Congrats, 2024-25 Scale-Up Awardees! | |
Above: During a recent advisory board visit, Van Meter Elementary 4th graders built vehicles using STEM Cart Scale-Up materials. |
Last month, the SC Region awarded over 340 educators and over 27,000 students with Scale-Ups awards, consisting of training and materials.
The SC STEM Hub and program providers will be sending out emails with training and kit details. Each program hosts it's own training with varied dates, times, and locations, but here's a general look at what's next.
- Summer 2024: Training, professional development in preparation for program implementation during 2023-2024 academic year
- July 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025: Implementation
- May 31, 2025: Evaluations due
We're so excited to spend time with you all this summer and fall! If you have any questions or changes, please email Dr. Sarah Derry at sarah.derry@drake.edu.
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Due: Scale-Up Evals for 2023-24 Awardees | |
The graphs above provide a small snapshot into the 2021-22 evaluation report. Each year, data supports a correlation between students who have participated in Scale-Up and academic success in math and science. Read the full report here. |
Iowa STEM wants to hear from you! Starting the first week of May, be on the lookout for an email invitation to complete your 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up evaluation.
As part of your STEM Scale-Up agreement, all educators who implement a Scale-Up program are expected to complete two evaluation tasks. This includes:
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Complete an online educator survey. An email will be sent to you next week from our evaluation team at Iowa State (jszabo@iastate.edu) with the subject line 'Evaluation Instructions for your STEM Scale-Up Program.' The email will contain a link to complete the survey. The link is unique to you so that you won't get additional email reminders after you complete the survey.
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Submit a student participant list to Iowa Testing Programs. Instructions for submitting the list will be in the email invitation, and can also be found at iowastem.org/scale-monitoring.
Your feedback helps us improve programs and processes each year. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Students Speak on the Power of Applied Math | |
Here are some insights from student panelists (pictured above): | |
"I've done better with working with and talking to other people. My social skills have gotten a lot better. And I can fix about anything!"
--Savanah
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"It's so powerful to say, 'I made that!'"
--Sevanna
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"Class is more fun.
It's easier to understand and learn because everything is so much more hands-on."
--Abigail
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Dr. Sarah Derry hosted the session called "Build Math Relevance: Creating Context for Secondary Math Enriches Content & Connects Careers. Speakers included:
- Emily Logan, Mathematics Curriculum Consultant, Grant Wood Area Education Agency
- Roxanne Paulsen, Marion Schools Mathematics Teacher; Stacey Cole, Superintendent at Storm Lake Community School District
- T.J. Meyerholz, Director of Pre-Construction at Ryan Companies
- Four high school students from Marion High School's Amped on Algebra course: Josie, Savanah, Sevanna, and Abigail
The course contextualizes high-level mathematics with hands-on, real-world projects that address the common complaint of when will we use this and builds student confidence. Paired classes include algebra + business and geometry + career and technical education. Students report a much higher interest and understand of mathematics.
If you're an educator and would like to be connected with the folks who created this program, please email the hub.
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Meet South Central's
Alexis Cordts | |
Alexis Cordts, above, during a visit to Van Meter Elementary School to see students engaged in Scale-Up and other STEM activities.
Build confidence. Set goals. Invest in Iowa’s children.
The hub is thrilled to welcome Alexis Cordts to the SC Advisory Board! Cordts is a full-stack software engineer at WR Berkely, an international commercial insurance company. She knows firsthand the power of STEM and hopes to share that with others.
“My team thrives on collaboration," said Cordts, "so my day to day varies between writing code, reviewing my peer’s code, architecture and UX design meetings, and pair programming.
She currently works on a project that revolves around innovation and modernization of the insurance landscape. “It always brings fun, new problems that need solving.”
STEM Outreach
Cordts’ interest in technology and STEM education started in high school, with “an amazing mentor, now Iowa Senator, Chris Cournoyer.” Cournoyer spearheaded a Girls Who Code club, and team members had the opportunity to volunteer at local elementary schools. Cournoyer is a past SE Regional Board Member and a current member of the Iowa STEM Council. Cordts enjoyed working with younger students. “I couldn’t believe how smart all of them were and how much fun they were having learning.”
After high school, Cordts continued K-12 student outreach, volunteering at events. “Technology is the future, and I want to invest in the future. That starts with children.”
Defining Moment
For Cordts, a defining STEM moment occurred while being recruited into her high school Girls Who Code Club. “I absolutely fell in love with computer science and K-12 outreach.”
This interest carried on into college, where she joined another female-focused software engineering club at ISU. “All of this led me to finding my first job in college, continuing to peer mentor, and building my current STEM network, where I hope to help the next generation.”
Words of Wisdom
Along the way, Cordts has received two important pieces of advice.
1. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
At career fairs, she often hears I’m just a freshman. She says, “Students immediately dismiss their ability to get an internship. From personal experience, one of the things I regret, was not applying to a job because I believed myself to be unqualified.” She notes that, with technology, there will always be more to learn. “So you might as well put yourself out there and just be ready to tackle any problem that comes your way.”
2. Set goals and do small things to work toward them every day.
“I believe everyone should make it a point to set goals.” As a freshman in college, she wanted to become president of Digital Women. “To this day, I remember attending the first meeting and thinking that I wanted to be the one leading this club." She was passionate about the mission and members, so she broke down her goat into steps. Her junior year, she was elected president. “There truly is not a goal too big or too small.”
Cordts is already hard at work for communities across the South Central Region, helping make decisions about Scale-Up awards, visiting classrooms, and attending meetings. Doing the everyday little things that end up making a big difference in the lives of preK-12 educators and students.
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Randi Glaser Receives STEM Award | |
Picture left to right: Diane Young, McKenzie Snow, Libby Nelson and Randi Glaser. |
At the Summit, lunchtime highlights included the presentation of Kemin's I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher award by Libby Nelson, VP and General Counsel for Kemin, Ind. A keynote followed by Kemin's Rebecca Lewis, with the theme of "Embrace the Why."
We're proud to support Randi Glaser, SC Region's 2024 awardee, as she accepts her award. Iowa STEM Director Justin Lewis read from her nomination letter:
"Ms. Glaser is a shining example of how to develop and implement engaging, hands-on, and relevant curriculum. Her ability to make connections to the world around us is truly remarkable, as she crafts engaging content that resonates with her students and collaborates with local organizations to expose her students to a wide range of experiences."
Congratulations to Glaser and all the outstanding teachers nominated or named regional awardees.
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The Future of Comp Sci + AI in Education | |
Code.org’s Hannah Weismann, Director of Policy, presented in person, and Pat Yongpradit, CTO, spoke virtually. | |
Code.org’s Hannah Weismann and Pat Yongpradit addressed policy, demographics and the future of computer science during their Summit presentation entitled “The Future of Innovation and STEM: CS and AI Education as a Foundation.”
Weismann provided a look at data. In Iowa, 84% of all high schools offer computer science. That number is up from 49% just five years ago. “Part of that increase is due to a change in policy,” said Weismann. During the 2022-23 school year, the state required all schools to offer a foundational computer science class.
Even with this opportunity, only about 5% of all students actually take the class. And, out of the 5%, only 20% are female. In addition, Hispanic students are 1.3 times less likely to take such a class.
Yongpradit addressed AI, suggesting people look at it as another tool not a solution. “AI is not a search engine. It just makes connections. You can gather information, but you still need to vet it.”
He also addressed many concerns teachers have, with one of the biggest being cheating. He cited a study from Stanford. “The statistics on cheating haven’t changed with AI.” It’s more about the human nature of the individual. “Cheaters are going to find a way to cheat. People who don’t cheat, won’t suddenly start.”
In a final question, an audience member asked the question: When should teachers introduce AI? Yongpradit said those studies are only beginning, but he did add caution for young learners, “Be careful not to anthropomorphize AI to kids. Make sure they don’t give it human qualities because it changes how they interact and benefit from it.” He noted you don’t want students thinking AI doesn’t “like” them just because the tool didn’t deliver expected results.
Visit Code.org's Teach AI for more guidelines: https://www.teachai.org/
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Beyond Tiny Techies Scale-Up with NewBoCo Training | |
NewBoCo K-12 Education offers summer opportunities for K-12 educators. Trainings include Tiny Techies (preK-2nd grade), Cybersecruity (6-12 grade), and Code.org Trainings (K-12 grades).
Tiny Techies, one of NewBoCo's programs, was a popular 2023-24 Scale-Up. They also participate in many Iowa STEM events, volunteering time at festivals and serving on committees and boards.
This summer, all of their teacher training sessions will be offered during professional development week, June 24th–28th, 2024. They will be hosted at the Landus Headquarters in Des Moines. Scholarships are available for qualified educators. More information can be found in the registration form.
If you have questions, please email Alison Mohr, NewBoCo Educator and SC STEM Hub's Advisory Co-Chair, at alison@newbo.co.
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SC Connection: "Making Sense of Nature" | |
Left to right: Jim Pifer, Christopher Like, Matt Stier, Gus Elliot, and ???.
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Matt Stier, SE Regional STEM Hub Manager, moderated a session on teaching science called "Connecting Science Classrooms to STEM Experiences in the Community."
Top Takeaways
Christopher Like, Science Program Consultant with the Iowa DOE, kicked off the workshop. Here are a few of the tips he shared for best practices:
A. Start with the Phenomena.
He gave the following example. if you're teaching about the digestive system. Instead of handing out a sheet with parts to memorize, begin by saying, "Today, we're going to figure out diarrhea." Learn in the context of the problem and solution.
B. Present Data.
Make it as local as possible and show who collected it in a named photograph. For those wondering where to start, Like offered two suggestions:
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Iowa PBS has 300+ Science Phenomena scenarios: https://phenomena.iowapbs.org/
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Gus Elliott, Conservation Education Specialist with Iowa DNR, spoke about their databases of natural science information. Here's a great place to start: https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/About-DNR/Online-Services-Databases. You can also reach out to your county DNR office.
C. Consider Externships.
Elliot also said the DNR works closely with teacher externs through paid summer positions that often end with long-term classroom connections and projects. Here's a link to Iowa STEM Externship Program: https://iowastem.org/externships .
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SC Spotlight: Southeast Polk
Jim Pifer, K-12 Science Coordinator at SEP, provided examples of how SEP classrooms embrace the use of phenomena, which simply means starting with a problem or observation.
- One math class investigated this nature-based questions: does the size of the plant stem correlate with the head of the plant?
- Students used an AWIM Scale-Up award to design a vehicle for a Design Car Showcase.
- All 6th graders participate in a Build Day with Turner Construction.
- They have several community events, like a Science Fair, STEM Night, and Industrial Tech Expo.
Pifer has a special reminder to schools to invite trade unions to the planning table. They're very interested in helping schools and building career interest. If you'd like details on these SE Polk events or other STEM endeavors, please email Pifer at james.pifer@southeastpolk.org.
Make Connections
All the presenters stressed the importance of authentic, relevant experiences that link classrooms to community problems or observations. "Reach out to people," said Pike. "We're all in this togethers."
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Externships Yield Long-Term Results | |
Panelists, from left to right, olive-lady, teal-lady, Ann Gritzner, smiling-lady, light-blue lady, and Joanne Tubbs. | |
Ann Gritzner, STEM Teacher Externships Program Coordinator, and
Joanne Tubbs, DOE Program Consultant, moderated a panel of Iowa STEM externs and hosts at the Summit.
Many externs form lifelong connections with hosts. "Partnerships lead to more partnerships," said Tubbs. "They lead to Scale-Up applications and STEM BEST collaborations. It's inspirational."
if you have questions or would still like to be part of this summer's program, please email Gritzner at gritzner@iowastem.org.
| Above: Kathy McGrane and her AP Chemistry students at West Des Moines Valley investigate alloys. |
SC Spotlight: MidAmerica & West Des Moines
What makes teachers good extern investments?
"Teachers are naturally curious," said Hajdi Zulic, Corporate Trainer, MidAmerican Energy Company, "so having that mindset in a professional environment is so valuable. Outsiders come with a new point of view and ask necessary questions."
What benefits do externs bring back to their students?
Last year, students missed several questions on the AP test from the solid structure unit on alloy structure" said Kathleen McGrane, WDM AP chemistry teacher and past Mid-America Energy extern. "I learned that Mid-American uses bronze because it's a non-sparking type of alloy. This year we did a lab to test various metals, and they scored much better this year."
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If you're interested in externing this summer, there may be a spot for you! | |
Best Practices: Expand STEM & Scale-Up | |
Students from Dubuque Community Schools partner with John Deere to build technology and 21st Century skills. | |
Jeff Beneke, Northeast Regional STEM Manager, hosted a session called "Ways to Expand STEM Education Opportunities" with April Pforts and Jody Vanderloo, DOE Program Consultants. This session was dedicated to best practices from Iowa school and business partners.
How to Extend Scale-Up Past Initial Funding from Iowa STEM
- Ask local businesses if they'd like to fund programs. Make specific asks related to their fields of expertise.
- Ask local experts to help.
- Check with corporate foundations to see if they set aside dollars of education.
Erin Sale, K-12 STEM Coach from Waterloo Schools, said, "Our students learn coding from John Deere folks, but they also learn soft skills by modeling how their mentors interact.
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Diversity in STEM is Key
There was also a push to make sure experts look like the demographics of the class, which includes females and diversity. "If you can't see it," said Danelle Tigges, Staff Engineer, John Deere Dubuque Works, "you can't be it."
Ryan Christoffer, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator from Waterloo Schools, has studied how to keep more girls involved in STEM, like many schools and companies. "Girls are still dropping out of computer science and math classes," said Christoffer. "We need to get them involved sooner, building their confidence, and make sure to point out the creative and artistic element of all STEM."
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Tips to Bring Employees or Community Experts
into Classrooms
- Go to the company or group. Sit down face-to-face and talk.
- Invite females and people of diversity.
- Give them space to interact and work. More adults may not fit into your classroom.
- Create a schedule. Business runs on schedules.
- On the schedule, list specific jobs. (example, 10-11 am: run the glue gun)
- Provide mentor training.
- Hone activities that are easy for volunteers to facilitate.
- Layout lesson plans for volunteers. The goal is for the teacher to fade into the background.
- Show impact data of including community mentors. Companies love numbers.
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The Starting Point
Theressa Northouse, Media Coach from Marshall Elementary in Dubuque and Erin Sale, STEM Coach K-12 at Waterloo Schools, said to look for gaps. "The school needs to communicate with the company what their students' needs are," said Sale. "Set a one, small concrete goal that fills a gap or need."
To do that, they suggest setting goals. Here's an example of what how they began:
- Create positive connections with the adults.
- Build relationships through classroom work.
- Visit the company where the adult volunteers work.
"Just call!" Northouse says. "A lot of folks are going to show up for you. They want to support the community and figure out if they want to stay and have a family here."
| Pictured, left to right, Danielle Tiggs, Erin Sale, Theressa Northouse and Jeff Beneke. |
Future Scale-Up
Beneke mentioned that the next round of Scale-Up opens January 7, 2025, giving educators plenty of time to assess their future needs and seek materials. If you need any help creating a plan or establishing who to contact, reach out to Sarah at sarah.derry@drake.edu.
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Our Board (like MidAmerican): Obsessively, Relentlessly at Your Service! | | | | |