November 2023

NWO in cooperation with Washington Local Schools continues to facilitate professional development around STEM education with fifth grade teachers with a Martian Habitat Design Challenge. Teachers learned how to implement the challenge and the design process in their classrooms.

With the goal of growing interest in STEM-based fields of study and careers, the Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education (NWO) at Bowling Green State University’s College of Education and Human Development held the 40th annual Women in STEM program for over 340 sixth through eighth grade students from northwest Ohio.

The day began with a keynote presentation centered on the solar eclipse from Jessica Taylor, a Physical Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center and Jodi Haney, BGSU faculty and educator from Xcite Learning and the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) program. After the keynote, students spent the rest of the day exploring and performing experiments and hands-on activities in psychology, chemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics and technology as they learned about the STEM fields and what STEM has to offer in high school and beyond. BGSU STEM faculty along with presenters from a wide range of STEM professions offered breakout sessions and hands-on workshops throughout the day.

One student stated, “Women in STEM really opened my eyes to the opportunities and jobs I could do in STEM. I loved the fun activities that we did!”

Workshop session titles included: Pipeline Systems & Transporting Natural Gas, Unlocking Digital Secrets: A Journey into Cybersecurity and Digital Investigation, How Safe is the H2O/Water Quality Testing, and Gelling with Science, in which participants learned how to make hair gel.

When asked about her perception on the impact of the event, one presenter stated, “One of the best days of my year. I thoroughly enjoy working with the girls and supporting this event!”

Another one of the over seventy presenters stated, “From my experience, “Women in STEM” plays a significant role in developing students’ interest in and identity as scientists and engineers not only by exposing them to a variety of career options but by providing in person experiences with STEM careers. It makes learning fun, accessible and provides students with real life applications for STEM.”

NWO, one of the seven hubs of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, annually organizes the event, and is partnership among area universities, K-12 schools, and community partners, with a goal to advance STEM education for people of all ages. Sponsors for the 40th annual Women in STEM program were BGSU, The Anderson’s, Lubrizol, the McMaster Family Foundation and NWO.

Jenna Pollock , Education Program Manager of NWO stated, "Women in STEM is a program that showcases careers in the STEM fields, demonstrating to students it's achievable to major in STEM fields in high school and college. We are thrilled to hold this event every year, demonstrating to this age group a rewarding career in STEM is more than possible."

For more information and photos of the event, please see the website at: https://www.bgsu.edu/nwo/programs/women-in-stem.html

From Battelle.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 18, 2023)–Battelle has funded 233 grants to schools that will reach more than 68,000 Ohio students. For the third year, Battelle funded new STEM education experiences through the Ohio STEM Learning Network STEM Classroom Grants. Funded projects span 161 public schools across the state. In total, $1,100,000 will reach students in one of seven school districts (130) across 60 Ohio counties.

“Every student should have access to the kind of quality STEM education that drives opportunity for families and leads to new jobs in their local communities” said Kelly Gaier Evans, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network. “This program connects champions of STEM in local communities to a broad and deep network of STEM schools, STEM resources, and peer-educators.”

The grant program fosters the growth of the Ohio STEM Learning Network as a public-private partnership between Battelle and the State of Ohio. Providing more access for all students to experience quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is Battelle’s top philanthropic priority.

“Battelle is proud to invest in expanding the reach of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, the state’s primary vehicle for advancing STEM across Ohio,” said Wes Hall, Vice President of Philanthropy & Education. “These grants empower educators in all corners of the state to shape the next generation of solvers.”

Awarded classrooms will receive grants of as much as $5,000.

Educators interested in future awards for the program or other supports for STEM education from the Ohio STEM Learning Network can sign up here. A complete list of awarded schools is available at this link.

Ohio STEM Learning Network Computer Science Workshop for Middle School and High School Leaders and Counselors

December 7th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Middle schools and high schools face unique challenges in preparing students for the future. Computer science is the key, offering essential skills for thriving in the digital age.

School leaders and counselors: Join OSLN to learn more and prepare students for a bright future on Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 9:00-3:00 p.m. at Battelle’s headquarters in Columbus to:

• Experience 6-12 computer science and computational thinking lessons first-hand
• Get up to speed on changes to Ohio policy surrounding Computer Science
• Discover how free, high-quality K-12 curriculum resources from Code.org can save teachers time
• Map out how the professional development portfolio created by Code.org and the Ohio STEM Learning Network can bring computer science to your school by Fall 2024

Register today, seats are limited. Registration closes 11:59 p.m. on December 5, 2023. Lunch provided.

Ohio STEM Innovation Summit

The 2024 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit centers on community. Join OSLN on June 4, 2024, for a day devoted to fostering connections and collaboration, aimed at strengthening the Ohio STEM community and empowering educators within it.

The 2024 summit will focus on professional learning with sessions led by teachers, administrators, and partners from across the state. The Ohio STEM Learning Network has revamped session tracks to match the Ohio STEM designation rubric and quality model that form the foundation of STEM/STEAM designation:

•  Culture for Learning
•  Learning and Teaching
•  Pathways to Success in Careers
•  Disadvantaged and Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Share experiences and ideas by applying to lead a session.

Learning Blade free STEM awareness curriculum

This supplemental curriculum provides interactive and engaging lessons on various STEM topics by exposing students to STEM, Computer Science, and CTE.

Designed for students in grades 5-9, Learning Blade can help teachers foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding of careers. Please see the link below for more information:

https://osln.org/how-we-help/classroom-opportunities/stem-career-awareness-platform/

NWO STEM Collaborative 

Jason Hubbard, TOSA at Perrysburg Schools, will facilitate this engaging session to share about the past and present facilitation of Project Invent at Perrysburg Schools. Jason will also speak about how to pivot through failure, incorporate design thinking and entrepreneurship, as well as how to design for a community partner.

Held at Hull Prairie Intermediate School 25480 Hull Prairie Rd, Perrysburg,
December 5th, 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Please see this link for more information: https://conta.cc/47d6yRP

BGSU Department of Computer Science

Code for Her program for 5th - 8th grade girls; five Sundays January through April 2024.

These sessions/activities will be related to topics of cybersecurity including concepts such as cyber-bullying and the importance of creating safe passwords. For more information please see: https://tinyurl.com/yn763pdj

Computational Thinking PD

Computational Thinking (CT) is a framework that describes a set of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Using CT, “students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions”. CT may be considered a precursor to developing computer programming skills, having much broader applications. The skills, attitudes, and approaches that make up CT are fundamental, universal, transferrable, and particularly appropriate and useful in the modern computer age.

Facilitated by Dr. Jerry Schnepp, this professional development session will prepare educators to enrich their pedagogy and assessment with CT. Participants will learn to apply CT concepts to promote creativity and innovation in their classrooms and to imbue students with essential mindsets for 21st century careers.

This session will be held at BGSU Levis Commons 

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Date: Thursday, November 30th, 2023 BGSU Levis Commons, 1655 N Wilkinson Way, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Light dinner, refreshments provided
Cost: FREE 

Space is limited for this program!

Please register to attend: https://forms.gle/HK8m8JMtfnAJVqjA6

Appalachian STEM Inquiry-based Learning webinars

Three 1-hour long webinars focused on inquiry-based learning. These are pre-recorded and available on the Appalachian STEM Enrichment Academy website, https://www.appalachianstemacademy.org/course/view.php?id=20096,

Direct Link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYB-_FbNgwNihNJ2Zx_gH6Eiyj0v0Gwyk

1) Teaching Through Inquiry
2) Subtle Shifts for Promoting Student Inquiry
3) Incorporate More Student Inquiry in Lessons

BGSU Math Camp Experience

The BGSU “Math Camp” Experience is a two-day active learning opportunity for educators to enhance their mathematical knowledge, teaching skills, and pedagogical techniques through the participation in and analysis of interactive computational, problem-solving, and mathematical problem-solving tasks. BGSU instructors aim to inspire and empower teachers to become effective instructors who may instill a love and understanding of mathematics in students. 

This program is designed to enhance the mathematical knowledge and pedagogical skills of educators looking to expand their mathematical problem-solving repertoire through fun and engaging activities. The camp provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development in the field of mathematics education.

Join the BGSU "Math Camp" Experience and become a part of this vibrant community of mathematics educators.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: Thursday, June 6^th – Friday, June 7^th, 2024
Location: Bowling Green State University (more information to come)
Cost: $150

Light snacks, refreshments provided 

Space is limited for this program!

Please complete this form if interested: https://forms.gle/XJdMnFCCpMFgkK4MA