July 2024

The Project EDUCATE (Educators of Diversity: Unified and Collaborative to Aspire Teacher Education) grant project team from BGSU recently presented at the Ohio Deans Compact final meeting of the academic year. Highlights of the past year include the introduction of BGSU Life Design coursework (detailed in article below) to partner school district Washington Local Schools, campus experiences, an Educators of Color Panel, and a visit from Kurt Russell, the National Teacher of the Year.

This article is from BGSU Marketing and Communications
By Julie Carle

Committed to developing solutions for workforce needs, Bowling Green State University is implementing its innovative Life Design programming at a Toledo area high school to increase interest and diversity in the teaching profession.

Through a grant-funded program, the same design thinking principles offered through Life Design at BGSU are being introduced to students at Whitmer High School, creating a pipeline to education degrees in the University’s nationally ranked teacher education program.

“Design thinking is incredibly beneficial in helping BGSU students determine what they want to do and who they want to become,” said Dr. Emilio Duran, a science education professor in the BGSU School of Inclusive Teacher Education and director of the Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education (NWO/COSMOS).

“Introducing design thinking principles at the high school level can profoundly impact the career pathway students follow. We want to continue fostering students’ interest in becoming teachers while providing them with creative problem-solving skills that are beneficial in all aspects of their lives.”

Developed by entrepreneurs and brought to education, Life Design at BGSU leverages design thinking to equip students with the tools to navigate challenges and empower them to design their futures.

During the school year, BGSU Life Design Coach Greg Dickerson and Whitmer Career and Technology teacher Felicia Singleton co-teach Life Design to freshmen and sophomores in a class called Introduction to the Teaching Profession.

The class is one component of a broader program called Project EDUCATE, which is funded by a grant from the Ohio Deans Compact on Exceptional Children to recruit, support, retain and sustain people of color in the education field and workforce.

Since receiving the grant in 2021, BGSU has worked with Washington Local Schools to bolster interest in education careers among students from racially, culturally and ethnically minoritized groups through workshops, after-school programs, mentorship and campus visits.

During campus visits, students participate in a Mursion virtual simulation and a Life Design session in the Geoffrey H. Radbill Center for College and Life Design. They also engage with current BGSU education students, attend pre-service education panels and visit the Classroom Technology Center, Curriculum Resource Center and Planetarium.

Life Design was incorporated into Whitmer’s classroom curriculum in 2024 as a novel approach to addressing the teacher shortage crisis. Duran said having BGSU faculty members teach Life Design in high school could provide a necessary cultural shift in how students perceive the profession.

“We’re building trust and authenticity with students about what is required to be a teacher and what skills and competencies they need to be successful,” Duran said. “We’re equipping them with design thinking tools to map out their future and understand how to navigate challenges they may encounter along the way.”

Students also build a connection with BGSU through Dickerson and during visits to campus, which increase familiarity and comfort in pursuing higher education.

During class, Dickerson helps students understand how their values and beliefs intersect with their career aspirations, a key part of Life Design.

“A significant focus of design thinking is collaboration and communication,” Dickerson said. “We want them to work as a team. Many of the exercises we do in class reinforce the importance of collaboration in developing a creative solution to a complex problem.”

Representation is another crucial component of the initiative. Dickerson noted that only 20% of teachers nationwide are from underrepresented groups despite students of color making up more than half of the public school population.

Singleton further emphasized the importance of students having role models who look like them. 

“When students see a person of color who is a successful teacher, it’s a journey they can see themselves taking,” she said. “If you see somebody who has already walked that path, the footsteps are easier to follow.”

Singleton said the Introduction to the Teaching Profession class size has doubled in the three years since Project EDUCATE began.

“I’m excited to see how much more we can increase interest among our students,” Singleton said. “Our partnership with BGSU and Project EDUCATE has brought new energy into the program, and I envision the addition of Life Design will have

This article is from Ohio STEM Learning Network

The 2024 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit was more than a gathering; it was a vibrant celebration of the educators, leaders, and partners who are the heartbeat of Ohio’s STEM community.

Under the theme “Building Tomorrow Together,” more than 400 educators came together to connect and push the boundaries of what’s possible. This tremendous showing, with 25% more tickets sold than last year, showcased both the growing importance of STEM education in Ohio and the dedication of Ohio’s STEM educators to learning and doing more.

Read the complete press release from Battelle with reflections from Senior Vice President of Philanthropy & Education Wes Hall and Ohio STEM Learning Network Director Kelly Gaier Evans. Battelle manages the Ohio STEM Learning Network in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce. Steve Dackin, Director of the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce, addressed the audience with a call to understand the growing need for STEM skills in future jobs.

The summit also featured enriching learning sessions, a compelling keynote speech by Dr. Knatokie Ford, and the recognition of outstanding contributions to STEM education through the STEM Excellence Awards. Incarnate Word Academy and Indian Hill High School received recognition as new STEM/STEAM designated schools.

Here’s how to build on the tremendous success of the 2024 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit:

• On your calendar, mark June 2025 to connect, share, and celebrate as the summit returns
• Attended? Check out the 2024 photo album on Facebook. Tag your schools in the comments!
• Need to document professional development hours from the event? Look for an email this week to receive your certificate.

Click here for complete article.

OSLN Professional Development for Ohio Teachers

The Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) offers professional development to all Ohio teachers looking to bring the critical ideas of computer science and computational thinking to their students. No matter the grade level, OSLN offers programs that can inspire students, connect to relevant standards, and build life-changing skills.

Elementary program: OSLN Computer Science K-5 Program (Grades K-5)

Elementary teachers, learn to enhance math, ELA, and science instruction with computer science. Learn more and apply.

Middle or high school programs: Code.org Computer Science Discoveries (Grades 6-10), Code.org Computer Science Principles (Grades 9-12), and Code.org Computer Science A (Grades 9-12) From broadening participation in middle school to college-level programming, OSLN has brought nationally tested professional learning programs backed by Code.org to hundreds of Ohio teachers. 

Get the support you need to bring computer science education to your school or take students further. Learn more and apply.

Learning Blade

Unlock the Future: Join Learning Blade's Intro to Coding Webinar!
Learning Blade, provided to Ohio students by the Ohio STEM Learning Network, is hosting an "Introduction to Coding" webinar on July 11 at 11:00 a.m. This webinar is designed for educators teaching coding to middle school students and will cover essential coding concepts and curriculum integration. Plus, learn about the new short course this fall on understanding AI and ethical practices!

Event Details:
Date: July 11
Time: 11:00 am
Registration: Register Here (https://edynamiclearning.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZctdemuqDwqHNKLv4M9vzdwQtnMoMrj9M62)

Create a Free Account: LearningBlade.com/OH (Free for Ohio educators!)

Learning Blade® offers interactive online lessons and resources for 5th to 9th graders to explore STEM, CTE, and Computer Science careers. The "Intro to Coding" course includes 20 hours of student learning with robust teacher lesson plans.

Presentation Proposals are now being accepted for the 41st Annual Women in STEM program at BGSU!

Thursday, October 17, 2024

The goal of the Women in STEM program at BGSU is to provide a rewarding experience for 6th - 8th graders that connects STEM education to the real world and sparks an interest in pursuing STEM majors in high school and beyond and ultimately STEM careers.

There will be groups of approximately 15 -20 students with adult supervision in each break-out session. Sessions should include innovative and creative hands-on activities that are fun-filled and engaging. We would like to foster a collaborative growth-minded atmosphere in the breakout sessions that gives students opportunities to interact with one another and YOU as a STEM academic/career role model. 

We provide classroom and/or lab space, AV equipment, and support.

The deadline to register is September 19th, 2024.

Registration link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iRuC_BiqlIvVSmc14qBRwtyQCk5WEtjW6L2M7qrpUvg/viewform?edit_requested=true

Calling All STEM Professionals - Ready to Make A Real Impact

Step into a math or science teaching role with the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

Supported by a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF), BGSU’s Noyce program is your pathway to:

• Transform Futures: Inspire and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
• Get 95% of Your Program Funded: Comprehensive support for your transition into teaching.
• Learn Online: Flexible, all-online program to fit your schedule. (School Visits in Person.)
• Achieve Upward Mobility: Long-term career growth in education.

BGSU’s Noyce program runs from August to August, online for convenience. Participants will also engage in field school observations and teaching experiences for practical learning in person as well as in virtual simulations trainings. Upon completion, Noyce grads will earn an Ohio teaching license in a middle or secondary STEM area such as mathematics, biological sciences, or general science. 

Join Us! Make a difference where it’s needed most. Apply now to start your journey with BGSU’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program! 

For more information visit the website at bgsu.edu/teachstem

Lucas Soil and Water Conversation District

"Get Going - Get Out - Go Teach" Teacher Workshop

Help students get their hands on nature! Motivate, inspire, and create young scientists. Explore activities from Project Learning Tree and Project WILD that can be used inside and outside the classroom or with whatever space is available! Participants will also hear from experts in the field on getting a school learning lab started, gain hands on experience with water sampling and data collection, and so much more!

July 16-17, 2024 @ Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio 8am-4pm (Registration 7:45am) ​  

https://www.lucasswcd.org/workshops.html

INFOhio Online Resources for Educators/Curated Collections

Ohio PreK-12 Open Space

Empowering Ohio educators to create and share resources that promote innovative and collaborative learning.

https://openspace.infohio.org/curated-collections

BGSU Planetarium Summer Offerings

BGSU Planetarium is offering public shows at the Planetarium this summer beginning July 18 and includes both daytime and evening shows on Thursdays and Sundays.

Showtimes are Thursdays 2:00 & 8:30 p.m. and Sundays 4:30 & 8:30 p.m.

Public stargazing on clear evenings after the 8:30 p.m. shows

https://events.bgsu.edu/group/planetarium/calendar

BNOAA's SOS Explorer® (SOSx)

NOAA has just released free software that allows students to explore Earth and space data on a virtual globe on a personal computer. Brought to you by NOAA’s Science On a Sphere® team, SOS Explorer® (SOSx) is the perfect tool for students, educators, and curious people everywhere. The software takes SOS datasets, originally designed to be seen on a 6-foot sphere in large museum spaces, and makes them accessible for educators, students, and curious people everywhere. The visualizations show information provided by satellites, ground observations and computer models.  

https://sos.noaa.gov/sos-explorer/

Drive Ohio

The DriveOhio Educator Toolkit has been downloaded by over 340 educators who work with over 50,000 students across Ohio. In addition, DriveOhio attended 46 events and school visits and saw 485 registrations for its educator webinars.

Watch for updates over the summer about new DriveOhio Educator Toolkit resources for the 2024-2025 school year, including expanded curriculum, more professional development opportunities, and updated Career Connections content. In the meantime, contact: https://drive.ohio.gov/workforce/educator-toolkit?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Beat Boredom With NASA STEM

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers a collection of hands-on activities and interesting resources to set students up for a stellar summer vacation.

ITEEA 2024 Virtual STEM Conference

ITEEA will bring together technology and engineering educators and advocates for a dynamic exchange of ideas, best practices, and insights at its Inaugural Fall Virtual STEM Conference! With an accessible, inclusive, and diverse program featuring over 40 live and prerecorded sessions led by teachers, industry leaders, and STEM partners, attendees will gain valuable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance their teaching practices and drive student success.

Learn more.  Register for ITEEA's inaugural virtual conference: Register