Minnesota Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Counselor & Administrator Conference
A PLTW Counselor/Administrator Conference is a professional development conference designed to inform school counselors, administrators, teachers, school board members, business/industry partnership members, post-secondary advisors, about the PLTW program and give them information they can use to encourage students to enroll in PLTW courses.
***Attending this session will meet the PLTW Certification requirements. ***
Where: Eden Prairie High School, 17185 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55346. Map and Directions.
When: Thursday, February 9, 2012 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $30.00 which includes refreshments and lunch.
Questions: Jim Mecklenburg, james.mecklenburg@mnsu.edu, Work cell (320) 493-5229, Home Office 763-263-2687
A map, directions, and final agenda will be sent to registered attendees via e-mail prior to the event.
PLTW STEM Education Fund
Project Lead the Way (PLTW), through its PLTW STEM Education Fund (PSEF) is connecting companies, foundations, and philanthropic organizations seeking to impact STEM education with schools interested in providing their students with an innovative, high quality STEM education program. PLTW is committed to assisting schools interested in implementing PLTW curriculum with an opportunity to apply for funding.
The application is currently open for schools seeking to implement the Pathway to Engineering (PTE) high school program or the Gateway to Technology (GTT) middle school program during the 2012-13 school year.
The PSEF involves a competitive grant process. Successful applicants will have visited at least one other PLTW school, prepared a PLTW program budget, lined up potential community partners, and developed a computer lab that meets PLTW requirements. To access the online application and further information, please visit http://grants.pltw.org/.
The deadline for applications is January 20th, 2012.
PLTW will notify schools in March, 2012 regarding the status of its application.
Grant Awards
School districts interested in starting a high school Pathway to Engineering (PTE) program are eligible for start up funds of up to $35,000 over three years. High schools must commit to implementing a minimum of four courses, a minimum of one each year, to be eligible for this funding.
School districts interested in starting a PLTW middle school Gateway to Technology (GTT) program are eligible for start up funds of up to $20,000, over two years. Design and Modeling (DM) and Automation Robotics (AR) are required units.
Use of Funds
Grant funds are restricted to training costs for teachers (no stipends) and the required equipment and supplies for the GTT program and the foundation PTE courses: Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) and Principles of Engineering (POE) and one of the following specialty courses Digital Electronics (DE), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA), Aerospace Engineering (AE), Biotechnical Engineering (BE), and Engineering Design and Development (EDD). Funds may be used to purchase the teacher laptop, lab printer, and digital projector and screen. Grant funds are not be used for renovations, lab/student computers, network infrastructure, or items listed in the PTLW purchasing manuals as “Optional.”
For More Information
For more information regarding PLTW STEM Implementation Fund and the PLTW Model Grant Program, please visit http://grants.pltw.org/ or email Arvetta Jideonwo: ajideonwo@pltw.org.
For information regarding PLTW programs, please visit www.pltw.org.
For information on PLTW in Minnesota, please contact:
- Jim Mecklenburg, PLTW State Director, james.mecklenburg@mnsu.edu
- Ken Maguire, PLTW Regional Director, Upper Midwest, kmaguire@pltw.org
2012 Rube Goldberg Competition
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.
2012 Rube Goldberg Competition.
Friday, February 10, 2012.
8:30 AM – 2 PM.
Minnesota State University,
Centennial Student Union Ballroom,
Mankato, MN 56001.
Task: Inflate a balloon and pop it.
Registration Deadline: Monday, January 30, 2012.
Registration limited to 25 teams.
Max of 3 teams per school will be allowed.
Machines must fit through a doorway that is 58.5″ wide X 81″ high,
this is reduced from national requirements
due to space limitations.
(Fee Waived)
The 2012 Rube Goldberg Official Rule Book is now available.
Register on the Rube Goldberg website.
PLEASE NOTE: Balloon Requirement Update
All entrants for High School, College and Online contests are required to supply their own balloons.
(This has been changed to better accommodate all entrants logistically)
Any questions contact: Judi Evans
1st Annual MavBot Competition
Anyone can enter a robot in the 1st Annual MAVBOT Competition.
Teams of any size (i.e. one or more persons) can enter robots however no more than two robots may be entered by any team.
When: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 9 AM – 12 noon.
Where: Centennial Student Union, Room 253/4/5, Minnesota State University Mankato.
Two participant classes are available. Novice class for Elementary and Middle School and Advanced Class for High School, College and Adult.
Novice Class Prize: Lego 8547 Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Robot
Advanced Class Prize: $250 MSU Mankato Scholarship
Pre-registration is required by sending an email to Dr. Vince Winstead.
For more information and preregistration.
East Ridge teacher vying for prestigious award
Education wasn’t an integral part of Nancy Berg’s life.
“I was raised in a family where education wasn’t important,” said the East Ridge High School science teacher.
Berg said she hadn’t even intended on going to college, let alone becoming a teacher herself.
But now, Berg has achieved numerous accolades, including being named one of three finalists in the Presidential Award of Excellence for Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
“The fact that I came from that environment, with really no positive influence, and be successful is an accomplishment,” she said. “It’s always a competition with myself.”
The PAEMST is the highest honor teachers in math and science can receive, Berg said.
A national panel selects one math teacher and one science teacher from each state to travel to Washington, D.C., to have lunch with the president, meet with legislators and receive a $10,000 prize.
“Having lunch with Obama would be one of the perks — that would be a life experience for me,” Berg said. “I didn’t look at the award from the point of getting another accolade, because I’m fine. I looked at it like an opportunity to really get my voice heard.
“I think I have a good feel of the pulse on what needs to be done. I want to be heard because I think I have something to say.”
Berg said she is most passionate about expressing the need for smaller class sizes and inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
“The teachers are the facilitators,” she said. “You are not spoon-feeding the students, they are discovering.”
The path to teaching
Berg became a teacher really by chance. It was thanks to a friend that Berg even went to college and it was there that she took a class in biology.
“The teacher was just amazing,” she said.
Because of that class, Berg decided to major in biology.
After graduation she began working on genetic research as a lab technician.
“I’m too gregarious to be sitting behind a lab bench,” she said.
It was another friend who planted the idea of becoming a teacher.
“She said to me, ‘My god woman you have the gift of gab, you should be a teacher,’” she said.
With the coaxing of her husband, Berg received her teaching license in 1984.
“I was passionate about it from the minute I started it,” she said. “ I knew so much about science, I just wanted to tell it.”
Berg began teaching in District 833 in 1994 at Woodbury High School.
“I love the way you can light up kids,” she said. “I want to engrain in them a passion to learn.”
A rigorous process
Berg’s husband Ryan nominated her for the PAEMST.
She said she almost thought about not applying for the award since the application process was so involved.
In order to be considered for the PAEMST, a teacher must submit a 15-page application addressing various questions relating to philosophy, methodology and strategies.
Additionally the application needs to include supplemental materials such as a lesson plan, resume and demonstration of how the teacher has influenced education.
The panel judges teachers on: mastery of science content, use of instructional methods and strategies appropriate for students learning, effective use of assessment strategies, reflective practice and lifelong learning and leadership in education outside the classroom.
Berg said she spent close to 120 hours on the application.
“The whole process was very intense,” she said. “It’s a very rigorous process.”
Growing STEM
Berg said she was humbled to learn she was named one of the three Minnesota finalists, out of roughly 30 nominations.
“It felt good,” she said.
Berg said she thinks she was chosen because of her dedication to East Ridge’s Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences course.
Berg was the first teacher in the country to teach the course.
“Every time you listen to President Obama speak he’s always pushing STEM programs,” she said. “The program I’ve been instrumental in developing is a STEM program.”
Project Lead the Way is a four-year course where students explore concepts of human medicine, introducing them to bioinformatics; examining the processes, structures and interactions of the human body; studying prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases; and investigating innovative and designing innovative solutions. The course is centered around an inquiry-based, hands-on approach.
The winners of the PAEMST will be announced this winter.
Berg said she thinks she has a pretty good shot because of her STEM program.
“I don’t think personally I’m any better qualified than most, but it’s the fact that I took the initiative on this STEM program,” she said. “I’m sure the other people are just as qualified teachers, but I think I have a good chance because of the STEM program.”
Originally published August 31, 2011 in the Woodbury Bulletin. Written by Amber Kisbert.
MN Project Lead the Way 2011 Regional Conferences
Join us for a one-day conference about how to successfully use Minnesota’s PLTW curriculum and how it supports student attainment of Minnesota Academic Standards. We are using a regional conference model, rather than a statewide conference, to provide greater access to our PLTW schools and those schools that may be interested in implementing the program. The daily agenda/schedule is intended to be open in order to accommodate teachers’ scheduling needs. Please arrive at the beginning of a session. There is no charge for the conferences. PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
Funding support for conferences is provided by the 3M Foundation.
REGIONAL CONFERENCE LOCATIONS
September 19-October 24, 2011
| 9/19/11 (Monday) |
Ridgewater College, Willmar REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept. 15, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 9/26/11 (Monday) |
Minnesota State University, Mankato REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept. 20, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 9/30/11 (Friday) |
Saint Paul College, St. Paul REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept. 26, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 10/3/11 (Monday) |
Hennepin Tech, Eden Prairie REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sept. 27, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 10/7/11 (Friday) |
St. Cloud State, St. Cloud REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct. 3, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 10/14/11 (Friday) |
Bagley High School, Bagley REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct. 10, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
| 10/24/11 (Monday) | Alexandria Tech, Alexandria REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct. 18, 2011 |
Conference Program Information |
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE/AGENDA
| 9:00-10:00AM | Introduction of Co-Affiliate Directors and MN PLTW Update Dr. Kurt R. Helgeson, Associate Dean, College of Science and Engineering, St. Cloud State University and Dr. Aaron Budge, Chair, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Minnesota State University |
|
| 10:00-10:15AM | Break | |
| 10:15-10:45AM | Critical Issues Breakout | Jim Mecklenburg, MN PLTW Program Director |
| 10:45-11:00AM | Discuss Issues | |
| 11:00-Noon Potential PLTW Program Participants are invited to begin here. |
Frameworks Overview and Other Curricula Resources | Kristil McDonald, Clearbrook-Gonvick |
| 12:00-12:45PM | Lunch Buffet | |
| 12:45-2:00PM | Frameworks Continued | Kristil McDonald |
| 2:00-3:00 PM | Addressing Critical Issues Q & A | Jim Mecklenburg |
| 3:00PM | Conference Adjourns | |
| 3:30-4:30PM | PLTW Information Session for Schools Considering Implementation | Jim Mecklenburg |
Minnesota State University, Mankato and St. Cloud State University are the new engineering affiliate partners for MN Project Lead the Way. The University of Minnesota will continue as a PLTW participant but will no longer carry leadership responsibilities. As engineering affiliate partners both St. Cloud and Mankato offer college credit for PLTW courses. In addition, St. Clouds offers Industrial Technology scholarships and Minnesota State Mankato offers $500 scholarships for PLTW alumni. Dr. Kurt R. Helgeson, Associate Dean, College of Science and Engineering, St. Cloud State University and Dr. Aaron Budge, Chair, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Minnesota State University serve as Minnesota’s Affiliate Directors.
For further information about Minnesota’s Regional PLTW Conferences contact:
Jim Mecklenburg, MN PLTW Program Director, james.mecklenburg@mnsu.edu
Judi Evans, MN PLTW Affiliate Assistant, judith.evans@mnsu.edu
PLTW CORE Training
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) CORE Training was held at Minnesota State University Mankato from July 31st – August 12th. Three courses were offered: Gateway to Technology Basic (GTT), Principles of Engineering (POE), and Digital Electronics (DE). For more information www.pltw.org.
Building Success for Latino Students with Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
Building Success for Latino Students with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) will be held at Ridgewater College-Willmar Campus in the Outreach Room, Building F, Second Floor on Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Park in Lot C-East. There is no cost to registered participants.
See the Building Success for Latino Students with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) flyer.
The purpose of this session is:
o To identify barriers and challenges faced by Latino students to enter STEM career fields
o To show the support systems available to schools today.
o To give school staff interested in PLTW the information necessary to make an informed decision if PLTW is right for their students, how to fund and how to connect with a support network.
o To give new administrators, school board members, business partners, legislators, and others an understanding of the benefits of PLTW in Minnesota and where PLTW is at.
o Recognize and sustain quality PLTW programs in MN
Lunch will be served. Costs for lunch/refreshments are supported through the Minnesota Center For Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence (MNCEME) www.mnceme.org
For more information, contact Jim Mecklenburg at james.mecklenburg@mnsu.edu or 320-493-5229.
MSU effort provides a taste of science and engineering to Latino students
MANKATO — A few hundred Latino high school students from around the state came to Minnesota State University Monday to get a taste of science and engineering, and to see if pursuing a career in either would suit their desires.
If a few of them pursue science, the conference will have been worth it. But for the Latino students, the battle just to get to college, much less excel in science or engineering, is one that begins well before a student steps onto a college campus for freshman year.
“A lot of Latino students drop out in high school,” said Guadalupe Quintero, director of Latino Affairs at MSU.
Monday’s conference, called Latino Engineering and Academic Day, gave them access to positive role models, MSU engineering students and faculty, and advice on how best to make sure they can get into college.
From The Free Press, Mankato, MN, February 28, 2011 by Robb Murray, Free Press Staff Writer. For the complete story, see Tuesday’s print edition or e-edition.
*****
From Editorial, The Free Press, Mankato, MN, March 4, 2011.
To Minnesota State University for hosting Latino Engineering and Academic Day this week. The event was put on by the Minnesota Center for Excellence in Manufacturing and MSU’s Latino Affairs Office. The focus of the day was to provide Latino high school students from southern Minnesota with a glimpse of science and engineering, as well as offer advice on how to get into college.
The importance of reaching those students is evident when considering the high school graduation rate for Latinos, which is about 48 percent. Of that number, only a portion go on to college. Nationally, of the estimated nearly 50 million Hispanics in the U.S., only about 13 percent have a college degree.
For many Latino families, the idea to forgo college for the sake of the family is culturally acceptable. This week’s workshop even addressed how to educate parents about how higher education can be financially manageable with the help of aid, grants and scholarships.
Encouraging Latino students to pursue higher education makes sense for their future and for the future of our area communities.
Summer Science and Engineering Camps Available at College Campuses Across Minnesota
It is time to start thinking about summer camp 2011. Several are available for Junior and Senior High school students this summer. There are many engineering camps available on college campuses across Minnesota. Camps are being offered by Alexandria Technical College, Anoka Technical College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Minnesota State University Mankato, Normandale Community College, St Paul College, South Central College-North Mankato Campus, and South Central College-Faribault Campus.
Engineering and Manufacturing Summer Camp at Alexandria Technical College
The camp includes engineering hands on experience, manufacturing shop hands on experience and tours of industry. This camp is limited to students from District 206-Alexandria with completed PLTW courses in 8th grade. 4 sessions.
Mon-Thu, Jun 13 – 16, 8 AM – 3 PM Alexandria Technical College
Camp Build My Future at Anoka Technical College
The camp includes hands on college level activities and exposure to multiple technical career paths.
For more information, contact Sarah Patnode at 763-576-4775 or e-mail spatnode@anokatech.edu. Ages: 11 – 13.
Mon-Fri, Jul 13 – 22, 9 AM – 2 PM Anoka Technical College
ICC Senior High Summer Engineering Camp
This 6-day residential camp fee includes: meals, lodging, project supplies, and outings.
Activities encompass: problem solving & team building challenges, hands-on design projects (computer applications, radio control and robotic interfacing, structural design challenges, 3-D modeling & graphics, alternative energy work, and the list goes on ……), guest speakers and industry tours, sports and recreational outings.
For more information, contact Kim Damiani at 218-322-2370 or e-mail Kimberly.damiani@itascacc.edu. Scholarships are available. Cost: $350. Grades: 10 – 12.
Mon-Sat, Jul 11 – 16 Itasca Community College
ICC Junior High Summer Engineering Camp
This 4-day residential camp fee includes: meals, lodging, project supplies, and outings. Activities encompass: problem solving & team building challenges, pulleys, levers, electricity, cool gadgets, robotic programming challenges.
For more information, contact Kim Damiani at 218-322-2370 or e-mail Kimberly.damiani@itascacc.edu. Scholarships are available. Cost: $285. Grades: 7 – 9.
Wed-Sat, Jul 20 – 23 Itasca Community College
Mesabi Range College STEM Camp 2011
The camp includes fun, hands-on learning in the area of Natural Disasters: The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math behind predicting, preparing, preventing and responding.
For more information, contact Lisa Kvas at 218-744-7587 or e-mail l.kvas@mr.mnscu.edu.
Mon-Fri, Jul 11 – 15, day camp Mesabi Range College
ZAP Camp Physics at Minnesota State University
Learn about physics in fun, hands-on way. Spend two mornings at Minnesota State Mankato doing physics experiments. Specific camp instructions will be mailed to campers prior to camp. For more information about ZAP CAMP, contact Judi Evans at 507-389-2110 or email Judith.evans@mnsu.edu. Scholarships are available.
COURSE #: 5350. Cost $20. Registration deadline is June 10, 2011 and must be done through www.mankatocer.com.
Tue & Wed, Jun 21 – 22, 9AM – 12 PM Minnesota State University Mankato
ZAP Camp Engineering at Minnesota State University
Experience engineering by building a bridge and solving an oil spill disaster. Learn even more about engineering on Minnesota State Mankato’s ropes course. Specific camp instructions will be mailed to campers prior to camp. For more information about ZAP CAMP, contact Judi Evans at 507-389-2110 or email Judith.evans@mnsu.edu. Scholarships are available. Deadline to register: Friday, July 8. Completed grades 6-8. 3 sessions
COURSE #: 5351. Cost $60. Registration deadline is July 8, 2011 and must be done through www.mankatocer.com.
Tue-Thu, Jul 19 – 21, 9 AM – 4 PM Minnesota State University Mankato
ZAP Camp Robotics at Minnesota State University
Learn about robots in fun, hands-on way by building one. Spend two days at Minnesota State Mankato building a robot. Specific camp instructions will be mailed to campers prior to camp. For more information about ZAP CAMP, contact Judi Evans at 507-389-2110 or email Judith.evans@mnsu.edu. Scholarships are available. Limited to 20 students. Completed grades 6-8. 2 sessions
Cost $40. Registration deadline is July 22, 2011 and must be done through www.mankatocer.com.
Tue & Wed, Aug 9 -10, 9AM - 3:30 PM Minnesota State University Mankato
Engineering is Math and Science and Creativity Too! STEM Camps for Middle-school Girls
The camp includes project work to include creating a simple desktop model of a hovercraft.
For more information, contact Nancy Louwagie at 952-358-8738 or e-mail nancy.louwagie@normandale.edu.
Mon-Fri, Jul 11 – 15, day camp Normandale Community College
Mon-Fri, Aug 1 – 5, day camp St Paul College
ZAP Camp at South Central College-North Mankato Campus
South Central College is offering a summer science, technology, engineering, and math camp (STEM) to children, ages 11-15. The camp will focus on project-based, hands-on experiences in fields such as Mechatronics, global information systems, and micro biology. There will also be a social and physical recreation component. Camp concludes with campers presenting their projects to their family and friends at celebratory picnic on campus. All snacks, lunch, and project materials are provided. Enrollment is limited to 50. Some scholarships are available. More information will be mailed to registered campers prior to the camp week. Ages: 11-15, 5 sessions.
COURSE #: 5352 $135. Registration deadline is July 8, 2011 and must be done through www.mankatocer.com.
Mon- Fri, Jul 18 – 22, 9 AM- 3:15 PM South Central College-North Mankato Campus
ZAP Camp at South Central College-Faribault Campus
South Central College is offering a summer science, technology, engineering, and math camp (STEM) to children, ages 11-15. The camp will focus on project-based, hands-on experiences in fields such as Mechatronics, global information systems, and Energy and Construction technology. There will also be a social and physical recreation component. Camp concludes with campers presenting their projects to their family and friends at celebratory picnic on campus. All snacks, lunch, and project materials are provided. Enrollment is limited to 24. Some scholarships are available. More information will be mailed to registered campers prior to the camp week.
For more information, contact Nicole Tacheny at 507-389-7427 or e-mail Nicole.tacheny@southcentral.edu. Cost is $75. Ages: 11-15, 3 sessions.
Registration deadline is June 30, 2011
Tue- Thu, Jul 12 – 14, 9 AM- 3:15 PM South Central College-Faribault Campus
