January 2023

Attention 6th-12th Grade Science/STEM Teachers: Would you like to get your students involved in an authentic research project focused on local environmental health issues? 

Consider participating in BGSU’s GP-EXTRA (Geoscience Education through Authentic Research) Project. This three-session program can take place with students right in your classroom facilitated by BGSU scientists. Each session is designed to be one class period and is adaptable/customizable for any length of time (i.e. 50-minute class period, block schedule period, etc.) 

Please see STEM OPPS below for more information!

In 2016, the Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education (NWO) was awarded an Army Educational Outreach Program Strategic Outreach Initiative grant award, titled Research Inquiry through Student Engagement (RISE), one of only several awarded in the country. The Initiative’s aim was to increase participation in underserved and underrepresented populations in STEM research. Working with partner school district, Toledo Public Schools, students discovered the thrill of science by designing and implementing their own original scientific research projects, guided by their teachers.

Participating RISE teachers were instrumental in the success of their student's research accomplishments through exposure to STEM content and careers demonstrating that STEM initiatives play a pivotal role beyond the classroom.

RISE project achievements will be shared at the Science Education Council of Ohio Annual Symposium (SECO) Symposium later this month through a professional development workshop conducted by Dr. Emilio Duran, director of NWO, Jenna Pollock, Education Program Manager, and Susan Stearns, Assistant Director, and Toledo Public Schools teacher Steve Oswanski. SECO attendees will learn how to ignite student interest in inquiry and how to design and implement a research project similar to the RISE model. In addition, participants will learn the importance of students learning about and creating a budget to purchase needed research supplies and equipment for their projects

The Annual Symposium is January 30 and 31, 2023 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio. Science teachers all over the state are encouraged to attend. The Department Science team will present sessions dedicated to promoting discourse through assessment probes and using NGSS aligned resources to teach the Ohio Learning Standards for Science.

Featuring sessions spanning two days; representing all four domains of science, an Exhibit Hall featuring leaders in the STEM industry, and inspiring keynote sessions, the SECO Symposium promises to be the premier professional development opportunity in Ohio with networking opportunities for Ohio science teachers. For more information, please see: https://scienceeducationofohio1.wildapricot.org/event-4742468.

By Sandra Wilder, STEM Relationship Manager for the Ohio STEM Learning Network at Battelle

From the moment I attended my very first conference, I knew that I found one of the best ways to learn and grow professionally. It turned out, however, that there was one thing better than attending a conference. Presenting at one!

I have been attending and presenting at conferences since I was a graduate student. The best sessions I have attended were the ones led by practitioners in my field. Their presentations are full of practical and relevant information, rich with stories from their classrooms, and everyone has a chance to share and learn. As a presenter, I strive to give the same experiences to my audience. The most precious thing that educators give at conferences is gift of their time, and sessions they attend should never waste a moment of it.

Preparing a session proposal, even if it doesn’t result in a presentation at a conference, is an opportunity to grow as an educator. Reflecting on a strategy, resource, or experience, and being able to communicate it in a conference proposal is a skill that is transferred to numerous situations where we, educators, often have limited time and opportunity to advocate for initiatives, funding, or programs to support our students, colleagues, and schools.

The process of designing a conference session starts with a goal for your audience.

• What do you wish they know that you have already learned?
• Why would that knowledge matter to them? How will they grow during your session?

The next step is creating an experience for your audience. The experience you design should invoke feelings and passion for whatever message you are sharing with them.

• What is your message?
• Is it a strategy that worked for your students? Have your audience experience it as a learner!
• Is it a resource that made a difference in your lesson planning? Allow the audience a chance to explore it!
• Is it an instructional approach that reached all learners in your classroom? Have your audience analyze and discuss it!

Once you have the goals and experience defined, you are ready to put pen to paper and write your proposal.

The importance of sharing knowledge and expertise is recognized in the STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric. Educators in STEM and STEAM schools explore and effectively employ innovative and creative instructional approaches. As members of the STEM community, they are encouraged to share their lessons learned with other educators. Conferences focusing on STEM education, such as the OSLN STEM Innovation Summit, are excellent opportunities to do so!

To see more on OSLN please see: https://osln.org/news/

FREE PLACE-BASED SCIENCE/STEM EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

GP-EXTRA seeks to directly involve northwest Ohio area junior high and high school students in determining heavy metals contents of soils they and their families may come into contact with in their daily lives and to inform them on how to minimize their exposure.

Session 1: Hazards of Lead (risks/health issues of contaminated soils) 

Session 2: Lead Around YOU! (students bring in soil samples for analyzing) 

Session 3: “Lead-ing” to Conclusions

*NOTE* If teachers desire additional sessions and guidance with student research project facilitation, this is available upon request.

Click here for more information!

BGSU Planetarium Double Feature

The Sky We Don’t See and Constellations: January through March 3^rd
And Black Holes: March 14^th through April 28^th.
Showtimes are Sunday 7:30pm, Tuesday & Friday 8:00pm, and Saturday 2pm.

For more information: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/physics-and-astronomy/bgsu-planetarium.html

Project IMPACT Winter Virtual Conference

Educators for IMPACT

January 21, 2023
9:00 am – 12:30 pm

All sessions will run through Zoom, Free of cost

The 2023 Project IMPACT Winter Virtual Conference centers on reaching all learners by understanding the needs of the learners and strategies to promote inclusion and equity.  

The conference will feature a keynote address by Mona Al-Hayani of Toledo Public Schools.

The conference is open to pre-service teachers, K-12 teachers and administrators, and college faculty. Project IMPACT is committed to equitably and effectively educating each child through meaningful P20 partnerships focused on facilitating high-quality, relevant professional development that supports and empowers pre-service and in-service educators.

Click here for more information!

Click Here for Registration!

eCYBERMISSION

Make eCYBERMISSION, a virtual STEM competition for grades 6–9, your students’ spring project. Involve your students in exploring a community problem using science or solving it using engineering. They can win U.S. Savings Bonds! January 25: Last Day to Register for eCYBERMISSION

Free Resources at eCYBERMISSION Team Advisor Help Center

Teachers of grades 6–9, need help incorporating the eCYBERMISSION student competition into your classroom this spring? In the Team Advisor Help Center, you’ll find lesson plans and other resources for making eCYBERMISSION an event to remember for you and your students.

Sylvania STEM Center

Winter Spring Team Registration Open

Registration is open for two of most popular programs, FLL Explore (1-3rd grade) and SUMO Bot (3-8th grade). FLL Explore starts January 13th and SUMO starts February 27th.

https://www.sylvaniastem.org/

Girls Who Code

Encourage high school students to become coders this summer with Girls Who Code!

Description: During two free virtual programs, students will learn the computer science skills needed to make an impact, meet inspiring professionals across diverse industries, and tap into lifelong college and career support for students to succeed. All high school girls and non-binary students are welcome to apply!

• In this 2-week Summer Immersion Program for current 9th-11th graders, participants will join live, virtual, supportive classrooms led by industry-leading companies like Metlife, Bank of America, and Accenture. They’ll participate in a brand-new game design course to learn the fundamentals of game design, UX, the iterative design process, and more. Students will build a suite of short games using the p5.js library for JavaScript developed specifically for creative coding. Eligible students can even apply for laptop or hotspot access and grants of up to $300 for financial support!
• In the 6-week Self-Paced Program for current 9th-12th graders, participants will learn to code through independent study and real-world projects. By the end of the program, they’ll earn beginner-level certificates of completion in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript for web development or intermediate-level certificates of completion in Python for Cybersecurity or Data Science.

For more information on our virtual Summer Programs, check out our website or attend a webinar. Eligible students are encouraged to apply and prioritize the enrollment of historically underrepresented students in tech, including students who are Black, Latinx, or are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

For more information: girlswhocode.com/summerapply by February 15th for priority consideration or by March 24th for the general application deadline.

SECO 2023 Symposium

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

The Science Education Council of Ohio’s (SECO) Annual Symposium is January 30 and 31, 2023 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio.  

The Department Science team will present sessions dedicated to promoting discourse through assessment probes and using NGSS aligned resources to teach the Ohio Learning Standards for Science.

Featuring sessions spanning two days; representing all four domains of science, an Exhibit Hall featuring leaders in the STEM industry, and inspiring keynote sessions, the SECO Symposium promises to be the premier professional development opportunity in Ohio with networking opportunities for Buckeye science teachers. 

https://scienceeducationofohio1.wildapricot.org/event-4742468

Discover Engineering Engineers Week (Feb. 19 to 25) and Engineering Day (Feb. 23)

Attend this free and informative webinar and get ideas to use right away!

Wednesday January 18th from 12 to 1pm ET

For more information: https://www.discoverengineering.org/

StartSOLE: Let Learning Happen

An inquiry instructional strategy born from the work of Sugata Mitra’s Hole in the Wall Project is the focus of this virtual learning. In this 50 minute window together explore Self Organized Learning Environments (SOLE). Unlike PBL which takes a lot of time to front load and execute, SOLE is designed to happen in a class period with minimal prep time. It is a great tool to prepare learners and for that matter, teachers, for Problem or Project Based experiences. By the end of this condensed session, attendees will understand Mitra’s research, and be able to walk into class the next day with a SOLE session ready to go!

To register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQl7n9DJ4GQDEgylK4PCHLgQXYD2qSwzSQz9rnwH4J-ieD1w/viewform

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

Date: January 19, 2023
Time: 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Location: BGSU Levis Commons, 1655 N Wilkinson Way, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Cost: Free

Questions: Please contact Natalie Crotte with any questions regarding the NWO STEM Collaborative.

Registration: Please use the button below to register. Contact Lisa Peluso with any questions regarding registration.

Click here to register!