GameChanger’s Post

Seasons of STEM, Engaging Young Minds through the Calendar Year Play-based learning projects that tie into real-world events can boost children's engagement and understanding, by blending their learning with personal experiences and interests. A prime example of this approach is our project inspired by "Allie's Basketball Dream," a book that follows Allie's journey of passion and perseverance in basketball, aligning perfectly with March Madness and Women's History Month celebrations. This story not only champions the dreams and determination of young girls but also serves as a gateway to literacy and STEM learning. In our project, children get the opportunity to dive into engineering and creativity by building a basketball machine. Using 3Dux Design's versatile cardboard modeling system, they're not only learning about mechanics and design but are also actively connecting with Allie's story. This hands-on activity encourages problem-solving, teamwork, and imaginative play, all while celebrating important events and themes. You can access the project and download the worksheets for use in your class, enrichment program or with your kids at home! https://lnkd.in/eyUkqMQN We've seen how this project, inspired by a narrative of determination and dreams, can engage kids deeply, linking literature, history, and STEM in a meaningful way. I'm curious to hear about your seasonal projects. What engaging, themed projects have you explored with your learners?

🌟Attention teachers, mentors and parents! 🌟 Are you looking for an exciting way to engage your K-12 students in STEM education? Look no further than The NSF Game Maker Awards. The challenge invites students to create a video game focused on "Life in 2100," where they can explore the role of science and technology in shaping our future. Why should your students participate? 1. Prizes: Students and mentors can win a share of the $100,000 prize pool, with top individual prizes of up to $8,500. 2. National recognition: Participants have the chance to be featured in national media and NSF publications, showcasing their hard work and creativity. 3. Networking opportunities: Connect with other young innovators and industry leaders in the gaming and STEM fields. 4. Educational impact: This challenge is a fantastic way to integrate STEM learning with fun, encouraging students to think critically and creatively about the future. Don't miss this chance to motivate your students and support their journey in STEM education. For more details and to get started, visit https://bit.ly/3XwUMjl. Submissions are due Jan. 31, 2025. #GameMakerAwards #LifeIn2100 #NSF75 #STEM

STEM Sports, winner of the 2024 Best of STEM for Culturally Relevant Teaching & Learning, has an answer for those curious students who ask, "Why would I ever need this?" 🏈 🏀 = The Future of STEM Education! ⛷ 🤸♂️ Here's the game-changing reality: While STEM careers are projected to surge 11%+ in the next decade, we're still wrestling with how to make these crucial subjects stick...and maybe even be interesting to ALL students. Enter STEM Sports® - the innovative curriculum blending athletics with academics. Think about it: A 🏀 arc teaches parabolic motion. A tennis serve demonstrates velocity and force. Suddenly, abstract concepts become real, tangible, and (dare we say it?) useful! What makes this a home run for educators? (Sorry. It's practice puns Wednesday.) ✅ K-8 standards-aligned curriculum ✅ 12+ sports integrations ✅ Active, hands-on learning methodology ✅ Real-world applications many students care about The result? Students who don't just memorize STEM concepts - they experience them, understand them, and get excited about them. That's not just learning; that's future-proofing education. #STEMEducation #EdTech #Innovation #SportScience #K8Education #STEM #FutureOfLearning #BestofSTEM Jeffrey Crapper, Ed.D., NBCT, ATC, AEMT Annie Galvin Teich Hope Warner Sean C. Barton Jeff Golner

Reimagining STEM Education: Learning on the Go 🚐 🚐 At ibrick, One of our main goals was making STEM education more flexible and accessible. Recently, we saw the fruition of our dream A homeschooling family who integrated our subscription into their RV trip across the country, showcasing the potential of mobile learning! - Kids accessed STEM projects when it fit their travel schedule⏲ - Hands-on experiences brought STEM concepts to life on the road 🛣 - The whole family is engaged in learning together 👨👩👧 - Educational momentum continued throughout the journey 📚 This real-world example shows how portable education can open new possibilities for how and where children learn. By making STEM accessible outside traditional classrooms, we're seeing exciting new ways for families to engage with these important subjects. The future of education isn't confined to classrooms or to the home – it's wherever curiosity leads us. Learn more at ibrick.online. #STEMEducation #EdTech #LearningAnywhere

We are excited to share the overview of STEAM Conference Summer 2024 and we look forward to returning Summer 2025 to increase the number of youth served. In 2009, the Center for College Access and Success, then known as the Chicago Teacher Center, engaged in a critical reflection regarding the expansion of participation in STEM fields beyond the confines of grant-funded initiatives, with the aim of promoting access, equity, and inclusion. This reflection led to the conception of the STEAM Conference, which was intended to be a student-led event featuring workshops conducted by students for their peers. The initiative evolved to incorporate numerous partners throughout Chicago, including organizations such as Project SYNCERE, After School Matters, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Columbia College Chicago Scientist for Tomorrow and Science Research Scholars and Chicago Public Schools, among others. Following a hiatus due to the pandemic, we reaffirmed our dedication to this vision by reintroducing the STEM Conference in Chicago during the summer of 2024. This iteration involved a collaboration with After School Matters, culminating in an engaging day focused on service, community, and innovation. Since its inception, the STEAM Conference has positively impacted over 5,000 students in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Additionally, the conference has reached 1,000 students in Colombia through our Global Leadership Academy. https://lnkd.in/gmzaXAJD #Access #Equity #Inclusion #broadeningparticipation #STEM #coding #senseofbelonging #workforcereadiness #language Northeastern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University's Center for College Access and Success STEM PUSH Network STEM Learning Ecosystems STEMM Opportunity Alliance National Science Foundation (NSF) CSforALL Council for Opportunity in Education

This article/video in the latest edition of Education Week brought several thoughts forward for me regarding math and curriculum in general as we approach the start of another school year: -As we think about curriculum development, it’s important to consider how we personalize it in classrooms to motivate students and meet them where they are. According to a Pew Research Center study(https://lnkd.in/ewpQwH_T), 97% of children 12-17 participate in some form of gaming. -We need to stratigically consider how gamification might fit into some curriculum activities in classrooms. For those who are looking to reduce screen time and access for students, the embedded EdWeek activity is offline using paper and pencil; perhaps providing opportunity to balance student choices, activities and socialization. -On a personal note, I have a predilection for writing and literacy based teaching, but my love for math goes back to my middle school years and the math of sports helped motivate my interest and connection in math classrooms. Making an analogy to today, my experience was like ‘Everday Math’ before it became a mainstream curriculum in the U.S. -Don’t discount the power of gamification in the curriculum as a pathway for better connecting with parents to better support and discuss student work in schools. According to Statista, over 50 million adults participate in fantasy sports each year. -One additional critical balance curriculum developers and teachers must consider is keeping the gaming focus on the social and civic engagement that Pew Research notes in its findings rather than the gambling pervasiveness that is presently infringing on too many sectors of society. #EducationWeek #curriculum #mathmatics #EverydayMath #gaming #gamification #screentime #PewResearchCenter

🌟Attention teachers, mentors and parents! 🌟 Are you looking for an exciting way to engage your K-12 students in STEM education? Look no further than The National Science Foundation (NSF) Game Maker Awards. The challenge invites students to create a video game focused on "Life in 2100," where they can explore the role of science and technology in shaping our future. Why should your students participate? 1. Prizes: Students and mentors can win a share of the $100,000 prize pool, with top individual prizes of up to $8,500. 2. National recognition: Participants have the chance to be featured in national media and NSF publications, showcasing their hard work and creativity. 3. Networking opportunities: Connect with other young innovators and industry leaders in the gaming and STEM fields. 4. Educational impact: This challenge is a fantastic way to integrate STEM learning with fun, encouraging students to think critically and creatively about the future. Don't miss this chance to motivate your students and support their journey in STEM education. For more details and to get started, visit https://bit.ly/3XwUMjl. Submissions are due Jan. 31, 2025. #GameMakerAwards #LifeIn2100 #NSF75 #STEM Dr. Fernando Branch Jeremy Eddie, Ed.S

🎉 Thank You for Attending the Ohio Alliance of Black School Educators (OABSE)/NABSE 10th Annual Midwest Regional Conference! 🎉 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants who joined us at the OABSE/NABSE 10th Annual Midwest Regional Conference. Your presence made this event a resounding success! 🙌 🌟 21stCentEd: Empowering STEM Education 🌟 We’d like to spotlight one of our Signature Sponsors, 21stCentEd. 🚀 They’re revolutionizing education by addressing common roadblocks and providing schools with an affordable solution for comprehensive STEM learning. Here’s how: Cost-Effective Learning: 21stCentEd. offers flexible courses that fit your school’s unique needs and budget. No need to break the bank—students can access expert-level knowledge without compromising quality. Self-Guided & Mentor-Led: Their approach combines self-guided learning with mentor support. Students benefit from personalized attention, bridging the gap between classroom hours and real-world skills. STEM Mastery: 21stCentEd empowers students to achieve mastery-level education in STEM. From coding to robotics, they equip learners with the tools to thrive in a tech-driven world. 🔗 Learn more about 21stCentEd: https://21stcented.com/ 🌐 Unlocking Potential: There’s no reason your school shouldn’t provide comprehensive STEM education. Let’s empower our students together! 💡🌱 #OABSE #NABSE #21stCentEd #STEMEducation #EmpowerStudents #🎉 

Sports and STEM Education might seem like two separate worlds, but when they come together, magic happens! Sports teach kids invaluable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and discipline, while STEM Education equips them with critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills. By combining the physical and the intellectual, we're giving our kids the tools they need to thrive in today's ever-evolving world.From the soccer field to the science lab, kids of all ages can benefit from the synergy of sports and STEM education. Whether they're coding a robot to score goals or using math to analyze game strategies, they're not just learning – they're unleashing their potential! By engaging both body and mind, we're empowering our kids to become tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and game-changers. So, let's lace up those sneakers, grab our lab coats, and dive into the exciting world of Sports and STEM Education! Together, we'll inspire a new generation of athletes, scientists, engineers, and dreamers. Let's show our kids that the sky's the limit when they combine their passion for sports with the power of STEM. 🚀💫 #Sports #STEM #Education #Kids #FutureLeaders #Innovation #Empowerment Let's spread the word and ignite a spark of passion and curiosity in every child! 🔥💡

Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: Swiirl x MEL Science x Skyline High School: We’re thrilled to share a powerful example of what our platform at Swiirl makes possible: a meaningful campaign born from collaboration between MEL Science, the incredible student creators at Skyline High School, and Oakland Unified School District. This initiative is more than just a campaign—it’s a testament to the immense potential of connecting brands, schools, and student creators in a way that creates lasting impact. The Campaign: Skyline High School creative students created an inspiring video highlighting the importance of STEM education, bringing their unique perspectives and creativity to the forefront. Their work represents the authentic voices of students empowered to tell their own stories. See the first campaign video featured on Instagram: https://lnkd.in/gwYzTFR8 The Swiirl Ecosystem: This collaboration reflects the core of Swiirl's mission: Brands engage authentically with communities and amplify purpose-driven narratives. Schools receive critical funding and visibility while showcasing student talent. Student creators gain real-world experience, connect with top brands, and build their portfolios. Why It Matters: Through this campaign, MEL Science not only amplified their mission to make STEM education accessible but also directly supported Skyline High School’s efforts to create opportunities for their students. This is what happens when brands and communities come together through Swiirl—impact, empowerment, and growth for everyone involved. #MelScience #STEMEducation #StudentCreators #CommunityImpact #digitalmarketing #Swiirl