local workplaces across Iowa to gain authentic work experiences that will translate into classroom instruction and career preparation.
The STEM Teacher Externships Program kicked off this month with orientation for teachers and mentors to set goals and expectations. Teachers will gain applicable professional development experience during their six-week summer externship by working alongside skilled industry professionals. Many teachers conclude that the STEM Teacher Externships Program changes their approach to teaching based on their experiences and the hard and soft skills they observed as necessary for careers in Iowa.
These partnerships are mutually valuable for workplaces as they have the opportunity to work with some of Iowa’s many talented STEM educators. Workplace hosts gain further awareness of their business in the community, as well as relevance and strengthened partnerships with local schools.
“After a year full of uncertainties, we are thrilled to have so many teachers and workplace hosts placed in the STEM Teacher Externships Program this summer. It demonstrates the value and quality of the placement for businesses as they seek quality employees and educators as they translate classroom instruction into skills needed for future employment,” said Jason Lang, Program Coordinator for the STEM Teacher Externships Program.
Since the program launched in 2009, nearly 700 STEM teacher externs have worked at more than 200 workplaces across Iowa, covering a variety of industries.
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STEM Council Launches Program Logos |
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The STEM Council is launching logos for four signature programs, including the STEM Scale-Up Program, the STEM BEST Program, the STEM Teacher Externship Program and the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. New program logos coincide with the 10th anniversary of the STEM Council and the transition to ‘Tomorrow STEMs from Iowa.’ |
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“The success of Iowa’s STEM programs has earned them each a recognizable brand. New logos will help with consistent recognition and efficient communications as we expand opportunities to more students, families and communities, assuring that tomorrow STEMs from Iowa,” said Jeff Weld, Executive Director of the STEM Council.
The STEM Council strives to reach all Iowans to increase interest and achievement in STEM and inspire young people to become innovative, enterprising contributors to our future workforce. When the STEM Council launched in 2011, STEM awareness was just 26%. Ten years later, awareness has increased to 70%. According to the 2019-2020 Iowa STEM Evaluation Report, 96% of Iowans said STEM education should be a priority in their local school district while only 54% said STEM education actually is a priority. Students who take part in STEM scale-up programs who enroll in Iowa’s universities are 22 percent more likely to major in STEM.
“We are excited about the future of the STEM Council and reaching even more Iowans in the coming years with exciting programs that provide training for the core skills needed for careers of the future,” said Diane Young, Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services and STEM Council Co-Chair.
For more information about STEM Council programming, visit iowastem.org.
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Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
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