Ohio educators, the clock is ticking! You have less than a month to secure your tickets for the 2024 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit at the early bird rate of $89. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. This year’s summit, scheduled for June 4, 2024, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees. The event features: The top 28 sessions selected from a competitive scoring system led by expert educators from across Ohio Keynote from Dr. Knatokie Ford, formerly of the White House Office on Science and Technology Policy Exhibitors, netwo ..read more

No matter what grade you teach, OSLN has programs that can help you bring computer science to your school. Get students excited, meet education standards, and teach important skills. Pathway 1: Join the Licensure Exam Preparation Program now (Join in April, sit for summer 2024 exam) Currently teaching computer science but have not taken the licensure exam? OSLN’s Licensure Exam Prep Program offers targeted support and deep dives into key exam topics. Deepen your understanding and prepare for licensure under Ohio’s supplemental pathway. The summer 2024 cohort is nearly full but applications ..read more

By Lucy Bryan One of the challenges of preparing students for careers in STEM is keeping up with rapid changes in technology and shifting workforce demands. Global Impact STEM Academy, an independent STEM school in Springfield, Ohio, offers an inspiring example of how STEM programs can grow and evolve alongside the industries their students plan to enter.  Over the last decade, Global Impact has expanded its offerings, increased its enrollment, and honed its vision, fueled by strategic partnerships and a commitment to excellence. Recently, it broke ground on a new Upper Academy facility ..read more

Friday, the Ohio STEM Learning Network hosted the State Showcase for the #STEMorbitsOhio Design Challenge at Battelle’s headquarters. This event celebrated the innovation and hard work of all participating students, culminating in the announcement of the state winners of the challenge. Read on for a photo album from the event, state winners, and a full listing of all the schools that qualified for the showcase. The #STEMorbitsOhio Design Challenge asked students to tackle a unique problem: “How do we improve the health and well-being of astronauts aboard Starlab orbiting the earth? Dev ..read more

It’s time to recognize the regional winners of the #STEMorbitsOhio Design Challenge! In this year’s challenge, students were presented with a unique problem: How do we improve the health and well-being of astronauts aboard Starlab orbiting the earth? Develop a plan, system, or product to positively impact the sustainability of the physical and/or mental health of those living in space for an extended period of time. Through the challenge, students explored the world of space exploration and other fields while prototyping real-world solutions to current problems. After advancing from school-l ..read more

“Culture trumps everything,” says Robin Fisher, superintendent and chief academic officer of the Dayton Regional STEM School in Kettering. At her school, “culture building happens first, so that learning and personal growth can occur.” And that culture – called ACE, for Accepting Culture for Everyone – fosters empathy, self-worth, respect, kindness and care so that students feel safe enough to take risks, she says.  Fisher was named the 2023 winner of the inaugural Outstanding Service Award, given by the Ohio STEM Learning Network to honor an individual who goes above and beyond their r ..read more

A STEM school and a community partner working together to improve STEM education in Ohio – that’s an award-winning combination. Such a partnership, involving the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM High School in Akron and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., has garnered the Excellence in STEM Partnership Award.  The award, given by the Ohio STEM Learning Network, recognizes a partnership that prioritizes a commitment to STEM education leading to positive student learning outcomes that could impact Ohio’s economic future. The STEM Excellence Awards are issued annually to teachers, lea ..read more

Today, Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced $6 million in grants supporting teachers pursuing licensure in computer science education. The Teach CS Grants will give full scholarships to more than 130 teachers in 2024 who take part in the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN)’s computer science programs. OSLN’s programs prepare educators to bring computer science to their schools at any grade level and any level of computer science experience. OSLN will also launch a new licensure preparation program. Over two awards and two years, up to 349 educators will receive the OSLN programming free of charg ..read more

“There are no ceilings in this classroom, no limits.” That’s how a colleague describes the learning environment fostered by educator Mary Beth Schram. The fourth-grade teacher at Incarnate Word Academy in northeastern Ohio’s Parma Heights is a member of her school’s STEAM leadership team and considers STEM to stand for “strategies that engage minds.” Her overall teaching philosophy: “All students are capable of learning, and they will meet the expectations that you set for them.”  Schram is the 2023 winner of the Ohio STEM Learning Network’s Excellence in STEM Teaching Award. The award ..read more

If you’re an educator with experience and insight to share, the deadline to apply to present a session at the 2024 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit is coming up on January 22nd. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with and empower other educators at the Ohio STEM Learning Network’s annual conference devoted to strengthening the Ohio STEM community. This year’s summit has revamped session tracks to align with the pillars of the STEM designation rubric and quality model: Culture for Learning, Learning and Teaching, Pathways to Success in Careers, and Support for Disadvantaged and Underrepresente ..read more