You Deserve to be the Next NC STEM School of Distinction!
Many schools across our state facilitate quality STEM instruction, maximizing community partnerships, developing the skills necessary for future success, and driving opportunities for students.
NC DPI and the NC State Board of Education want to recognize each and every school that exemplifies the qualities associated with STEM success.
The STEM School Progress Rubric serves as an incredible tool for self-assessment and school improvement and is the key to achievement for STEM schools in North Carolina.
Schools who self-assess at the Prepared or Model level of achievement, based on the Rubric, are encouraged to complete an Intent to Apply with NC DPI. This intent does not obligate the school, but instead, allows the opportunity for receiving additional information and resources toward becoming recognized as one of North Carolina's finest in STEM education.
Interested schools should complete their Intent no later than October 7, 2022. Please contact Howard Ginsburg at howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov should you have further questions.
K-12 Science Standards Revision Update
Completed Actions:
✓ PSU Survey
✓ Completed all focus groups
✓ Completed all interviews
✓ Complete data analysis and prep Data Review Committee (DRC) (Office of Learning Recovery)
✓ Finalized Standard Writing Team (SWT) members
Next Steps:
● Conducting Data Review Committee (DRC) orientation
● DRC will continue to work on report and recommendations
● Plan SWT orientation
STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences asks you to please save the date for the 10th annual STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities, on Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 10:00–2:00 pm.
This is a free, in-person event is for learners in grades 6–12 and provides registrants the opportunity to connect with role models with disabilities who have thriving careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).
Learn from the keynote speaker and panelists about their personal journeys and their strategies for success. Attendees will gain practical knowledge that they can apply to their interests and future career paths.
The Showcase will also be livestreamed on the Museum's YouTube account. The breakout rooms and opportunity fair will not be livestreamed. ASL interpretation and live captions will be provided for the entire program.
Get more details about the STEAM Career Showcase by visiting the Museum's website.
Please note: ASL interpretation and live captions will be provided for the entire program and for each breakout room.
Women in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce face major obstacles — not only are they underrepresented and underpaid, but they also sometimes lack the confidence to assert their knowledge. The numbers are even more staggering for women of color in each distinct field. Discover how young girl's can overcome "The Confidence Gap" in STEM in this engaging and informative article offered through Georgia Tech Professional Education.
NCCAT Free Professional Development Programs
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (www.nccat.org) (NCCAT) provides free professional development to NC educators in residential, online, virtual, school, and regional settings.
September 19, 2022 - September 22, 2022
16195 Using STEM to Enhance Literacy - Cullowhee
The world of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—provides a rich environment that motivates children to want to learn more. Children often prefer reading about spiders and dinosaurs to fictional characters. STEM activities help students build vocabulary, incorporate problem-solving skills, and analyze complex text with real-world applications. Maximize classroom time by integrating literacy with the natural connections of STEM disciplines. Experience lessons that give students a desire to read, promote problem solving, and model strategies to cultivate reading comprehension. Join us as we make messes, break things, and create minds-on STEM learning environments.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
September 23, 2022
16196 Strategies in STEM: Engaging Students in Academic Discourse - Cullowhee
Students in the 21st century classroom need multiple opportunities to interact with content and their peers in meaningful and impactful ways. By utilizing academic discourse strategies, educators become facilitators of the curriculum while students increase ownership of their own learning. This Focus Friday session will provide low-prep, easy to use strategies that educators can implement in any lesson to support positive student interactions.Participants will leave with an academic discourse toolkit that will support student discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative learning.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
October 31, 2022 - November 2, 2022
16274 The Hands-on Maker in the STEM Classroom - Cullowhee
Makerspace activities promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and real world application. What’s more? Students love to engage in these activities! These hands-on activities do not have to be confined to a dedicated makerspace; they can be a part of classroom lessons. This program s sessions will include activities that can be adapted to multiple content areas and grade levels. Join this program to experience the maker approach as a learner. Time will be spent collaborating with colleagues on adapting these lessons to their classrooms. This program is designed for teachers in grades 5-12.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
November 14, 2022 - November 18, 2022
16280 Design, Do, Fail- Bring Engineering Design to your Classroom - Ocracoke
The heart of engineering is problem solving and even if your students do not go on to become engineers, problem solving skills are valuable throughout their life. Inspired by a book or text of your choice, join us as we break down the engineering design process, then guide you through building your own active learning, standards-aligned lesson. You don’t need robotics or special materials to bring engineering to your learners, just a mindset and some creativity! Open to K-12 educators in any classroom setting. Please bring your own book of choice to work with in this seminar.
For grades K-12. This is a face-to-face program at our Ocracoke campus.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
December 12, 2022 - December 16, 2022
16286 The Hands-on Maker in the STEM Classroom - Ocracoke
Makerspace activities promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application. What’s more? Students love to engage in these activities! These hands-on activities do not have to be confined to a dedicated makerspace; they can be a part of classroom lessons. This program s sessions will include activities that can be adapted to multiple content areas and grade levels. Join this program to experience the maker approach as a learner. Time will be spent collaborating with colleagues on adapting these lessons to their classrooms.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
Presidential Awards for Excellence in STEM Teaching Now Open
The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), created by Congress in 1983, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of STEM, including Computer Science. This year's (2022-2023) awards will honor science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teachers working in grades 7-12. Recipients of the award receive the following:
- A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
- A paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
- A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
- An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation.
Nominations close on January 9, 2023. Applications must be completed by February 6, 2023.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the North Carolina Presidential Awards Program, please contact the State Coordinators for PAESMT:
Joseph Reaper, at joseph.reaper@dpi.nc.gov
Alexis Wood at kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov
 988 Is Now Live!
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis, or
- Any other kind of emotion distress
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Printable PDF handouts in English and Spanish explain the basics about 988.
More about 988
UNC World View
World View is a public service program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, providing global education professional development since 1998. World View equips K-12 and community college educators with global knowledge, best practices and resources to prepare students to engage in our interconnected and diverse world.
UNC World View Fall 2022 Programs
World View to You! Global Education 101
September 8, 2022
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EST
Via Zoom/No Cost
This program will provide K-8 educators with a deeper understanding of global competencies and offer frameworks for integrating global themes in all disciplines. The session will be rich with strategies and resources.
CEU/PDCH offered. https://go.unc.edu/22GlobalEd101
Personal Finance with a Global Mindset
September 15, 2022
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
Via Zoom/No Cost
K-12 and community college educators are invited to register for this program that will discuss global perspectives on personal finance.
CEU/PDCH offered. https://go.unc.edu/22PFinance
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Full STEM Ahead!
In case you missed it.....
On September 1st, Full STEM Ahead (McDowell County) delivered a great presentation before our State Board of Education. The program celebrated their STEM impact for students and their community.
(Click on the above image to explore their presentation).
This free course from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will focus on the intersection of STEM subjects and global competence and will feature a variety of resources, reflection activities, and testimonials from teachers nationwide. This open-registration, self-paced course has three modules, and each module is projected to take 1.5 hours to complete. The course is available until September 30.
 NASA STEM Engagement
NASA makes vital investments toward building a future diverse STEM workforce. The scope of STEM Engagement comprises all endeavors to attract, engage, and educate students and to support educators and educational institutions. The STEM engagement portfolio consists of a diverse set of opportunities, activities and products, encompassing internships; fellowships; student learning opportunities (challenges, competitions and other experiences); informal education and out-of-school learning activities; educational products, tools and platforms; educator support; competitive awards to educational institutions for research and development and institutional support.
Be sure to check out NASAs FREE STEM Resources!
STEM Competition for K-12 Educators
Deadline: on or before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, Friday, September 30th, 2022
Teachers, are you ready to sing? It’s time to get your creative juices flowing and energy pumping because Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to give you a chance to create a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) song. This song must contain original lyrics and be connected to at least one state or national education standard. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a music video with lyrics. THREE teachers will win an iPad and a pair of Raycon wireless earbuds!
Prizes:
The three highest scoring teachers will receive the following prizes:
- 1 iPad
- 1 pair of Raycon wireless earbuds
Details:
- Interested educators are invited to submit an original STEAM Song to https://orausurvey.orau.org/n/STEAMSong.aspx by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 30st, 2022.
- To avoid plagiarism, please submit a song that you have written.
- Song/music video may focus on any topic as long as it is connected to at least one science, technology, engineering, or math standard.
- Include a separate document with the title of the song, song lyrics, target grade level and/or subject, and the standard/s that the song is based on.
- Music videos will be scored using a rubric, and winners will be announced late October!
- Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
- Teachers are eligible to win 2 ORISE competitions in a 12 month period.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact STEMEd@orau.org.
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NC DPI AIM Conference
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is hosting the second annual A.I.M.Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center Oct. 26 - 29, 2022. The Conference theme is "Accelerate, Invigorate, and Motivate." District and school teams will attend the conference as a way to celebrate amazing educators across the state, as well as collaborate with local, regional and state educational leaders to explore and engage with the tools and knowledge needed to implement promising practices for the betterment of every student’s education in North Carolina.
Goals of the Conference:
- Collaborate with regional/charter/lab school teams throughout the three-day uplifting and inspiring conference
- Align district/school initiatives with state-wide initiatives.
- Create opportunities to collect authentic feedback from schools and districts on Operation Polaris and state-wide initiatives.
Where: Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601
When: Oct. 26 - Oct. 29, 2022
Who: District Teams (District Leadership, School Leadership, Classroom Leadership)
We’re thankful for the inaugural A.I.M Conference sponsorship through Lexia Learning. We can’t wait to see everyone back here in October 2022 for the second annual A.I.M. Conference.
NC DPI STEM Consultant
Howard Ginsburg
howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov
If you are currently not subscribed and would like to receive future releases of STEMtastic News, please visit the NCDPI Subscriptions webpage and register for the NCDPI STEM newsletter. You will first be prompted to enter your email to create an account. Once your account is created, return to the NCDPI Subscriptions webpage to choose your interests.
Disclaimer: This document contains information about and from public and private entities and organizations for the reader’s information. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction of any entity or organization or the products or services offered, or views expressed. This publication also contains hyperlinks and URLs created and maintained by outside organizations. They are provided for the reader’s convenience; however, the Department is not responsible for the accuracy of this information.
Because North Carolina is a local-control state, all curricular decisions are approved at the local level. Prior to implementing any of the materials, teachers should follow appropriate policies and procedures to have content vetted and approved by their school and district leaders.
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