State of Illinois

07/01/2024 | Press release | Archived content

STEAM Newsletter Vol. 43

STEAM Newsletter Vol. 43

STEAM Newsletter - Monday, July 1, 2024
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Gear Up!

As the heat settles in for the summer, we encourage educators to appreciate the month of July as you rest and recuperate, but also reflect on the past school year and take the chance to review your teaching strategies. Use the break from students to share your expertise with other educators through professional learning communities such as those supported by the Learning Technology Center Services or submit a proposal to present at a conference such as IDEAcon. Recharge at events such as CS PD Week, STEM Career Exploration and Symposium, or through the NIUSTEAM STEAM Learning Series.

Explore science resources for educators through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Division of Education. IDNR sponsors workshops as part of the ENTICE program (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) which include professional development hours for teachers. Discover online learning sessions as well as local workshops at colleges and universities to seize opportunities where you may get inspired as you gear up for the next school year. Search for online resources to learn more about emerging technology such as Quantum Research. Enjoy the simple and marvel at the complexities to learn the impact STEAM fields make in our world then create ways to spark that curiosity in students!

Let off some STEAM with these fun activities!

Recent News on STEAM

"Take a look at your smartphone. The processor inside of it runs at about a gigahertz, or a billion cycles per second. Imagine a computer operating at a billion times that speed. This is exascale, meaning a computer system that can calculate a quintillion operations a second or exaFLOPS, FLoating-point Operations Per Second. That's the power of the massive new Aurora exascale supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

What's the point of having an unprecedentedly fast and powerful supercomputer? Well, supercomputers are critical to scientific innovation. These enormous machines run simulations of real-world situations, which is how we get advancements in everything from pharmaceutical design to cancer research to aeronautical engineering. There aren't many scientific innovations without origins in a supercomputer simulation. And a more powerful supercomputer with advanced capabilities for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven research means more breakthroughs happening faster than ever before."

"The FBI's Chicago office and the Chicago Quantum Exchange-led Bloch Quantum Tech Hub have partnered to secure the region's quantum technology assets, holding a first-of-its-kind symposium last month to build communication channels between law enforcement and technology developers - an effort aimed at creating a national model for cooperation between the quantum ecosystem and the government agencies that protect the nation and its assets. The symposium, held at the US Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, focused on exploring potential threats, sharing information about existing efforts, and building trust and familiarity among stakeholders."

"A coalition led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange has been awarded a $1 million US National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) Development Award to deepen partnerships and strengthen workforce and economic development plans for Chicagoland's growing quantum ecosystem.

The NSF Engines Development Award: Advancing quantum technologies in the Midwest, effective April 15, will be used by the multi-sector coalition to build data-driven strategies aimed at translating lab research into real-world applications and training workers for the fast-growing quantum economy. Quantum technologies, which harness the unusual properties of nature's smallest scales, are poised to transform society by enabling unhackable communications, secure financial transactions, accelerated drug discovery, optimized supply chains, and more."

"After strategic early investments in the emerging technology, Illinois is poised to become the country's quantum computing hub - with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and partners like Intersect Illinois, P33 and others leading the charge. John Atkinson, chairman of Intersect Illinois, and Meera Raja, VP of deep tech at P33, help break down how the state remains at the forefront."

Upcoming Events

"Join fellow K-12 CS educators for a 5-day learning experience centered on building prosperous computer science programs in every Illinois school district.

During this one-of-a-kind event, new and experienced CS educators from across Illinois will:

  • Engage with current curriculum from top CS trainers and providers (including Code.org)
  • Build community during group meals and team-building activities
  • Discover strategies for expanding access to rigorous, inclusive computer science learning

Attendees can choose one of five learning tracks aligned to specific roles and grade bands, with learning opportunities available for elementary, middle, and high school teachers.

Reserve your spot today to help CS learning achieve liftoff in your classroom or district!"

"Artificial intelligence is here, and unlike what you've seen in the movies, AI isn't coming to destroy humans - it's coming to disrupt our classrooms. Should educators be afraid, excited, or both? Can educators embrace AI's potential while ensuring their students still learn the value of creating original work?

Join us as we cut through the AI buzz and examine the implications of artificial intelligence in an educational setting. In particular, we'll focus on how recently released and forthcoming AI tools could impact how students learn and create going forward.

AI tools aren't just for students, either; during this comprehensive workshop, we'll also explore how teachers can streamline time-consuming tasks with help from AI-powered content creation tools.

After this session, attendees will be able to:

  • Explain the history, current trends, and future trajectory of AI projects
  • Describe examples of AI use in everyday life and in education
    Identify AI resources that offer both challenges and opportunities for educators
  • Utilize specific AI-powered tools to streamline job-related tasks."

"Scratch is a free creative coding platform used by thousands of K-12 educators around the world across all content areas. Developed by MIT, Scratch is the world's largest coding community for children and uses a block-based interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations.

Scratch Conference 2024 (a live, virtual event) invites you to participate in a day of imagining, creating, and sharing with educators from around the world. This year, we're looking forward to sessions by CSforALL, Makey Makey, the DevTech Research Group (ScratchJr), the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT, and many other organizations and educators."

"AI can teach us alot - or can it? While AI chatbots and other AI-powered tools have made it easier to quickly surface a large amount of information, they're also known to "hallucinate" or provide faulty responses that require close examination to verify.

Students and teachers alike need to be prepared to evaluate AI-filtered information - just as we verify any information we find on the internet. Join us to learn and practice techniques for assessing the quality and reliability of online information and sources provided by AI. Along the way, we'll also explore several tools and strategies you can integrate into your research-centered classroom activities and digital citizenship curriculum."

"Undergraduate research will take center stage on July 26, 2024, during the STEM Career Exploration and Symposium at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The free, full-day event at the Illini Union serves as the capstone experience for undergraduate researchers participating in dozens of programs across the Illinois campus during the summer. It also provides opportunities for high school and community college students and educators to explore careers in STEM and learn more about the role of undergraduate research in preparing students for these careers.

The day will include poster, oral, and lightning presentations by undergraduate researchers, as well as career panel discussions, an employer and professional organization networking fair, and keynote speaker Ashley Huderson, who will discuss diversity in STEM fields. The full program is available online: Illinois Summer Research Program Alliance…. K-12 teachers should note the STEM Career Exploration and Symposium is an Illinois State Board of Education-approved professional development event."

"In this dynamic and interactive #WednesdayWebinar with SMART Technologies, participants will embark on a collaborative journey to explore exciting ways to integrate Lumio into their classrooms and curriculum. Whether you're a seasoned Lumio user or new to its transformative capabilities, this session offers something for everyone.

Illinois educators can earn 1 PDH for attending this webinar live."

Mon. Feb 17 - Wed. Feb 19, 2025 | Register

Call for Proposals due August 5, 2024

"IDEAcon isn't just a conference; IDEAcon is an experience.

For three full days, attendees have access to experienced thought leaders and regional speakers all focused on current education topics and who represent innovative practices. There is something for all educators through the hundreds of sessions that allow you to customize your IDEAcon experience based on your own comfort level and curiosity. Networking with your peers via informal conversations, Exhibit Hall walks, and evening social events truly make you feel like you're part of the IDEA family. IDEAcon is a conference you won't forget, for all the right reasons."

Thu. Sep 12 & Fri. Sep 13, 2024 | In-Person (NIU Naperville Campus) & Online

DigLitCon Digital Literacy Conference

"On average, young adults today spend nearly 10 hours a day consuming media, including at school and in their free time. Within that timeframe, they can be exposed to thousands of media messages - some of which require extra effort to analyze and contextualize.

Do these young adults fully understand what they are seeing on a daily basis? Can they distinguish between real or altered content? Now more than ever, digital literacy - the ability to use information and communication technology to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information - is a critical skill that needs attention if students are going to thrive in the classroom and beyond.

Join education stakeholders from around Illinois for a two-day conference centered on digital literacy, with presenters offering their views on how to best integrate these cognitive and technical skills into instruction across subject areas and grade levels. With this knowledge, educators will be better able to guide their students toward becoming productive, ethical, and empathetic digital citizens - both as consumers and as creators."

"The NCTM Research Conference will run concurrently with the NCTM Annual Meeting, starting Wednesday morning and running through Friday, to support Linking Research and Practice and increase collaboration between researchers and school and district teachers and leaders.

The Research Conference will include sessions specific to the research community, just as previous events have. The Research Committee is also requesting sessions that target linking research and practice and are designed to engage both the researchers and practitioners."

Educator's Corner

STEAM resources for in-person, hybrid, remote learning, and professional development

STEAM Resources Spotlight

"In the dynamic landscape of economic development, Research and Development (R&D) stands as a cornerstone by driving innovation, fostering competitiveness, and propelling economies forward. Recognizing the pivotal role of R&D in shaping the future, the Illinois General Assembly, in tandem with Governor Pritzker's visionary leadership, has enacted the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program. As a connector, convener and champion for research and technology based economic development, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, in partnership with DCEO, has been chosen to administer this important initiative.

This initiative is more than just a grant program - it is a catalyst for knowledge creation, transforming groundbreaking ideas into tangible products and services that fuel economic expansion. The Illinois Innovation Voucher (IIV) program encourages and facilitates collaboration between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and qualifying Illinois institutions of higher education. By providing vouchers to SMEs, particularly those in the early stages of development, the program is intended to drive Illinois-based innovation. From cutting-edge labs, equipment, access to expert industry research, higher education institutions across the state are primed to help companies create new products and services to boost competitiveness.

At its core, the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program serves as a conduit for the exchange of knowledge, resources, and ideas, fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange that reverberates throughout the state, fueling a virtuous cycle of innovation and growth."

"Hurricane season is officially here. To help raise awareness on hurricane hazards and the scientific resources available to at-risk communities, the U.S. Geological Survey created a short quiz on coastal storms.

Check it out - just seven questions - to test your knowledge."

"In an innovative approach to addressing uranium mining's impact in the Grand Canyon region, the U.S. Geological Survey has released a visually stunning fact sheet that combines the power of art and science."

The 'A' in STEAM

"Arts foster scientific success" -Dr. Temple Grandin

This series is dedicated to showing how art and creativity play a crucial role in our society within the STEM fields.

"Music and coding come together in perfect harmony in Music Lab, where students can strengthen their computer science skills as they create and produce music.

What's inside Music Lab?
Using pre-recorded melodies and beats, learners write code in an accessible block-based environment to compose and remix from a wide variety of genres. Music Lab lets you mix, remix, and even perform music using code.

How to get started
Go to code.org/music to get in the coding groove! Don't worry if you don't know much about code, or even music! All you need is a little time and some curiosity to start making your own creations. Some songs that can get you started:

  • "iPad" by The Chainsmokers
  • "I Need a Dollar" by Aloe Blacc
  • "Snap" by Rosa Linn

We're so excited to offer an exciting new way to connect computer science to something students already love: music! Music Lab was created in partnership with Amazon Future Engineer to empower teachers and unlock new avenues of creativity for students.

We can't wait to hear what you create!"

Please submit STEAM ideas, comments, or questions using our contact us form.