Southwest Iowa STEM

Regional Newsletter

Celebrating Computer Science Education

On Tuesday, December 6th, the SW Iowa STEM Hub and Green Hills AEA partnered with Atlantic Washington Elementary educators to celebrate National Computer Science Education Week, which was held December 5th-11th.

Second and third grade students at Washington Elementary engaged in hands-on learning by coding and testing a variety of physical computing devices. The second grade students participated in three stations that featured computer science challenges using BeeBots, Sphero Indi Robots and Sphero RVR Robots. The third grade students also participated in three stations with the Sphero Indi Robots and Sphero RVR Robots, and they also got to experiment with coding a Micro:bit.

The Computer Science Day at Washington Elementary is just one example of activities that happened all over Iowa to celebrate Computer Science Education Week! Please visit iowastem.org/csedweek to view recorded virtual panels and to access computer science resources for educators!

Click the image above to take you to a Facebook video of the event posted by the Atlantic Community School District.

On December 1st, the SW STEM Hub collaborated with the Workplace Learning Network to host an 8th Grade Career Conference at Southwestern Community College for Region 14 schools. Students got a chance to hear about different career fields and do hands on activities! The student groups rotated through several different stations including;

Iowa Motor Truck Association

Iowa Corn Growers Association

Green Hills AEA

Central Iowa Power Cooperative

ISU Extension and Outreach- Union County

SWCC- Education Department

The students then rounded out the day by listening to a panel of SWCC students talking about their post secondary journeys and how the 8th grade students can start preparing now for their futures!

Thank you to the students and the presenters for making it a great day!

Through legislative appropriation, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is able to offer exemplary STEM programs throughout the state. The STEM Scale-Up Program has demonstrated success in increasing student interest and achievement in STEM across all demographics.The 2023-24 STEM Scale Up program menu will be released Monday, January 9th.

Through a rigorous review process, the STEM Council selects programs to be offered on the STEM Scale-Up Program menu to provide high-quality STEM education offerings to schools, afterschool programs and other settings for grades pre-K through 12. Educators can apply to receive these programs, along with any materials and required professional development. The application deadline will be February 28th.

If you are interested in having the SW Hub manager come and talk to your district or organization about the Scale Up program, what will be offered, and how to apply, please email jehm@iowastem.org to schedule a time!

📆 Upcoming STEM Events 📆

January 9: Scale Up Program Menu Announced

February 8: STEM Day at the Capital

February 22: Authentic Learning Network Student Expo

February 28: Scale Up application closes

March 9: Earlham STEM Festival

March 28: Region 14- 8th Grade Career Conference at SWCC

April 5: Graceland College STEM Festival

July 10-14: Camp Invention ⬅️ Click for more information!