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IN THIS ISSUE
STEM BEST Students Turn Podcasters
Six Teachers Recognized for Inspiring Students in STEM
STEM Festivals Engage Learners of All Ages
STEM Scale-Up Program Demand Sets Record
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April 20, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.
Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
April 24, 2023 - 2:30 p.m.
South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
April 25, 2023 - 12:00 p.m.
Southwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
More information
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STEM BEST Students Turn Podcasters | |
Students from Boone EDGE, a STEM BEST Program, launched a podcast featuring Boone School District alumni and their career paths. | |
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STEM education goes beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics; it provides durable skills for the future and curiosity for life. What started as curiosity in technology and human connection led to the launch of a successful podcast for students from Boone High School.
Ashton Thilges and Kenley Crouthamel are enrolled in Boone EDGE. This STEM BEST Program model is focused on career readiness through authentic learning experiences, including internships, job shadows and passion projects. With guidance and advice from Boone EDGE Coordinator Lindsey Hyman, Thilges and Crouthamel maintain a professional podcast focused on careers of previous Boone High School alumni called the Boone Alumni Podcast.
The first half of each episode focuses on growing up in Boone, favorite activities and memories. Following a break, which includes ads from sponsors, the second half of the podcast is centered on their career paths and advice for anyone considering a similar profession.
“The alumni come from many different walks of life and have very different experiences in the professional world,” said Thilges. “We use this platform to highlight those experiences. It's really cool to just see what you can do coming from a small town in Iowa.”
From this experience, Thilges and Crouthamel have gained experience and skills in research, outreach and communication, organization, technology, problem solving, critical thinking and so much more.
The STEM BEST Program emphasizes an importance in developing future-focused skills through authentic workplace experiences in STEM fields. To learn more about the STEM BEST Program and paths of other STEM BEST Program models, visit www.IowaSTEM.org/STEMBEST.
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Six Teachers Recognized for Inspiring Students in STEM | |
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The STEM Council is pleased to recognize the recipients of the 2023 Iowa STEM Teacher Award:
- Maggie Arnold, Communication and Service Technology Teacher, Creston Community School District, Southwest STEM Region
- Jessica Howard, Business Teacher, Lone Tree Community School District, Southeast STEM Region
- Greg Moklestad, Industrial Technology Teacher, Dubuque Community School District, Northeast STEM Region
- Shane Peterson, Industrial Technology Teacher, West Lyon Community School District, Northwest STEM Region
- Jan Phifer, Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Grinnell Community School District, South Central STEM Region
- Brittany Zimpfer, STEAM Teacher, Iowa Falls Community School District, North Central STEM Region
Sponsored by Kemin Industries and in its ninth year, the STEM Teacher Award is presented annually to six full-time, licensed preK-12 educators who are distinguished for fostering enthusiasm and inspiring a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics which goes beyond the classroom and helps prepare students for future high-demand careers.
As recipients of the 2023 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, each teacher receives $1,500 to use for their classroom and $1,500 for personal use, thanks to Kemin. The teachers were celebrated during a ceremony at their school – one in each of the six STEM Regions – and will also be recognized during STEM Day at the Fair at the Iowa State Fair on August 20, 2023.
More information about the Iowa STEM Teacher Award can be found at www.IowaSTEM.org/teacheraward.
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STEM Festivals Engage Learners of All Ages | |
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Students and their families take part in a hands-on chemistry experiment provided
by the Beans & Beignets restaurant, among other STEM exhibits, at the
Earlham Family STEM Festival.
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Engineering design challenges, virtual reality testing, gravity experiments, drone demonstrations, herpetology interactions and electricity investigations. These are just a few of the exciting STEM opportunities families can experience at Family STEM Festivals across Iowa. Designed to engage learners of all ages, STEM Festivals offer hands-on, educational activities that highlight local careers and skills. Each exhibit is facilitated by workplace and community partners.
Approximately 40 STEM Festivals take place in all six STEM regions each year and typically engage more than 20,000 Iowans, collectively. Each festival is facilitated by Regional STEM Managers in coordination with each of their Regional STEM Advisory Boards, a committed planning committee and numerous volunteers.
The Earlham Family STEM Festival was one of several Family STEM Festivals held this month. "The Earlham Family STEM Festival has expanded this year to impact even more kids and families in the region. This year's festival brought in over 320 participants to engage with local businesses, industries and community organizations with hands-on STEM activities that highlight not only science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but also the many career opportunities that exist locally in those fields," said Joni Ehm, Southwest Regional STEM Manager.
Upcoming STEM Festivals in April:
More information about exhibiting, volunteering or attending Family STEM Festivals in your STEM Region can be found at www.IowaSTEM.org/regions.
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STEM Scale-Up Program Demand Sets Record | |
Elementary students from Storm Lake Community School District build computational thinking and problem-solving skills through the Scale-Up Program Tiny Techies. | |
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A new milestone was reached for the STEM Scale-Up Program, which will have significant impact for in-school, after-school programs and other settings for Iowa youth in the 2023-2024 academic year. The STEM Council received 1,382 applications for the 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up Program, a 27 percent increase from the 2022-2023 application period. Those applications included 2,356 Iowa educators seeking programs for incorporation into their curriculum for the coming academic year, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.
“In our eleventh year, demand for STEM continues to increase,” said Jeff Weld, STEM Council executive director. “A concept hatched by a committee of the Council in 2012, Scale-Up continues to bring world-class lessons, kits, software and curricula to educators and students at a record pace, producing higher test scores and heightened interest in STEM across grade levels and demographic subgroups, year after year.
Since 2012, more than one million preK-12 grade Iowans have participated in STEM Scale-Up Programming facilitated by in-school and out-of-school educators. The program impacts both students and educators. Educators who take part in the STEM Scale-Up Program agree that they have more confidence to teach STEM topics and increased their STEM knowledge.
Thirteen exemplary STEM programs were selected for the 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up Program menu. Selected educators will be notified in April. For more information about the STEM Scale-Up Program, visit www.IowaSTEM.org/scale-up.
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Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
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