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Contact the STEM Hub
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Lynne Campbell
North Central Region
STEM Manager
3630 4-H Extension Building
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50010
515-710-1381 (cell)
515-294-1521 (office)
lynnec@iastate.edu
Skype: lynne.campbell33
Twitter: @lcampbell3 #iastem
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Upcoming Events
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September 16
Defined STEM Training
Memorial Union-Ames
8:30 am - 11:30 am
and
Noon - 3:00
September 17
KidWind Training
NIACC-Mason CIty 8:30 am - 4 pm September 22
AWIM - K-2
Reiman Gardens, Ames
Noon - 3:00 pm
AWIM K-2
Reiman Gardens, Ames
4:00 - 7:00 pm
AWIM 3-5
Memorial Union, ISU
Noon - 3:00 pm
AWIM 6- 8
Memorial Union, ISU Noon - 3:00 pm
AWIM 6-8
Memorial Union, ISU
4:00 - 7:00 pm September 23 AWIM K-2
North Butler CSD
Noon - 3:00 pm
AWIM 3-5
North Butler CSD
Noon - 3:00 pm
AWIM K-2
North Butler CSD
4:00 - 7:00 pm
AWIM 6-8
NIACC, Mason City
4:00 - 7:00 pm September 25 EiE Training NIACC, Mason City
8:30 am - 3:30 pm September 26
EiE Training
Reiman Gardens, Ames
8:30 am - 3:30 pm September 29
STEM Festival
DMACC, Boone
Dinner 5:00-6:00 pm
Festival 6:00-8:00 pm
September 30
KidWind Reiman Gardens, Ames 8:30 am - 4 pm
October 2
Manufacturing Day Movie Night 7:00 -8:30 pm Iowa State's Howe Hall Lee Liu Auditorium
October 8
Pint Sized Science
Heartland AEA, Ames
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
October 15
Pint Size Science
Iowa Valley CC, Marshalltown
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
October 17
Pint Size Science
Kendall Young Library, Webster City
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. October 18 Pint Size Science Science Center, Des Moines 8:00am - 4:00pm FIRST Tech Challenge Memorial Union, Ames 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
October 24
EiE Training
Memorial Union, Ames
8:30 am - 3:30 pm November 20 Einstein Fellowship Applications Due |
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STEM is.......connecting the dots!
STEM is like connecting the dots -- you know the, task we give to our little ones to keep them busy for a while. Beyond this trivial task is actually a much deeper concept that takes a bunch of independent dots to generate a picture. The more dots the more complex the picture. Unless you connect the dots in a meaningful way the picture is meaningless. I see this analogy playing out as we collectively strive to "connect the dots" to create a picture of STEM in Iowa. Each "dot" represents a stakeholder that is a critical partner -- the dot may be a scale up program, business, university, community college, non-formal group, small colleges, AEA, and legislators. As we strive to connect the dots, the picture becomes more, and more obvious. The picture above has an ISU Extension connection. Hint: It is green. In this newsletter, our goal it to help connect the dots. You will see articles about scale up programs, festivals, schools, scale up professional development, and more that, it will help you see how we are collectively working to "connect the dots" for STEM in the North Central region and across Iowa.
Can you find a way to connect two dots to advance STEM today?  |
Update: 2014-15 Scale-Up Program
Training Dates are set!
With the top priority of boosting student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the Governor's STEM Advisory Council has approved 10 high-quality STEM education programs for 2014-15 that will be offered to schools, after-school programs and other settings for grades pre-K through 12.
Links to the Scale-Up programs and the training dates that have been scheduled to date are located on the left hand block of the newsletter. The selected Scale-Up programs are: A World in Motion, The CASE for Agriculture Education in Iowa, Defined STEM, Engineering is Elementary, FIRST Tech Challenge, HyperStream, KidWind Renewable Energy STEM, SCI Pint Size Science, Project Lead the Way: Engineering and Project Lead the Way: Gateway.
The training sessions are primarily intended for scale-up recipients. However, we also want to include people and organizations who did not apply for a scale-up grant but are interested in purchasing the materials and implementing the programs themselves. Scale-up recipients will take priority when filling the session seats, but others may be placed on a waiting list by emailing Tracie Miller at traciem@iastate.edu.
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Training Scheduled for Next Tuesday
Defined STEM will be implemented regionally again in Year 3 of Scale Up programming. Any educational entity is eligible to attend training and use the program in their formal or non-formal educational program.
Two initial training sessions for Defined STEM have been scheduled for teachers and non-formal partners to choose from on Tuesday, September 16 from 8:30a - 11:30a and noon-3p at the Memorial Union, Room 3512. View the flyer for more details here and register here.
Additional training dates will be scheduled in Fort Dodge, Mason City, Marshalltown and possibly a final training in Ames.
If you did not apply for this Scale Up program and are interested in implementing Defined STEM, please call North Central STEM Hub manager email Lynne Campbell or call at 515-710-1381.
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Save the date: NC STEM Festival at DMACC
September 29, 2014
In less than two weeks, the DMAAC Campus in Boone will host a STEM Festival. Take a moment to sign up to share a STEM experience as a presenter and reserve your spot a the STEM Festival.
The first 200 attendees will get a free dinner.
We welcome businesses to participate. We can help you develop a hands on activity that helps showcase STEM in your business.
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North Central STEM Hub Festival
Iowa State Fair
held Friday, August 8
The Iowa State Fair, held on Friday, August 8 in the 4-H Building, was a huge success as we engaged over 1500 visitors in STEM activities. Visitors stopped by to learn about the exciting STEM programs going on in the North Central STEM Region.
Visitors also participated in a survey that was given out. Results showed that before stopping at the NC STEM Festival at the State Fair, 53% learned about STEM for the first time by visiting with us. According to Lynne Campbell, "It was great to see students and teachers showcasing what they learned from the scale up programs and it was fun to witness families experiencing STEM activities together!"
Announcement: Drawing for Field Trip to State University
We are pleased to announce that the winner of the Field Trip to Iowa State University is Lisa Seaba from Muscatine Schools.
A huge THANK YOU to the volunteers who showcased Scale Up programs and STEM activities:
- James Mills with Mason City High School and his First Tech Challenge students
- Sara Van Manan, Kara Warrick, and Marisue Hartung with Jasper County 4-H and their student participants in Engineering is Elementary
- Shelly Vanyo from Boone High School and her KidWind students
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Lisa Chizek from North Tama Elementary and her students who shared their
- Ashley Flatebo from Mason City High School who shared Carolina STEM
- Carrie Taylor from Highland Elementary / Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence in Waterloo who shared Camp in a Can
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American Solar Challenge
Check Point at Iowa State University
 
The American Solar Challenge is a competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country time/distance rally event. Teams compete over a 1200-1800 mile course between multiple cities across the country. The event has had over two decades of organized events in North America. One of the many stops in the Solar Car Race was Iowa State University's campus, where the solar challenge teams, including PrISUm the team from Iowa State, were greeted by a large audience.
"What a perfect day to welcome PrISUm and the other Solar Car teams to the check point and at the same time help learners young and old make connections to STEM learning activities," commented North Central STEM Hub manager, Lynne Campbell. Many participants stopped by the STEM tent where they were able to do a variety of activities with Shelly Vanyo and the Boone High Schools KidWind crew. Students were able to build their own windmills and test the windmills in the wind tunnel as well as design and float boats to determine the effectiveness of their design. Campbell praised Shelly Vanyo. "As always, Mrs. Vanyo and her students went above and beyond to advance STEM in the North Central Region." Vanyo was trained as a "Wind Senator" with the intent to support KidWind implementation and help lead KidWind trainings.
The Community Showcase Event was sponsored by Iowa State University Provost's Office and the College of Engineering. A special thank you to Jeana Gingery and the planning team at the College of Engineering for the opportunity to share STEM learning opportunities with the participants at the American Solar Challenge Check Point event.
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Scale up (and beyond) success story:
North Central Teacher is "Out of this World!"
Ashley Flatebo, 6th grade teacher at Lincoln Intermediate in Mason City, shares her STEM Story and her school's STEM story:
Over the last three years, Lincoln Intermediate (Mason City) has benefited from the STEM Scale Up Programs from the Governor's Advisory Council. The Scale Up programs were used to start First Lego League and implement new curriculum. Last year I applied for and received the Carolina STEM Scale Up Program and was amazed at the materials that I received. The students were engaged in learning about microorganisms and the differences between plant and animal cells. Sixth graders were using microscopes for the first time and completing labs that were both collaborative and rigorous. I was excited to share the successes I was having in my classroom with my colleagues and administrators. This lead to piloting another Carolina STEM curriculum module called Planetary Science. As a result, the sixth grade team elected to purchase these materials and are working to build a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics)-focused approach in our sixth grade that encompasses all curricular areas through interdisciplinary units. This summer the 6th grade team spent time together as a team planning out units and finding meaningful connections to each of our content areas, including art, health, P.E., and guidance. All members of the team are very excited for this opportunity for our students at at Lincoln Intermediate.
The STEAM idea started two years ago when I had the opportunity to attend the Exxon Mobile Mickelson Academy in New York where I was able to gain professional development on force and motion that combined both science and math. I was able to network with other professionals across the United States and gained many activities and new strategies to bring into my classroom.  While attending this Academy, I learned about another opportunity. I was accepted to participate in the Honeywell Educators Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama where I attended this past summer. Through this professional opportunity I was able to experience missions as a astronaut would as well as gain many activities that I am excited to implement this year in my own classroom. Both of these experiences have made me a better teacher and I highly recommend applying for these opportunities.
Last May, Lincoln hosted a STEAM Festival that was sponsored by the North Central STEM Hub. The event featured a showcase of STEAM in local businesses such as Stellar Industries, Mercy Hospital, Frank Lloyd Wright, scale up providers such as Experience Health (picture to the left) and Camp in a Can, and STEAM-related programs by the Science Center and Blank Park Zoo. Many people from the community of Mason City attended and had an opportunity to participate in hands-on STEAM activities as well as learn what is happening at Lincoln to build STEAM knowledge and experiences. We are planning to host another festival again next spring.
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Year 2: Scale Up STEM Evaluation Results
Each year, the implementers of Scale-Ups programs are asked to complete a three-part evaluation that is designed to measure the effectiveness of Iowa's STEM Initiative program. Both teachers and students complete a survey. The student participants are also anonymously linked to the statewide Iowa Assessments test to compare those students who participated in scale up programming with their peers across the state who did not participate in scale up programming.
"Every one of the STEM programs rolled out to educators across Iowa this past year has met or exceeded its objective of inspiring greater interest in STEM among students," said Governor Branstad. "That's important because facts show that STEM careers pay, on average, $10 dollars more per hour than non-STEM jobs, translating to average incomes of $58,800 versus $39,300 for all occupations."
Here is a summary of the results from this year's study:
* Over 100,000 Iowa youth were involved in a Scale-Up
* 3,106 classrooms and clubs engaged
* Student achievement in science and math was higher for implementers
* Student interest in STEM classes and careers increased
* The gender gap in STEM classes and careers is narrowing
* STEM teacher certification launched
* $1.8 million in grant money was dedicated to STEM
* $268,500 were invested by local industry
* $3.5+ million cost-share by businesses, post-secondary institutions, scale up providers
and local school districts
But there's still a lot of work to do.
* More STEM teachers are needed
* Outreach to minority students must be increased
* Students enrollment in advanced STEM classes could increase
* Only 41% surveyed knew what the acronym STEM represented; 26% the year before
* As of 2012, an estimated 10,000 STEM jobs can't be filled by current labor force in Iowa
To read the complete report, please click here.
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Meet a Board Member: Emily Banks
Emily is currently the Preschool Program Coordinator for the Marshalltown School District. Emily previously taught preschool and third grade at Colo-Nesco. She and her husband live in McCallsburg with our four children, ages 14, 11, 8, and 4. Emily attended ISU majoring in Elementary Education and earned a M.S. at Drake in Educational Leadership.
Emily also serves and the Board Chair for the NC Advisory Board. As the Board Chair, Emily participates in monthly teleconferences, assists with the agenda, and provide feedback for evaluations.
Why did you apply be part of the STEM Advisory Board?
As a teacher, I did not have an extensive science background. It could be a struggle to find quality, meaningful science lessons for children. I was honored to be a part of the North Central Board so I could collaborate and provide that real classroom perspective. The opportunities that Iowa STEM is providing for students and teachers across the state are building capacity in the school districts that will greatly benefit the state. The real life applications, the professional development, and the materials for implementation go hand-in-hand to increase STEM in Iowa School Districts.
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the NC Advisory Board?
I hope to continue to spread the word about STEM! Parents, community members, businesses and school districts are striving to increase educational opportunities for Iowa students. As we continue to increase awareness, I hope to see even more partnerships.
Thank you Emily for your leadership on he NC STEM Advisory Board!
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**Points of Interest for STEM Educators**
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You Don't Have To Be a Rocket Scientist...
DAVinCI
 | | DAVinCI Flight Concept Station |
VSI Aerospace Inc. of Ames, IA has developed an innovative approach to STEM education by applying their expertise in aerospace flight modeling and simulation to education. "STEM education is a critical point of emphasis across the country at present, but the "E" in STEM, the Engineering, is largely unaddressed," says Dr. Atul Kelkar, "This is unfortunate because engineering brings mathematics, technology, and the sciences together and shows how they can be used in real world applications. The current perception is that it is difficult and time consuming to bring engineering into high schools and middle schools in a widespread way, but with DAVinCI we are trying to change that."
"It has been fun collaborating with VSI, ISU Engineers and CIRAS to help get this tool out to teachers. This simulation can be used to further develop science, math and engineering concepts and connects them in an authentic way," stated Lynne Campbell. "The Kickstarter Campaign is an innovative way to foster the further development of their product. Check it out -- $25 will get you in on the ground floor. What an entrepreneurial approach!"
The company will launch a fully developed product at the beginning of 2015. The transition from engineering software to a game has been labor intensive but much of the game is complete. The company intends to accelerate the completion by a Kickstarter campaign and those interested can visit or profile page.For more information visit the company's webpage at www.davinciflight.com. The Kickstarter campaign will run for 60 days, and will provide access to the public beta starting September 8, 2014. In addition to beta testing access there will be other exclusive Kickstarter content that will be available only for a limited time. Read the full article here.
Article and Photo Courtesy VSI Aerospace Inc.
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2014 FLL Season
If you can help the FLL teams connect with experts to interview for their "World Class" project please contact any of the following:
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Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program now accepting applications for 2015-2016 Fellowship Year
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend 11 months working in a Federal agency or U.S. Congressional office, bringing their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to STEM education program and/or education policy efforts. Program applications are due November 20, 2014, and must be submitted through an online application system.
"As a former Einstein Fellow (2007-08), I highly recommend this opportunity for a K-12 classroom educator who is passionate about improving STEM education at the national level," stated NC STEM Manager, Lynne Campbell. "I served my fellowship for the Committee of Education and Labor in the House of Representatives and learned so much about education policy. I use the lessons learned in my work everyday. This experience had a profound impact on every aspect of my work and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Washington DC for a year!"
Information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements, and access to the online application system can be found at http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/ For any questions, please contact the AEF Program at sc.einstein@science.doe.gov.
Read the full article here.
Applications are due by 5:00 pm EST, November 20, 2014.
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Iowa Learning Online (ILO) needs your help.
ILO offers a way for High School students to have access to online courses for no enrollment fees. Students who use ILO courses need alternative learning avenues for various reasons. The most sought after courses are currently upper level science classes. The Iowa Legislation deemed the ILO courses the model for online learning in Iowa, and funded a full scale-up of their courses.
Taking an ILO class (science, math, art etc) requires a great deal of collaboration and complex communication. As part of the iconic online science courses, ILO offers two days of actual face to face laboratory investigations. Since high school students across Iowa are served, this translates into some 30+ face to face labs that ILO brings to the students based on their geography. Currently, over 100 schools across Iowa participate, and ILO anticipates this growing quickly as the scale-up launches this Fall.
ILO needs help finding highly qualified individuals interested in becoming part-time Regional Lab Facilitators. They would be mentored at first, and take over the labs solo at some point. This task requires someone willing to travel to where the students need them to go, valid Iowa teaching licensure with sciences endorsement(s) (mainly Chemistry, Physics, Biology), and someone ready and willing to conduct labs through the practices of science, not cook book.
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LIKE the North Central STEM Hub
on Facebook:
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Follow us on Twitter
 Follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest happenings in the North Central Hub and other STEM related events.
The Twitter handle for North Central STEM Hub manager i s @lcampbell3.
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