Texas EcosySTEM Newsletter
Education Service Center Region 11 - April 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.
Beginning April 12, all Texas public schools that offer classes for grades K-8 are 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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Summer STEM Trainings- Dates Set
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 summer 2021 and 40 teachers summer 2022)
- July 13-14, 2012- STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades K-5 - 2 Days (Books for K-2 and 3-5) Fee for the books
- July 21-22, 2021- STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 6-8 - 2 Days (Books for 6-8) Fee for the books
- July 19-20, 2021 -STEMulating Design Challenges in Science, Grades 9-12 - 2 Days (Books provided by TEA) Limited seating
District Admin, Campus, Teacher Opportunities
Coolest Projects Online 2021
WHAT: Online Technology Showcase for Young People
WHO: Any student up to the age of 18
DEADLINE: May 3, 2021
COST: Free
Coolest Projects online is the world's leading technology showcase for young people. If you enjoy making things with technology, Coolest Projects online is an amazing opportunity to get creative, have fun, and celebrate what you have made.
Your creation will be showcased in the Coolest Projects online gallery for people worldwide to see! Coolest Projects online is free, it is open to anyone up to the age of 18, and you can join in wherever you are in the world.
Coolest Projects is an initiative run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and we welcome projects of all levels and stages. The project does not have to be finished!
It's easy to take part! Whether your project is in progress, a prototype, or completely finished, you can join in! Register your idea, then turn it into a reality and share it with the world!
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2021 COMPUTING EDUCATOR DIVERSITY INITIATIVE (CEDI) APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
Deadline: May 9, 2021
One of the most effective ways to help students build a CS identity is to give them role models with whom they can identify. The National Science Foundation has identified the following groups as historically underrepresented in computer science: women, persons with disabilities, Blacks, and African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The CEDI project will recruit educators who identify with these student populations to become certified high school computer science teachers and thus serve as role models for the students who have been historically excluded from the computing profession.
The Computing Educator Diversity Initiative (CEDI) consists of in-service Texas-certified teachers who will work within a community of practice as they deepen together their CS content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and equitable strategies and are supported to obtain their high school CS teacher certification.
Upon successful completion of the program, each participant will receive a stipend of $1,200. Additional information and a link to apply can be found here. Applications close May 9, 2021.
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BOOTSTRAP: ALGEBRA SUMMER CAMP WORKSHOP
Deadline: May 3
Bootstrap Algebra teaches students to program their own video games in an algebraic programming language, exposing them to key math concepts. Middle and high school teachers around the country have implemented the curriculum in many different, flexible ways. The Bootstrap: Algebra Summer Camp Workshop helps prepare teachers to integrate the Bootstrap Algebra curriculum into their summer bridge camps as well as existing math, technology applications, and computer science classes.
Registration closes May 3rd. A $500 stipend and scholarships are available! Learn more here.
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Tarlton State Unveils New STEM Masters Program
Tarleton State University is offering a 30-hour online M. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction with a STEM Education emphasis. This program is designed for students to learn the history, pedagogy, curricular creation/implementation, and equity issues surrounding STEM education. There are three options for starting the program: Standard Summer Start (20 months), Fast Fall Start (17 months), and Slow Spring Start (24 months). Educators that have already earned a masters can take only the STEM courses and receive a STEM certificate. The program is affordable and does not require a thesis. Info sessions will be held on May 3rd & May 5th.
https://tarleton.zoom.us/my/stemtsu
MeetingID:589 722 9656
Contact:
Erin Pearce, Ph. D.
Advisor-STEM Education
C&I Graduate Program Coordinator
817-717-3329
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Brite Program 2021
Brite is an online, interdisciplinary STEM program built for girls ages 13-16. The Brite Pilot was offered in the summer of 2020. Brite 2021 will be held on July 12-22, 2021, and will provide an online suite of activities centered on collaborative learning with female role models. Brite 2021 will consist of two courses: Art x Science, featuring role models and activities at the intersection of art and science, and Dream Big, Take Risks, featuring role models and activities that introduce girls to audacious careers in STEM. Informal STEM education programs serving girls are invited to apply.
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IF/THEN Spotlight
Meet astrophysicist Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil, who discovered an extremely rare galaxy while earning her Ph.D. Commonly referred to as “Burçin’s Galaxy,” its unique circular structure cannot be explained, challenging our theories and assumptions about how the Universe works.
About facing obstacles during her education and early career, Burçin says: “In each of these challenges, I reminded myself that I do not want to blend in, I want to stand out as stars do, so I fought against all these stereotypes and worked hard to live beyond the labels. Being an ‘outlier’ in society also affected my research and compelled me to find the most ‘outlier’ objects in the Universe because the information from one unique object can be much more valuable than those from ordinary objects.”
Find Burçin’s photos, videos, and more in the Collection, and be sure to follow her Instagram and Twitter accounts for updates on her activities.
The IF/THEN® Collection includes thousands of images, videos, posters, and materials available for FREE to educators across the U.S. to use in classrooms, social media, camps, museum exhibits, and more.
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2021 National Math Festival
Online Dates: April 16-18, 2021
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National Summit for Educational Equity: Advocates for Equity
Online Dates: April 26-29, 2021
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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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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.
TEA STEM Toolkit
Planning Tools:
- STEM Model Identification Guide
- STEM Education Program Planning Guide
- STEM Leadership Roles and Responsibilities
- STEM Sustainability Tool
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