‌ ‌	JULY UPDATE The InterMountain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Launch Pilot (IM STEM)

Mark your calendars for the next IM STEM quarterly virtual network meeting September 18, 2019 3:00pm - 4:30pm MDT

REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER NETWORK MEETING

IM STEM Steering Committee Seeking Additional Members

The IM STEM Steering Committee is looking for a few dedicated leaders, like you, interested in making a difference in broadening participation in STEM in the six IM STEM states (CO, ID, NM, NV, UT, WY). The Steering Committee sets direction for the activities of the network and provides leadership within their state and nationally representing the network. To learn more about this opportunity send an email of interest to Mimi Lufkin, NAPE CEO Emerita and IM STEM Project Director at mimilufkin@napequity.org

What's going on In the network?

Communications and Resource Sharing

The Communication and Resource Sharing group asks that you get the most out of network membership by engaging in conversation with each other on our social media channels, including our LinkedIn group (IM STEM Network) and Twitter (@imstemequity). Please also continue to invite your professional colleagues to take advantage of the network by signing up today at our website https://www.napequity.org/stem/stem-equity-project/imstem/ .

Data and Metrics

In partnership with Idaho, this workgroup has developed a pilot data dashboard to display data from Idaho’s career and technical education programs to test the feasibility of using a dashboard to conduct a more comprehensive equity gap analysis. Perkins V requires data to be disaggregated by gender, race/ethnicity and each of the 9 special population groups. This pilot dashboard can inform states as they are working on data collection and accountability in their State Plans for Perkins V. To learn more about Perkins V and to view the national data dashboards go to NAPE’s resource page at https://www.napequity.org/public-policy/frontline-legislation/strengthening-career-and-technical-education-for-the-21st-century-act/

Asset Map Building

Our asset mapping team is currently working with Nevada to develop an asset map that shows where STEM programming exists. Some states already have maps, including Idaho and Wyoming, and you can view them by clicking on the state name. New Mexico has just launched their “crowd sourced” STEM asset map (for NM STEM programs only). Contact Jeff McConaughy jmcconaughy@explora.us with any questions. Any other questions about the IMSTEM Asset map initiative, please contact Kathleen Fitzpatrick kfitzpatrick@napequity.org .

Effective Practice Scaling

The Rubric for Evaluating Programs to Broaden Participation in STEM is currently out for review. Members of the Effective Practices workgroup are reviewing the rubric and providing input to the writing team. If you are interested in reviewing the rubric and providing your input contact Mimi Lufkin at mimilufkin@napequity.org . The team will be making revisions based on the feedback and will be ready to share the rubric at the network meeting on September 18, 2019.

Pilot Monitoring

This workgroup continues to monitor NAPE’s professional development efforts in the six states. Since the fall of 2017 (the beginning of the NSF INCLUDES DDLP: IM STEM grant) NAPE has conducted professional development (PD) in five states at twelve sites with over 1200 educators. The Pilot Monitoring workgroup will be conducting a follow-up survey with participants to learn more about the impact of this PD. For more information about NAPE’s PD contact Kathleen Fitzpatrick at kfitzpatrick@napequity.org .

What's going on Around the network?

Colorado  The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing (AiC) provides a long-term community for female technologists, from K-12 through higher education and beyond, encouraging persistence in computing through continuous engagement and ongoing encouragement at each pivotal stage of their educational and professional development. Thousands of technically inclined girls and women are offered opportunities to learn through computing-related activities, network at virtual and in-person meetups, receive visibility for technical achievements, and grow leadership and entrepreneurial skills by leading computing outreach programs in their local communities. Additionally, they gain exclusive access to scholarships, internships, and job opportunities. Click on the link below for information about the regional affiliate for Colorado. Tracy Camp tcamp@mines.edu Kaivi Kumar EmailKaivi@gmail.com https://www.aspirations.org/aspirations-community/colorado

Idaho  Eighty-five teachers, administrators and librarians attended the i-STEM workshop put on by the Idaho STEM Action Center during the last week of June at the College of Eastern Idaho. The i-STEM workshop is one of six that the Action Center organized at colleges across the state this summer to provide tools and ideas to K-12 teachers about project-based science education. Workshops were simultaneously held at the College of Southern Idaho and the College of Western Idaho. The workshop was divided into six “strands” which were classes that focused on different subjects under the larger umbrella of STEM education. Every person at the workshop stayed with one strand for the entirety of the four-day event, giving them a deep dive into one field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The workshop also included guest speakers and lessons about the bigger picture of teaching science courses in Idaho. https://www.postregister.com/news/education/i-stem-workshop-teaches-the-teachers-about-project-based-science/article_1673faa1-7969-594c-aa9f-5124eda48c73.html

Nevada The Robotics Academy of Nevada has helped 60 Northern Nevada middle and high-school teachers sharpen their teaching skills, introduce engineering and robotics into their classrooms, and be better prepared to coach robotics competition teams in their schools. The Robotics Academy of Nevada is fully funded by Tesla's K-12 Education Investment Fund and is part of a statewide professional development program working toward the larger, Tesla-supported goal to strengthen pathways from pre-K-12 to college degrees and high-tech careers.    Coordinated by the Desert Research Institute's Pre-K-12 STEM education and outreach program, Science Alive, the Robotics Academy of Nevada was developed through a partnership with the Colleges of Engineering at Nevada's research universities in Reno and Las Vegas. The workshops include an introduction to engineering processes, careers and methodologies, and also explore the implementation of competitive robotics, competitive computer programming and cyber-literacy. The Robotics Academy is free for participating teachers and they also receive a stipend and continuing education credits. Craig Rosen  craig.rosen@dri.edu https://sciencealive.dri.edu/robotics

New Mexico Cultivating Coders is an innovative and inclusive coding bootcamp that breaks down—and crosses—boundaries… literally. Instead of students coming to Cultivating Coders, they take their bootcamp to where students are learning because greater reach means greater impact, and that’s worth traveling for. Sometimes that means going to parts of rural America that few have even heard of. Other times, it means traveling to inner-city neighborhoods overlooked by traditional STEM education. Wherever the destination, Cultivating Coders’ prime the next generation of coders to help create a better future for themselves and their communities. Click on the following link for information about upcoming camps.   https://cultivatecoders.com/upcoming-camps/

Utah  Utah STEM Fest is scheduled for October 7-8, 2019 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah. Business and industry leaders; educators; and elementary, high school and middle school students are invited to come and be a part of the most unique gathering ever assembled in Utah. Families will enjoy exciting hands-on experiences with science and technology that will spark children’s imaginations and give them a peek into their future career opportunities. Sixth through 10th grade students are encouraged to come as a field trip.                                                                                                                                https://stem.utah.gov/about/events/?evt_start=1570406400#event-1308

Wyoming  Wyoming Youth in STEM (formerly known as Women and Men in Science) is a non-profit organization aimed at introducing science, technology, engineering and math to the youth of Wyoming through education, mentoring, and community support. The organization plans a yearly conference. Check out their Website or Facebook page for more information. Peggy Peterson Wyoming Youth in STEM 307/857-3898, ext 381 www.wyyouthinstem.org https://www.facebook.com/wywmis/

STEM Equity News, Events, & Resources

U.S. Department of Education Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Webpage The U.S. Department of Education recently updated the Department’s STEM webpage. Jean Morrow, STEM Lead and Policy Advisor, and Patti Curtis, STEM Education Fellow, would like individuals to check it out and let them know what you think. July 2019.    www.ed.gov/stem Study Identified Racial Disparities in STEM Graduation Rates When Black and Latino students begin college, they have the same level of interest in STEM majors compared to their White peers, but the rates of switching majors or leaving college are much higher for Black and Latino students. A  new study  from the University of Texas at Austin  researchers, published in the  Educational Researcher journal , looked into the trends of STEM graduation rates through a racial lens using data from the  Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study  from the U.S. Department of Education's  National Center of Education Statistics . July 17, 2019. https://steamuniverse.com/articles/2019/06/17/racial-disparities-in-stem-graduation-rates.aspx?oly_enc_id=3792C5317767F0X Code Next Google’s Code Next program works with high schoolers to cultivate the next generation of Black and Latinx tech leaders. It is a free computer science education program that provides the skills and inspiration students need for long and rewarding careers in computer science-related fields. Currently, Code Next is completely in person at labs in California and New York. However, in the near future they plan on releasing the Code Next curriculum online. Click on the link below to learn more about Code Next and to sign up to get updates on the online curriculum.  https://codenext.withgoogle.com/?_ga=2.111395908.1565754546.1562896972-1213321491.1562896972 NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Grant Opportunity ITEST seeks proposals that pursue innovative instructional approaches and practices in formal and informal learning environments, in close collaboration with strategic partnerships. ITEST proposals should broaden participation of all students, particularly those in underrepresented and underserved groups in STEM fields and related education and workforce domains. ITEST supports three types of projects: (1) Exploring Theory and Design Principles (ETD); (2) Developing and Testing Innovations (DTI); and (3) Scaling, Expanding, and Iterating Innovations (SEI). ITEST also supports Synthesis and Conference proposals. The due date to apply for the grant is August 19, 2019. https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19583/nsf19583.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click 2019 STEM for All Video Showcase More than 240 federally funded projects highlighting innovations in STEM education have shared short videos of their work. Researchers, practitioners, policy makers and the general public are invited to post to the discussions and share their perspectives, ideas and feedback. Click on the link for more information about several U.S. Department of Education funded projects highlighted in the STEM for All video showcase. https://stemforall2019.videohall.com/presentations#/program/id=p_ed

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IM STEM is a network of STEM educators and leaders across six states (CO, ID, NM, NV, UT, and WY) working to support STEM equity at key transition points (middle school to high school and high school to college).

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1744472. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.