TIES Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM’s Post

If you work with K-12 schools and districts by providing STEM programming and resources - now is the time of the year to approach leaders about starting or renewing partnership initiatives. By this time, leaders have more than likely received their budget projections and are beginning to make decisions about their capacity to meet student needs next school year. If you wait too long, many of the key decisions regarding the next fiscal year will have already been made. At the recent Atlanta Black Tech 2024 State of the Atlanta Black Tech Ecosystem Summit hosted by Goodie Nation,  I referenced a few aspects of K-12 education that impact the priorities and decisions of school and district leaders.  So in the spirit of community, every Thursday in February I am hosting a free webinar series designed to give some strategic insight that can be applied immediately as you navigate partnership conversations with K-12 leaders this spring. A few things to note: ⏲ This will be quick but impactful; sessions will only be 30-45 minutes in length. 💡 There will be time towards the end for questions. 🗒 Each week will feature a different topic. This week, we’ll start with a very high level overview of STATE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS and why it might be a good idea for you to understand them before you design any K-12 STEM programming. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e7x9EFh3 Kristina Newton Napiya Nubuya Errika (Mallett) Moore Joey Womack Ryan Clark, Ph.D., M.S. J. Wesley Lockhart, Ed.D., MSc.Ed. Julian Fitzgerald R. Dr. Maxine Cain Sharai J. Ernest Holmes Dedren Snead

🚀 STEM Education Revolutionized with an Innovative App Introducing the all-new STEM Education App, designed to empower teachers and inspire young minds. Key Features: • Personalized Assignments: Teachers can assign tasks to their students, ensuring differentiated learning experiences. • Automated Grading: Upon completion, students receive instant feedback and automatic grading, saving teachers precious time. • Gamified Rewards: Students earn stars for completing tasks, fostering motivation and a sense of accomplishment. These stars contribute to their personalized profiles, showcasing their progress. • Collaborative Community: Students can connect with peers and join forums based on their level and subject interests, fostering a sense of community and knowledge sharing. • Live Discussions: Teachers can host engaging live discussions, enabling real-time interaction and deeper understanding of STEM concepts. This innovative app not only simplifies teaching and learning but also makes it more interactive and rewarding. Students become active participants in their education, while teachers can focus on providing personalized support and guidance. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, the STEM Education App is a game-changer for STEM education. Stay tuned for exciting updates and additional features coming soon! For partnership contact: +233 24 545 2066 benbaah104@gmail.com #STEMEducation #EdTech #InnovativeLearning #STEAM #ReactNative

What is the buzz around coding the hardware?Let me break it down for you. Coding in STEM education is a powerful tool for unlocking creativity in children. Unlike traditional learning methods, coding encourages kids to experiment, innovate, and think outside the box. When children code, they don't just follow instructions—they create. This process of creation fosters an environment where trial and error are not just accepted but celebrated. STEM kits that incorporate coding provide hands-on experience that makes abstract concepts tangible. Moreover, coding projects are inherently iterative. As kids debug their code and refine their projects, they develop persistence and learn to view failures as stepping stones to success. This resilience is crucial not just in STEM fields but in any creative endeavor. By integrating coding into STEM education, we equip children with the skills to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing world. Coding nurtures a creative mindset, empowering the next generation to become not just consumers of technology, but creators and innovators. What are your thoughts? Let us discuss in comments.

Nearly half of young girls don’t believe they are good at math and science and, with the confidence gap widening year after year, it’s important to instill in our students that, yes, there is absolutely a place for them in STEM. A new study from ROX shows that it’s not a lack of interest—girls' enthusiasm for STEM is rising. The real issue is that they don’t feel safe here. As our founder Reshma Saujani would say, it’s not a pipeline problem; it’s a culture problem. It’s not that our students aren’t capable—instead, gender bias and lack of representation have made many young girls doubt their abilities. When Girls Who Code was founded in 2012, we made it our mission not only to teach coding but to instill confidence and a sense of belonging in tech. Our programs show consistent impact, boosting students' self-efficacy and helping them believe in their potential. For example, over 80% of students are more confident in their computer science abilities by the end of our summer programs. That’s why confidence building is fundamental to everything we do and is ingrained in our educational philosophy and programming. While we’re excited that more young girls are interested in STEM, it’s clear that more work needs to be done to make them feel like they have a seat at the table. To every girl questioning her place in STEM: yes, you belong here, and we promise to do everything we can at Girls Who Code to remind you of your power every single day. https://prn.to/3YiXbOM

Meet Apiwe Hotele! 🤗 Apiwe is an African Impact Initiative Challenge 2023 winner. Currently, she and her cohort are in Toronto as part of the AIC experience. Hailing from South Africa, Apiwe is the Founder of Enlighten Edu. But that’s not all! A fun fact about Apiwe is that despite her fear of heights, she loves hiking and has even gone skydiving! Although she instinctively shakes when entering super tall buildings, she loves a good thrill and finds that every hike reminds her she can surpass her fears. Growing up, Apiwe dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. However, in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa, she never had a mathematics or physical sciences teacher. When it came time to apply for post-secondary education, she didn't have the grades to be accepted. After spending two months in depression, she overheard a conversation between students in her village. They were complaining about the difficulties of math and science without a teacher. This made Apiwe realize she was not alone; there were many children lacking educational opportunities just like her. Empowered by this realization, Apiwe decided to return to school. While studying in a pre-medicine program at the University of Fort Hare, she discovered her love for computer science. She realized that by developing programming skills, she could create a platform to achieve her mission. A few years later, she developed Enlighten Edu – a platform that supports students in mathematics and physical sciences, assists teachers, and provides a marketplace connecting tutors with students. Apiwe’s overall goal is to ensure that the only reason children don’t pursue STEM is that they don’t want to, not because they lack educational resources or exposure. Her company is currently working on creating digital hubs – tutoring spaces for children in collaboration with schools, where Enlighten Edu provides devices, mobile data, and connectivity to connect kids with tutors. They recently launched their first hub, now serving 190 students. While in Canada, Apiwe hopes to connect with potential sponsors for digital hubs. Additionally, she aims to learn about the Canadian educational system, understand the challenges students face, support teachers, and explore opportunities to white-label her technology. To connect with Apiwe, check out her website (https://lnkd.in/gCurEuJi), or feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or email us at one.community.utsc@utoronto.ca to express your interest. Stay connected with us, so you don't miss out on this incredible journey! Follow us to meet the rest of these spectacular founders and look out for tomorrow's featured founder!   #ONECommunity #AfricanImpactInitiative #AfricanImpactChallenge #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Connections #UTSCManagement #UTSC #Community #Education #STEMEducation #AccessibleEducation #SouthAfrica 

Ever contemplated the impact that coding can have on your child's academic performance? 🎓💻 Delve into the intricate relationship between coding, fostering creativity, and advancing STEM education! By introducing coding to children, not only are they equipped with a valuable skill for the future, but they also develop problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and creativity. Through coding, children can create their own digital projects, games, and animations, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting their confidence. Research shows that students who engage in coding activities tend to perform better in subjects such as math and science. This is because coding requires a strong foundation in logical reasoning and critical thinking, skills that are essential for success in STEM fields. Furthermore, coding encourages students to think outside the box and explore innovative solutions to complex problems. By engaging in coding projects, children can unleash their creativity and imagination, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of technology. In today's digital age, coding is becoming an essential skill for success in various industries. By introducing coding to children at a young age, parents can help them develop valuable skills that will benefit them academically and professionally in the future. #STEMEducation #AcademicSuccess

The Impact of Inclusive STEM Education STEM identity can last a lifetime and help students thrive in school, future careers and life. Inclusive STEM programs widen job opportunities for the growing technology sector, support students in building digital literacy skills and empower young people to become creators — not just consumers — of technology. Educators face the challenge of engaging students in STEM amidst limited resources. As the demand for digital skills grows, schools must develop inclusive programs to engage diverse learners. STEM education is not just about science and math; it develops skills such as creativity, communication, empathy and critical thinking that complement technologies like generative AI and coding. However, many educators have difficulty finding effective ways to integrate STEM across the curriculum, attract diverse learners and connect with real-world challenges.

This summer I had some incredible learning experiences: UnboundEd's renowned Standards Institute, which supports educators in providing meaningful high-level instruction; as well as PEBC- Public Education & Business Coalition's BEST (BIPOC Educators and STEM Thinkers) Conference, which explored opportunities for belonging, healing, and changing STEM education. Both conferences had an intimidatingly heavy focus on math, a subject that forces me to contend with imposter syndrome, anxiety, and doomed perfectionism. But I’m grateful I got out of my comfort zone (and healed some childhood math trauma) because I couldn’t stop thinking about how we help nurture STEM identity in our students, particularly female and BIPOC students who have historically been excluded from these fields. In his book "STEM, STEAM, Make, Dream," Christopher Emdin discusses how as a young Black boy, he experienced covert exclusionary messages about STEM, even among rising calls for more engaging STEM programming. Emdin writes “You say you need me, but you do not welcome me. You say I need STEM, but you do not make me feel like I am a part of it.” When taking apart toys, he was labeled destructive rather than engineering-minded. When seeking joy he was met with memorization and uniformity. “I believe that we are all born to be STEM people. As young children, we all think deeply, tinker, play, question, categorize, make meaning, interpret, draw connections.” Every student is brilliant, and it is up to us to nurture their scholarship and honor their strengths. 1️⃣ kids: explicitly tell them that they are capable of achieving greatness in ANY subject area, including science and math– even if they don’t see many people who look, act, or think like them in those fields currently. 2️⃣ families: plan fun projects to build curiosity about the way the world works. Communicate with your child’s educators about ways to support their learning and their STEM identity both in school and at home. 3️⃣ classrooms: increase representation, not just by replacing names in word problems, but by folding in deeper elements of cultural representation in assignments, on wall posters, and in class discussions. 4️⃣ schools: identify patterns in student outcomes by disaggregating data based on identity demographics. Then, investigate root causes that might be fueling inequitable patterns.  5️⃣ district: disaggregate data to identify demographic patterns and invest resources to addressing adult behaviors that impact student outcomes so we can achieve educational equity and excellence. Prioritize holistic student engagement, since it significantly impacts current and post-secondary success. Engage stakeholders and research so we all continue to evolve. Whether you’ve been in this work for decades or days, we are in this together in service of our amazing students, and I'm grateful for the important learning and collaboration to amplify this work in Englewood Schools.

The transformative power of the mobile STEM labs lies in their ability to level the playing field. Learning Undefeated's mobile laboratories introduce rural students and teachers to new and exciting content while enabling schools to share the costs of valuable hardware, software, and modern equipment that otherwise might be unattainable. In isolated regions, these mobile labs also serve as windows into STEM careers, allowing students to interact with professionals and explore career paths they may never have considered.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 a priority 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭? Take a look at this article, "The Impact of Inclusive STEM Education" and the emphasis of inclusive approaches within STEM education. 𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕒𝕤𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒 𝕗𝕖𝕨 𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤: 🎒 Are you providing equitable access and opportunities for all students, regardless of background or identity, in order to foster diversity, innovation, and excellence in STEM fields? ✏ Lets connect so you can how eDynamic Learning can be a solution in implementing inclusive STEM education, such as limited resources and systemic barriers, while also proposing solutions and best practices to overcome these obstacles. https://lnkd.in/gZdwE6bb