November 2022

As mentoring plays a vital part in a student’s development, NWO at BGSU has developed a formal, robust mentoring model with specific content designed for training mentors in accordance with the goals of Project EDUCATE.

The Project EDUCATE Mentor 2-day Institute consisted of an introduction of a Mentor Toolkit for recruited mentors to learn how to be an effective mentor/role model for students, along with discussion around mentor expectations and commitment, and how to engage mentees on the value of a career in education and teaching for social justice and equity. BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) high school students participated on a panel to share their personal experiences about a classroom situation, both negative and positive, that affected them.

The institute ended with professional development from Dr. Treva Jeffries, Assistant Transformational Leader of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, who presented, “Unpacking the Buzz Words: Developing Literacy around Equity” with discussion and activities on Social Justice, Implicit Bias, Equality, Equity, Culture, Microaggressions, Diversity, Identity, and Culturally Responsive Teaching. The Mentor Institute concluded with focus on building relationships with mentees and planning a schedule for the academic year.

Over 335 students from northwest Ohio middle schools attended the 39th annual Women in STEM program November 1st at Bowling Green State University.

The day began with a keynote presentation from 14-year-old teen inventor Lydia Denton, from Wilson, North Carolina She was featured in The 74’s 16 Under 16: Meet the 74’s 2022 Class of STEM Achievers. Lydia’s personal challenges inspire her creations, and she is on a mission to encourage more girls to become interested in STEM. Lydia has life-threatening allergies and suffers from severe anxiety, which causes her hair and nails to fall out. “So much of her life feels out of her control, but instead of letting these things overwhelm her or define her, she uses them as fuel for inventions,” said her nominator and mother, Covey Denton, K-8 STEM specialty teacher at Sallie B Howard School in Wilson. As just one example, Lydia created what she calls a “Halcyon Bracelet” to help with body-focused repetitive behaviors, which plagued her during the COVID quarantine. The bracelet recognizes recurrent movements associated with anxiety, and delivers a warning signal when it detects the user is about to revert into those actions. She has also invented a “Beat the Heat Car Seat” that can tell when a child has been left in a car, and initiates a call to emergency services for rescue if the temperature in the vehicle becomes dangerously hot.

The teen also works to reduce e-waste, and co-founded Regame Inc., a nonprofit that collects, repairs and redistributes used gaming systems and tablets to keep them from piling up in landfills. She continues to speak to school groups and programs for girls to drum up more female interest and representation in STEM.

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. The event hosted over seventy presenters including BGSU STEM faculty along with others from a wide range of STEM professions offering 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: The Great Lakes and humans in their watersheds are interconnected, Making Music with Code, Transporting Natural Gas, Forensic Science and Careers in Forensics among others.

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!”

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.”

The Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education at BGSU’s College of Education and Human Development (NWO) annually organizes the event. NWO is a partnership with area universities, K-12 schools, and community organizations that have a mission to advance STEM education for people of all ages. Sponsors for the 38th annual Women in STEM program were BGSU, The Anderson’s, Lubrizol, PPG, Columbia Gas and NWO.

Jenna Pollock 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

GP-EXTRA grant leadership partnered with the Environmental Club at Hull Prairie Intermediate school in Perrysburg to test soil samples that students provided from their backyards.

The project provided students with the necessary scientific tools to analyze their own soil samples for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK test). Students also did an elemental analysis looking at the elemental composition of their soil, specifically investigating heavy metals like Lead or Arsen. These authentic research activities were facilitated by Dr. John Farver, BGSU Geology Professor, Lauren Huhn, BGSU Graduate student, and Jenna Pollock, NWO Education Project Manager.

Dr. Farver, BGSU Geology Professor, brought a handheld XRF analyzer which is a portable device that can be used on location for immediate, lab-quality results. He worked with the students to provide analysis results and encouraged them to compare their results with other students by having them share information such as clay-rich soils are high in elements like Aluminum (AI), Potassium (K), or any combination of the two; soils rich in Iron will see high concentrations of Fe (Iron) due to different minerals such as Goethite and Hematite; and some elements in the soil are present form humans adding them sometimes on purpose, other times on accident.

Dr. Farver and Ms. Huhn both commented on how great it was to see students really engaged in 'doing science' and asking valuable authentic research questions. "They were really excited about the project!" Lauren said.

Dr. Farver commented, "it was great seeing students 'doing science' and asking valuable authentic research questions!"

Students concluded that none of their samples contained a harmful amount of Lead or Arsenic values (as expected). Prior to the soil testing, students learned that Lead traces in soils may be more common than one thinks and how this could be detrimental. Science teacher and club advisor Amy Boros commented that "bringing about awareness on this topic is part of the goal of the after-school club which is to address anything of potential environmental concern and discuss possible remedies and action-taking ideas."

Funded through the National Science Foundation, BGSU collaborators include the Geology Department in the College of Arts & Sciences and NWO in the College of Education and Human Development along with several local school districts. The “Geoscience Education through Authentic Research - GP-EXTRA” grant project offers free place-based Science/STEM education opportunities for 6th – 12th-grade students in northwest Ohio.

GP-EXTRA is heading to to Washington Local Schools this week to work with four 7th-grade classrooms to conduct three unique environmental research sessions.

Any junior high/high school teacher and classroom can participate in GP-EXTRA! For more information and correlated Ohio Standards, please check out the website:

https://www.bgsu.edu/nwo/current-grant-projects/GP-EXTRA.html

BGSU Planetarium Fall/Winter Offerings

Visit the Planetarium on the BGSU campus for the following events:

• “The Sun Show” and “Sunstruck” - double feature now through November 12
• “We are Stars” November 13 - 29
• “Secret of the Star” December 2 - 16
• “Sistine Chapel” December 3 & 10
• “The Alien Who Stole Christmas” December 3 & 10

Area school classes and other groups can arrange presentation of planetarium programs between now and early May. More than 100 different additional programs are available for all ages from pre-school through adults. These include full-dome shows, classic multimedia shows, live interactive programs, and workshops. Further information is available in the Teacher’s Guide.

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

Save the date: Ohio STEM Innovation Summit

The Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) will host the inaugural Ohio STEM Innovation Summit on May 12, 2023. Through the event, OSLN will recognize and celebrate the STEM educators, leaders, and partners who exemplify STEM practices that inspire students and grow Ohio’s future. 

The summit will bring a day of professional development breakout sessions conducted by teachers and administrators from across the state. OSLN is working to offer a slate of presentations that will enrich STEM teaching by:

• Celebrating Ohio's dedicated educators
• Highlighting key solutions to the most pressing challenges in STEM education
• Connecting educators to each other and to key supporting organizations and resources

Topics to be covered include: School Culture, Community Partnerships, Innovative Instructional Strategies, STEM Career Awareness, Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM, Computer Science Education.

For more information visit https://osln.org/how-we-help/professional-development/summit/

Ohio STEM Learning Network Design Thinking Workshop

A fantastic opportunity for schools that are planning on adding computer science courses to their course pathways next year. This opportunity comes at a great time given the recent State Committee on Computer Science report and recommendations. 

Code.org is awarding $1 million to schools to help more students access computer science! As part of the 10th Hour of Code, our partners at Code.org will be awarding the $10,000 CS Leaders Prize to one middle school and one high school in Ohio to assist them with implementing a computer science pathway within their district. Deadline to enter submissions is November 21, 2022.

Finally, mark your calendars for the OSLN computer science professional learning program applications opening on November 29, 2022.

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: November 17, 2022

Time:  3:45 pm - 4:45 pm

Location: Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West, 2275 Collingwood Blvd. Toledo, Ohio 43620

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.

Upcoming sessions will be held at BGSU's Levis Commons Campus (Perrysburg) from 3:45 pm - 4:45 on January 19, and March 16.

SESSION 2: Registration November 17

INFOhio

Want to learn more about how to use INFOhio resources in teaching? Want to share these resources with others? Apply now for the INFOhio ICoach train-the-trainer program!

https://www.infohio.org/

See IT to Be IT: Pathways to Computer Science Careers

Calling all K-12 educators, mentors, corporate employers with community mentoring programs, and aspiring computer scientists!

Monday, November 21 @ 2 PM EST

https://stemconnector.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ahc_rl40R1iO8GLeIrT9XA

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM

The Food and Agriculture Service-Learning Program is designed to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. Grant proposals are accepted to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education with K-12 schools; and build community engagement between farms and school systems.

Deadline: December 8, 2022

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/food-agriculture-service-learning-program