Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources (Online)-- Project Based Learning connection!

@KeystoneAEA #aea1sci @jmartinhiner  @bbaxter @JordanMenning ‏@tjyoungers 

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Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources will be offered online September 4 - December 30, 2018. Participants will build a project-based learning unit for their personal teaching situation, so you can immediately incorporate the course resources and tactics into your teaching. It is offered for 3 license renewal or graduate credits, and also qualifies for credit for the STEM endorsement through Drake University.

This course guides the participant through several resources that utilize a STEM-based approach to explore natural resources including:

Outdoor Observation Skills

Field Investigations

Schoolyard Biodiversity

Project Based Learning Model

Project WILD

Aquatic WILD

For more information, or to register: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/home

Activity #: 22007499991602

Activity Title: Exploring Iowa's Natural Resources (Online)

Target Audience: STEM, Science, Social Studies, Ag. and Natural Resources; Grades K-12

Dates: online September 4 - December 30, 2018

Times: n/a

Location: online

Instructor: Linette Bernard, Barb Gigar

Cost: $305 – Materials, 3 License Renewal Credits; $455 – Materials, 3 Drake Graduate Credits

Registration Deadline: August 31, 2018

Check out Discovery Education's STEM Community's 2018 Reading list!

@KeystoneAEA @jmartinhiner #aea1sci

Celebrate National Reading Month by checking out Discovery Education's STEM Community's Reading list! Featured are books for professional learning in STEM thinking and content focused choices. STEM book connections for young readers are also included.

Learn more at http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2018/03/19/2018-discovery-education-stem-community-reading-lists/

Keystone AEA Makin' STEAM Event: Middle School STEAM Day 2018

@KeystoneAEA @bbaxter @stannerl @jbormann3 @iowa231 @mindyreimer  @uwplattville #KeystoneSTEAMteam

Keystone AEA hosted Middle School STEAM Days March 14th in Dubuque, IA and 15th in Elkader, IA to 200+ students and teachers from local schools. During that time, students participated in activities embedded in the 4C's of learning (creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration) with students from other schools.

The day began with a parachute drop challenge for school teams, then breakout learning sessions:

• Engineering: Use the mechanical engineering design process to build a basic pneumatic system to lift jelly beans.
• 3D Challenge: Use "CoSpaces" to create a 3D world then upload to a VR headset.
• Coding Challenge: Create code and power a project using the Micro:Bits
• Gaming Challenge: Create and build a bigger and better video game with Bloxels

Linked here is the agenda for the day as well as resources and planning tools for presenting a STEAM day in your school.

Check out the sessions in action:
SeeSaw blog-- posts by students during their explorations!

Dubuque

Elkader

The Science Center of Iowa!

@jmartinhiner #KeystoneAEA #aea1SCI
Day at the Science Center of Iowa

Recently, the Science Leadership Team met at the Science Center of Iowa and learned more about offerings available through the Science Center. There are so many options with how to engage with SCI, one, in particular, brings the experience to schools. The Outreach programs offer a variety of opportunities for your school appropriate for grades K-8. Check out their website for more information: http://www.sciowa.org/

• Assembly and classroom programming: http://www.sciowa.org/learn/outreach/programs/
• Pricing info: http://www.sciowa.org/learn/outreach/

----- While at the Science Center, Keystone AEA Science Consultant Jason Martin-Hiner and I visited the current exhibit: Tyrannosaurus: Meet the Family. Visitors are able to experience a variety of exhibits and hands-on activities in order to understand more about the mighty T. rex.

You can also visit the virtual reality room where dinosaurs will "virtually" come right up to you! Jason and I were lucky, the dinosaurs we met were very friendly. A fun day of learning for Keystone's Science/STEAM team!

@jmartin-hiner @KeystoneAEA @iowa231 #aea1sci

Microsoft's Hacking STEM Library is full of resources that make STEM activities fun and affordable! Search for ideas to use in your classroom today! https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/education-workshop/activity-library.aspx

Here is a sample of the videos included in the resources. 

Thanks to Richard Byrne for sharing a great resource! Read more about the Hacking STEM resource on his blog:

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2018/02/free-hands-on-stem-lesson-plans-and.html#.WnkMYZM-f-Y

STEM Scale Up Program Applications Open!

The STEM Scale-up program menu ranges from coding programs to hands-on biotechnology and agriculture projects to STEM career exploration. Here is the link for more information:  https://iowastem.gov/scale-up/2018-19-menu. The application and helpful resources to use during the application writing process are linked here https://iowastem.gov/2018-19-Scale-Up-Application.

Applications close March 5, 2018.