Welcome!
- Dana Atwood-Blaine - Jacobson Elementary STEM Fellow, UNI
- President Mark Nook, UNI
Keynote Address: STEM Education with Equity, Okhee Lee, PhD
Professor; Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University
STEM Education with Equity: The purpose of the presentation is to capitalize on new advances in STEM disciplines that can support justice-centered decision-making and solutions to societally pressing phenomena and challenges. COVID-19 offers an unprecedented context to engage all students in societally relevant problems and design solutions to address systemic racism endemic in our society. The presentation highlights the role of STEM education to bring STEM disciplines and social justice together in creating “a new normal” for STEM education with equity. This approach responds to the new administration’s priorities that place science (COVID-19, climate, and health care) and justice (racial equity and immigration) at the core.
Break/Networking
Follow up Discussion to Dr. Lee’s Talk: Equity in STEM
Secondary STEM Example from the Field
Moderator: Mark McDermott, University of Iowa
Reagan Boeset, Clear Creek Amana MS STEM
Reagan Boeset teaches Middle School STEM at Clear Creek-Amana Middle School in Tiffin, IA. Reagan will discuss strategies for getting students to dive into the engineering and design process and helping students break down the fear of failure as they develop a mentality that there is not one “right answer”. In the presentation, she will highlight student work from her own classes and provide videos of her students engaged in STEM tasks.
Elementary STEM Example from the Field
Moderator: Chepina Rumsey, UNI
Dustin Rewerts, 5th Grade Teacher, Denver Elementary
Fifth graders at Denver design and construct a path on the floor given a set of constraints. They then use their coding skills to navigate Spheros through the path that they have created and eventually through each of their classmates' paths. Students will share the process and challenges they faced along the way. We will also look at other activities we have done in the past to incorporate Spheros into our curriculum.
Early Childhood STEM Example from the Field
Moderator: Beth VanMeeteren, UNI
- Vonna Watson, 1st grade, North Tama CSD
- Anne Turner, Kindergarten, North Tama CSD
- Brenda Kaufman, 2nd grade, North Tama CSD
A Maker Space in Every Classroom: Integrative STEM and Literacy. Hear from early elementary teachers who have redesigned their classrooms to embrace integrative STEM and literacy that gives young learners access to STEM learning every day. Listen to them describe how they consider the physical configuration of the classroom, the socio-moral atmosphere, the intellectual environment, and what is promoted on their walls and shelving.
Break/Video Expo #1
Fractal Card Activity Introduction
Marcy Seavey, STEM Coordinator, UNI
Iowa STEM Teacher Award Panel
Moderator: Jeff Beneke, NE Iowa Regional STEM Hub
- Sheryl Kennedy, Comanche Elementary School
- Kenton Swartley, Cedar Falls Schools
- Ann Arnold, Dubuque Alternative Learning Center
- Stacey Snyder, Orange Elementary, Waterloo CSD
Hear from teachers who have received the STEM Teaching Award from the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Introduction: Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
Dr. Jeff Weld, Executive Director
Iowa STEM Council Program Opportunities
Moderator: Jeff Beneke, NE Iowa Regional STEM Hub
- Sheila Miller, Cedar Valley Catholic Middle School
- Nathan Van Zante, Lewis Central Middle School
Break/Video Expo #2
K-6: Hands-on STEM Activity
Presenters: Chepina Rumsey & Dana Atwood-Blaine, UNI
This activity about the survival adaptations of cicadas brings together science and math, especially, but also provides opportunities for integrating ELA, geography, computer science, engineering, art, and/or music.
Inside Scoop from Secondary Administrators
Moderator: Sue Burrack, Upper Iowa University
- Sharon Whitson, Principal - IKM-Manning Middle School
- Tim Felderman, Principal - West Delaware High School, Manchester, IA
- Elli Wiemers, Principal - Spencer High School, Spencer, IA
What are administrators looking for when they hire teachers for their STEM programs? What kinds of STEM resources and programs do Iowa schools have to offer their teachers and students? Find out from this engaging panel of high school principals!
K-12 Computer Science in STEM
Moderator: Wren Hoffman, Iowa Department of Education
- Chris Kyhl, Osage High School
- Joanna Seymour, Dike High School
- Lindsey Salinas, Darling Elementary, Postville
- Ned Menke, Perry Elementary School
Iowa has recently adopted K-12 Computer Science Standards and has awarded “Computer Science is Elementary” grants to 12 Iowa elementary schools. How are Iowa teachers integrating CS into their K-12 curricula? Find out here!
Fractal Card Activity Review
Marcy Seavey, STEM Coordinator, UNI
Break/Networking
Breakout Room Themes:
- Job Search Discussion
- Cicada Activity Discussion
- Computer Science Discussion
- Chat Room (no theme)
Live: On Location Field Trip Sessions
The metal casting virtual tour will show how the manufacturing community makes a casting from design to a final product. Initially, casting simulations will be shown to demonstrate how computer technology is applied in the manufacturing community for design and process verification. Using the example of the Iowa Physics medallions, the castings poured during the virtual tour will be molds produced by the additive mold manufacturing process and will conclude with some finishing techniques commonly used in industry.
Join Stephanie Witte, Botanical Center & Preserves Manager, on a tour of the UNI Botanical Center. Learn how the center contributes to courses and research on campus as a source of plant material for use in labs and as a field trip destination. Education Professor, Dana Atwood-Blaine will take over in the tropical room and share how situated mobile gaming can be used for classroom field trips and designed by school-aged students.
Ioponics, educational aquaponics, is an excellent hands-on opportunity to bring natural phenomena and biophilia into the STEAM curriculum. The program consists of an interactive classroom micro-system (fish and plants) for students of all ages with NGSS and AFNR lessons to support cross-curricular activities/ experiences. The units shown range from 1 gallon to 250 gallons with several varieties of organisms. The Ioponics research crew will give a run-down of systems and how they are used in PK-12 classrooms.
"Whose classroom is this?" By making slight changes to what is posted on classroom walls educators can build students' ownership and investment in the space and their own learning (and save money). Explore this classroom with Center Director, Dr. Beth VanMeeteren, and learn which you could bring into your future classes. There will be time for a question or two after each segment of the tour.
Lunch Break/Networking
Open Chat Breakout Room
Track 1
7-12 Hands-on STEM Activity: NOVA Labs and Iowa Science Phenomenon
Moderator:
Presenter: Tiffany Morgan, Iowa PBS
This session will provide an overview of PBS NOVA Labs and Iowa Science Phenomena. NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages learners in simulations and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. From predicting solar storms and constructing renewable energy systems to tracking cloud movement and designing RNA molecules, learners can conduct investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and sharing the same data that scientists use. Iowa Science Phenomena encourages collaboration with Iowa organizations and educators to curate and share a growing collection of Iowa-specific phenomena, particularly those that represent locally-relevant or unique concepts.
Track 2
Inside Scoop from Elementary Administrators
Moderator: Sue Burrack, Upper Iowa University
- Nick Trenkamp, Principal/Superintendent - Central Community Schools, Elkader, IA
- Jennifer Hartman - Director of Elementary Education, Waterloo, IA
What sorts of STEM are administrators looking for when they hire teachers for their elementary schools? What kinds of STEM resources and programs do Iowa schools have to offer their teachers and students? Find out from this engaging panel of elementary administrators!
Track 3
English Language Learners (ELL) in STEM Panel
Moderator: Mason Kuhn, UNI
King-Chavez Academy of Excellence, San Diego, CA:
- Nicolette Dennis, 3rd Grade
- Ayla Tomlin, 4th/5th
- Jerome Lee, Middle School
The three teachers in this breakout all teach in the King-Chavez Community of Schools in San Diego, California. Over the last two years Dr. Kuhn has worked with the teachers to develop the Argument-based Strategies for STEM Infused Science Teaching Approach (ASSIST) which is a student-centered approach to teaching science that focuses on students generating claims and backing them with evidence. The majority of their students are English Language Learners (ELL) and they will share strategies they use to help their students succeed.
Break/Video Expo #3
STEM SHOWDOWN!
Game Host: Dana Atwood-Blaine, UNI
Have fun and win prizes during this end-of-conference game!
Closing Keynote Address
Moderator: Doreen Hayek, UNI
Barb Schwamman, Superintendent, Osage CSD
Computer Science Education, Why YOU matter! Learn why all teachers need to be teaching Computer Science as the skills of problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking and perseverance are critical to today's education and workforce. See how one small school district empowered and trained all teachers to integrate and embed Computer Science across all curriculum areas while creating a pathway for all who want to follow a passion in this field.
Faculty Forum--ALL Faculty are Welcome!
“Using NSTA as a Digital Textbook” - Flavio Mendez
Conference Debriefing and Discussion