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Kristine Bullock
SE Hub Manager
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STEM in Action PD July 11 GPAEA Burlington
STEM in Action PD July 12 KRCUI Coralville
Computer Science Principles PD July 16-20 UNI
PLTW Computer Science for Innovators and Makers PD July 23-27
End-of-Year Externship Forum July 24 Ankeny
PowerTeaching Math PD July 30-31, ISU Ames
STEM Days at the Mississippi Valley Fair August 2 - 5 Davenport
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| Submit Your STEM Event HERE |
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| The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a bipartisan collaboration of legislators, educators, businesses, students and families to increase STEM awareness and opportunities in Iowa. To learn more about STEM programming going on in southeast Iowa, visit us at http://se.iowastem.org. |
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STEM BEST Application Available and
Tips from
Previous Awardees
In May 2018, the Iowa STEM Council released the fiscal year 2019 STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) application to the public. The goal of the STEM BEST program is to bridge school and business cultures through education programs deeply interwoven with business applications. Working side-by-side, STEM BEST awardees craft curriculum and projects that prepare students for exciting career pathways in the STEM fields of manufacturing, information technology, bioscience, finance, and more.
Recently, the South Central STEM region compiled words of advice from previous awardees including Newton and Ankeny school districts. Here are a few highlights from Jodi Morgan Peters (Newton) and Jill Urich (Ankeny).
- If you plan submit a proposal, start now!
- Go to STEMInnovator training in Iowa City. It will broaden your perspective, give you concentrated time to work on your plan, and be a great source of people who have already walked in your shoes.
- Visit other programs; tap into their expertise. If you're new to this, everyone knows more than you, and pivots are easier sooner than later.
- Make sure you have an understanding of how your school budget works. Know that districts will be reimbursed after purchases are made, so include your business office in early discussions.
- Finding time to meet as a team is difficult. Consider a retreat or setting aside sub funds.
- When renovating, those builder calls must be done during the day, when most teachers are busy. Again, consider setting aside sub funds.
- Anytime you can get kids out in the community working with community partners, it's magic. For the students, their name is on it now. They are a stakeholder in the community, and that's so important.
- Offer a range of access points to students. Incorporate projects into existing classes, offer an elective outside of the traditional class schedule, or make it a part of the traditional school day.
- Walk with teachers who are doing innovative things within their own classroom.
- Build excitement by creating a task force for a year, dedicating staff to run it, implementing in phases, and finding the right teachers to lead it.
More information about STEM BEST can be found at https://iowastem.gov/STEMBEST/application
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2018-2019 Scale-Up Awardee Trainings Kick-Off in July
Since 2012, the Iowa STEM Council has provided STEM professional development to thousands of formal and informal educators across Iowa impacting over 500,000 students when school starts this fall. For the 2018-2019 school year, almost 200 educators in Southeast Iowa will receive training in Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE), Code.org Computer Science Principles, Engineering Everywhere, Making STEM Connections, Pint Size Science, PowerTeaching Math, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), Ramps and Pathways, and STEM in Action as part of the
Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program. In addition to the high quality professional development, educators will receive the materials need to effectively engage students in hands-on learning.
If you were awarded a Scale-Up program, please check the following training dates and contact
Kristine Bullock for more information.
- Making STEM Connections July 10, Coralville
- Pint Size Science July 10, Coralville
- STEM in Action July 11, Burlington
- STEM in Action July 12, Coralville
- Computer Science Principles July 16 - 20, Cedar Falls
- PLTW Computer Science for Innovators and Makers July 23-27, Coralville
- PowerTeaching Math July 30-31, Ames
- Making STEM Connections August 3, Eldridge
- Pint Size Science August 3, Eldridge
- Making STEM Connections September 21, Coralville
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Governor Releases High School Apprenticeship Handbook
(PELLA) -
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, alongside representatives of Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella and Des Moines Area Community College, introduced the High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook in Pella Tuesday. The playbook was developed to help guide Iowa employers, high schools and students through the process of implementing a Registered Apprenticeship program in their local community.
"The combination of classroom instruction with on-the-job experience through Registered Apprenticeships takes learning to a new level," Gov. Reynolds said. "This employer-driven model helps students gain valuable skills and pursue outstanding career opportunities in Iowa, while helping businesses hire the skilled workers they need. The playbook will accelerate this effort in communities across the state in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025."
"The playbook provides detailed steps for employers, schools and students from freshman through senior year of high school and beyond," Lt. Gov. Gregg said. "It recognizes the problem - a serious shortage of skilled workers for high-demand jobs that pay well - and it proposes a solution: finding better ways to prepare the workforce for those great careers."
"Vermeer is pleased to participate in this Registered Apprenticeship pilot program. We are excited about the opportunity it provides students and local manufacturers. This valuable work will also serve as a template for other careers and regions, addressing a variety of workforce needs across Iowa," Mary Andringa, chair of the board of Vermeer Corporation, said.
Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella, the U.S. Department of Labor and Des Moines Area Community College worked together to offer a local welding Registered Apprenticeship program beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.
"Thank you for building this Registered Apprenticeship. I prefer to work and learn with my hands, so I look forward to this program and starting down my career path. I hope other students will also take advantage of this great opportunity right here in Iowa," Charles Vander Velden, a Pella High School senior and the first apprentice in the program, said.
Vermeer Corporation and the Career Academy of Pella led development of the playbook, in coordination with the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, Future Ready Iowa, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship in Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College, and in consultation with other regional employers, school districts and state agencies. The playbook can be found at https://iowastem.gov/playbook.
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Teachers Gain Valuable Industry Connections Through Teacher Externship Program
Each summer, the Iowa STEM Council places educators in businesses to work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry professions to bring classroom curriculum to life. Externships provide educators with real-world curriculum connections, prepare students for future careers and improve educational experiences.
This summer, the Southeast Region has seventeen educators in various industries ranging from county conservation, advanced manufacturing, information technology, agriculture, and public health. For example, Regina High School teacher Gordon Hackett is working at Centro, Inc in North Liberty and his project for the summer is to help with process improvement projects such as mistake proofing, process control and technical training for manufacturing leadership and technicians. Mandy Duffey from Cedar Rapids is working in a totally different environment helping Johnson County Conservation catalog bee populations as part of their wetland and savanna restoration and maintenance of natural areas.
As part of their experience, each educator is paired with a mentor who
will help them connect the externship experience to
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Available Resources
A collection of resources for STEM educators, businesses, and community members
Virtual Reality Headsets
6 Virtual Reality 3D headsets are available for checkout. Students can use the headsets to view STEM career videos, explore the world beyond the classroom and much more. Educators will need to have access to Apple or Android device to use with the glasses (typically student's personal device). If interested in checking out the glasses, click
here.
Pint Size Science Kit Check-Out
New BeeBot mats have been received and are available for checkout! Four types of kits from the Science Center of Iowa that are designed for 3-5 year old students are currently available for checkout. If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the kits that are available, click
here.
Renewable Energy Activity Kits
The Southeast STEM Hub is proud to partner with the ATEEC Interactive Learning Lab at Eastern Iowa Community College to offer renewable energy activity kits to educators throughout the southeast region. Thanks to the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, ATEEC is able to offer a variety of kits that are sure to engage any student.
If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the available kits, click
here
A World In Motion Activity Kit Check-Out
Three types of kits designed for primary or elementary students are currently available for checkout.
If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the kits that are available, click
here.
Materials may be checked out for 6 weeks. They can be picked up and returned at the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa, 2301 Oakdale Boulevard, Coralville, IA 52241
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Please replace any consumables you use.
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Sincerely,
Kristine Bullock
SE Iowa STEM Manager
[email protected] |
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