#HoosierSTEM

One of my favorite movie scenes is from You've Got Mail, when Tom Hanks emails Meg Ryan telling her he would send her bouquets of sharpened pencils. Sharpened pencils are always synonymous with back to school. Though it is not yet officially fall, school is in session again!

There are so many facets of the teaching day to think about, whether you are in-person, virtual, or both. The end of last school year was unlike any other, and this school year is presenting new challenges.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the NSTA Back to School webinar. During this, many resources were shared. Phenomenal GRC Lessons Google site, was very beneficial. There are elementary, middle, and high school lessons! Though they are not specifically for virtual learning, many have Google Slides and video clips embedded already.

Email: sdick@doe.in.gov
Twitter: @ShannonINov8s

Need fresh ideas? Not sure where to start? Join us! We will present a webinar in support of teachers and their utilization of digital learning, whether remote, in the classroom, or hybrid. You will find a list of the upcoming webinars and links to the slidedecks and recorded webinars here.

In 2015, 12 schools across the state were the first to become STEM School Certified. Certifications are valid for five years. Washington STEM Academy in Warsaw was the first school to re-certify as a STEM Certified School. Click here to learn more about the STEM initiatives at their school.

All Indiana teachers work hard. Submit your amazing class activities, school STEM events, or nominate a colleague doing great STEM work. Each month will feature one Hoosier teacher, class, or school. Submit nominations here for future issues of #HoosierSTEM.

Indiana Science and Computer Science standards can be found here.

The Science Frameworks are located here and provide many live resources for Looking Ahead, Looking Back, and Cross Cutting Concepts and have been updated. Please take a look at these valuable resources.

Vocabulary Instruction

In order for students to improve their reading comprehension of science content, they have to be able to learn and apply new vocabulary skills. Simply giving the words and definitions will not create understanding. In my elementary classroom, I used 4-square Vocabulary (photo 1). Students can be given a blank space or create their own in a notebook. Students are given the vocabulary, then look up the definition, draw a picture to help make meaning, then check for understanding by using the word in a sentence.

Another idea, Word Drawings (photo 2), comes from The Science Penguin blog. Using this method, students make meaning of the vocabulary by creating artistic representations of the meanings after finding the definitions.

Check back each month for strategies to support literacy instruction in the STEM classroom.

STEM School Certification is a rigorous process. To help schools understand the rubric, #HoosierSTEM will highlight a domain of the rubric each month. Each applicant school's Google site is a showcase for the STEM work done to prepare to be a STEM Certified School and the successes experienced.

This month and next month will focus on Domain 1: Culture. There are ten elements in this domain.

Culture in STEM is defined as the way teachers and other staff members work together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share.

Elements:

1.1 Decision-Making: This element is an essential element requiring a score of 3 to become certified. In this element, it is important to clearly document all stakeholders involved and the percentage of teachers engaged in the program. Examples include meeting minutes documenting input from teachers and staff survey results.

1.2 Continuity of Learning: In the spring, all schools were required to turn in Continuous Learning Plans (CLP). These plans should be updated as changes are made and should be included in the submission. Additionally, applicant schools should also have a plan for integrating STEM into remote learning plans. Examples include highlights of CLP focusing on STEM remote learning.

1.3 Common Work Time: This is also an essential element. Evidence should clearly demonstrate a common time for teachers to plan interdisciplinary lessons and include examples of lessons and meeting minutes reflecting this.

1.4 Sustainability: A clear plan for all five years of STEM Certification should include plans for technology, curriculum and training.

1.5 Measurement of Students' Attitudes/Interest: In this element, include surveys given, frequency given. Also include the results of these surveys and how they were used to drive your STEM program.

Purdue University will be offering virtual courses for students Grade 7-12 to introduce and explore concepts related to astronomy and/or astrophysics. Click here to learn more and share with your students.

Purdue University is taking their Science (and AP) Fridays for Middle and High School students into the virtual world this fall. They have expanded their course offerings. Courses will include a video, virtual lab, handouts, and more!

Elementary students (K-5) can earn a Purdue STEM Kids Degree. This program starts September 1 and will include videos and activities for individual students or classes. Complete ten codes to earn a degree!

Lastly, Superheroes of Science episodes will air on YouTube on Mondays for middle and high school students. There will also be mini-professional development videos for teachers on Thursdays.

For more information, click here.

TechPoint Foundation for Youth's (TPF4Y) 2020-21 Robotics Start-up grant is now open! We want to help launch a robotics team at every school in Indiana.

Click here to see robotics in action and why it is important for your students!

The grant covers the cost of all of the start-up resources needed to launch a VEX robotics team! Schools e-learning and unable to have in-person practices are still encouraged to apply for the grant. If your elementary school, middle school, or high school does not have a VEX team, then you are eligible to apply! No prior robot knowledge is necessary, this grant will provide educators with everything needed to get started!

Click here to learn more and apply!

NEW! VEX Robotics has added VEX123 for Pre-K - Grade 2! Check it out here.

IDOE has created a Re-entry Resources page for educators and families. In addition to this, the Teaching and Learning Team would like to know how we can best support your instructional needs during this time.

Survey of needs

Email: sdick@doe.in.gov
Website: https://www.doe.in.gov/wf-stem/indiana-stem-education-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics
Phone: 317-232-0807
Twitter: @ShannonINov8s

Email: jkoressel@doe.in.gov
Website: https://www.smore.com/app/reporting/out/xc5z7?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doe.in.gov%2Fwf-stem%2Fcomputer-science&t=doe.in.gov/wf-stem/computer-science&w=w-6940239105&i=&l=
Phone: 317-234-6702
Twitter: @Indiana_CS