Stem Everyday

“The state of the industrial workforce is in crisis, and employers are desperate to find qualified workers with the technical skills needed to grow their operations,” said Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning, the parent company of Learning Blade. “By introducing students to in-demand STEM careers, state leaders and district administrators are helping to introduce young talent to critical industries and are paving the way for the workforce of tomorrow.”The U.S. manufacturing sector faces a massive skills shortage. Over the next decade, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled. America’s submarine industry alone will need to hire over 100,000 skilled employees over the next 10 years to meet the Navy’s growing demand for new submarines. Learning Blade, powered by eDynamic Learning, is a digital platform that inspires students to explore and consider career pathways in STEM, Computer Science, and CTE. The platform offers over 400 lessons aligned with state standards, helping educators integra

Kath Geramita is currently the co-Founder and COO of CreositySpace. She has also been an engineer, chemist, and entrepreneur with a passion for making science and technology useful and accessible to everyone. Kath got her start in a number of technology start-ups developing products ranging from electronic ink and cement made from CO2, to materials improving the storage capacity of batteries and fuel cells. Throughout it, she was always searching for ways to engage young children and their parents in the excitement of science, in hopes of developing more scientifically-engaged citizens. In 2015, Kath joined forces with Peg Zokowski and started CreositySpace with the vision to change the way kids think about science and technology. CreositySpace is a unique inquiry-based, learner-directed science curriculum that connects ALL K-5 students to science and capitalizes on their creativity and curiosity at a time when they ask, “What do I want to do when I grow up?" Their curriculum introduces students to the s

Cameron Ross is a Digital Learning Coach and teacher in Melbourne, Australia. His role includes helping teachers build ICT (Information, Communication, Technology) skills and make sure that they're not just using "tech for tech's sake." His classroom duties allow him to model lifelong learning for students while teaching them important computing skills. Connect with Cameron:Twitter/X @cameronross3Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:Website: dailystem.comTwitter/X: @dailystemInstagram: @dailystemYouTube: @dailystemGet Chris's book Daily STEM on AmazonSupport the show

2024 begins the 15th annual  Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, which empowers public school students in grades 6–12 to leverage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to develop innovative solutions that address pressing local issues in their communities. Each year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow awards more than $2 million in Samsung technology and classroom supplies to participating schools throughout the U.S. The competition format incorporates video-based storytelling, building support for a concept, and live pitch presentations emulating the real-life environment STEM students face in higher education and the STEM workspace.The Application ProcessU.S. public middle and high school educators are encouraged to submit applications now through Thursday, October 24, 2024. The entry application asks teachers to answer just three questions, sharing an initial idea outlining how students would use STEM to address a critical need in their local community. And educators don’t have to be a STEM

Kari Byron & Jenny Buccos are here to share all about the 2nd Annual National STEM Festival. EXPLR’s National STEM Festival inspires kids nationwide to engage with STEM, a mission more crucial than ever as we advance towards a technology-driven future and workforce. Submissions for the 2025 National STEM Festival are open to young innovators across all 50 states and all U.S. territories until October 20, 2024. Top-scoring students, along with a caregiver, will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, DC for the National STEM Festival, where they will share their project, network with top business and government leaders, and learn skills that will equip them for meaningful careers in the future. Also, check out the Live & On-Demand conversations with people in super STEM careers on the National STEM Challenge websiteEXPLR’s commitment to education includes work on a bill to establish National STEM Week, which will enhance STEM pathways for students across the country. The National STEM Week bill was

Foldscope is the paper microscope that combines low-cost materials with precision optics. This innovation results in microscopes that are both high-quality and affordable, with a range of magnifications (50X-340X). From tiny microorganisms to larger samples like insects, plants, fabrics, and tissues, Foldscope can inspire kids to see beyond their own eyes wherever they may be! Foldscope can also attach to mobile phones for imaging and is very portable, durable, and waterproof. With that versatility, the possibilities are endless!Look for the new projection microscope soon!Connect with Foldscope:Website: foldscope.comYouTube: @FoldscopeInstruments Twitter/X: @TeamFoldscopeFacebook: @foldscopeInstagram: @teamfoldscopeMicrocosmos (where people can post their Foldscope pictures and videos): microcosmos.foldscope.comFoldscope Blogs (to get ideas for things to look at and explore): foldscope.com/blogs/blogLearn more from Ep 204: dailystem.com/2021/06/11/stem-everyday-204-inexpensive-microscopes-for-everywhere-feat-

Kim Collazo was a public school educator for over 30 years, with experience as a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classroom teacher as well as an elementary STEM Specialist and Digital Integration Facilitator. Working in Regular Ed, Special Ed, Academically and Intellectually Gifted, and two cycles of National Board Certification, Kim built a passion for integrating technology and engineering in relevant ways at the elementary level. She continues to help educators by helping the curriculum development team at Drone Legends.Kim fulfilled a life-long dream to become a picture book author when she began her Emersyn Blake series, named after her first grandchild. Find out about the CAMOES Mission Kim talked aboutConnect with Kim:Website: collazocove.comTwitter/X: @kcollazoChris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:Website: dailystem.comTwitter/X: @dailystemInstagram: @dailystemYouTube: @dailystemGet Chris's book Daily STEM on AmazonSupport the show

Sharon Hagle is an entrepreneur and astronaut who founded SpaceKids Global™ in 2015 with the mission to inspire STEAM+ Environment Education, with the goal of bringing the possibility of space to children. SpaceKids Global, a Florida-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating elementary students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics), and Blue Origin’s nonprofit Club for the Future, announced the winners of the 2024 SpaceKids Press Squad Competition. The competition will give eight lucky students from across the U.S. the opportunity to travel to Orlando, FL, visit Blue Origin’s Rocket Park manufacturing facility, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and receive press training from a professional journalist.Selected from over 1,100 entries across all 50 states, the eight lucky winners include: Zone 1: Noelle, age 11, Bellevue, Washington.Zone 2: Tobias, age 10, Ronan, MontanaZone 3: Nevaya, age 9, Bismarck, North DakotaZone 4: Anahita, age 11, West Lafayette

Creating opportunities for young people to learn about patents by introducing invention education and IP literacy is an important part of STEM learning.Lauren Strechay and Nicolette Buonora, recently graduated high school students, developed the Battery Swap System as their solution in a classroom challenge. After continued iteration, their Battery Swap System was recognized at the US National Invention Convention, earning a patent sponsorship and a finalist award, propelling Lauren and Nicolette to the global convention and ultimately a USPTO patent approval. From the US Patent and Trademark Office, Juan Valentin is an education program advisor in the USPTO's Students and Learners Division in the Office of Public Engagement, where he is responsible for the development and implementation of educational projects of national and international scope, with a particular emphasis on directing and coordinating the development of STEM, design-thinking, or invention-focused projects infused with intellectual prop

Tara Koehler and John Sammon have been educators in New York for over 20 years. From their roles in classrooms to their current roles as instructional coaches, they don't lead from the sidelines. They get right in the game with the teachers to help them incorporate STEM, STEAM, and PBL in practical and efficient ways.In addition to their classroom work, they provide PD with STEAM learning, steammachinepd.com, and just wrote a book outlining their best ideas for PBL, The Tapas Approach to Project Based Learning, presents an innovative perspective on PBL by advocating a 'small bites' methodology. This approach emphasizes the benefits of breaking down complex educational concepts and processes into manageable, digestible segments, much like enjoying a variety of tapas in a meal. Tara says "students learn best by doing rather than being told, and learning is not one-size-fits-all. Students should be actively engaged in their learning." John agrees, "my intentions are to deepen under

Mike Cairns is a creator & innovator. His career in drones took a quick turn one day at home. His son showed him a character he called "Ninja Gator" made with popsicle sticks and tape. An idea was sparked. “Why don't we make a connector system so you can build and reuse craft sticks without glue or tape!?” Nurcs became that connector. Inexpensive & reusable, these small plastic connectors allow kids and adults alike to build bigger things than they have ever built before. After hundreds of prototypes and many long hours, they finalizes the proper proportions and settled on six standard pieces that allow people to build many different combinations of structures (and over seventy other combination pieces that may make their way into expansion sets down the road). The possibilities are endless and the quality is long lasting with this Made in the USA STEM resource. Connect with Mike & Nurcs:Website: nurcs.comTwitter/X: @nurcstoyFacebook: @nurcstoyInstagram: @nurcstoyYouTube: @nurcstoyC

Ed Charlwood has been a Design & Technology teacher in the UK for over 20 years. He also just published the book Mastering Tinkercad to help kids better understand one of the simplest CAD programs. As an instructor and helper of educators, Ed has a mission to empower students with power CAD tools so they can solve real problems. Specifically: Design is a superpowerCAD is a tool in a superheroes belt. We need tooled-up superheroes to save us, so we need our students to go to the dojo and master these tools.Find out more about a free PDF of Mastering Tinkercad  for your students on CadClass.org (or get a super helpful paper copy) Other episodes mentioned in this episode:#260 with Mike Harmon#248 with Josh & Jake from CadClass.orgPeople mentioned by Ed:Roma Agrawal, the author of Nuts and Bolts, Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World in a Big WayBill Hammack, the Engineer GuyConnect with Ed:Website: mrcharlwood.blogspot.comTwitter/X: @mrcharlwoodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ed-charlwoodChris Woods is

Jenny Young spent a great deal of time building with her father in their family’s garage when she was growing up. She learned how familiar things worked by taking them apart, and how to put them back together in new combinations. It was this hands-on building experience that stayed with Jenny and ultimately sparked the idea for Brooklyn Robot Foundry.After getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Jenny worked in various areas of design, manufacturing, supply chain management and software development. It was when she was working in education technology that Jenny saw an overwhelming need for more open-ended, hands-on learning for elementary school students. Between reduced school budgets, overcrowding, and standardized testing, students were no longer getting an immersive engineering education.In 2011, Jenny launched Brooklyn Robot Foundry at the New York City Maker Faire. The unique approach would combine kid-friendly projects with room for experimentation and creative design, resulting in working robots a

Amy Ely has been a STEM educator for almost 20 years, building STEM curriculum and classes at multiple schools in metro Detroit. Now at Detroit Catholic Central, she is the Director of STEM and Science Teacher. Amy has over the past 2 years had the opportunity to help plan and open the George and Mary Turek Hall of Science. With tailored programs and state-of-the-art facilities, the new STEM center provides the extra support students need to excel academically and gain valuable skills and experiences that prepare them for higher education and future careers.The George & Mary Turek Hall of Science, which will house CC's STEM curriculum and programs, and is scheduled to open for students in August 2024. The addition, funded by alumni and benefactors, will include a number of exciting features for students and the community:57,000 Sq Ft of Learning Space 8 Dedicated Science Labs4 Versatile Lab Prep RoomsCutting-Edge Engineering Lab5,300 Sq Ft FIRST Robotics Competition FieldRobotics Programming & Bu

How can kids have access to STEM opportunities no matter where they live? The Oklahoma Connections Academy was able to purchase a bus and are in the process of turning it into a mobile STEM lab! "It's a world of difference because we're taking what (the kids) are already exposed to, what they already have, and we're just elevating it to the next level. We want to make sure that they have just a full, comprehensive, educational experience. And we want them to enjoy what they're doing,” said High School Science teacher Kristen Whitmer.Jennifer Dewar is the high school assistant principal at Oklahoma Connections Academy, a virtual school serving students all over the state. She began her teaching career in 1994 and joined Oklahoma Connections Academy in 2017. She has always loved working with students since her days teaching in a preschool while she attended college. Teaching in elementary and middle schools in several states since then has afforded me the opportunity to have a positive

There are 3.5 million STEM jobs that need to be filled by 2025 in the United States.* Studies show that if children aren't exposed to math and science at an age of seven, they'll lose interest. SpaceKids Global is on a mission to ensure every child is ready to enter the space age.Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and astronaut, founded SpaceKids Global™ in 2015 with the mission to inspire STEAM+ Environment Education, with the goal of bringing the possibility of space to children. Sharon shares her journey to space and introduces students through speaking engagements at schools, nonprofit youth organizations, science centers, universities and space organizations. To date, Sharon has reached over 700,000 students globally.The SpaceKids Press Squad (SKPS) is a national competition hosted by SpaceKidsGlobal. Eight U.S. students age 8-12, plus one parent or legal guardian for each, will be selected for an exclusive opportunity to witness a launch from Blue Origin’s Mission Control at Kennedy Space Center. Stud

The leaders behind Science of Sport use the familiarity of athletics to make STEM education more approachable and inclusive to all learners. The nonprofit organization partners with professional sports teams to provide exciting hands-on, minds-on learning experiences for elementary and middle school students across the county, creates interdisciplinary programming that translates the concepts of sports into an understanding of the underlying science and mathematics, and hosts training events for teachers to help bring more diverse lesson plans and STEM learning into classrooms.To date, Science of Sport has created over 100 lesson plans, handed out 20,000 STEM kits, and trained over 6,000 teachers, which has impacted more than 600,000 students. Science of Sport Executive Director Daren Heaton oversees all operations and programming and has worked with over 35 professional sports teams to deliver impactful education programs (MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL, and College Conferences). Heaton previously worked for the Arizona

As The Franklin Institute’s Senior Vice President of Science and Education, Dr. Darryl N. Williams  oversees all aspects of the science and educational programming at the heart of the Institute’s efforts to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology.Dr. Williams earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Hampton University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. After earning his doctorate, he served as a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in pediatric cardiology research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  He also served as a Dean at Tufts University's School of Engineering, Dr. Williams joined the Institute from Tufts University’s School of Engineering as well as four years with the National Science Foundation, managing a range of federal programs and research focused on STEM teaching and learning, formal and informal learning environments, and workforce development. With more than a decade of experience in everything from clinical

Adam Todd is an elementary Media Arts teacher in New York City Public Schools. He turned his experiences in the media industry into practical opportunities for his students to create the daily "Bee TV" news at his school. His students have even appeared on local news in NYC! Check out some of their work & appearances on their YouTube Channel. Adam also started the Classroom Dynamics podcast to help educators "dive into powerful professional development insights designed to cultivate a vibrant 21st-century classroom environment." In April of 2024, the podcast focuses on STEM & STEAM experts sharing ideas and experiences.Learn more by following the links below or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Connect with Adam:Website: classroomdynamics.wixsite.com/podcastTwitter/X: @classdynamicsChris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:Website: dailystem.comTwitter/X: @dailystemInstagram: @dailystemYouTube: @dailystemGet Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Endress+Hauser is a global company focused on measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications, helping to shape the industry’s digital transformation. Nicole Otte is the Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser, and previously spent 11 years as a HS Engineering & Technology teacher, including using Project Lead the Way curriculum. She also served as Director of Central Nine Career Center in Greenwood, Indiana.Endress+Hauser USA has made a commitment to students and community members through its workforce development and philanthropy initiatives. In 2023, Endress+Hauser USA hosted 15 visits for more than 800 K-12 visitors from seven public and private school corporations at its Design & Innovation Studio in Greenwood, Indiana, delivering learning opportunities and resources to students and educators. The Design & Innovation Studio is equipped with Industry 4.0 technology. In partnership with the Purdue Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Ce