STEM Council coordinates more than 70 trainings to impact more than 100,000 Iowa students this year
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - This summer, thousands of Iowa educators are engaged in in-depth STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Scale-Up trainings aimed to equip them for implementing new STEM programs come fall. Through the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, nearly 3,000 Pre-K through 12 educators, both in and out of the classroom, will bring STEM learning to more than 100,000 students across Iowa.
This year, the STEM Council offered 14 STEM Scale-Up programs that include building robots and wind turbines to virtual reality and STEM career awareness. All programs demonstrate an appeal to diverse youth, show success in improving academic performance, provide evidence of integrating STEM concepts, promote the development of school-business-community partnerships and attain sustainability beyond STEM Council financial support.
Each program requires professional development that focuses on the best practices for incorporating the programs into current STEM curriculum. With the help and coordination of the six regional STEM managers, a total of 73 trainings will happen in each region across the state.
Results from the 2013-2014 Iowa STEM evaluation report show more than 90 percent of students who participated in a STEM Scale-Up program reported higher interest in at least one STEM subject or career. Nearly 75 percent of participating teachers report greater skill and confidence in teaching STEM and continue their program after the STEM Council's financial support ends.
STEM Scale-Up training will continue into October. For a full list of upcoming trainings, please visit http://iowastem.gov/sites/
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About the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Established in July 2011 via Governor's Executive Order, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa's educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our State's historic leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities. The 47-member STEM Council is chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Vermeer Corp. CEO and Chair of the Board Mary Andringa. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.
