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December 2022
Monthly News
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IN THIS ISSUE
The 2023 STEM Gem of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Making STEM Class Matter by Tying to World of Work
Computer Science is for Everyone
Two Programs Stamped with STEM Council Seal of Approval
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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 10, 2023 - 10:30 a.m.
North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
January 10, 2022 - 2:30 p.m.
South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
January 19, 2022 - 11:00 a.m.
Southeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
January 24, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
January 27, 2022 - 10:00 a.m.
Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
January 31, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Southwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
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The 2023 STEM Gem of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council | |
Dr. Duhita Mahatmya, research scientist at the University of Iowa, is featured on the latest STEM Gem poster to inspire students and create awareness of STEM careers. | |
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Each year, an Iowan of distinction in STEM is selected to be featured on a classroom poster distributed to thousands of teachers across the state. Career-linked learning helps students connect the dots between skills learned in the classroom and real-world application. Dr. Duhita Mahatmya, a research scientist for the College of Education at the University of Iowa, is this year’s STEM Gem for her inspirational work. She uses her mathematics knowledge every day at work despite not necessarily a passion of hers in school. The more Mahatmya worked with numbers, the more she found the power of mathematics to explain things.
“In school, we often focus on the scientific method and collecting data in a very controlled setting such as a lab. What I find exciting in my role is that I take the data and mathematical findings to determine how we make it work in a less controlled environment, our day-to-day lives,” said Mahatmya. “I encourage students to keep a curiosity about numbers and how it applies to real-world applications. When you are reading an article and see percentages or polls, recognizing the math behind it helps you to understand the full story.”
In total, sixteen STEM Gem posters have been created featuring career fields in mathematics, medicine, STEM teaching, engineering, computer science, agriculture, aviation, race car driving and students preparing for future STEM careers.
The 2023 STEM Gem poster featuring Mahatmya will be mailed out to mathematics, science, technology and engineering educators across Iowa. To access the entire STEM Gem poster series visit iowastem.org/stem-gem-poster-series.
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Making STEM Class Matter by Tying to World of Work | |
For grades 3-12, STEM BEST Program Boone Edge provides a work-based learning continuum of awareness, exploration and training in partnership with employers and higher education institutions. The STEM Council is coordinating the development of work-based learning plans to help guide other school districts interested in providing career-linked learning experiences, similar to Boone Edge. | |
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Work-Based Learning (WBL), a phrase coined by the U.S. Department of Labor for career-technical education, is fast becoming mainstreamed into Iowa’s STEM classes as Career-Linked Learning (CLL). And for good reason: WBL, or CLL, is a potent instructional mode for contextualizing the learning of content and skills across subjects K through 12. Whether through internships, job-shadows, collaborative school-business projects, apprenticeships, co-ops, or even teacher-externships, the knowledge and skills taught in school make much more sense applied to workplace applications. That is why Iowa’s STEM Council is on a mission to help all Iowa school districts create district-wide, K-12 work-based learning plans. One of the first to create such a plan was the Waterloo Community School District. Jeff Frost, the district’s Executive Director of Professional Education, explained their logic, “We have multiple layers of exposure to careers, beginning in Kindergarten, all the way through their senior year… [where] Waterloo students graduate with a paid experience, connections to businesses in an area they want to pursue for a career, and a strong resume no matter what their next step is – whether that is school to work, school to two-year or technical college or school to four-year college and beyond.”
A dozen district-wide, K-12 Work-Based Learning Plans are in development right now, soon to join Waterloo’s and eight others produced last year in a partnership of Iowa’s STEM Council with the state’s Department of Education and the Iowa Business Council. The nine prototypes informed a fall 2022 invitation extended to all STEM BEST Programs of the state to opt in for a modest grant to produce their own district-wide WBL plans. Twelve districts stepped up for this round: BCLUW, Central, Cherokee, Creston, East Allamakee, MFL Mar Mac, MOC Floyd Valley, Osage, Sheldon, Sioux Center, Stanton and West Des Moines. Roberta Vanderah, science teacher at BLCUW who’s authoring their WBL plan, joined this effort. “We feel that it will help us be intentional in knowing and valuing students so we can help them to be future-ready. It will build closer partnerships with area businesses which will only build stronger communities in our rural district, setting us up for sustainability and potential growth,” said Vanderah.
What Frost and Vanderah are designing for the youth of their districts may someday be standard fare for all learners in Iowa. These pioneers recognize the win-win of captivated students who become employable graduates for the high-demand STEM industries driving the state’s economy. The Waterloo WBL Plan, as well as that of the Pella and Spencer School Districts, may be accessed here: https://www.iowastem.org/WBLplans.
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Computer Science is for Everyone | |
STEM Council Member Louis Moreno featured in Computer Science career video. | |
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STEM learning often begins early. Louis Moreno, an IT Support Analyst at Ruan and STEM Advisory Council member, recalls an interest in computer science from a young age, beginning with a curiosity of how his video games worked. In high school, he had more opportunities in the computer science field, including a Registered Apprenticeship in information technology (IT).
“Computer science is a field for people who are curious and want to learn and want to explore problems,” said Moreno. “Computer science is like learning a language. You don’t have to be great at math in order to learn Spanish, but you have to be patient.”
The “T” in STEM represents the power of technology, which inspires students to be problem solvers, innovators and creators -- skills that are essential for Iowa’s future workforce. “Students who are in STEM programs tend to score a little higher than students who aren’t. The STEM programs challenge the way you think and make you more perceptive and a more inquisitive problem solver,” said Moreno. “STEM is problem-solving, and people who are curious excel in STEM. In computer science, you have a lot of troubleshooting, and you don’t see the same problem every day. Even when the problem doesn’t seem clear at first, I’m always able to find a solution.”
Moreno was featured with more than a dozen fellow Iowans in a video for Computer Science Education Week. The video highlights various students and professionals who utilize computer science regularly in a variety of ways. To view the video, learn more about computer science and access resources, visit iowastem.org/csedweek.
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Two Programs Stamped with STEM Council Seal of Approval | |
Pi515’s Tech Mentorship Program and Iowa 4-H’s Nutcracker Ballet + STEM received the STEM Council’s Seal of Approval for their contributions that help to enculturate, sustain and spread STEM thinking. | |
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The STEM Council aims to increase interest and achievement in STEM and prepare students for career paths in STEM fields. STEM experiences can happen almost anywhere. The STEM Council established a Seal of Approval to support and acknowledge programs and events unaffiliated with existing STEM Council programs that help achieve STEM Council goals.
The following two programs received the Seal of Approval in 2022:
Tech Mentorship Program
PI515's Tech Mentorship Program prepares today's youth to be the employees of tomorrow. Over the course of six months, students learn critical technology and workforce readiness skills that equip them to compete in an increasingly digital world. Participants learn directly from industry professionals, building lasting networks, mentorships and relationships with leading financial and technology companies. Students of all backgrounds and skill levels are invited to participate.
Nutcracker Ballet + STEM
Nutcracker Ballet + STEM is a program designed for elementary aged youth (grades 2-5) to highlight the connection between STEM and the arts. This program supports the development of STEM, art and literacy skills. Nutcracker Ballet + STEM is an Iowa 4-H program presented in partnership with Stephens Auditorium. There are a variety of STEM and arts activities available for the program, each designed to highlight the magical connection between STEM and the arts.
A total of 31 programs have received the STEM Council Seal of Approval since 2015. Each strongly advances the goals of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council making them powerful partners recognized by the Seal. Additional information about the Seal of Approval can be found at iowastem.org/seal.
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Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
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