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Next Leader for Iowa STEM

Alongside Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Co-Chair Diane Young, Iowa Department of Education McKenzie Snow announced Justin Lewis as the STEM Bureau Chief under the Division of Innovation effective March 1. As Bureau Chief, Mr.

Winterset High School Teacher Kacia Cain utilizes STEM Scale-Up Program SoapyCilantro to connect genetics to medical careers.

STEM Scale-Up Programs Provide Career Context

Each year, the STEM Council introduces a new menu of STEM Scale-Up Programs available to educators across Iowa. The Scale-Up Program aims to bring top STEM education opportunities to all learners, inspire young Iowans to pursue STEM career opportunities and increase student achievement in STEM.

Twelve innovative Scale-Up Programs are available for the 2021-2022 academic year. Apply today!

STEM Delivers Fresh, New Scale-Up Menu

Soon after the STEM Council was established in 2011, the idea was fleshed out by a committee for a system that shares some of the nation’s best STEM lessons, labs, kits, software and professional development with PreK-12 students and educators in school, in afterschool programs and in other educational settings, especially targeting those most in need.

Historic Number of Scale-Up Provider Proposals Leads to Fresh, New Menu

The STEM Council created an initiative eight years ago to identify some of the best STEM education lessons, activities, digital tools and other learning experiences available within Iowa and across the globe. The program is called Scale-Up, with the goal to bring top STEM education opportunities to all learners, especially those historically underserved.

Educators are receiving and implementing their Differentiated Math Centers STEM Scale-Up Program.

Adapting STEM for 2020 Limitations

As early snow falls in Iowa, all communities continue to feel the effects of COVID-19. Organizations, businesses and educational institutions are adapting to an environment of social distancing and virtual access.

STEM Scale-Up Program providers share strategies for engagement in virtual learning environments.

Top Tips for Virtual Learning – Part 1: Strategies for Engagement

The immediate shift to virtual learning has impacted nearly every Iowan. Many are still learning how to best navigate the new virtual territory. The STEM Council sought out best practices and advice for virtual learning from our 2020 STEM Scale-Up Program providers.

STEM Scale-Up Program providers share communication best practices for virtual learning.

Top Tips for Virtual Learning - Part 2: Methods of Communication

Communication is often referred to as the key to success and is possibly even more important in a virtual learning environment. Below are some tips and best practices from STEM Scale-Up Program providers* to enhance the communication flow in a virtual settings.

STEM Scale-Up Program Virtual Professional Development Training

Scale-Up Training Pivots Virtual

As educators across Iowa prepare for the upcoming school year, more than 1,000 teachers and informal educators are taking part in professional development training to implement STEM Scale-Up Programs this fall.

Iowa Library for the Blind was a recipient of the STEM Scale-Up Program Pint Size Science

Scale-Up Professional Development Goes Online

Each summer, hundreds of educators across Iowa attend professional development training to prepare for implementation of the STEM Scale-Up Programs during the upcoming school year. This year, training is looking a little different.

PLTW Cybersecurity is one of thirteen world-class STEM Scale-Up Programs being delivered to educators across Iowa.

Top STEM Education Innovations to Scale Across Iowa

The concept was hatched by the STEM Council in its first year: Devise a system by which youth across Iowa, especially those most deserving, enjoy some of the best STEM education kits, curricula, software, games and courses the world has to offer. Scale-Up was born, the most heavily invested program of any conducted by the Council’s network team.

John Glenn Elementary Makerspace made possible through STEM Council Scale-Up Program

Scale-Up Starts a STEM Buzz at School

When John Glenn Elementary fourth grade teacher Jarrett Bertog applied for the STEM Scale-Up Program Making STEM Connections provided by the Science Center of Iowa, he was looking for ways to incorporate hands-on STEM learning into his classroom curriculum. He hadn’t imagined that it would turn into a school-wide makerspace.

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