North Central STEM Hub Newsletter May / June

On May 22, the Iowa Legislature approved the 2013-2014 STEM budget at the requested amount!. House File 604 included the funding for Governor's STEM Initiative including the Scale Ups programs. On June 19th, Governor Branstad signed this bill. This is great news for the children, teachers and citizens of Iowa!

Regional Implementation of Defined STEM

The NC STEM Region is supporting the regional implementation of Defined STEM,

a technology-based resource that offers real-world themed learning opportunities.

Regional implementation means that ALL school districts (public, private and home school groups) and informal learning groups (Boy/Girl Scouts/Museums/Extension and Outreach and Public Libraries) in the NC Region will have access to Defined STEM.

Users of Defined STEM have access to:

Video Connections: Videos designed to promote relevant connections between STEM concepts & career-related pathways
Performance Tasks: Real-world problems with a career.focus.
Literacy Tasks: Access to quality resources that promote reading, writing and critical thinking skills.
Customization: The ability to access lesson plans and modify to match curricular needs.
Curriculum: Alignment with the Iowa Common Core

For more information contact Lynne Campbell, NC STEM Region Manager.
You can check out Defined STEM out at: http://www.definedstem.com

PEERS Scale Up Program Gets Students Involved in Real World Opportunities

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has long been deeply involved in science technology education. Another example of this involvement is the Governor's STEM Initiative Scale-Up Grant Program PEERS: Partnership for Engineering Educational Resources for Schools.

PEERS is a business-based program divided into four implementation levels for students: exposure, experience, mentoring and potential employment and is partnered with the Pella Corporation. PEERS was one of the programs chosen for the 2012-2013 Governor's Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) initiative. Annette Brown, a 4-H program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, implemented this scale up program in Boone, Hardin, Marshall and Story counties. "Funding from this Governor's STEM Initiative Scale-Up program offered us opportunities to expand youth programming, so we took advantage of it," said Brown.

PEERS is tailored to increasing student's awareness and interest in engineering and technology. One aspect of the program gets students involved in site visits to science and engineering facilities, giving students the opportunities to witness science, engineering and technology at work. "It's hard for young people to see themselves in a career without seeing the actual role," said Jay Staker, director for 4-H STEM. "PEERS lets them see the opportunities that are out there." Brown's students visited the Air National Guard in Des Moines, toured the Biomass Energy Conversion Facility in Nevada, and participated in a wind turbine workshop. Science related food and healthy living day camps are being offered in June.

WindTurbine0513

PEERS was implemented in partnership with Iowa 4-H STEM, the ISU Extension and Outreach program that focuses on engaging youth in science, technology, engineering and math. "The main purpose of STEM education is to increase youth's awareness and aspirations in these careers that make a difference," said Staker. Involved in many aspects of 4-H, STEM also provides resources and opportunities for students. Programs like PEERS are what makes STEM an effective, valuable piece of Iowa 4-H.

Brown explained that surveys of the students involved in PEERS showed their interest levels in engineering, science, math and technology as a field of study and a career path have risen because of PEERS.

According to Lynne Campbell, North Central STEM Region Manager at Iowa State University, "The PEERS model is a great way to build future public/private partnerships. We look forward to working with other businesses to develop additional STEM opportunities for our youth."

4-H Youth Visit BECON Biomas Energy Conservation Facility in Nevada May 4

Twenty youth and parents from Boone, Hardin, Marshall and Story Counties toured the BECON Biomass Energy Conservation Facility in Nevada May 4 as a part of 4-H programming in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Region 8. This experience was part of the PEERS (Partnership for Engineering Educational Resources for Schools) program through the Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Scale Up Initiative for which the region received funding.

Annette Brown, Region 8 4-H Youth Development Specialist, said, "Norm Olson at BECON shared how the facility works to improve energy efficiency and use of renewable energy through research, demonstration and education." Olson shared that it makes sense that Iowa with its agricultural base should lead the way in developing and expanding the market for sustainable value-added, biomass-bases fuels and chemicals.

Rather than simply selling raw materials, Iowa businesses can produce higher value, marketable products. Biomass feedstock can be substituted for petroleum feedstock in the production of most fuels and chemicals used today. The additional facilities needed to process and produce biofuels and biochemicals create jobs and significantly increase the financial benefit for growing agricultural crops. Participants also learned about the education and skills needed to enter into energy related fields.

Following the tour, participants explored wind energy at a Wired for Wind workshop using Kid Wind materials to design and test wind turbine blades. The participants experimented with different sizes, shapes, and numbers of blades to determine which produced the most energy. They also tested how much weight their blade design would lift using a cup with a load of metal washers.

Twenty 4-H youth and parents toured the BECON Biomass Energy Conservation Facility in Nevada May 4 as part of 4-H Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics programming through the Governor's STEM Scale Up initiative.

To learn more about local STEM programming through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, visit your local extension office or webpage, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/content/county-offices.

South Hamilton Team wins award at the
Iowa Student STEM Film Fest Event

Iowa Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council invited students to submit a short film (90 seconds or less) that demonstrates what STEM means to them. Awards were given in 12 categories and was open to middle- and high-school Iowa students passionate about STEM.

To celebrate the entries and their short films, a red carpet ceremony to announce the winner was held on May 5 to honor those achievements. Scale-Up program sponsors included A World in Motion (AWIM), DefinedSTEM, Carolina STEM Curriculum and Technology Association of Iowa's HyperStream. The grand prize winner received a $1,000 check to attend a STEM camp of their choice this summer.

The Iowa Student STEM Film Fest is part of a public awareness campaign designed by the Council to not only build excitement around the state for STEM, but to also see how students are incorporating science, technology, engineering and mathematics into their school and after-school activities.

The Best Use of Humor Award was given to director Miriam Rueger with the film "Time Travel with Aristotle". Miriam's team received a trophy and a $150 gift certificate for being the AWIM STEM Champion Award Winner. Miriam is a student at South Hamilton High School. Her supervising teacher is Mr. Rob Perala. South Hamilton is located in the North Central STEM Region. Congratulations, Miriam and team!

"time travel with aristotle"