Computer Science Education Week Starts December 4

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) takes place December 4-10, 2023, and is an annual call to action to provide American youth with resources to learn more about computer science, explore the opportunities that exist and encourage participation in computer science education. 

A variety of resources, panel opportunities and activities are available for anyone interested in learning more about computer science at www.iowastem.org/csedweek. These resources can be utilized to set up unique experiences and events and are customizable for a variety of settings, including classrooms, libraries, businesses, at home, among others.

Throughout the week, schools and other education providers in Iowa and all around the world will offer activities and programs to engage students in computer science education. Scheduled activities for Computer Science Education Week include:

• December 4
• 11:00 AM -Noon - Panel for Secondary Students: “Careers in AI”. Use the Careers Panel Registration Link to sign up for this event. Recorded session will be posted after the event. 
• December 5
• 11:00 AM -Noon - Panel for Secondary Students: “Pathways to AI Careers”. Use the Pathways Panel Registration Link to sign up for this event. Recorded session will be posted after the event. 
• December 7
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Virtual Family Coding Night CLICK HERE to register.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. – (New this year) In Person Family Coding Night We are excited to pilot regional in-person AI events. Come together with other families in your community. Sessions will be facilitated virtually, but include trained in-person helpers plus the technology you need to complete the activities. Find an In-Person Family AI Night near you (Check back, new sites are being added)
• December 8
• Nutcracker Ballet + STEM - Overview Flyer with links to activities

STEM BEST Application

Deadline is December 13!

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, at the Iowa Department of Education, is accepting applications for the STEM BEST® (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) Program.

Who may Apply?

Any Iowa public and nonpublic school district(s) and building(s) serving students in grades K-12 may apply for the competitive grant opportunity.

What's the Big Picture?

• Award amounts up to $40,000.
• Must have a business and/or a community partner.
• The time frame for expenditure is 17 months – February 2024 to June 2025.
• Cost-share requirement is 2:1 match required, or $40,000 state to $20,000 awardee. In-kind funds count.
• Funds may be used to explore, implement or expand.

What's the Timeline?

• December 13, 2023: Application due by 11:59pm.
• December 2023 - January, 2024: Application Review.
• February 2024: Awards Announced.
• February 2024 - May 2025: STEM BEST Program Planning and Implementation.
• May 15, 2025: Progress Report and final invoice due.

The STEM BEST Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to design project-based learning models that combine STEM subjects with hands-on learning. These experiences highlight the essential skills needed in the workplace and give students the opportunity to learn about different industries and businesses and explore potential career paths in high-demand sectors. 

Award may be used for many things, including facility upgrades, the purchase of industry-grade equipment, acquiring additional space, travel needs for exploration, and costs associated with planning with partners and integrating curriculum into existing courses.

Computer Science Endorsement Offered

The Computer Science Education program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has been awarded nearly $1,000,000 by the National Science Foundation to expand their 5-12 CS endorsement program statewide. As a result, UNI has partnered with the state's Area Education Agency's (AEAs) to offer high-quality, online coursework through UNI combined with periodic, face-to-face Community of Practice (CoP) events held at AEA sites around the state. 

The program is preparing for its second cohort of partner sites under this grant starting June 2024. This cohort of sites will include Great Prairie, Green Hills, Heartland, Keystone, Mississippi Bend, and Prairie Lakes AEAs.  

Applications for the program will be accepted December 1, 2023 through January 31st, 2024. Teachers admitted to the program will automatically qualify for significantly reduced tuition (over 85% off normal graduate tuition) and as many of 30 teachers from each partner AEA will be awarded full scholarships allowing them to complete the 5-12 Computer Science Endorsement completely free. 

More information about the program can be found at (https://chas.uni.edu/cs/csed/aea) and interested teachers should complete the initial interest form at (bit.ly/CSED_UNI_NSF23). Questions can be emailed to Dr. Ben Schafer at ben.schafer@uni.edu.

STEMtastic Evening in Manchester!

Nearly 550 people participated in the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival held on Thursday, November 16 in Manchester.

Organizations featured interactive STEM activities for students and their families. Attendees conducted amazing science experiments, explored the solar system, operated robots, conducted surgery, and much more!

Thank you to our exhibitors;

• Collins Aerospace (Activity: cockpit display)
• Delaware County Emergency Management  (Activity: prepping for disaster)
• Delaware County Sheriff's Office (Activity: fingerprint identification)
• Dupaco Credit Union (Activity: Jenga)
• Engineering Services & Products Company (Activity: strength of shapes)
• Fehr Graham Engineering (Activity: explore civil engineering)
• Geater Machining and Manufacturing, Co. (Activity: Lego build)
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa (Activity: explore gravity)
• Green Iowa Americorps (Activity: nature trivia/milkweed)
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Delaware County (Activity: Snap Circuits and Makey Makey)
• IowaWORKS (Activity: STEM careers)
• Keystone Area Education Agency – (Activity: robots, robots, robots)
• Keystone Area Education Agency (Activity: explore Osmo puzzles, drawing, monster stories and more)
• Keystone Area Education Agency (Activity: digital planetarium)
• Northeast Iowa Community College (Activity: try workplace tasks through virtual reality goggles)
• NICC- Radiologic Technology Program (Activity: x-ray view box)
• Rainbow Land Preschool (Activity: Water Works)
• Submarine Veterans of Iowa (Activity: submarine buoyancy)
• University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (Activity: laparoscopic surgery simulator)
• University of Iowa Department of Chemistry (Activity: chemistry and solids)
• Upper Iowa University (Activity: cover crop monsters)
• West Delaware High School (Activity: mobile arc welding)

Requesting Exhibitors for the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival

Exhibitor registration is open for the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival. The Festival will be held on Tuesday, March 19 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls

Who is invited to exhibit?

• Business and Industry
• Higher education
• Community non-profit groups
• Organizations providing STEM education

What are we looking for?

• Fun and free hands-on activities
• Conducting an experiment
• Playing a game
• Participating in an interactive demonstration
• Refer to examples for your organization

To learn more,

https://neiowastem.com/cedar-valley-family-stem-festival