Monthly STEM Newsletter

Pre-K - 12 STEM Newsletter

December 2023

STEM Opportunities Around the Region and State

Bledsoe Miller STEM

Cultural Arts Center Project

Open House

Thursday, December 7, 2023

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Purpose: Introduction of the project, team, and programming ambitions for public discussion and feedback

2024 Texas STEM Pathways Challenge: Ignite your impact, shape tomorrow

Now’s your chance to ignite your impact and shape a more resilient tomorrow. This year’s challenge invites you to explore the topic of Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and answer a pressing question: What can school districts do to become more sustainable and build a more resilient community?

Form your own team of up to four students, guided by a dedicated local teacher or administrative sponsor, and venture into the realm of science, technology, engineering, and math. Unleash your creativity, develop groundbreaking solutions, and contribute to a more resilient future for Texas!

Awards await the brightest submissions, with scholarships that can shape your academic journey. This is your chance to make a real-world impact while gaining valuable skills for the future.

Access Flier here

Learn more and register here - Register by January 19, 2024

Contact Judy York, jyork@esc12.net with any questions.

2nd Annual ESC 12 STEM Cohort

Back by popular demand, the ESC Region 12 STEM Cohort will launch in April 2024. Each of the seven sessions are independent, so you can attend as many as your schedule allows. Each session has the option to receive a classroom set of materials being used.

The cohort is open to all grades and content areas. With the updated K - 8 Tech Apps being implemented Fall 2024, each STEM cohort session will take a deep dive into one of the strands.

Registration opens January 8, 2024 and

closes March 15, 2024

Contact Andi Parr, aparr@esc12.net, with any questions.

Title	Date	Cost (classroom set of materials included)
STEM Kickoff	Friday, April19	$200
Makey Makey and My Brain Tech App Focus: Digital Citizenship	Friday, April 26	$500
PBL with Strawbees Tech App Focus: Computational Thinking	Mon, June 10	$800
Coding: From Block to Text with Trinket Tech App Focus: Data Literacy, Management, and Representation	Wed, June 26	$200
Upcycling STEM: Bring Your Trash Tech App Focus: Creativity and Innovation	Mon, July 15	$95 (No Classroom Materials)
Siemens Design Challenge Extravaganza	Thur, July 25	No Cost
Computational Thinking with 3D Printers Tech App Focus: Practical Tech Concepts	Tues, July 30	$1000

Looking for Support for the K - 8 Tech Apps Standards?

Learning.com's latest curriculum, “TechApps for Texas,” provides 100% coverage of the State Board of Education's Proclamation 2024 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for K-8 Technology Applications (TA-TEKS). Our grade-specific curriculum was designed by educators to foster essential computer science skills that ready students for college and careers. When you choose” TechApps for Texas” from Learning.com, you are not just getting state-specific content, you are also unlocking access to our award-winning digital literacy and computer science curriculum, EasyTech!

Contact Scott Fields for more info at sfields@learning.com, or at 940/783-7805.

Dec. 4 - 10 is here!

CS Education Week and Hour of Code

Week of Computer Science

Computer Science Education Week is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners in the field.

Learn more at csedweek.org/

Still looking for ideas?

Check out hourofcode.com for over 500 ideas and challenges. There is something for all ages and levels of experience.