March 2023

Project EDUCATE co-sponsored a high-energy student engagement event for 500+ Junior High students in Washington Local Schools. Dr. Adolph Brown, III (https://www.docspeaks.com/) delivered two impactful and energizing sessions for 7th and 8th grade students from Jefferson and Washington Junior High Schools titled 'Attitude Changes Everything!' Doc Brown and his team emphasized the importance of a positive attitude and work ethic stating that students can allow their attitudes to support them or defeat them. He focused students' attention on the idea that before they ever say a word, their attitude speaks on their behalf. Doc Brown challenged students to hold one another accountable for contributing positively to their community with a work ethic that stands out and to stand up to be leaders and role models in their peer groups.

Project EDUCATE Mentors were also invited to attend Doc Brown's session and connect with their student mentees. One BGSU mentor, Arianna Bustos, offered that a piece of wisdom that stuck with her from the presentation is that "tomorrow is always a new day to create new habits, behaviors, and attitudes. Always treating yourself and others with unconditional love so we can all be better than the person we were the day before. This is a message I think all students in Junior High must be reminded of by the adults and educators in their lives."

Project EDUCATE (Educators of Diversity: a Unified Collaborative to Aspire Teacher Education) is a grant-funded project from the Ohio Deans Compact and the Ohio Department of Education in which BGSU/NWO partners with community mentors and 8th-12th grade students, teachers, and administrators in the Washington Local Schools District to encourage students to enter the education profession.

From Ohio STEM Learning Network

“Winning the CS Leaders Prize is exciting and is a great motivator for our district to work towards bettering our students and continuing to give them these new experiences,” says Bethany Foos, a Technology Integration Specialist with Genoa Area Local School District in Genoa, Ohio, who applied for and won the $10,000 CS Leaders Prize.

The CS Leaders Prize, a partnership between Code.org and DonorsChoose, awarded $1 million to U.S. schools to provide more students access to computer science education. Winning schools committed to adding a new computer science course in the 2023-2024 school year. This year, only two Ohio schools won the prize. One of these, Genoa Area Local Schools, earned the prize for the district’s progress in bringing computer science to elementary students.

The Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) seeks to create more opportunities for students to learn computer science. We spoke with Bethany Foos and Cody McPherson, Assistant Superintendent of Genoa Area Local Schools District. Bethany and Cody shared their school district’s plans for expanding computer science access and how they’ll use the $10,000 prize.

Click here to read the entire article!

Computational Thinking (CT) is a framework that describes a set of critical thinking and problem-solving skills to help students use technology to solve problems, with learning supported and enhanced with authentic, relevant use of technology.

Facilitated by Dr. Jerry Schnepp, formerly of BGSU, NWO held a professional development session to help prepare educators to enrich their pedagogy and assessment with CT. The driving question for the session was, “What is computational thinking and why is it important?” Educators from the region who are using STEM pedagogy learned to apply CT concepts to promote creativity and innovation in their classrooms and to engage students with essential mindsets for 21st century careers. ”CT is a mindset that leverages computers in problem-solving. Individual perspectives on CT involve expression, connection and questioning. Creative thinking, critical thinking, and design thinking are all tied to CT,” Dr. Schnepp stated.

Dr. Schnepp is Chair of the Computer Science Department at Judson University. His research efforts focus on STEM Education, Learner Experience Design, Technology for Online Assessment, Interactive Mobile Learning, and Computerized Sign Language Synthesis.

Formerly an Associate Professor at BGSU, Dr. Schnepp is the recipient of the 2022 BGSU Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, the 2018 Elliott L Blinn Award for his work supporting undergraduate research and creative work, and the 2018 Faculty Excellence Award from the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering.

Ohio STEM Learning Network offerings:

The Ohio Rural Educator Program
Science teachers can connect their lessons to real-world agriculture needs, helping students connect to agriculture careers. The Ohio Rural Educator Program (OREP) fosters those connections. The Ohio STEM Learning Network and Education Projects & Partnerships are recruiting for the third and final cohort of the program.

During the 2023-2024 school year, 15 middle school science teachers will receive the training, resources and support necessary to transition a current classroom lesson into a hands-on, problem-based learning lesson with a focus on agriculture.

https://tinyurl.com/42khnty7

OSLN Computer Science and Code.org Professional Development
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. Each program targets a different age group:

• OSLN Computer Science K-5 Program (Grades K-5)
• Code.org Computer Science Discoveries (Grades 6-10)
• Code.org Computer Science Principles (Grades 9-12)
• Code.org Computer Science A (Grades 9-12)

Priority registration closes May 1, 2023

https://tinyurl.com/4whafahm

Integrated Teaching and Learning
The Integrated Teaching and Learning Program is designed for teams of teachers seeking strategies for effective and meaningful integration of their grade-level content. Program participants will explore, learn, and apply the 5-step Integrated Teaching and Learning Protocol, ultimately creating a year-long integrated curriculum map. This protocol can be combined with any instructional approach, ranging from traditional teaching to problem-based learning. Priority applications close April 3, 2023.

https://tinyurl.com/2p92k5f4

Fostering STEM Institute Cohort 2
Now recruiting for a second year, the Fostering STEM Institute helps instructional specialists and teacher leaders foster STEM culture and instructional practices in their schools. The institute is designed around essential tenets of effective instructional coaching, transformational professional learning, and quality STEM education. The Fostering STEM Institute includes both workshops and a residency opportunity. Applications close June 2, 2023

https://tinyurl.com/4aez6n88

Northwest Ohio STEM Collaborative

The NWO STEM Collaborative aims to connect with area STEM community members, educators, and administrators interested and invested in STEM education to share resources, methods, and ideas to enhance STEM instruction.

The STEM Collaborative encourages participants to learn from peers and local experts and grow as active STEM community members. We are thrilled to announce that we will be visiting the Toledo Museum of Art for a session titled Steamed Up! Art & Science. Space is very limited!

Date: March 16th, 2023
Time: 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Location: Toledo Museum of Art
Cost: Free
Questions: Please contact Natalie Crotte with any questions regarding the NWO STEM Collaborative

Summer 2023 Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Educator Program

Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

Bowling Green State University
College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering
(June 12 -July 25, 2023) 

Program Overview:
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to increase interest in STEM fields. The grant provides funding for a six-week paid summer program in robotics and advanced manufacturing research for educators currently teaching in high school and community college STEM Subjects. 

Selected Program Participants will: 

• Receive a $6,000 stipend, $200 one-time travel stipend, lunch/snacks. 
• Receive $500 upon curriculum implementation during the following academic year. 
• Engage in a research project with faculty mentors and graduate students. 
• Attend research presentations, curriculum development workshops, and industry tours. 
• Develop an instructional module to teach a topic related to their research. 

Program Participant Requirements: 

• Educators currently teaching in high school or community college STEM subjects. 
• Available and able to commit to six weeks June 12-July 25, 2023 (excluding holidays)
• Mon – Fri, 9am-4pm (Mon-Thurs: on campus at BGSU, Fri. Remote). 
• Willing to incorporate classroom activities and learning outcomes in the following academic year. 
• Completed application including required supporting documents (personal statement, resume, letters of reference). 

Details and link to apply 
Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing NSF/RET Webpage and Application 

*Deadline to apply: March 1, 2023
*Applicants to be notified by: March 15, 2023 

Principal Investigator: Dr. MD Sarder, msarder@bgsu.edu
Recruiting: Melissa Partin-Harding, mpartin@bgsu.edu, 419-372-2439 

ESC of Lake Erie West Teacher CAMP (Creating Authentic Meaningful Partnerships)

Teacher CAMP is a week-long, immersive experience for educators of grades 4-12. Participants will explore in-demand occupations by visiting and meeting with local business and industry partners. Teachers will develop authentic curriculum-connected activities to take back to the classroom. A community of practice and shared resources will provide additional support throughout the school year.

Fast Facts:

• June 12, 2023 - June 16, 2023
• Daily hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
• Main location is the ESC of Lake Erie West
• 35 Contact Hours available upon program completion

Flyer and Registration Link: https://conta.cc/3Cx7Bz9

Girls Who Code Free Summer Programs

Girls Who Code offers two FREE programs in the summer: the virtual Summer Immersion Program and the Self-Paced Program. Applicants can apply for BOTH programs, if eligible, using this application. However, students can only participate in one summer program.

The virtual Summer Immersion Program and The Self-Paced Program 

https://girlswhocodesm.smapply.io/

Imagination Station Summer Camps

Sign up for Summer Camp today for the ultimate summer of science and an adventure of discovery at Imagination Station.

Camps are made up of nine, one week sessions that encourage aspiring explorers to challenge ideas, get messy and learn a whole lot!

For more information: https://www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/programs-events/programs/summer-camp/

Chickenology workshop
(middle & high school)

May 1, Columbus
This STEM-based curriculum uses immersive learning experiences and real genetic samples for students to dive deep in the future evolution of food. See how environment influences heredity, and explore the evidence that suggests T. rex as modern chicken's and turkey's ancestor.

For more information: https://grownextgen.org/events/chickenology-workshop

GLOBE Mission Earth Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers

Solar Eclipse Training: Learn how to collect GLOBE data during the Solar Eclipse occurring on April 8, 2024. Space is limited, date and time TBD during the summer of 2023. By participating in this PD, you will be trained in GLOBE Atmosphere protocols, including: Clouds, Air Temperature, and Surface Temperature. GLOBE is the perfect citizen science tool to utilize to track the impacts of an eclipse on these phenomena as it passes over.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6otr
4ruUbKweHLxceFBDwI2KAA17TUmd2Ify28TBFrlr5vw/viewform