Workforce & Innovation News

Innovate WithIN Competition Now Open!

Applications for the 2020 Innovate WithIN Competition are now open! Students prepare a business idea and then pitch their venture to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship. Applications are due February 7, 2020. Additional information can be found here .

Digital Learning Day is February 27, 2020! Soon the map will be full of thousands of DLDay events in schools, libraries, across districts and states. If you will be celebrating DLDay on February 27, add your event to the map today to mark your spot. Indiana celebrates Digital Learning Month in February in connection with National Digital Learning Day. See what educators and administrators LOVE about digital learning in the Hoosier state!

Design It Make It Challenge

The Design It Make It Challenge invites teams of K-12 students from around Indiana to solve real-world problems by designing, building, and/or coding a solution to issues identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Additional information can be found here.

Indiana Pacers STEM Fest

The Pacers STEM Fest presented by The Lilly Foundation is on February 1, 2020 at Bankers LIfe Fieldhouse. During STEM Fest, you and your family will have fun discovering STEM through hands-on activities with local Indiana corporations, universities, and non-profit organizations. Get a glimpse into how the Indiana Pacers use STEM in sports. Find more information and register here.

STEM School Certification

The IDOE Workforce and Innovation team has been working with the State’s STEM Leadership Cadre to update the STEM School Certification process, including the STEM School Evaluation Rubric. This work will more closely align the STEM Certification process with the Indiana STEM Six Year Strategic Plan and make the process more rigorous and objective.

Access the 2019-2020 STEM School Certification Guide here and the updated rubric here. A webinar explaining the application process here. Contact Dr. Christy Hilton, STEM Specialist, with questions.

Call for K-12 Science Teachers

The Indiana Department of Education is continuing Phase II of the Science Framework. In cooperation with the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc., we will focus on the Engineering Process Standards. We need your help! If you are a K-12 science teacher interested in sharing your expertise, please register at this this link. You can earn up to six PGP points for participation. The deadline to register is January 31, 2020.

We will work at the Indiana State Museum on the following dates:

K-5: February 25, 2020, 9:30 AM -3:00 PM, EST
6-8: March 2, 2020, 9:30 AM -3:00 PM, EST
9-12: March 3, 2020, 9:30 AM -3:00 PM, EST

Please note that there is a $5 parking fee for the day, however, you will have the opportunity to tour the museum at no additional cost.We will contact you in early February with further details.

Thank you for your willingness to help!

IDOE Computer Science Website

The CS pages on the IDOE website have gotten a facelift! Check them out here: https://www.doe.in.gov/wf-stem/computer-science. Contact Jake Koressel with questions or suggestions!

eLearning Day Implementation Resources

Is your district ready to implement eLearning Days? Check out these newly created resources and assurances to help in determining the readiness of your district to employ eLearning days with fidelity. Contact Jennifer Watson, Senior Digital Learning Specialist, with questions or for additional assistance.

IDOE - Digital Learning Conference Series

Seven redesigned, one-day learning experiences in 2020

High-quality PD for digital teaching and learning

Content from IDOE specialists and Indiana leaders

Just $20 for Indiana teachers and administrators

Save the Date!

June 3 - Lafayette

June 4 - Fishers

June 9 - Hammond

June 11 - New Haven

July 7 - Jasper

July 23 - Scottsburg

August 6 - South Bend

Visit https://www.doe.in.gov/wf-stem/reboot to learn more!

Book Club

We are preparing for our winter/spring book club. Stay tuned for an announcement of the title and start date. If you have a suggestion for a book you would like us to read for the book club, email Meri Carnahan

Digital Learning / Community Advisory Grant Opportunity

The Indiana Department of Education is excited to launch the 2019-2020 Digital Learning/Community Advisory Grant. Funding will be made available on a competitive basis for districts to strategically develop a plan for technology integration into the classroom. Additional information can be found here. Please contact Ben Carter with questions. January 24, 2020 - Grant Application Due

STEM Project-Based Learning Training

We are inviting you to nominate up to two certified staff members to participate in our second cohort of certified Ford NGL STEM PBL trainers. This training begins June 2020 and continues through Summer 2021. Please nominate up to two certified staff members (preferably one elementary and one secondary) using this nomination form by Friday, January 24. Nomination does not guarantee selection. Additional information can be found here.

CodeHS Curriculum and Professional Development

Through funding from IDOE, CodeHS will be offering free professional development for Indiana public and charter high school teachers during the summer of 2020. Opportunities will be available for teachers who are new to computer science, as well as those preparing to teach CS I, CS II, CS III: Cybersecurity, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. To learn more and indicate your interest in participating, click here. For questions, contact Jake Koressel.

Applications Open for Code.org Professional Development Programs

Applications are now open for middle and high school educators interested in participating in professional development related to Code.org Computer Science Discoveries or Code.org Computer Science Principles. For more information and to apply, click here. Contact Jake Koressel with questions..

Girls Who Code Club Affiliation

When applying to start your Girls Who Code Club, you must indicate your affiliation with Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) on the application to ensure you receive community partner funding. If you are unsure if your club is officially affiliated with IDOE, please contact Poonam Gill, Indiana’s Partnership Coordinator at Girls Who Code.

Upcoming webinar - Is Gen Z Workforce Ready? Free Tools to Teach SEL, Employability Skills, Career Exploration, and More

What does it take to equip students with the critical life skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom? EVERFI's digital resources focus on these essential skills, including financial literacy, college and career readiness, social skills, mental wellness, bullying, substance abuse prevention, and more. The free, online lessons are aligned to Indiana's employability skills, SEL, and counseling competencies. In our next eLearning Lab webinar at 4pm eastern on Tuesday, January 21, join EVERFI senior schools manager Kaley Esselborn and local Indiana teachers as they share how they've incorporated the courses into their classrooms and offer best practices for successful implementation. Attendees will be given access to resources they can start using with students immediately, plus ongoing technical and curriculum support. Click here to register for this webinar.

IDOE Department of Workforce and Innovation recipients of the 2020 STEM Acceleration Grant!

Cohort 3

Anderson Preparatory Academy

Avon Community School Corporation

Brownstown Central Community School Corporation

Christel House Academy

Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County

Culver Community Schools Corporation

Delaware Community School Corporation

East Noble School Corporation

Edinburgh Community School Corporation

Greater Clark County Schools

Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation

Greensburg Community School Corporation

Indiana Math and Science Academy West

Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation

Jennings County School Corporation

Matchbook Learning Schools of Indiana

Mitchell Community School

MSD of Mount Vernon

MSD of North Posey County

MSD of Pike Township

North Harrison Community Schools

Northeast School Corporation

Plainfield Community School Corporation

Salem Community Schools

South Dearborn Community School Corporation

South Vermillion Community School Corporation

Southwest Dubois County School Corporation

Tri-County School Corporation

Victory College Prep Academy

Warsaw Community Schools

Washington Community Schools

Wawasee Community School Corporation

Whitko Community School Corporation

Yorktown Community School

Cohort 4

Randolph Eastern School Corporation

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

South Central Community School Corporation

Barr-Reeve Community Schools

MSD of Lawrence Township

LaPorte Community School Corporation

Lafayette School Corporation

Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation

Milan Community School Corporation

Maconaquah School Corporation

South Bend Community School Corp

South Ripley Community Schools

Irvington Community School

North Daviess Com Schools

School City of Hammond

West Clark Community Schools

Indianapolis STEAM Academy

Covington Community School Corporation

Gary Community School Corp

Liberty-Perry Community Schools

Monroe County Community School Corporation

Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools

Crawford County Community School Corporation

IDOE Workforce and Innovation Team

Benjamin Carter

Director of Workforce and Innovation

bcarter1@doe.in.gov

Jake Koressel

Computer Science Specialist

jkoressel@doe.in.gov

Christy Hilton, Phd

STEM Specialist

chilton@doe.in.gov

Jennifer Watson

Senior Digital Learning Specialist

jwatson3@doe.in.gov

Meri Carnahan

Learning Resources Specialist

carnahan@doe.in.gov

Elizabeth Sutton

Project Coordinator

esutton1@doe.in.gov

115 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204-1905 jwatson3@doe.in.gov doe.in.gov/wf-stem