 |
Kristine Bullock
SE Hub Manager
|
| Submit Your STEM Event HERE |
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
Iowa STEM Council Seeking Innovative Proposals
Applications accepted September 4 - October 8, 2018
A goal of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is to support research based STEM education proven to promote, inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities and to introduce youth and their parents to careers through STEM.
In support of that goal, the Iowa STEM Council is launching a statewide Innovation Fund, a financial resource available to organizations with ideas for innovative STEM programs that show promise for supporting the goal. The intention of this fund is not to support past or current STEM Scale-Up programs with additional resources, but rather serve as an incubator for new STEM Scale-Up programming (https://iowastem.gov/Scale-Up). Programs wishing to be selected for the Iowa STEM Scale-Up program menu will be evaluated through the STEMworks database at https://cte_rating.wested.org/how-it-works/ia.php.
The Iowa STEM Council invites applications for ideas that will have an impact upon Iowans locally, regionally, and potentially on a statewide level. The Iowa STEM Council will not fund marketing or promotional campaigns for commercial products or services, nor will it fund policy advocacy activities.
Available Funding
Awards will range from $500 (minimum) up to a maximum of $10,000 per award. Applicants must provide a 10% cash match. All programs funded must be completed within one calendar year of the award date with a final report due at the end of the award period. A reporting template will be provided. Funding will be provided on a cost reimbursement basis. The Iowa STEM Council reserves the right to determine the number of awards made based on the quality of applications and availability of funds.
Eligible Applicants
Organizations eligible to apply for the STEM Innovation Fund are Iowa's public and private educational institutions, home school associations, area education associations, and Iowa-registered non-profits. Individuals or for-profit entities are not eligible to apply-though those groups may be partners in the work conducted by the award recipient. Though for-profit businesses do not meet the eligibility to apply, they are encouraged to be a part of a partnership program which would be submitted by an eligible entity on behalf of all of the partners.
The following are examples of ideas for Innovation Funds:
- School competitions
- Summer camps
- Educator/volunteer professional development
- A "student STEM corp"
- Pre-service educator support - conferences, etc.
- Higher ed. + K-12 minglings
- Parent engagement
- Work-based exposures, working with business
- Mentoring system
- STEM events
- Networking opportunities
- Curriculum development or STEM activity design and pilot
- After school programs
- Programming for underserved students
More information about the application can be found here.
Questions? Contact Kristine Bullock at [email protected]
|
|
STEM BEST Applications Due September 12
A priority for the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council for 2018-2019 is to expand the community of innovative, replicable STEM education models, known as Iowa STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) referenced throughout the application materials as STEM BEST®. A total of 37 STEM BEST® models have been established in Iowa over four years. These programs are now creating new excitement around the state as roles and responsibilities for meaningful activities are created and refined in the K-12 educational area. Further details on these awarded programs can be found at
http://www.IowaSTEM.gov/STEMBEST.
The goal of STEM BEST® is to unite educators and employers to expand the learning continuum from school to careers. The STEM Council has designated a portion of the state legislative funding to support the establishment of Iowa STEM BEST® models, preferably evenly distributed across each of Iowa's six STEM regions. Successful applicants will become an Iowa STEM BEST® model of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
A hallmark of Iowa STEM education is the connection of classroom learning to meaning beyond the school walls. Overarching guidelines are provided to assist proposers, though ample flexibility in design is encouraged to support organic development of STEM BEST® programs which match local strengths, challenges and resources. STEM BEST® models are open to K-12 applicants. Past STEM BEST® award recipients are eligible to apply for expanding current programs.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Applications for STEM BEST® must be submitted by Iowa public and non-public school districts and buildings serving students in grades K-12. Clusters of schools and/or districts are encouraged to apply. This requirement then verifies that the submitting entity will be the responsible fiscal agent. The application must also contain evidence of the roles assumed by the partnering school/districts and programs.
- For those applicants who have previously been awarded a STEM BEST® grant, or intend to connect to a past STEM BEST® awardee, please note that there is a required extra section in the Proposal Elements that must be completed as part of the submission process.
- There is an additional required section for those previously-awarded that are making re-application. This section will be thoroughly reviewed to determine merits of the expanded program model with regards to student engagement, specific measurable outcomes and elements of financial need.
- There is a distinction made between programs making re-application for additional partners, and programs making a distinctly different application by a previously awarded district. For example, a previously awarded high school program in a district now applying for a separate elementary program, not engaged with the earlier awardee.
Grant Funding: Up to $25,000
An applicant is required to provide a 1:1 match, up to $25,000. The match may be either cash or in-kind support. The match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner. To be eligible as match, the cash or in-kind contribution must be provided during the funding period of the STEM BEST® grant.
Deadline to Apply: September 12, 2018, 5:00 p.m.Funding Period: Award notice date, to June 30, 2019.
Grants must be fully expended by June 30, 2019.
|
|
STEM Council Launches Computer Science is Elementary
(DES MOINES) - Gov. Kim Reynolds and Roger Hargens, CEO of Accumold, co-chairs of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, on Monday announced a project to launch six innovative computer science elementary schools. The six high-poverty schools will be competitively selected to transform existing buildings with engaging computer science instruction. This will create more opportunity for their students, including real-life work experiences with area employers. It also will establish a network of computer science expertise as a resource for all public and non-public elementary schools across the state.
Loess Hills Computer Science Elementary School in Sioux City is the inspiration for the Computer Science is Elementary project. The district pioneered one of the first computer science elementary schools in the nation in 2015 when Loess Hills started teaching computational thinking and other skills, such as problem solving and teamwork. Loess Hills will serve as a blueprint for the project, which aligns with the Future Ready Iowa initiative to prepare more Iowans for rewarding, high-demand jobs.
"Computer science is a new basic skill in the 21st century," Gov. Reynolds said. "It is critical to build a strong foundation early so students are ready for outstanding career opportunities in a technology-driven economy. These are Iowa jobs that pay well with a lot of potential for growth."
"The computer science workforce shortage that employers face will grow unless we accelerate computer science instruction in K-12 schools," Hargens said. "Many more jobs will require at least some computer science in the future, even if they are not strictly IT positions."
Gary Scholten, executive vice president and chief digital and information officer at Principal Financial Group, is leading corporate engagement and support for the project. The campaign is working to raise $450,000 from the private sector by December 2018: $50,000 one-time planning grants for each of the six schools; $50,000 for Loess Hills Computer Programming School to serve as a blueprint; and $100,000 for a project manager. Once the six schools are launched, they will operate with regular school funding like Loess Hills Computer Programming School in Sioux City. Contributions so far include $175,000 total from Principal Financial Group, MidAmerican Energy Company, Rockwell Collins and Kemin Industries.
The Computer Science is Elementary Advisory Group will meet Aug. 29 to begin designing the criteria to select public and nonpublic elementary school awardees. In January 2019, the STEM Council will issue requests for proposals and plans to announce the awards in spring 2019.
The Computer Science is Elementary project will enhance other work to expand computer science, including a $1 million fund to prepare Iowa's computer science teacher workforce. This follows a new state law encouraging elementary, middle and high schools to offer high-quality computer science instruction and the State Board of Education recently adopting statewide voluntary computer science standards
For more information, please contact Carrie Rankin, Managing Director, Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, at [email protected], 319-273-2757 or 319-269-4116.
|
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
.
Please replace any consumables you use.
|
 
Sincerely,
Kristine Bullock
SE Iowa STEM Manager
[email protected] |
|
|
