Texas EcosySTEM Newsletter
Education Service Center Region 11 - May 2021
What is STEM?
STEM is not a commodity to be bought, sold, earned, or awarded. It is an awareness, recognition, and acceptance of reality. A symbol of a way forward with confidence and hope!
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Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory Registration
Through a partnership between the Texas Education Agency and Learning Undefeated, the Texas Mobile STEM Lab will be hitting the road again, serving Texas during the 2021-22 school year. The mobile lab provides engaging, hands-on educational experiences for K-8 students and teachers using a custom-outfitted STEM learning space.
On April 12, all Texas public schools that offer classes for grades K-8 were eligible to register for a free visit during the 2021-2022 school year. At least one school district from every educational region will receive a visit each school year.
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Quantum for All! Teacher Opportunity - HS Physics or STEM Teachers
Are you looking for a new topic to challenge and engage your students? How about a little quantum? Quantum for All, an initiative of STEM Experts, has been awarded an NSF grant to teach quantum information science to high school teachers and students. If you are a HS physics or STEM teacher, you may apply for one of the following opportunities. A full description of these opportunities is on the website
https://quantumforall.org/quantum-opportunities/
- Quantum Leader--be part of the leadership team that will be finalizing curriculum connections, developing resources, and leading teacher workshops.
- Workshop Participant--attend the virtual workshop this summer, be eligible to attend the F2F workshop in 2022, teaching peers at host workshops, facilitate student camps, and host a local student camp in 2023. Participants receive stipends, classroom equipment, resources and will be eligible to apply for graduate credit.
In an effort to strengthen the STEM workforce and prepare students for future quantum-related job opportunities, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)1, and national business partners are working together to provide student camps and teacher institutes. Quantum for All is an opportunity for educators and students to broaden their understanding of quantum information systems and quantum mechanics by engaging in activities specifically developed for the HS classroom.
Quantum information science (QIS) offers a unique way of communicating and processing the world around us. This project will provide conferences and camps focused on providing a deeper understanding of cybersecurity, GPS, networks, telecommunications, lasers, and quantum computers. Concepts to be addressed will include principles of quantum information science, i.e., superposition, qubits, entanglement, cryptography, quantum squeezing, and quantum states of atoms. In keeping with research and best practices,
the content will be discovered through a variety of activities specifically designed for the HS classroom. The resources used during the workshops were developed and vetted by physics and quantum experts and are age-appropriate for HS students.
Project Overview: Content emphasis will be quantum information science (QIS) and will be taught using fully integrated STEM lessons. The science components are physics, chemistry, and computer science. Technology includes applications and coding, engineering design is woven throughout the interventions, and math is addressed as it relates to quantum concepts such as probability, vectors, and matrices. The project couples a professional development (PD) model for teachers followed by a student camp.
Important Dates
Summer 2021: Four days (4 hrs/day) of online virtual instruction via lessons which include the basics of quantum, its importance, and resources appropriate for use in the high school classroom. Registration is $50. Participants successfully completing the online sessions will be eligible to purchase graduate credit.
Summer 2022: There will be four face-to-face workshops in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Utah for those who completed the 2021 instruction. These sessions will focus on technology, engineering, and hands-on activities to engage students in learning about QIS. Topics include quantum security, 3D printers, and coding. Following the summer 2022 workshops, teachers will lead student camps at one of the main sites, which provide the opportunity for the teachers to implement what they have learned with respect to QIS. Participants in the 2022 workshops will receive stipends for attending workshops and for assisting with the student camps.
Summer 2023: Educators who have completed the 2021 and 2022 workshops and camps will be eligible to provide student camps in their own districts using grant funding for support.
For more information or to apply for a leadership position or to attend a workshop, please visit our website.
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talkSTEM Summer Fellowship - Middle School Teachers
The talkSTEM If/Then® Educational Fellowship program will engage 15 teachers from June-
November 2021. We are looking for thoughtful, innovative teachers of all genders who care
about equity issues in math, science, STEM, and STEAM education. Middle school teachers in
the DFW area who teach math, science, engineering, STEM, or STEAM classes are invited to
apply.
All 15 selected fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend for their participation. In addition, each
fellow will receive $100 to be used for printing of If/Then posters from their website to be used in the classroom/school with the goal of expanding visual representation of contemporary women in STEM.
Through this fellowship program, we will build a small but impactful community of middle
school teachers who will address the visual representation of women in STEM in the classroom (single-gender and coeducational) and curriculum. The selected fellows will be trained to utilize the If/Then® Collection as part of classroom displays, curriculum, and activities. By engraining the If/Then® assets flexibly into middle school curricula and expertly utilized by educators, the impact can be lasting and life-changing. The Fellows program will also build a vibrant community of middle school teachers who understand and have personally seen the critical importance of visual representation of women in STEM. This program is made possible by the If/Then Initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
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3rd Edition MakerBot 3D Printing in the Classroom Available- FREE
Introducing the latest installment of the MakerBot Educators Guidebook, the 3rd edition of MakerBot’s definitive guide to 3D printing in the classroom — over 150 pages available to you for free!
The popular and easy-to-use guide for 3D printing integrates with projects spanning Robotics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, as well as projects for Art, History, and Music. Plus — take projects even further with an included collection of techniques and tricks developed by educators already working with 3D printing.
Here’s what the book covers:
- How to start 3D Printing in the Classroom
- Breaking down the 3D Printing Process
- Curriculum Project Ideas
- Teachers’ Tricks of the Trade
- So much more!
Download this book for free and see what 3D printing has in store for you.
Feel free to forward this email to colleagues or students getting started with 3D printing in the classroom.
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ARE YOU A DISRUPTIVE, HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR? APPLY TO PROJECT INVENT TODAY!
Project Invent is a national nonprofit organization that empowers high school students to design and invent technologies for social good. By developing design thinking, engineering, and entrepreneurship skills throughout the school year, Project Invent students create impactful inventions like a safety device for individuals with communication disorders or a wearable anti-veering belt for the blind.
Project Invent operates as a teaching fellowship in which teachers receive robust training and curriculum support throughout the course of the school year. Since 2018, Project Invent has worked with over 50 schools across the country, and applications to join their 2021-2022 fellowship are open now! If you are a passionate, disruptive educator, submit your application by May 21st, and start delivering the power of invention to your students!
- Read more about the Project.
- Invent fellowship and submit your application here.
We are a small but mighty organization currently concentrated in high schools on the West Coast. For the 2021-2022 school year, we are hoping to bring the power of invention to new schools and students across the US!
Our program operates as a fellowship, in which high school teachers are trained in the invention process and then bring their new knowledge to their students.
To learn more about Project Invent, please visit their website!
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Summer STEM Trainings
K-12 State-wide STEM Training Opportunities:
- June 22-23, 2021- K-12 State-wide STEM Leadership Training- 2 Days (Administrators Only)
- June 28-30, 2021- K-12 State-wide STEM Teacher Training- 3 Days (Teachers Only) TEA will be providing kits to teachers who attend. Maximum of 40 teachers in 2021 and 40 teachers 2022)
- July 12-13, 2021- STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades K-5 - 2 Days (Books for K-2 and 3-5) Fee for the books
- July 14-15, 2021- STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 9-12 - 2 Days (Book for 9-12) (Books provided by TEA- Limited seating)
- July 19-20, 2021 -STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 6-8 - 2 Days - (Book for 6-8) Fee for the books
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STEM Comics Available in English and Spanish
The TAME Science Squad™ Comic Books are a professionally produced series showcasing the adventures of five TAME students who use their abilities in STEM to save the day. Aimed at grades K-5, older kids will enjoy reading the story and completing puzzles while younger kids color in the fun illustrations.
Available for sale at the cost of $2.50/copy (English or Spanish). See sample pages on our website!
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STEM Club Funding & Toolkits for Texas
Want a free STEM club toolkit and funding? Register for free with the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) to have face masks, t-shirts, curriculum, workbooks, stickers, and more shipped right to your school or home. Toolkits are designed for grades 6-12 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis for TAME Clubs serving Title I campuses and community groups across Texas. Learn more about TAME in this video and register today: TAME.org/club2020.
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What is the Summer Immersion Program (SIP)?
Our 2021 Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a FREE 2-week virtual program for 9-11th grade girls and non-binary students to build a coding portfolio, meet industry employees, and build community with other peers. At Girls Who Code, we are committed to ensuring equity and diversity across all of our programs, which is why over 50% of the students we serve are from historically underrepresented groups.
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Computer Science for All - Free Curriculum Access
In the spirit of providing Computer Science For All across our state, nation, and the world, WeTeach_CS is pleased to announce an offering of scholarships for NO COST ACCESS to our two curriculum packages beginning in the year 2021-22. An application process is now available for teachers to apply for and receive scholarships for these resources. See the links below for more information. Both WeTeach CS For HS and WeTeach AP®CSA are browser-based, Chromebook compatible curricula developed by a team of veteran CS teachers with almost 100 years combined successful computer science teaching experience.
- WeTeach CS For HS is a first-year computer science course that includes instruction in Scratch, Jeroo, and Java.
- WeTeach AP®CSA is a College Board-aligned and endorsed curriculum for students who are going to take the AP® CS A exam. Both courses are now available on Canvas with a variety of online resources to provide a highly effective learning experience. Using a platform combination of Canvas, Vimeo, RISE, Google Forms, and Codio, these dynamic and interactive curriculum packages deliver an engaging, effective and comprehensive experience for both teachers and students.
To learn more about our curriculum-related professional development opportunities, please visit How WeTeach CS for HS and How WeTeachAP®CSA.
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New Texas STEM Toolkit Resource Just Released
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T-STEM Focus Groups
T-STEM Blueprint Revision 2021-2022
Texas Education Agency (TEA) seeks stakeholder feedback to revise the current 2020 Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) and Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) Blueprints.
The Purpose of the focus group is to dig into the strengths and challenges of the design of the T-STEM Blueprint. We will thoroughly discuss the outcomes-based measures that inform progress in Access, Attainment, and Achievement. We will also solicit feedback on the designation and renewal process of the T-STEM guided by TEA and the role of middle schools in building a strong foundation for future success in rigorous college-credit-bearing coursework. The recommendations of each focus group will be balanced against the needs of various stakeholders across the state, and TEA holds decision-making power on the ultimate changes to the T-STEM Blueprint and designation process.
All T-STEM Focus Groups will occur from 10-11:00 a.m. CST.
*Registration is required, and sessions will be capped at 25 participants.
- May 5, 2021
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7505443804827174413
- May 19, 2021
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2734569393418793485
- June 2, 2021
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7015270526048439565
- June 16, 2021
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/272075664061056781
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DISTRIC STEM SHOWCASE
Birdville ISD - TEA Mobile STEM Laboratory Spotlight
Birdville ISD, Region 11
The students of Jack C. Binion Elementary received a visit from the Texas Mobile STEM Lab from March 8th-11th. 446 elementary students boarded the unit and engaged in one-of-a-kind engineering design challenges.
"Binion Elementary is extremely thankful for TEA and the unique opportunity they provided our campus to engage in the TEA Moblie STEM Lab. The hands-on, engaging, real-life activities truly touched the creative possibilities that are embedded in the engineering world. Our Bobcats appreciated the visit and had many positive things to say." Principal David Bartlett
"TXSTEM lab was amazing! In cooperative groups, our students were able to use money, budgeting, science, and engineering design to solve a problem. So many TEKS built into one lab. A win for teacher PD too. The best 45-minute teacher observation I've experienced. Already implemented money and budgeting into my labs. Thank you for this opportunity." Profesora América Rainey M.S. Educational Technology 5th-Grade Math & Science Teacher at Binion Elementary.
Showcase your Campus/District STEM
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Texas EcosySTEM - Region 11
Newsletter Signup: From the dropdown, select TEXAS ECOSYSTEM!
Visit our Site: https://www.esc11.net/STEM
Vision: To provide quality solutions that build the capacity in STEM learning opportunities.
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Texas EcosySTEM Resources
The Texas Education Agency has developed tools to help districts engage with families through STEM Education programming and build awareness throughout the community by expanding learning beyond the classroom.
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TEA STEM Toolkit
Planning Tools:
- STEM Model Identification Guide
- STEM Education Program Planning Guide
- STEM Leadership Roles and Responsibilities
- STEM Sustainability Tool
- STEM Family Companion Guide (NEW 4-13-21)
Implementation Tools:
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Contact Us! Region 11 STEM Lead - Cheryl Bowden
Each Education Service Center will provide free membership for districts to join the local STEM EcosySTEM.
EcosySTEM membership includes:
- Monthly STEM communication, including information from the state and federal level
- Regional STEM goals developed by a local STEM Design Team and aligned to the local STEM labor market data
- Regular STEM ecosySTEM meetings to share local STEM opportunities and address local concerns
- All districts will have access to the free TEA STEM planning and implementation tools as well as family engagement tools.
Email: cbowden@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/Domain/1338
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-7755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esc11science/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @ESC11Science
FS 4-27-21
TD 4-28-21NS 4-30-21