IN THIS ISSUE
Educators Take Part in STEM
Scale-Up Program Training
Forum Caps Record Year of Iowa STEM Teacher Externships
NASBE Report Highlights Iowa as an Exemplary STEM Model
Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits Announced
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August 6, 2018 - 3:00 p.m.
North Central STEM Advisory Board Meeting
August 19, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair
August 21, 2018 - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Southeast STEM Advisory Board Meeting
August 23, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Northwest STEM Advisory Board Meeting
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Educators Take Part in STEM Scale-Up Program Training
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Educators work together during training for Computer Science Principles, a STEM Scale-Up Program for the 2018-2019 academic year.
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Hundreds of Iowa educators from across Iowa are taking part in STEM Scale-Up Program training for implementation of the programs this fall. Nearly 600 STEM Scale-Up Program applications were awarded, impacting nearly 100,000 students during the 2018-2019 academic year.
The STEM Council reviewed and selected a menu of
ten high-quality STEM programs
last January to “scale up” in Iowa’s PreK-12 schools, after school programs and other educational settings for the upcoming academic year. Interested Iowa educators were able to apply for one or more of these STEM Scale-Up Programs.
Iowa’s regional STEM managers, guided by their regional STEM advisory boards, selected recipients throughout the state based on need, student diversity, geographic distribution, capacity to sustain, and other factors. Since 2012, funding from the Iowa legislature has enabled more than 500,000 PreK-12 Iowans to take part in these proven programs.
Results from the
annual Iowa STEM evaluation report
show students who participated in the STEM Scale-Up Program score higher on the Iowa Assessments in National Percentile Rank by four points in science and three points in mathematics and reading compared to nonparticipating students statewide. Participants also expressed a stronger interest in pursuing a STEM career in Iowa.
A complete list of 2018-2019 STEM Scale-Up Program awards and additional information about the STEM Scale-Up Program can be found by visiting
www.IowaSTEM.gov/Scale-Up
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Forum Caps Record Year of Iowa STEM Teacher Externships
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Educators discuss lesson development and implementation, assessment and cross-curricular connections of lesson ideas as part of the Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Year-End Forum in Ankeny.
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After a record-setting year in the number of externs, a passionate group of educators, business hosts and mentors filled the room at the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus for the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Year-End Forum to share experiences and collaborate on how to incorporate those experiences into their classrooms.
In the first breakout session, externs and hosts were divided into areas of content expertise including mathematics and technology, engineering and manufacturing, and lab and field science. These groups were focused on their summer experiences, takeaways and future plans for their specific field of interest.
During the next breakout sessions teacher externs discussed ways to branch the classroom out into the local community, and workplace hosts collaborated on how to make the most of the externship experience.
In the afternoon, Interim Executive Director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Cindy Dietz moderated a panel about successful school+business partnerships, including the following individuals with past experience in the Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Program:
- Nate Clayberg, CAPS Program-Business Development, Cedar Falls Community Schools
- Angela Hanson, Math Teacher, Ankeny High School, 2018 STEM Teacher Extern
- Karen O’Loughlin, Math Teacher, Ankeny High School, STEM Extern Alum
- Amber Pargmann, Global Program Manager, John Deere Ottumwa Works
- Greg Smith, Externships Mentor & Technology/Engineering teacher, Davenport West High School
- Grace Swanson, Vice President-Human Capital, Accumold
- Ethan Wiechmann, CAPS Lead Instructor/Associate Principal, Cedar Falls Community Schools
The forum concluded with lesson development and implementation, assessment and cross-curricular connections of lesson ideas. Participants departed with a toolbox full of fresh ideas for integrating the real world into the classroom and strategies for building stronger school+business partnerships for the future.
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NASBE Report Highlights Iowa as an Exemplary STEM Model
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The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) released a
report
on how states can improve STEM learning through revised standards, special diplomas and promotion of partnerships. This is a critical element for the future of our state and nation as suggested by the following indicators:
- Rural students make up approximately one-fifth of all students, yet tend to receive less access to STEM courses.
- STEM jobs represent 6.2 percent of U.S. employment in 2015.
- STEM jobs show above average growth.
- Wages are above the national average in 93 percent of STEM occupations.
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council was highlighted in the report as a state that is involving community leaders in STEM efforts and partnering with businesses, higher education and other stakeholders to produce the best results. An emphasis was made on the Iowa STEM Council’s structure of advisory boards and support from legislators, businesses and educators.
The Iowa STEM Council offers several programs and opportunities for students, educators, parents, businesses, industries and communities to get involved in STEM programming. For more information about how to get involved in Iowa STEM programs, visit
www.IowaSTEM.gov
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Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits Announced
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Registration opened earlier this month for nine Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits. The day-long events will offer the opportunity for education, business, economic development and community partners to collaborate and develop strategies for local workforce solutions.
The regional summits are being organized by workforce, business and education partners throughout Iowa and are a reflection of the recommendations proposed by the Future Ready Iowa Alliance. Future Ready Iowa’s goal is for 70 percent of Iowa’s workforce to have education or training beyond high school by 2025.
The summits will be held in later September and early October in the following communities:
- Atlantic (September 24, 2018)
- Burlington (September 25, 2018)
- Davenport (October 2, 2018)
- Denison (October 3, 2018)
- Fort Dodge (October 1, 2018)
- Muscatine (September 21, 2018)
- Pella (October 1, 2018)
- Sheffield (October 2, 2018)
- Spencer (September 25, 2018)
Additional summits are being planned in Ames, Des Moines, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Sioux City and Waterloo.
The mission of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council directly supports the Future Ready Iowa goal. Hundreds of thousands of Iowa students have participated in the high-quality STEM education programs across the state each year, including the STEM Scale-Up Program, STEM BEST®, Microsoft Imagine Academy and the STEM Teacher Externship Program. These programs have successfully increased student interest and achievement in STEM and helped more students prepare for rewarding career so employers can hire the skilled workers they need to grow.
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Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
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