March 2022

Posted on OSLN blog

The Innovative Leaders Institute pairs aspiring school leaders with veteran STEM school principals, including Larry W. Johnson Jr. Larry is the principal of the Firestone Community Learning Center, the largest school in the Akron Public Schools. Larry was the founding Instructional Leader of the National Inventors Hall of Fame S.T.E.M. High School, recognized as a School of Promise by the state of Ohio two years in a row, and a Bronze medalist by News Week top schools in the nation.

OSLN caught up with him to get a more detailed look inside the program. School leaders and/or teachers who are ready to lead the switch to STEM, apply to join this year’s cohort by March 28, 2022.

Please continue to read this article here: https://osln.org/2022/03/five-things-youll-learn-through-the-innovative-leaders-institute/

Dr. Jessica Kiss was recently awarded the Mid-American Conference Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Succes. She is a faculty member in the Exercise Science and Kinesiology Programs, Graduate Coordinator for the Kinesiology and Sports Administration Programs, and Exercise Science Laboratory Coordinator at BGSU. She previously worked as an Exercise Physiologist for the Cleveland Clinic, Human Performance Laboratory Coordinator at Saginaw Valley State University, and in community recreation as a youth and adult fitness instructor. Jessica’s research is focused on the relationship between undergraduate student participation in campus recreation programs and academic success, health behaviors of first-year students, and comparing body composition methods for Air Force ROTC cadets. Jessica serves on the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Assembly which is a “think tank,” forward-thinking leadership committee that focuses on topics of importance on university campuses in the next 5- 10 years. In the past five years at BGSU, Jessica has been a leader in developing three student-centered programs that grant undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work with clients to gain experiential learning experiences. The Exercise Science Lab Services Program provides fitness and body composition testing to BGSU and surrounding communities. The Exercise is Medicine on Campus Program promotes engaging in physical activity to support a healthy lifestyle. In addition to numerous health-related programs offered on campus, faculty, staff, and students may participate in a referral program that consists of a physician or counselor referring them to Campus Recreation programs, facilities, and Certified Personal Trainers. Finally, the partnership between the Exercise Science/Kinesiology Programs and the BGSU Air Force ROTC Detachment provides the opportunity for a couple of Exercise Science and/or Kinesiology students to work with Air Force cadets and encourage physical preparedness for their physical training tests and future.

Through an Ohio Deans Compact and the Ohio Department of Higher Education grant, NWO of BGSU’s College of Education and Human Development will once again bring students from Washington Local (both high school and middle school) to campus as part of Project EDUCATE. Students will tour campus, visit research laboratories and planetarium, and take part in a Visual Simulation Learning Center session.

Ohio STEM Learning Network Innovative Leaders Institute

The year-long cohort program covers a number of concepts including how to be an effective leader, manage innovative instruction, and create a culture/climate that fosters the best in STEM learning. Participants engage in structured learning activities on topics such as adaptive and distributive leadership, problem-based learning, meaningful professional development, marketing, and partnerships. Each in-person session includes a tour of an innovative school plus a discussion with the school’s leaders. This year, the program will be offered free to participants who fulfill the program’s requirements. Applications are due March 28, 2022.

For more information: www.osln.org

Ohio STEM Learning Network Design Challenge

This year’s challenge invites students to consider how they can improve their school, community, or world by reimagining an existing physical space, system, product, or service so that it is more equitable, accessible, or efficient. Through the challenge, students build skills in thinking, analyzing, ideating, and creating solutions to real-world problems. It’s not too late for your school to join. 

Please make sure to complete the registration form at our portal: https://designchallenge.osln.org/. The deadline is April 21.

MetroParks of Toledo
Frog Phenology with Metroparks!

Spring is a critical breeding time for our 10 local frogs and toads in Northwest Ohio.

Contact Jennifer Elsworth, jennifer.elsworth@metroparkstoledo.com to learn how to get your students involved in learning beginning monitoring techniques that can help you contribute frog data to citizen science.

Grow Next Gen Workshop

Chickenology: Happy homes for hens and their eggs

Mar. 17, 10 am

Visit three different egg production facilities in Ohio. Learn the differences between conventional, cage-free, and organic eggs. How do the different environments affect egg production? How do veterinarians keep the hens healthy and happy?

Texas Instruments Codes Contest

The 2022 TI Codes Contest is officially on — and this year it’s all about fur, feathers, fins and scales!  Students are challenged to use TI technology and coding skills to design a solution for automating or optimizing a process or product related to pets or animals.

Brainstorm ideas, work out a plan, then enter your submissions for your chance to win. It’s time to start innovating! For more information: https://tinyurl.com/22upen79

Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) K-5 computer science professional learning cohort

The OSLN Computer Science K-5 Program will include a 5-day in-person summer workshop and two half-day virtual workshops during the school year. During the summer workshop teachers will:

• experience plugged and unplugged computer science activities, 
• learn how to integrate computer science standards in math, ELA, and science instruction, 
• explore Code.org curriculum for their grade level, and much more! 
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For more information: https://osln.org/2022/02/join-the-first-osln-k-5-computer-science-professional-learning-cohort/

Ohio Imagination Library

Families may visit https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org to enroll to receive a book in the mail each month at no cost. The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library is a program that mails kids one book each month until their 5th birthday. All kids in Ohio are eligible and this program is available at no cost to families. Through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a new chapter is being started in early childhood literacy across Ohio.

3M Young Scientist Challenge

Discovery Education and 3M invite students in grades 5 - 8 to create short videos describing a unique solution to an everyday problem for a chance to win $25,000 and a 3M mentorship.

Deadline: April 26

https://www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge

Girls who Code Free Summer Program

Applications for the Girls Who Code free 2022 summer programs are due March 18! 

These free virtual summer programs teach the computer science skills that students need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs, meet women in tech careers, and join a supportive sisterhood.

https://girlswhocode.com/

Amazon Future Engineer Program

Amazon's K-12 STEM initiative for underserved students offers free coding camps, AP prep, and college scholarships. 

Please see https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/ for more information.