Save the Date for the 2nd Biennial Joint Conference of SciMathMN and Ignite Afterschool held at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Center, from November 29-30.
Registration & Request for Session Proposals opens later this Summer.
2016 STEM Day at the Fair gets great weather, large crowds
The 2016 STEM Day at the Minnesota State Fair, the 7th annual event, was a rousing success for exhibitors, stage performers, children and families. Over 30 exhibitors showed everything including computer coding, robotics, electrcity experiments, rocketry, space exploration and other activities for the over 12,000 fair-goers who came through Carousel Park. Performers from the Seattle Museum of Flight, the University of Minnesota Raptor Center and Physics Force, and the best of the Science Museum of Minnesota were entertaining and engaging. Sponsors, including 3M, Boston Scientific, Orbital ATK, 360 Center for Manufacturing Excellence, Seagate, HB Fuller, and MTS helped attendees see the connection between hands on acitivites and later career opportunities.
A highlight was the presentation by MN.IT Commissioner Tom Baden of Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s proclamation marking Thursday, August 25th as STEM Day at the Fair in Minnesota. Additionally Commissioner Baden highlighted 4H students working on STEM related projects on the Carousel Park stage.
Parents were able to pick up materials developed by SciMathMN on how to engage their child in STEM education, a timely handout for the start of the school year.
Annual STEM Day at the Fair
The 7th annual STEM Day at the Minnesota State Fair was on opening day of the Fair, Thursday, August 25, 2016. Over 35 STEM education providers took over Carousel Park and engaged thousands of children, parents, and grandparents with hands-on STEM activities and presentations. As one huge highlight, Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith proclaimed the day as STEM Day at the Minnesota State Fair!
Powering STEM Learning with Computational Thinking conference a standing room only success
Keynote speaker Sarah Reeves-Young, STEM Liaison for the Utah State Office of Education and STEM Action Center, set an exciting tone for the 7th annual Minnesota STEM Network conference April 5th. Young shared her perspective on computer science for all based on her background as K12 Science Specialist with the Utah State Office of Education.
Ms. Young shared her experience leading Utah’s Computer Science For All initiative, which has included state partnerships with Code.org and Utah industries to train and retain teachers to teach computer science. She emphasized an equity focused approach to computer science assuring that when we say “computer science for all” we mean all and plan it into our efforts from the beginning. You can find her presentation How #CSforAll Becomes #CSforMyStudents by following the link.
Thanks to our presenting partners:
STEM Day 2016 set for Thursday, August 25, 2016
The 2016 STEM Day at the State Fair will take place on opening day, Thursday, August 25, 2016. The planning for STEM Day will begin in March, with opportunity to apply to be an exhibitor in April.
6th Annual STEM Day at the State Fair a Success
The Minnesota STEM Network hosted the 6th annual STEM Day at the State Fair on Thursday, August 27th.
Carousel Park was filled with activity, families, and children exploring hands on STEM opportunities. The event app, stemdaymn.org, allows parents to connect to exhibitors and performers year round and access STEM opportunities in their community.
Thanks to our committee, exhibitors, and sponsors for the time, effort and investment in STEM Day. Planning is already started for STEM Day 2016!
STEM Day opportunities included hands-on offerings as well as stage shows that both educate and entertain.
We thank our sponsors:
Powering Learning.
Expanding Possibilities.
A Joint Conference of the Minnesota STEM Network and Ignite Afterschool
April 14 – 15, 2015
Continuing Education and Conference Center
St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota
Full conference session details
For the 2015 conference, the Minnesota STEM Network is partnering with Ignite Afterschool network to feature Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in afterschool and the development of 21st Century skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communications. This two-day conference brings together these networks to ensure every Minnesota young person has access to high quality STEM Education and opportunities to build 21st century skills in afterschool. Attendees will share high quality practices, build partnerships, and advance policy to increase student engagement in and outside of the school day.
Conference Themes for Sessions & Workshops:
- Systems Building and Partnerships
- Integrating 21st Century Skills and STEM
- Sharing Your Stories & Successes: Date, Evaluation, and Messaging
Keynote Presentations:
Tuesday, April 14
Lisa Regalla, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Maker Education Initiative
Keynote: Nurturing Young Makers
Dr. Lisa Regalla is the Deputy Director at Maker Education Initiative. In her previous role as the National Program Director, she led Maker Corps, a program that builds the capacity of youth-serving organizations to engage youth and families in making, and Maker VISTA, an AmeriCorps initiative that builds thriving Maker Hubs within high poverty communities. Prior to Maker Ed, Lisa worked at Twin Cities Public Television where she was responsible for the educational content presented on television, in person, in print, and on the web as part of the Emmy-Award winning series, SciGirls and DragonflyTV: Nano. Lisa received both a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Theater from Lehigh University before earning her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida.
Wednesday, April 15
Martin Storksdieck, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning, Oregon State University
Keynote: STEM Learning Is Everywhere: Reflections on a Radical Learner-Centric Approach
Prior to joining Oregon State University in June of 2014, Martin directed the Board on Science Education at the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. There he oversaw studies that addressed a wide range of issues related to science education and science learning, from informal learning to reforms in K-16, and provided evidence-based advice to decision-makers in policy, academia and educational practice. Martin works in the intersection of research, practice and policy. He has previously worked for education and policy non-profits in Germany and the United States. He holds Master’s degrees in biology and public policy, and a Ph.D. in education.
These Keynote Speakers are made possible by the Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, NCLB, Title IV, Part B, CFDA 84.287C, administered through the Minnesota Department of Education.
We thank our sponsors:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSOR
Exhibitors and Sponsors: Please contact Matthew.Ramirez@state.mn.us for more information.
Families Inspired at STEM DAY at the Fair
Thousands of families streamed through STEM Day at the Fair to watch engaging stage shows and participate in nearly 30 hands-on, family-friendly exhibits.
Since the MN STEM Network started this initiative in 2010 tens of thousands of fair-goers have taken part of STEM Day at the Fair. Participants have learned that STEM education prepares students with problem-solving and analytical skills that serve the STEM workforce but also a much broader set of disciplines.
Keep up to date on the latest STEM Day at the Fair news here and on our Facebook page and see photos from the big event here.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Platinum:
Gold:
Silver:
Over 160 Attend 5th Annual STEM Network Conference
“Closing the Achievement Gaps: Why STEM? Why Now?”
Tuesday, April 15th
The 5th annual conference of the Minnesota STEM Network, sponsored by SciMathMN and Boston Scientific, occurred on April 15, 2014 with over 160 attendees. The conference featured sessions on exemplary STEM teaching and learning and cross-sector collaborations; Cindy Moss as our keynote speaker; networking time; and a forum on current topics in STEM education and workforce development. View Cindy’s presentation here.
Below are videos from two breakout sessions.
STEM Pathways
Presenters: Kim Van Wie, STARBASE MN; Doug Paulson, MN Dept. of Education; Joe Alfano, Minneapolis Public Schools; Steve Walvig, The Bakken Museum; Beth Murphy, STEM Pathways
STEM Pathways, Part 2
3M TWIST Program: Enhancing Teacher Understanding of STEM Careers
Presenter: Alison Heebsh, 3M
3M TWIST Program, Part 2
C3P0 – Customizable Computer Coaches for Physics Online
Presenter: Leon Hsu
SciMathMN again thanks Boston Scientific for its ongoing support for the MN STEM Network conference.
Minnesota STEM Network Overview
The Minnesota STEM Network engages practitioners, employers, funders, and advocates of STEM from all sectors in order to create a systems perspective for improving STEM education and workforce development. We are challenged to engage students in STEM from preschool through post-secondary education and employment over a span of about 15 years or more. Many adults work to transition into a STEM career and parents play a critical role in supporting their students toward STEM.
The Minnesota STEM Network:
- increases engagement in education
- builds community among stakeholders
- promotes STEM
- shares practices and resources and
- improves communications
By bringing STEM stakeholders together in regional networks, we can address this complex challenge by defining needs, addressing issues, and communicating more effectively to students, parents, and community members
New Noyce Foundation Report: How Cross-Sector Collaboration is Advancing STEM Learning
Fourth Annual STEM Network Conference Expanded to Include 35 Breakout Sessions and Live Webcast
The fourth annual Minnesota STEM Network conference featured a keynote by Linda Rosen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Change the Equation. Change the Equation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, CEO-led initiative that is mobilizing the business community to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning in the United States. Dr. Rosen presented a rich overview of Minnesota’s standing among states’ STEM education progress and standards.
The annual conference also presented 35 breakout sessions featuring exemplary STEM programming or collaborations in Minnesota. Presenters gave a 20-minute introduction to an evidence-based quality STEM program or collaboration addressing one of the five goals of the Network and then addressed questions. Discussions focused on program growth and applicability in other settings. Informal networking and more structured speed networking were also features of this conference that drew 165 attendees from all sectors of STEM stakeholders.
There were many great breakout sessions happening simultaneously at the conference. Please take advantage of these archived sessions to learn more about exemplary STEM programs and collaborations across Minnesota.
The opening session can be found online.
SciMathMN greatly appreciates that this annual conference was co-sponsored by St. Catherine University, its National Center for STEM Elementary Education, Boston Scientific and the University of St. Thomas Center for Pre-Collegiate Engineering Education.
