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Jan. 26, 2016 Research Triangle Park
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Accelerating the Adoption of STEM Education
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For more than a decade, NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning has engaged with local school districts, higher education, business, industry and institutional partners to create, test and evolve student focused, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning environments.
Under the umbrella of STEM Accelerator, we are harnessing the power of this earned knowledge.
With continued input and support from our partners, we working to create a framework for STEM education that promotes intellectual curiosity, cultural awareness, social responsibility, and complex problem solving.
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Registration is now open for Scaling STEM 2016
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Join us April 4-6, 2016 for the Scaling STEM conference. This is an opportunity to learn from experts from across the nation and with peers to advance STEM strategies for all.
This year's conference will have a focus on equity. Ensuring all students have access to a quality STEM education prepares students to graduate with flexible and adaptable competence in mathematics, science and technology, and the ability to design and communicate solutions to real problems with confidence, ingenuity and thoughtfulness.
Conference highlights include student and school presentations, concurrent sessions, opportunities to hear nationally-known education leaders and networking among educators.
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STEM is bigger than the subject matter. It is a mindset.
As educators we believe in educating the whole child. However, there still appears to be a divide between the realms of STEM and the humanities. Certain types of thinking and learning are inadvertently assigned to specific content areas.
STEM content areas embrace a growth mindset; the idea that mistakes and challenges have power, and that excellence is found through hard work, not in the innate abilities of each individual. Fostering this way of thinking and learning can (and should) be found in English, arts, and other humanities classrooms every day.
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Statewide STEM Education Initiative Sets Stage for the Next Generation of Learning
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NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning announced today the first three high schools that will pilot its comprehensive new approach to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education:
- Northeast Academy of Aerospace and Advanced Technologies on the campus of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU)
- Wake STEM Early College High School
- Charlotte Engineering Early College - UNCC
These schools will work with NC News Schools/Breakthrough Learning to support, implement and refine the design of learning environments and experiences that promote STEM. Click here to learn more.
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It's not Science Fiction
Making the Link from STEM to humanities |
Beyond the obvious appeal (heroes and heroines, battles, and of course Klingons), Sci-Fi and Fantasy pulls us into an alternate world. By default, it pushes us to use critical thinking skills. In wondering what is possible, we are actually transforming how we look at complex problems.
In reflecting on the resurgent of science fiction and fantasy in our culture, Director of Professional Learning Leslie Eaves wonders, "How we can use this excitement to hook students and drive their learning forward?"
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Every Student Succeeds, But How?
ESSA supports a continued focus on STEM
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In a recent Op-Ed, NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning Senior Vice President Angela Quick, ED.D. comments on the STEM education provisions contained in ESSA.
The future of our economy is rooted in STEM related industries. As a State and a Nation, we face an enormous deficient in workforce development for these high-growth careers. In order to set up our students for success, we need strong STEM education.
This is recognized by ESSA which actively supports a number of provisions to maintain a continued focus on STEM education including improving access and quality for STEM programs in underrepresented student populations and integrating in-school and out-of-school STEM education activities.
In addition to continued assessments in math and science, ESSA established a definition for STEM-specialty schools and provides states with additional flexibility and unprecedented opportunity to develop innovative programs and support teachers.
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'Awakening the Force' of STEM education
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"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is."
Yoda, Attack of the Clones
Much to the chagrin of my mother, vast hours of my childhood were spent watching the original Star Wars trilogy and building models of the Millennium Falcon with my father. This early obsession did not fade over time. As a science teacher, I put it to good use in the classroom. From plastering the walls with inspirational quotes to interjecting some creativity into my lesson plans, Star Wars made quite a number of appearances.
Star Wars grabbed my attention at an early age. It did the same thing for my students.
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- The Challenge Grant is accepting donations. WakeEd has been given a matching funds opportunity from the Wake County Public School System for the second year in a row, a $50,000 one-to-one match to support WakeEd's Teacher Innovation Grant program. The match period extends from December 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. WakeEd must raise $50,000 from new or increased donations. Find out how you can help.
- Hope Street Group released its NC Teacher Voice Report to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the N.C. State Board of Education based on its fall 2015 collection of survey and focus group date from teachers across the state. Click here to learn more.
- Kenan Fellows Program launched the Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership. Researchers, teachers, administrators, specialists, graduate students and informal educators who have an interest in teacher leadership and the interdisciplinary nature of STEM are invited to submit articles and literature reviews to the inaugural issue. For submission guidelines and/or to submit an article, visit kenanfellows.org/journals.
- Communities in Schools (CIS) Wake impacts more than 2,700 students with school-based programming in 19 schools and community-based programming delivered in five community learning centers. Its ultimate goal for each student (in grades K-12) is to create a path toward post-secondary education or entry into a professional career. On January 13th NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning staff delivered the books to the CIS - SAS Learning Center located in Raleigh, NC as well as took some time to read with the students during after-school programming. To learn more about your local Communities in Schools program, visit communitiesinschools.org.
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Stay connected with NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning
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