September 2023

We invite you to facilitate a hands-on session (45 minutes) for a group of 15-20 students to highlight a STEM topic and/or career in order to instill awareness, excitement, and passion for STEM disciplines!

The goal of the Women in STEM program at BGSU is to provide a rewarding experience for 6th - 8th-grade students 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.

Women in STEM provides students with a positive experience at BGSU and offers them a variety of engaging hands-on activities that allows them the opportunity to learn and interact with a wide variety of successful STEM role models. 

The day will begin with interactive keynote activities for the whole group, followed by breakout sessions that provide hands-on, fun-filled, critical thinking/learning activities. Women in STEM will help students recognize the wide array of options available in STEM fields, inspiring them to take classes in the STEM fields throughout their educational careers.   

There will be groups of approximately 15 -20 girls 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 rely on the support of our presenters and volunteers like you in order to continue to provide this unique experience for this age group. We are thrilled to host the 40th annual Women in STEM program at BGSU and look forward to your participation!

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

The deadline to register is October 6th, 2023.

Please contact: nwo@bgsu.edu with any questions.

Registration link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoxDyER_lehCsxOgpE1JHKqRtOhTqDXDWUgj-XIfZCj5y86Q/viewform

All who wish to attend Women in STEM are welcome regardless of their gender.

BGSU Science Camp is a new offering from a student-run organization at Bowling Green State University and is part of the College of Education and Human Development’s Science Education Department. Gaining Inspiration from BGSU’s successful Math Camp, Science Camp has the goal of inspiring and empowering all students in STEM through a fun-filled day of collaboration, communication, observation, and design in the field of science.

During the camp, elementary students will engage in energetic and hands-on activities centered around collaboration, observation, scientific concepts, and the connections between science and the real world. Each Science Camp is specifically designed by BGSU preservice teachers with oversight from BGSU’s science education faculty. Aligned with Ohio Learning Standards for Science, Science Camp preservice teachers work with each school’s liaison to identify specific areas of science needs to design a worthwhile and focused camp experience for all students.

Below please find important details about this exciting new offering:

• There are three dates in the fall semester for schools on a first-come first-serve basis. These dates are: October 14th 2023, November 4th 2023, and November 18th 2023.
• Science Camp is hosted on Saturday’s from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the participating school. Dropoff begins at 8:30 am and pickup begins at 3:00 pm
• Schools have the option of allowing Science Camp to provide snacks and a lunch for the students OR just snacks. Expenses will vary.
• Science Camp can be implemented with up to 40 students max with an expense of $800. This includes a T-shirt per student, snacks, lunch, and other materials needed for Science Camp. If Science Camp is not providing a snack, the total expense will be $730. This year's fees are reduced since this is the first year of Science Camp.

The BGSU teachers implementing the program will need help along the way for this fun-filled science experience, and ask the school to provide:

• Commitment to Host Science Camp – Simply fill out the google form below if you are interested in Science Camp. A BGSU student will be in contact with you shortly! Google Form: https://forms.gle/sj5c3Yg3MfzE6XUW6
• A location/space where the event would be able to take place and include 3-5 classrooms, a kitchen, and a large space for group activities (i.e. the gymnasium, or cafeteria)
• Science Camp will need access to some technology like projectors, speakers, etc. and can be discussed with the school and Science Camp team.

From Ohio STEM Learning Network

Making lessons relevant to students is one of many challenges that teachers face. Educators know that helping students find a personal connection to what they are learning can keep them engaged in the lesson. And, if students feel they can make a difference through what they learn, all the better.

These are the aims of the year-long STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship offered by the Ohio STEM Learning Network. The fellowship is open to any rural educator in the state. Participants will learn about their local STEM educational landscape, reflect on community challenges and make new connections. And, the study of place-based learning will guide teachers in developing solutions to needs in their home communities.

During the past school year, Chris Brown, junior high science teacher in the Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District, took part in the STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship. He agreed to answer a few questions about the experience.

Q: Tell us about your school, the students that it serves and the community in which it is located.

A: I teach at Glandorf Elementary in Putnam County in northwest Ohio. It is a rural K-8 school in the small town of Glandorf.

Q: Why did you apply for the STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship?

A: I had participated in the Ohio Rural Educators Program the previous school year, and after attending a STEM professional development and hearing Sandy Guinto (STEM relationship manager for the Ohio STEM Learning Network) speak, the STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship seemed like the logical next step.

Q: What was your program experience like – workshops, statewide meetings, etc? What part(s) did you find the most helpful/eye-opening/challenging?

A: We had a few meetings with our Northwest Ohio fellowship cohort at our local Educational Service Center supplemented with Zoom meetings in between with the goal of developing a project-based learning (PBL) unit.

We had a final meeting where we met the southeast Ohio fellowship cohort and shared our projects with one another. I struggled deciding on what to do my PBL on, but Sandy and Naz were great when you needed support or to bounce an idea off of someone. Seeing all the amazing projects created by the other teachers was awesome. Knowing we can always reach out to one another is a plus of the fellowship.

Q: During the program, what did you learn about your community, and how will that change how you teach your students? Were you able to target any needs or challenges in your community and decide how to meet them?

A: I’m not originally from my school’s community, like many of my coworkers are, so I didn’t know a lot of people or who to contact for resources, etc. As I reached out while working on my PBL, I found the community is very receptive to working with and doing things for the students.

I want to connect what I teach as much as I can to the local community and have the students solve real world problems. The students and I were able to educate the community about light pollution and provide them with an experience of what the night sky could be if light pollution was reduced in our area.

Q: Talk more about the PBL you created as part of the fellowship experience.

A: My students were actually the ones who came up with my project. We were outside doing another lesson, and they began asking questions about why we have some of the lights on our school campus (see attached presentation- slide 3).

Rather than just give them an answer or brush it off because we weren’t talking about that topic, I decided to see if they wanted to explore it more. After giving them a short introduction on light pollution and telling them about International Dark Sky Week, they decided they wanted to participate and try to get the school and community involved.

With my help, they planned an event, talked to school and community leadership to persuade them to turn off the lights during the event and created various products to educate the community about light pollution and offer suggestions for how it can be reduced.

There was a sense of pride with what they were able to accomplish. I still run into people in the community that bring it up. The students are already asking what they can do this upcoming school year to top it.

Q: Did you make useful connections with fellow educators or others through the program? How have these connections helped you as a teacher?

A: I got to know some other teachers from my county including the STEM teacher Lori Schroeder at our other local elementary school. We’ve continued working together in the Teacher Academy, are continually working to improve our district junior high science program and want to do some inter-school projects/events in the years to come.

Being able to work with teachers that have the same mindset and goals as I do has been a tremendous opportunity. I have learned so much and got a lot of great ideas.

Q: Would you recommend any changes in the fellowship program going forward?

A: I think it would be great to include rural areas in southwest and northeast Ohio as well and make a statewide connection. Also, some sort of alumni event might be enjoyable once a few years have passed.

Q: Who would you recommend the program to?

A: Any teacher in a rural school who feels “on an island” when it comes to STEM. Additionally, I think it would be great for new teachers or those not originally from their schools’ area as it helps develop community connections.

Statewide Design Challenge

Registration is now open for the 2023-2024 #STEMorbitsOhio Design Challenge from the Ohio STEM Learning Network. This year's challenge asks students to develop solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of astronauts aboard the Starlab space station.

For many schools, participating in the statewide design challenge is the perfect way to begin implementing high-quality STEM education best practices.

Competition opens August 7th, for more information: https://tinyurl.com/4hp7hu49

Ohio STEM Learning Network Design Challenge

Design challenges are activities or competitions that students participate in to solve real-world problems. Through the challenge, students engage in creative problem-solving, boosting skills like collaboration and grit.

For many schools, participating in the statewide design challenge was the perfect way to begin implementing high-quality STEM education best practices.

Competition opens August 7th, for more information: https://tinyurl.com/4hp7hu49

Learning Blade

This FREE supplemental STEM education curriculum provides interactive and engaging lessons on various STEM topics. Designed for students in grades 5-9, Learning Blade can help teachers foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding of careers.

This STEM Career Awareness/Exploration Platform is offered through OSLN (Ohio STEM Learning Network):

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

In addition, the NWO STEM Collaborative, in partnership with the ESC of Lake Erie West, will offer in-person PD on the Learning Blade curriculum.

Date: October 11, 2023
Time: 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: BGSU at Levis Commons, 1655 N. Wilkinson Way, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
Cost: FREE

Please register:

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejyhusomcc1ed1ce&oseq=&c=&ch=

GP-EXTRA
Attention 6th-12th Grade Science/STEM Teachers and Administrators: 

• Are you looking for engaging scientific activities for your students? 
• Would you like to get your students involved in an authentic research project on local environmental health issues in Toledo? 
• Would you like to increase your students’ knowledge of scientific fields and careers? 

BGSU’s Geology department in conjunction with NWO STEM is proud to offer GP-EXTRA, a FREE place-based science opportunity to all schools in Northwest Ohio. This three-session project focuses on lead contamination in our community and gives students authentic, hands-on opportunities in science. Students learn about lead-based hazards, collect samples from their homes, analyze them, and apply knowledge to real-world applications. 

This is GP-EXTRA’s second year, and we are looking to reach even more students than before! 100% of teachers we worked with last year reported their student's problem-solving skills and critical-thinking skills increased because of this program, and students reported an increase in knowledge, interest, and attitudes towards science! In addition, 100% of teachers surveyed at the end of last year would recommend GP-EXTRA to others! Sample activities, testimonials, and further information can be found on our website.

BGSU Code for Her Mentoring Program

CyberElla Empowering Girls in the Digital World!- Let her explore cybersecurity with CyberElla!

Each girl (5th through 8th grade) will work with the same BGSU student mentor and member of BG Women in Computing student organization.

Registration information:
Dates: January 14, February 4, February 25, March 17, April 7
Cost: $125

http://code4her.org

DriveOhio

DriveOhio Educator Toolkit for the 2023-24 school year – featuring content about electric vehicles, drones, and much more! The Toolkit includes FREE curriculum, professional development, and other resources to support K-12 and Career-Tech STEM education and career outreach programs across Ohio. 

A new DriveOhio Career Connections webinar series to connect Ohio's cutting-edge employers with educators and students is also offered to learn more about new statewide initiatives.

• DriveOhio Career Connections: Automated Vehicles / Wednesday September 27^th @ 12:00pm /  REGISTER HERE

• Back to School with DriveOhio: Curriculum Webinar  / Friday September 29^th @ 11:30am /  REGISTER HERE

Lucas Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)

Lucas SWCD programs are provided on a first come, first served basis free of charge to your classroom! These programs are generally science related, however, Lucas SWCD does offer programs that incorporate math, social studies/civics, and language arts standards.

Program Offering Guides are broken up into two grade levels: Preschool through 5^th Grade and 6^th-12^th Grade. Program descriptions along with estimated time of presentations, can be found throughout these booklets. Presentations are categorized by grade level, however, these are suggestions based on standards for the specific grade level.

Program Guides may be accessed here:

Online: https://www.lucasswcd.org/youtheducation.html

www.lucasswcd.org/education

Please Email Patrick Troyer: ptroyer@co.lucas.oh.us for questions.

Code.org

Free professional learning series: Artificial Intelligence 101 for Teachers

Educators can learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential in education by joining this professional learning series.

INFOhio Resources

Connect to quality resources and services from INFOhio: 

Join the INFOhio Community in Open Space to stay connected with INFOhio and colleagues across the state.

Sign up to get the latest news about INFOhio PD straight in your inbox. 

Print and send a flyer about an INFOhio resource home to parents. 

Use the best links for each INFOhio video, eBook, or article in your Learning Management System.