June 2024

The last session of the NWO four-part STEM Inquiry Series was held in May at BGSU Levis Commons with the theme: Introduction to Computer Science for K-8. This professional development session focused on methods to integrate computer science standards into core subjects and cultivating early computational skills in K-5 students.

The STEM Inquiry Series will continue next academic year, look for announcements to come in this e-newsletter. Click here to download the 2024 STEM Inquiry Series report (pdf).

Over 300 people, including Toledo Public School district leaders, community leaders and McKinley alumni, visited McKinley STEMM Academy's STEAM Expo 100 Year Anniversary Celebration in April.

"Honoring Our Past/Building Our Future" was the theme this year for the school-wide Project Based Learning (PBL) unit. Each grade level chose a decade to create a PBL around the driving question, "How has STEM evolved and changed from then to now?" Over the course of the entire school year, students spoked with experts, collected artifacts and researched and explored the many differences between the past and the present. McKinley STEMM collaborated with many local school partners such as the Imagination Station, The Toledo Museum of Art and Yarder Manufacturing, who offered hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activities to engage students and families.  

In addition to student projects, there were also many McKinley historic artifacts on display.

Christina Ramsey, school principal stated, "Our teachers and students did an outstanding job honoring McKinley's historical past during this event while highlighting the significant contributions made in STEM over the past 100 years and how those advancements have impacted our lives today. Students not only learned about the advancements in technology and scientific research, but they also explored potential STEM careers for the future." 

The mission of McKinley STEMM Academy, a K-8 elementary school in Toledo Public Schools District, is to provide innovative experiences in STEM to cultivate life-long learning and to help students become critical problem solvers in the 21st century. McKinley is designated a STEAM school by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio STEM Learning Network. For more information on McKinley STEMM Academy, please see: https://mckinleystemmacademy.tps.org.

This article is from the BGSU News By Laren Kowalczyk ‘07

Future educators learn design thinking skills to help navigate the challenges of today’s educational landscape

Committed to redefining student success at Bowling Green State University, Life Design continues to build momentum and broaden its impact across the learning community through new partnerships.

Life Design at BGSU and the College of Education and Human Development recently collaborated on an innovative new course to provide future educators with design thinking skills to aid their professional success.

The course, Design Thinking for Inclusive Educators, emphasizes using design thinking methodologies to address the unique challenges students may face in the classroom that extend beyond the scope of being an educator.

“BGSU does an exemplary job preparing our students to be teachers,” said Dr. Emilio Duran, a science education professor in the School of Inclusive Teacher Education and director of the Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education (NWO/COSMOS).

“There are so many intricacies within the teaching profession beyond planning lessons and developing learners. This class explores the complexities of today’s educational landscape and provides pre-service teachers with the tools to overcome those challenges.”

A few examples of topics addressed throughout the course include understanding the effects of teacher burnout, how teachers can help students struggling with mental health issues and responding to trauma-induced incidents and students' subsequent emotions.

Since Life Design launched at BGSU in 2020, it has steadily expanded across the University. Developed by entrepreneurs and brought to education, Life Design leverages design thinking principles to equip students with the tools to navigate challenges and empower them to design their futures.

To align with the experiences of various populations on campus, the Life Design curriculum from the first-year seminar BGSU 1910 has been integrated into numerous courses, including business, criminal justice, leadership and others and into programs like the Honors College and Academic Investment in Mathematics and Sciences (AIMS).

Click here for complete article.

OSLN Professional Development for Ohio Teachers

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. No matter the grade level, OSLN offers programs that can inspire students, connect to relevant standards, and build life-changing skills.

Elementary program: OSLN Computer Science K-5 Program (Grades K-5)

Elementary teachers, learn to enhance math, ELA, and science instruction with computer science. Learn more and apply.

Middle or high school programs: Code.org Computer Science Discoveries (Grades 6-10), Code.org Computer Science Principles (Grades 9-12), and Code.org Computer Science A (Grades 9-12) From broadening participation in middle school to college-level programming, OSLN has brought nationally tested professional learning programs backed by Code.org to hundreds of Ohio teachers. 

Get the support you need to bring computer science education to your school or take students further. Learn more and apply.

Learning Blade

Unlock the Future: Join Learning Blade's Intro to Coding Webinar!
Learning Blade, provided to Ohio students by the Ohio STEM Learning Network, is hosting an "Introduction to Coding" webinar on July 11 at 11:00 a.m. This webinar is designed for educators teaching coding to middle school students and will cover essential coding concepts and curriculum integration. Plus, learn about the new short course this fall on understanding AI and ethical practices!

Event Details:
Date: July 11
Time: 11:00 am
Registration: Register Here (https://edynamiclearning.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZctdemuqDwqHNKLv4M9vzdwQtnMoMrj9M62)

Create a Free Account: LearningBlade.com/OH (Free for Ohio educators!)

Learning Blade® offers interactive online lessons and resources for 5th to 9th graders to explore STEM, CTE, and Computer Science careers. The "Intro to Coding" course includes 20 hours of student learning with robust teacher lesson plans.

Grow STEM in your classroom with the OSLN Teacher Academy

Bring the best in STEM learning to your classroom with the Ohio STEM Learning Network Teacher Academy. This program will take educators deep into STEM best practices.

Over a year-long cohort experience, participants will hone their confidence and ability to build a strong STEM culture and identity, embed design thinking, leverage authentic problem-based learning units, and strengthen community partnerships.  Priority application has closed but educators can apply for the waitlist. Apply here.

Fostering STEM Institute opens for third cohort

Now recruiting for a third 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.

Learn more and apply here.

STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship open to connect teachers to local communities

Rural teachers, join a cohort of teachers building locally-relevant lessons that inspire students and make a difference.

Educators know that learning is at its best when students can find a personal connection to their work. The year-long STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship is open to any rural educator in the state of Ohio. During the year-long STEM Rural Ohio Fellowship, the participants will complete workshops, virtual booster sessions, and collaborative experiences.

Applications close July 1.

INFOhio Online Resources for Educators/Curated Collections

Ohio PreK-12 Open Space

Empowering Ohio educators to create and share resources that promote innovative and collaborative learning.
https://openspace.infohio.org/curated-collections

Lucas Soil and Water Conversation District

"Get Going - Get Out - Go Teach" Teacher Workshop

Help students get their hands on nature! Motivate, inspire, and create young scientists. Explore activities from Project Learning Tree and Project WILD that can be used inside and outside the classroom or with whatever space is available! Participants will also hear from experts in the field on getting a school learning lab started, gain hands on experience with water sampling and data collection, and so much more!

July 16-17, 2024 @ Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio 8am-4pm (Registration 7:45am) ​  
https://www.lucasswcd.org/workshops.html

BGSU Planetarium Summer Offerings

BGSU Planetarium will offer two two-week blocks of public shows at the Planetarium this summer. The first will begin June 13 and the second will begin July 18 and includes both daytime and evening shows on Thursdays and Sundays.

Showtimes are Thursdays 2:00 & 8:30 p.m. and Sundays 4:30 & 8:30 p.m.

Public stargazing on clear evenings after the 8:30 p.m. shows
https://events.bgsu.edu/group/planetarium/calendar