The curricular materials below have been developed by ITEST projects and shared for dissemination to broader audiences through STELAR’s resource library. ITEST projects work with PreK-12 youth in a variety of STEM disciplines and settings. Additional information is included within each entry, including information about the project’s focus and audience, as well as PDFs and/or URLs to the original resource. These materials are made available for public use through the National Science Foundation’s public access policy, which encourages funded projects to share all materials generated over the course of the grant. Unless otherwise noted, these curricular materials are free to use with appropriate credit to the organization/authors.
Profile of the Data Practitioner
Curricular MaterialsIn April 2016, a panel of Big Data experts identified the big data skills, knowledge and behaviors of a "Data Practitioner" that are needed in the workplace. The panelists represent a diverse array of industries, including biotechnology, finance, law enforcement, health care, agriculture, and public policy. This profile will be used by the Oceans of Data Institute and its community college partners–Bunker Hill Community College (MA), Normandale Community College (MN), Johnson County Community College (KS) and Sinclair Community College (OH)–to design and build course and programs leading to
DIY Toolkit: How To Come Up With Your Own Mobile App
Curricular MaterialsIntro – Mobile App Ideation WHY APPS? Well, to start with, they’re everywhere. According to the Pew Research Center, 78% of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of those own smartphones. And, perhaps more importantly, apps are also really cool! No matter what you’re interested in, there can (and probably is) an app for that. But teens don’t have to be limited to the role of consumer in today’s digital marketplace. All you need is a little know-how and an idea — which is the focus of today’s DIY curriculum. But coming up with an idea can be harder than it sounds. With all the
DIY Toolkit: Controlling Your Online Presence
Curricular MaterialsMAINTAINING PRIVACY, MARKETING YOURSELF, MAKING SOCIAL CHANGE. Love it or loathe it, social media is a powerful force in today’s constantly-documented world. Thanks to the proliferation of smart phones, high-speed internet and social networking sites, teens today have unprecedented access to their peers — and sometimes unknowingly also allow others access to their information. In short, when social media is put to good use, it is one of the most influential tools teens can use for civic engagement and social change, not to mention self marketing (just ask former YouTube star Justin Bieber!)
DIY Toolkit: Introduction To Fact-Checking For Journalists
Curricular MaterialsAs journalists — even ones just starting out — we face a lot of pressure to publish quickly, meeting our own deadlines and beating other outlets to the story. But the glory of getting the scoop doesn’t mean anything if the information you publish isn’t accurate. Corrections (or heaven forbid, retractions) do happen, sometimes to veteran journalists and well-known media outlets. But as someone just starting out, you can’t afford for your editors or readers to label you as a reporting noob who can’t be trusted with a big story. So how do journalists keep themselves and their work honest? Enter
DIY Toolkit - Sound Science: 4 Audio Project Ideas For STEM Educators
Curricular MaterialsAttention all STEM teachers — are you looking for ways to incorporate music and sound into your classroom? Check out these hands-on DIY ideas from Youth Radio’s Brains and Beakers science speaker series. Explore creative ways to experience sound — from digital visualization to science rap battles to creating your own instruments out of scrap parts.
DIY Toolkit: How To Make An Infographic
Curricular MaterialsSHOW, DON’T TELL . That’s the general idea of infographics, which use visuals to make numbers/stats/processes easier to understand. While it’s easy to enjoy a well crafted infographic, creating one can be challenging. What type of visual fits your data? How should you style your graphic? What tools can you use to create infographics without starting from scratch? Making an infographic is a multistep process, so we’ll break this tutorial into two parts. In this lesson, we’ll walk you through the basics of making your own infographic, depending on the data at hand. - See more at: https:/
d.loft Curriculum Units
Curricular MaterialsThe d.loft STEM curriculum units provide an integrated approach to building STEM knowledge and skills while engaging students in both identifying and solving real-world problems using a design thinking approach.
Genome Annotation Project Educational Resources
Curricular MaterialsThese files contain background information relevant to the genome annotation project as well as detailed instructions for each module (updated March 2, 2015).
Real-World Inspired Classrooms
Curricular MaterialsThis is a site for teachers to share and browse lesson ideas that will bring relevance and applicability into the classroom. The ideas and lessons on this site are the product of teacher-externs of the Real World Externships program, often based on their summer experience working in local businesses and industries.
STEM Digital Educational Materials
Curricular MaterialsITEST project STEM Digital shares its summer institute and seminar materials. These include PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, student worksheets, and teacher notes for doing projects with high school and middle school students.