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TIME Magazine dubs the Higgs Boson "Particle of the Year"
TIME Magazine describes the Higgs Boson discovery as "one of science's greatest achievements."  Read More about the person behind the discovery, Fabiola Gianotti.

Will Ted-Ed Change the Science Lecture Landscape?
Most educators would agree that STEM should be more about process and inquiry than lectures and note-taking.  Not surprisingly, many see the "flipped classroom" as a way to supplant the tired, over-used yet ubiquitous lecture. Check out the Ted-Ed Science and Technology section for a glimpse of the future of STEM education.

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December 29, 2012
Dear STEM Enthusiast,

STEM Scale-Up is in full swing across Northwest Iowa. Teacher training is completed for several of the 2012 Scale-Up STEM programs, including FLL, FTC and KidWind.  January STEM professional development is scheduled for FREE, AWIM and EiE. Hyperstream Clubs are meeting with STEM professionals in our region.  If you are wondering about all of these acronyms, check out the full list of Iowa's 2012 STEM Scale-Ups here.

Iowa STEM News
Iowa STEM Summit:  March 5, 2013
Register now for the STEM Summit on March 5th, 2013.  This year's STEM Advisory Council Summit will move beyond conversation to action!  STEM workgroups have been launched, and attendees will hear updates on STEM certification, STEM-focused schools, STEM public awareness, and much more.  Register early as space is limited.
FIRST LEGO� League Regional Competition at Iowa Lakes Community College
Seventeen teams comprised of area youth competed in the FIRST LEGO� League Regional Qualifying Competition. The day was filled with energy, enthusiasm and excitement as kids used their STEM skills to solve problems and overcome challenges.  Read More.
In My eSTEM-ation:
In my eSTEM-ation, LEGO� robots really can make STEM education come alive!  In early September, FIRST LEGO� League (FLL) quickly established itself as one of the most popular Scale-Up grants in Northwest Iowa.   This grant provides registration fees, a specially designed LEGO robot kit, a team computer and more! 

It is interesting to note that many of the STEM educators that applied for the FIRST LEGO League grant were from outside of the traditional school system:  non-formal educators including Girl Scout leaders, 4-H Club coaches, and after-school program instructors.  

In our region alone, nearly sixty thousand dollars in FLL grants were awarded.   The Governor's STEM Initiative has made it possible for hundreds of kids in Northwest Iowa to explore their creativity, ingenuity and academic passions.  FLL uses robotic technologies to allow young computer programmers to solve problems, overcome obstacles and work toward continuous improvement using an iterative design cycle.  

The FLL State Championship will take place at Iowa State University in Ames on January 19.  Read More.

In my eSTEM-ation, LEGO Rocks!

Kari Webb
NW Iowa STEM Regional Manager
Iowa Lakes Community College
FTC Save the Date!
Sergeant Bluff will host a Regional Qualifier for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).  This is an official tournament in which teams will be interviewed by a panel of judges, the robots will be inspected and will be competing in matches. Many FTC teams are Scale-Up grant recipients from Northwest Iowa.  Join us for STEM fun on February 9th!  Read More.

Iowa Lakes Community College | NW Hub of the Governor's STEM Initiative| www.iowalakes.edu/stem
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