Author: Asana Draper
Chelsey Dey at INL
My externship opportunity resulted in my participation as a BRIDGES intern with INL’s k12 outreach.
I experience first-hand how INL and BRIDGES engages high school and university students in current bioenergy research that is being conducted across national labs. The project I assisted with was the development of a sargassum feedstock case study. I also experienced the piloting of its resources.
I am truly appreciative that I had this opportunity. I was able to develop skills in curriculum development, research, and case study design.
Rachel Harry at International Rescue Committee
Over the summer, I have had an exceptional experience with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Boise. The IRC plays a pivotal role in assisting refugees to rebuild their lives, advocating for their rights, and guiding them towards self-sufficiency.
As a member of the Youth Services team, I had the privilege of interacting with children from diverse backgrounds as they prepared for the upcoming school year. A highlight of this experience was participating in the School Readiness Camps, where we supported youths aged 10-17 in acclimating to the U.S. school system. These camps focused on practicing English, understanding the daily routines of American students, and fostering relationships to help the children feel safe and confident in their new environment.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is proud to collaborate with esteemed community partners in Boise, enhancing opportunities for our youth clients. This summer, our young participants engaged in enriching STEAM camps and outdoor activities, fostering both education and environmental stewardship. Science proves to be a powerful medium for connecting individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, uniting us in our shared commitment to environmental conservation and lifelong learning.
The courage and resilience displayed by these young individuals as they embark on their educational journey in a new country have been profoundly inspiring. This experience has provided me with fresh insights into supporting multilingual learners at my own school, and I am eager to apply these perspectives in my math teaching.
Chris Martin at Idaho National Laboratories
This summer I assisted as a mentor of high school CTE Interns. A group of 20 high school students were hired by the INL as summer interns to learn about the INL and future job opportunities. We would spend each week of this 6 week internship at a different site or location of the INL. At each location we would work with the different trades employees and learn what they do to support the experiments and studies performed at the labs. It is awesome learning about nuclear and other forms of clean energy. The students get a lot of hands on experience with all the different tradesmen at the sites, so they can learn what kind of work someone may do and how to get into a job like that. As a student I helped facilitate the experiences with the students and worked along side them.
Linda Atwood at Veterans Chamber of Commerce
I spent the summer helping the chamber with HubSpot which is similar to the student tracking programs and learning the ins and outs. I helped develop a donor engagement guide. The donor engagement guide was like a lesson plan or parent engagement plan, basically lines out what they do and how they plan various interactions with various donors. Similar to how I plan out all the potential answers and questions I might run into during a lesson plan. Overall, it was a good experience and glad I did it.
Suzi Richey Kearns at Girl Scouts
This summer, I had the opportunity to work for the Girl Scouts remotely. It was a great experience! I had my baby in June, which was the best flexible working option. I did research, experienced a few new places, and contacted new people. I learned more about the STEM experts in the Eastern Idaho area. I also learned how those experts can help the girls in Girl Scouts and my second-grade classroom. I enjoyed utilizing and figuring out the areas that were available near me and how they would partner with the Girl Scouts and my classroom. The most exciting experience was finding time to experience the experts and then sharing if they were a helpful resource. In the Girl Scouts, they work on badges and establishing relationships with community partners. I am so grateful that I connected with a few of those relationships in the area. I found a bee-keeping place so that the girls could use Nature to create patterns. I was also able to see the Legacy Flight Museum airplanes and share that it was a great resource for a STEM career. Overall, the experience was a great externship experience. I will be able to contact those resources in the future in my classroom and even share the great experience of working with the Girl Scouts with my students. I am also interested in having my daughter one day join the Girl Scouts.
Alaysha Whitworth at iDrone with Dr. Ryu
Opportunities iDrone Provides
The iDrone Program at the University of Idaho, led by Dr. Ryu, introduces students to the growing field of drone technology, while also connecting them with career opportunities in STEM. Drones are being used in various industries such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, construction, and public safety, creating an increased demand for skilled pilots.
In Idaho, careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are expanding rapidly, with drone technology playing a critical role in industries like precision agriculture and conservation. According to the Idaho STEM Action Center, STEM jobs in Idaho are projected to grow by 15.4% by 2030, outpacing the national average (Local News 8) (Idaho Education News) These positions often require advanced technical skills that can be developed in high school through programs like iDrone.
Students interested in drone-related careers can get involved early by taking STEM classes, participating in technology clubs, or attending specialized camps like iDrone. These opportunities not only build foundational skills in problem-solving, coding, and engineering but also give students practical experience in navigating the world of drones. For Idaho specifically, students can explore internships and job shadowing opportunities to understand how drone technology is applied in fields such as environmental management, engineering, and even healthcare. By combining early education with hands-on programs like iDrone, students are well-positioned to enter high-demand STEM fields and help address the shortage of qualified workers in Idaho (Idaho Education News).
My Externship Experience
Dr. Ryu is collaborating with Idaho teachers through the Idaho STEM Action Center’s Externship Program to shape the future of iDrone. Exciting possibilities include dual-enrollment college credits, high school drone competitions, drone bots, and even drone soccer! As a science educator, I’m eager to deepen my expertise in coding and technology to bring innovative experiences into my classroom. Working with Dr. Ryu and other iDrone externs this summer has been incredibly enriching, broadening my understanding of future career paths in STEM. This externship has given me hands-on experience with coding, building drone bots, and learning what it takes to create these technologies. I’m thrilled to continue learning from Dr. Ryu as we expand iDrone opportunities in high schools across the region!
Julia Sharkey at CBS2 News
I externed with CBS News last summer and had an excellent experience so was delighted when we both wanted to work together again. Since my first externship, Jacob Boone, my supervisor and the promotions manager at CBS News, and his wife Jaynee Boone, the General Manager of the Hampton Inn Boise Airport, both served as Business Professionals of America regional competition judges for me. Jacob also often provided equipment and studio setup advice for my yearbook program, which helped save my school hundreds of dollars. Since the connections I’d made last summer greatly benefitted my classroom and my program I was looking forward to participating again.
Because we had already established working relationships and I’d received training in equipment and company procedures, we were able to do a greater variety of projects. Like last summer, I helped produce CBS News’ coverage of the 4th of July parade, including shooting promotional materials, planning parade order and camera shots, and assisting with production and sound for the parade itself. In addition to that, I was able to assist on a number of different shoots throughout the summer including a jib shot over the Boise foothills and another over the greenbelt, a commercial starring an obscenely photogenic bulldog (thank you Batta Fulkerson Law Group), and an interview with Debbie Critchfield-the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Some of the things I appreciated most about working with CBS was the diversity of experiences I had, the trust and confidence they put in me, and the kind and welcoming nature of their staff. I look forward to sharing these experiences in my classrooms in the future, particularly the knowledge I’ve gained regarding production of live events, working with a diverse range of clientele, and the immense amount of creative problem solving, critical thinking, and agile reaction skills this career field requires. Most importantly, I hope the connections I’ve made through this program will continue to benefit my students, as the access to industry and content experts has already proven invaluable. I would highly recommend any teacher, rookie or veteran, to take full advantage of this program.
Brian Coffey at Global Bound, LLC
What an incredible experience I had as a first-time Extern with the Idaho STEM Action Center! I was matched up with Global Bound, LLC, which is an organization run by Mike Krause that helps nonprofit organizations be more impactful and successful. Mike was really great to work with and I feel very lucky to have landed the opportunity. My first project was interviewing leaders of various nonprofit organizations from across the state in an effort to identify common “pain points” nonprofits are experiencing in the current economic age, and to find out how they are using modern technology to solve their problems. I was so impressed and inspired by the passion, commitment and expertise all of these leaders have and how important and impactful their work is in their (our!!) communities.
Another project I worked on was analyzing what resources are available to nonprofits in our region including new and old funding sources and mechanisms, as well as technology including AI software that is explicitly designed to help funder and nonprofits make the Nonprofit/Philanthropy sectors more efficient and effective. I was surprised to learn how data driven processes might unintentionally channel financial resources away from nonprofit organizations that provide truly vital services and resources to the most vulnerable and deserving members of our communities. There appears to be a lot of hope that using AI will actually help match generous funders with nonprofit organizations that will help our communities solve problems together.
I learned a LOT from Mike and from the leaders I met with and from the research I conducted. I know much more about my own community and what resources are available, including how important the nonprofit sector is as an employer in Idaho. I know my students in high school will benefit from my experiences as much as I did when I share with them what learned this summer!
Kelli Andrews at INL
My externship with INL was fascinating and humbling. I learned about cyber security and got to realize there is so much more to know. I was truly impressed with the college interns who taught the classes! Sometimes it is good to realize how much this next generation is taking on!
I also had the opportunity to help with INL summer camps for various ages. Met some amazing instructors and was impressed with INL summer school staff.
Thank you for this great experience!!!
Stacy Bluma at Idaho Business for Education
Rejuvenating My Teaching Career: A Summer with Idaho Business for Education
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to dive deep into the world of educational leadership and business collaboration through my work with Idaho Business for Education (IBE). The experience not only expanded my understanding of the intersection between education and business but also revitalized my passion for teaching. Here’s a glimpse into the impactful projects I worked on and the valuable lessons I learned along the way.
Exploring the Mission of Idaho Business for Education
Idaho Business for Education is a dynamic organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of education in Idaho by fostering collaboration between educators, businesses, and policymakers. Their mission is to bridge the gap between the educational system and the needs of the business community, ensuring that students are prepared for the demands of the modern workforce. Working closely with the leaders at IBE allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for their role in shaping educational outcomes and driving systemic change.
Project 1: SOAR Analysis of the Principal Partnership Program
My first major assignment was to conduct a SOAR analysis of IBE’s Principal Partnership Program. SOAR—Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results—is a strategic planning tool that focuses on the positive aspects and potential growth areas of a program.
To complete this analysis, I engaged in extensive research that included surveys, interviews, and review of relevant data. I connected with program participants to understand their experiences and gather feedback. This comprehensive approach enabled me to present a detailed report highlighting the program’s strengths, such as its robust support network and impactful professional development opportunities. Additionally, I identified key opportunities for growth, offering recommendations to enhance the program’s effectiveness and reach.
Project 2: Addressing Summer Learning Loss in Idaho
The second project involved researching summer learning loss and identifying summer learning opportunities in Idaho. Summer learning loss is a significant concern for educators and policymakers alike. My task was to explore this issue in depth and present actionable insights to combat it.
Through research and data analysis, I developed a multimedia presentation aimed at helping leaders understand the scope of summer learning loss and advocate for additional resources. This presentation included visual aids, data-driven insights, and practical recommendations for creating effective summer learning programs.
The Impact on My Teaching Career
My time with Idaho Business for Education broadened my perspective on educational leadership and reignited my enthusiasm for teaching. I had the chance to collaborate with influential leaders in the business world, gaining valuable insights into how education and industry can work together to achieve common goals.
The connections I made and the knowledge I acquired will influence my approach to teaching and advocacy in the future. I returned to my classroom with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the broader educational landscape. My summer with IBE was a remarkable journey of professional and personal growth. The opportunity to work on meaningful projects and contribute to important initiatives has left me inspired and eager to continue making a difference in the field of education.
Allyson Randall at GuardRailz AI
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a teacher extern at GuardRailz AI, a company that is breaking new ground in educational technology. As an educator, I am always looking for innovative ways to bring technology into the classroom. During my time at GuardRailz AI, I was deeply involved in working through bugs in their platform, which is currently in beta. This hands-on experience gave me a front-row seat to the intricacies of AI on the back end—knowledge that I am excited to bring back to my students.
Working with the team at GuardRailz AI, I gained invaluable insights into the mechanics of artificial intelligence. Understanding how AI algorithms function, how data is processed, and how to troubleshoot issues are skills I believe will be incredibly beneficial in the classroom. With this deeper knowledge of AI, I feel more confident guiding my students through the complexities of this rapidly evolving technology.
I wholeheartedly believe that there is no future where AI can be kept out of classrooms. Instead of resisting this change, I see it as an opportunity to prepare my students for a world where AI will play an integral role. This year, I am thrilled to introduce GuardRailz AI’s platform to my classroom and build a comprehensive unit around AI. My goal is to provide my students with both the theoretical understanding and practical experience they need to navigate an AI-driven world confidently. By integrating AI into my teaching, I hope to inspire the next generation of learners to be not just consumers of technology, but also creators and innovators.
Neva Telford at INL
I began my externship at the INL working with Jana and her incredible interns who organized and executed an amazing cybersecurity camp for students entering grades 9-12. I have several items that I was proud to say I learned to do: circuitry and coding in Lenox and Python, putting together a raspberri pi computer, refreshing my long term memory in binary numbers and learning to count binary on my fingers.
Jana did an amazing job organizing and managing interns and student activities and expectations. I loved being able to coach our interns on wait time and my limited knowledge of tech also provided them with a student to run through their presentations on, providing feedback on how to use wait time, slow down instruction, and successfully transition from one area of instruction to another.
After cybercamp I had the opportunity to support the STEM camp for middle level students and instructors. I love working with the youth and the summer flew by much quicker than I expected. I am amazed how incredibly bright these young students are and how enthusiastic they can be when it comes to learning a new skill.
My circuitry training in cybercamp came in hand with STEM Camp as I was able to teach and help coach students through a simple circuitry activity. I also had the opportunity to teach students about orienteering and how this skill is still needed, as we don’t have the ability to have access to internet 24/7, especially in rural parts of Idaho that we might visit to camp or hike.
I learned so much from my experience as an extern at both the Cybercamp and STEM camp, as did some of my students who attended. These camps inspired students and myself to start a Madison Tech Club. We meet twice a week after school and every other Friday during lunch.
Our tech club, using their knowledge from camp, created presentations about opportunities they learned about while at camp. So far we have over 25 students who are interested in Cyber Patriot, Girls Who Code, eCybermission, Vex Robotics and NASA TechRise.
My students also want to put together a cybersecurity escape room as a Friday lunch activity where students can attempt to escape using their knowledge of cyber and coding, similar to the activity provided during the camp. We recently received a STEM Grant that will support Tech Club.
Thank you INL for providing an invaluable opportunity for students and educators. We are so blessed to have such an inspiring STEM research facility in our own back yard and we need to work harder to engage students in STEM, Inquiry, and Real World Solutions to problems in our own communities.
Michael McCormick at USDA Forest Service
Working with the USDA (Forest Service) was an incredible experience. I met many new people and strengthened relationships from last year’s externship. The backgrounds of the different professions were as diverse as last year, including Archeologists, Fish biologists, Wildlife biologists, Botanists, Civil engineers, Hydrologists, Fire and Heli teams, Forestry, and others like Political Science. Similar to last year, I continued to engage individuals and learned the different paths taken to get to where they are in their professions. I continue to bring these stories back to the classroom to inspire students and to guide their interests.
Something new I learned was that most seasonal summer jobs require students to apply in the fall or winter months of the year before the job becomes available. To tackle this problem will be an ongoing process and yearly commitment to help bring awareness to these early/beginner STEM jobs.
I continued to gather information on many different lab techniques and processes that would be useful in the classroom. I learned many new ways to gather data and monitor the forest. I will continue to incorporate these techniques into the classroom and help enrich students’ experiences with outdoor labs.
One of my new experiences included using drones to 3D map the Wapiti drainage system. Unfortunately, this system is currently on fire. However, because of drone technology, we have great data to compare the before and after effects of fire on the hydrology system and have a visual record of all the streams plants, and trees.
I also helped to design several experiments and enhanced my R coding skills to develop new survey techniques for gathering post-fire data in the field.
This opportunity is invaluable. A continued thank you to Idaho STEM Action Center and the USDA for this amazing and fulfilling experience. I believe that this second externship has provided even more real-life examples that will directly apply to and impact students in the classroom!
Karlene Markham at EIJATC Local 648 Plumbers & Pipefitters
For my extern position I worked with Kendal Gray at the EIJATC with a headquarters in Pocatello, but the trade college is out of Blackfoot. I had the chance to learn the process that the school uses for applicants, the interview and selection process based off of a point system. I helped the school create a record of intern hours for their students, helped make student’s school transcripts, and include a count of work performance forms that the students had submitted. I had an interesting time seeing how to use welding, grinding, and threading equipment in working with stainless steel pipes, and was able to learn how pipefitters use math to calculate angles, length, diameter, using the same math skills that me students are learning how to master. I learned a lot about how unions operate in funding trade colleges, and how pay is calculated based off of skill and years of experience. I learned how employees of the union pay dues and what those dues are used for (insurance, schooling, union staff). I had the opportunity to use what I learned to help make letters out of stainless steel pipe, by using math, drawing the dimentions, and cutting, spot welding the parts together, and those pipe letters will be used as part of the sign that will go out in front of the union offices in Pocatello. One of the aspects that was neat to see about the trade college was how that they work within a state and region with different companies and universities to determine where a student gains professional expereince to be able to count in their placement in the program. I really enjoyed seeing the school, and how they used math, the tools and equipment, as well as the learning enviornment to help teach their aprentices the professional skills that they needed to be able to do professional work that had a good salary, retirement, benifits that can go anywhere with them. I observed how the students attitudes going into the application, testing, interview and skill sessions influenced their employability along with the actual abilities to use the technology and math, and I felt that it helped me visualize the type of professional mind frame and skills that I could help my students master so that they can be sucessful in careers that use technology. Kendall (the EIJATC school operator) made a great point that often times kids will say they will never use the math that we spend so much time teaching them, however in the plumbing and piperfitter, or construction world professionals do use those math skills, and seeing it being used in that type of a professional setting helps me feel that the gap is that students need to use it in more meaningful ways that they can get excited about the math that they are learning, and I feel like it can get my students more excited that what they are learning in school has real meaning and isn’t just numbers and information on a test. I feel like this STEM opportunity to experience a field that was so different from what I have ever done was a great experience for me as a teacher because it made me more aware of careers around me, and that helps me have more ideas about how I can present information to my students in a meaningful way that helps them to be more qualified to work in different industries that can target kids with very different interests.
Donovan Dahl at ETS Broadband
This year, I was lucky to embark on a completely new direction with the Externship. Working with and through ETS Broadband, my extern partner and I worked together informing residents of rural communities about a Federal Grant to offer free High-Speed Internet to their communities. We went door to door, made phone calls, spoke with community leaders, and even had a booth at the Lincoln County Fair. At one point we did a Secret Shopper to expose the many “untruths” pretty much all of the major players offer. Some offer serious high speeds, but when tested, came to a fraction of the speed. Some offer “cheaper prices,” and end up blowing up after three months. This was a great way to unite rural communities (where I teach), with the opportunities of Federal Funding and the importance of high-speed internet at reasonable prices. I will be able to bring this back to my STEAM class this year showing the science of broadband, expressing the process of engineering the actual fiber optics and laying the lines, the different graphic designs that we used in flyers as art, and obviously everything together is the technology of broadband. I would love to work with this group again and look forward to externing again this upcoming summer. Attached are some pictures that include: One of the flyers we door knocked with, a few maps of the areas we walk and knocked, and a screenshot of how we layered different maps to know when and where to make contacts.
Penni Aufderheide Keck at Idaho Department of Career Technical Education
Reflections on My Summer Externship at the Department of Career and Technical Education
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as an extern at the Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE). Although my experience was remote, it proved enriching and transformative. I am excited to share my journey and the valuable lessons I learned.
A Unique Remote Experience
Working remotely presented its own set of challenges and advantages. I connected with dedicated professionals from the comfort of my home, which allowed for a flexible work schedule that promoted productivity. The team was incredibly supportive, making communicating via video calls, emails, and collaborative platforms easy. This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability in today’s work environment and taught me how to maintain effective communication across digital channels.
Learning About the CTE Department
One of the most rewarding aspects of my externship was gaining insight into the inner workings of the CTE department. I learned about the various initiatives designed to enhance career and technical education, including mentor curriculum development, teacher training, and CTSO support. It was inspiring to understand the department’s mission to prepare new teachers to teach and provide them with the skills necessary for success. I now have a deeper appreciation for the impact of CTE programs on new CTE Teacher hires and the students and communities in which they work.
Diving into New Software
I was introduced to several new software tools for creating educational resources throughout my externship. Learning how to navigate these platforms expanded my technical skills and allowed me to see firsthand how technology can enhance teaching and learning. The hands-on experience with these tools has equipped me with valuable skills for future endeavors.
Creating a Mentoring Site
My primary project during my externship was developing a mentoring site designed to support new CTE teachers and their mentors. This project involved researching best practices for mentoring, designing user-friendly features, and collaborating with team members to create a comprehensive resource hub. Contributing to a project that aims to provide a new framework to be used and expanded was fulfilling. It will also support new educators, helping them navigate the challenges of their roles. I learned the importance of building a solid support network for teachers, which ultimately benefits student learning and success.
Conclusion
My externship at the Idaho Department of Career and Technical Education was an invaluable experience that broadened my knowledge, honed my skills, and deepened my passion for education. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful project and connect with dedicated professionals in the field. As I move forward in my career, I will carry the lessons learned and the relationships built during this summer with me, eager to make a positive impact in the world of education.
Cameron Baker at INL STEM Scholars
I had the privilege of getting to work as an extern this summer with the INL’s STEM Scholars Program. Although I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into initially, I can say that I am so grateful to have had an opportunity to spend my summer working with this program. There are so many benefits to participating in the externship program, but I wanted to take just a moment to go over the top 3 that were most important to me.
First, working as an extern provided me with opportunities to network with so many different educators and other professionals who I would not have crossed path with otherwise. Some of these people who were fellow teachers who helped pass along valuable teaching strategies and classroom management ideas to me from their many years of experience. While others are professionals who work for companies like the INL who are now friends of mine who are willing to help me out when it comes to writing grants for my classroom or securing extracurricular opportunities for students of mine. Meeting these people through the externship program will provide benefits for both myself and my students for many years to come.
Second, working as an extern provided me with daily opportunities throughout the summer to practice working on my classroom management skills in a “live” setting. As a teacher who is still fairly new to teaching in the classroom, these opportunities provided me with invaluable time in front of students that I wouldn’t have received elsewhere over the course of my summer break. The reality of the fact is that one can read as many books and watch as many videos as you want to on subjects like classroom management, but there is no replacement for practicing those skills in front of real live students. Being able to workshop different ideas and techniques that I had been wanting to possibly implement into my own classroom during the school year in a more low pressure environment like the STEM Scholars summer camp was so beneficial to me. I can already tell that it is having a positive effect on the way I am teaching the students in my own classroom so far for this school year.
Third, working as an extern provided me with an opportunity to grow and learn as a student myself too. A lot of the different lessons and activities that I was a part of during the STEM Scholars camp were outside my content area. While I initially thought this might be too much of a challenge for me, the student inside of me quickly became excited and enthralled with the various things that I would get to learn and experience alongside the students I was teaching during the course of the summer. Before STEM Scholars, I was a music teacher who had little to no experience with things like computer science, robotics, and coding, but after having completed my externship this summer, I am a music teacher who knows how to code, can do some basic programming with robots, and more. While I am still not 100% sure how this relates to me and the work I do in my band classroom, I am excited that I had opportunities to expand upon the knowledge I have in my own brain now. If nothing else, I feel like I can serve as a much better advocate for the other teachers I work with at my school and how important STEM is to the students we work with every day here in our school.
In conclusion, I would highly encourage any teachers who are interested in learning more about the summer externship program to pursue the opportunity. The benefits I went over here are only a few of the many different positive experiences I had during my work with the INL and their STEM Scholars camp. There are also so many different avenues and opportunities for teachers to pursue when it comes to the externship program. Working with the INL is only one of countless opportunities that are available to you out there. I can almost guarantee that there is something for everyone out there, no matter what content area you teach in or what subject(s) appeal to you. Do some digging, find out about all of the different opportunities available to you, and interview for anything that sounds of interest to you. The worst they can do is tell you “no.” When you find the right fit for you though, all of that work will be more than worth it. I can definitely attest to that from personal experience.
Stacie Pollard at Three Island Crossing State Park
This summer, I partnered with the Idaho Stem Action Center and Three Island Crossing State Park to increase community involvement and share resources between the local school district of Glenns Ferry and the park itself.
I spent over 200 hours this summer planning and implementing activities at the park with a background in STEM, as well as writing lesson plans that educators could use as they introduce field trips to the Education Center at the State Park.
These activities included the following:
1. Native plant presentation by BLM expert, followed by a hands-on planting event where participates planted and took home a Lewisia flower
2. Nature walk with a scavenger hunt
3. Birdhouses (participants built small wooden birdhouses while learning about local species of birds
4. STEM structures out of spaghetti noodles and marshmallows
5. Hiking a portion of the Oregon Trail while discussing hardships and challenges of Pioneers
6. Presentation on primary resources and journal entries of various Pioneers who made the journey and the hard choice to cross the Snake River at Three Island Crossing (participates were encouraged to write their own journal entry)
Overall, we had more than 60 participants throughout the summer. It was a successful learning experience for myself as I learned many resources the State Park has to offer. As a 3rd Grade teacher, I will be using the lesson plans created to encourage enthusiasm and a deeper understanding before a field trip to Three Island State Park and the Education/Interpretive Center.
A giant thank you goes out to John at Three Island Crossing State Park, Halle at Idaho STEM Action Center, and the generous sponsor, Micron for funding this externship.
Shelly Harrop at Dr. Jae Ryu – University of Idaho
For my externship this summer I had the privilege of working under Dr. Jae Ryu with the iDrone, Interstate Drone League, program. Dr. Ryu’s iDrone program is hands-on where students build their own drone and learn drone fundamentals at the same time.
I was also able to participate in the externship program the previous two summers with Dr. Ryu. During those two summers I was a facilitator for his online iDrone camp for students grades 6th thru 12th. I was the coordinator for students from Rigby, Idaho and was able to host 26 total students on-site. I was also able to invite 12 fifth graders to the camp and spend an extra day with only them so that they would be better prepared for the iDrone camp. My favorite part of this experience was facilitating students in building a drone from scratch and then transferring their drones into an iRobot. Another part of my externship last year was to write a 2-week drone unit for 5th graders based on Dr. Ryu’s iDrone camp. I used this knowledge to assist me with my externship project this year.
This year I was able to attend the iSTEM Summer Institute at the College of Western Idaho and participate in the drone program that Dr. Ryu facilitated. During this week I was able to participate with other educators across Idaho in learning how to bring Dr. Ryu’s iDrone program into the classroom. We were also able to hear from two guest speakers with drone experience. Our first guest speaker was from the the College of Western Idaho and was based out of the agriculture department. We learned how CWI currently uses drones with crops. Our second guest speaker was from College of Eastern Idaho. Our guest showed us how to fly a drone and let us experience flying one also. My time during this week helped me better understand building drones from an educator’s perspective.
For my final externship project I worked with Renee Nigon, a 6th grade teacher from Sandpoint, Idaho, to create a combined 5th/6th grade drone unit. Our driving question of the unit was, “How can we as students design a solution to a real-world, community problem using drone technology to improve our local communities?” In order to answer this question, we first addressed drone fundamentals, the history of drones, drone uses around the world, and coding. to students in a manner that allowed them to have a strong foundational understanding that they could use in future lessons to build a working drone. for our unit, we utilized resources from Dr. Ryu’s iDrone camp in order to align with the work done in his camp and make it more accessible to both educators, 5th grade students, and 6th grade students.
Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about drones including the increasing demands and uses.
Rachel Jensen at Kootenai County Boys and Girls Club
This summer I worked with an awesome team at the Kootenai County Boys and Girls Club in Coeur d’Alene, ID. My externship was unique in the fact I brought my expertise and knowledge in STEM and collaborated with the Club team members on how best to create an enriching STEM program for the kids this summer. By providing resources, materials, ideas, lesson plans, building tools, and a list of high need recyclable/consumables they can hang up in the club or send home to help them quickly gather supplies to make a STEM class successful. Each week I taught three to four different STEM lessons for various age groups that complimented the current week’s theme of their summer camp.
The last two weeks of the summer, the Club was willing to let me create a breaker/maker-space. I gathered up several different old pieces of technology ranging from fax machines to desktops, and the kids tore them down completely to create materials for our maker-space. When the materials were organized into bins, easy to see and access, we were able to use artists like Steven Rodrig for inspiration. Our goal was to create as many projects as we could; the kids created six projects that will be auctioned off at the Club’s annual charity event in September.
Shannon Andrade at The Discovery Center
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a teacher extern at The Discovery Center, where I learned about the center and the educational outreach that is offered. As a docent on the museum floor, I engaged with visitors, helped reset the activities and played with Legos. I also supported summer camps where I saw kid’s excitement of STEM and hands-on learning. The highlight was learning about the Mummy Exhibit. Additionally, I contributed to career exploration content, blending my passion for education with the museum’s mission to inspire future generations. My experience at The Discovery Center was so rewarding, leaving me with a renewed commitment to make learning come to life for all our students.
Elizabeth James at Soleni Shoes
A Summer of Innovation and Learning: My STEM Externship Experience
This summer, I embarked on an incredible journey that combined my passion for STEM with the creative world of design and entrepreneurship. My externship took me into the heart of a unique venture led by Lindsey Carmichael, an orthopedic physician assistant who transitioned into the role of a shoe designer. Lindsey’s mission was to create orthopedic footwear that not only supported feet but also looked and felt great. Here’s a look at what I did and learned during this transformative experience.
Exploring the Intersection of Healthcare and Design
The externship began with an immersive introduction to Lindsey’s innovative approach to orthopedic shoe design. What struck me most was how Lindsey’s background in healthcare influenced her design philosophy. She was determined to address the practical needs of those with foot issues while ensuring the shoes were stylish and desirable. It was inspiring to see someone bridge the gap between medical expertise and consumer fashion.
Diving into Backend Applications with Shopify
A significant portion of my time was spent working on the backend applications of Shopify, which is crucial for any Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) company. I learned how Shopify’s platform can be leveraged to enhance business operations, from managing inventory to optimizing the user experience. This was particularly valuable as I worked on improving the return and exchange process for the company.
Streamlining the Return/Exchange Process
One of my key projects was to refine the return and exchange process. By analyzing current practices and identifying areas for improvement, I helped develop a more streamlined process. This not only improved customer satisfaction but also enhanced overall service quality. It was gratifying to see how small changes could significantly impact the customer experience.
Enhancing Customer Feedback with Okendo
Understanding customer feedback is vital for any business, so I worked with Okendo to solidify our customer review system. I helped ensure that feedback was gathered effectively and used constructively. This involved setting up review prompts and analyzing responses to better understand customer needs and preferences.
Fit Testing and Design Communication
Fit testing was another critical aspect of my externship. I conducted various tests to assess how well the shoes fit different foot shapes and sizes. This information was crucial for relaying accurate fit and design feedback to our developers, ensuring that the final products met high standards of comfort and functionality.
Promoting Soleni Shoes at a Trade Show
One of the highlights of my externship was attending a shoe show where we promoted Soleni Shoes. I assisted with organizing line sheets, which are essential for order placements, and helped with general organization and design elements. This experience was eye-opening, as it showed me the importance of effective presentation and networking in the fashion industry.
Reflections and Growth
My externship was a blast and a remarkable learning opportunity. I gained hands-on experience in both the technical and creative aspects of a growing company. Through this journey, I improved my communication and problem-solving skills and gained a deeper understanding of the design and redesign process. The experience also taught me about the importance of integrating customer feedback and maintaining high standards in product development.
Overall, working with Lindsey Carmichael and the Soleni Shoes team was an unforgettable experience. It reinforced my passion for STEM and design and provided me with invaluable insights into the dynamic world of footwear innovation. I’m excited to carry forward the skills and knowledge I gained into my future endeavors.
Keith Wohlwend at Idaho Power
The summer I got a bachelors in electrical engineering.
Okay I did not go back to school (again!) but that is what it felt like being an extern for Idaho Power this summer. The combination of job shadowing, hands on experiments, discussing everything electric, and learning was powerful. I am a dad of two amazing kids, so you might see some more dad jokes.
Speaking of kids, one of my worries was that I would not have much time to enjoy the summer with my kids since I would have to “work” over the summer. My site host Angela Miller, an education and outreach coordinator for Idaho Power, made it clear that they would be very flexible with time constraints, and even encouraged me to bring my kids with me on some days. Suffice it to say I’m extremely grateful for the teams I had the privilege of working with this past summer. Here’s a little snippet of the experiences I had this summer.
The first goal of my externship was to build some lessons for my 9th grade physical science classes’ electricity unit. I have already had Angela and lineman come to my classroom and give a presentation on safety around high voltage lines (if you haven’t had them come into your classroom find your Idaho Power rep asap!). Angela had tested out an electric grid card sort activity in the spring in my class and I figured I could expand upon that. The big idea of the lesson is to track the flow of electricity in making a piece of toast, fun! I put some flare into the pictures, and then had the idea that students should connect the grid using different colored yarn, one for transmission lines and the other distribution lines. Students really have to work together now! I loved working on the information for the back of the card, as one does when you are researching you go to a reputable website and gather the information you need. I did that for part of the information BUT I had access to direct information from Idaho Power. The office staff, who I don’t think I annoyed too much with my constant stream of questions, filled in real world data on everything from power consumption, infrastructure, and even more fun facts on generation of electricity. Thanks Chris, and the rest of the Idaho Power Twin Falls crew!!
I also had the opportunity to work with and be mentored by DaNel Hogan a science educator who eats breathes and swims in a constant state of science and STEM. She’s won a bunch of fancy awards and is a big deal. She runs the wired for wonder strand at the CSI iSTEM. You should seriously book her for a science PD. But she took time out of her schedule to meet with me and push me along on the electric grid building lesson and model that was my second lesson/project. She helped guide me and even got the glue gun out for building a model electric grid. I love hands-on activities and making a working electric grid hit all of my science teacher highs. I can’t wait to see what my students do.
I would also like to thank two Idaho Power staff that I shadowed:
Paul Ortman, a principal electrical engineer and guru, guided me through an actual experiment he was running on electric versus magnetic fields created by transmission lines and their effect on underground pipes and fences. I missed him on the day he was working on the problem, but he got the whole experiment out again and we set it up and the next two hours were a constant flow of questions, whiteboarding, and digging into the intricacies of the electric grid. I smile everytime I think of that day, I’m pretty sure I got a few more folds in the ol’ brain after that experience.
And Wes Aquioso for literally showing me the ropes. I met Wes at the “yard” at 7:00 am and we got right to work. The first task was to run power to a brand new home under construction. I thought he’d flip a switch or move a line or something simple nope. We were digging space for the sweep, the name for the curved section of pipe you don’t see underground but that feeds electricity from the pole to your meter and electrical panel. Then another lineman, Dave, and I pulled the super thick aluminum line from the pole and through the protective pipes we just glued it together to the new electrical panel. These guys make it look easy. Again there was a constant onslaught of questions by me and they both just rolled with them. Their knowledge was impervious, as well as their concern for safety. I didn’t realize how much lineman are constantly scanning the environment, power poles, connections, and job site conditions to make sure everything is in perfect working order so that we can all make a piece of toast.
So jazzed to teach the unit on electricity this year!
Keith Wohlwend
Wood River High School
Science Department
Michelle Aoi at Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education
As a first-year extern I had a wonderful time working with the Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education. The beginning of my externship started almost a year prior when I had a discussion with Janine Hodges at the CTE Connect Conference about the need for mentors for Idaho CTE instructors at the high school level. From there bloomed a wonderful partnership between myself and IDCTE. Throughout my time with IDCTE, I worked with another extern to to develop a framework for mentoring at the high school level.
My main focus for the externship was to create a bank of questions to ask the CTE teacher while being mentored. As many of us know, teaching is not just about the work we do in the classroom, there are a variety of items we do in addition to teaching. These include lab and materials ordering and management, advising student organizations, and participating in professional organizations. My discussion bank hoped to bridge the gap between the focus of classroom teaching and all the “extras” CTE teachers must also focus on. Working with IDCTE was a wonderful experience. I was able to work remotely from any location, allowing me to continue completing my additional duties as an Ag. Teacher and personal responsibilities. Even though I was completely remote, I felt 100% supported by IDCTE while working on my project. I had weekly check-ins that were productive and time efficient. I would definitely consider working as an extern again based on my experience this year.
Brittany Sanchez at Idaho Department of Labor
This summer I worked with the Idaho Department of Labor to determine the requirements for a registered apprenticeship program for Apprenticeship Coordinators. I learned so much about the opportunities provided in Idaho through apprenticeship programs! I am excited to share with my students what I’ve learned about the career opportunities available through apprenticeship. Through the work, I was given a chance to hone my skills with excel, research, data analysis, and surveys. I particularly appreciated how this externship was completely remote and had a flexible schedule.
Sara Duncan at Micron
ID1 – Expansion Planning
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with the ID1 – Expansion Planning Department at Micron in Boise, ID. I worked remotely for the majority of the externship, but I was able to spend 3 days on campus. WOW – Micron is doing big things in our little community.
The project that I was asked to complete was to gather data, stats, and information about the 15Billion dollar expansion that is currently underway in Boise. I took the information and turned it into infographics that are being used in PowerPoint presentations internally to communicate the progress of the project within the expansion team. While they are a “team”, there are several different areas that the members are focusing on and they wanted the information about the project to be accessible but also tangible and in terms that might be memorable.
I had no idea what a semiconductor was and I had no idea that there could be so many different engineers working for a company – all doing different parts but having the same end goal.
I was able to speak with engineers of all backgrounds, hiring managers, construction managers, and so many more as I tracked down information that would be useful to the scope of the project.
I made so many valuable connections that will help within my own classroom, school, and community. It was great to get a peak into the world of a Micron employee, and I can’t wait to share that with all current and future students.
This is truly the coolest opportunity that I had so far in my career! To be taken out of the classroom and placed in the real world version of what I am teaching was so amazing.
Betsy Despain at TD Construction
Working with TD Construction has been enlightening for me. I have learned the ins and outs of construction from footings and foundations to concrete and fence building. I have also learned about marketing and social media. I was able to start a social media page for the company, drive around to jobs, post pictures of the progress made on those jobs. I appreciate their patience with me, and the things I was able to learn about construction processes.
Samual Smith at University of Idaho: College of Engineering
I worked with the University of Idaho’s (UI) College of Engineering. I assisted the computer engineering department as they administered two coding camps in Boise and Twin Falls. The students and I learned so much about the methods and means to code robotics and games. I also helped in improving the College of Engineering’s ambassadorship program. The ambassadorship program sends UI engineering students to local K-12 schools and engages them with exciting activities. Each activity informs students on what it means to be a “problem-solver” or an engineer. My primary responsibility within the program was to refine the materials that the UI ambassadors would take with them. These included guiding slideshows, informative instructions for ambassadors and follow-up worksheets for students. To better inform me on my duties, responsibilities and available resources, I had the opportunity to interview several UI engineering professors and researchers over the course of three days. Through this experience I am far more informed about what it means to be an engineer. I feel fully comfortable to counsel, direct and prepare my future students in the expansive field of engineering. Members of the UI staff were incredible and I am deeply grateful for their professionalism and contribution to the betterment of STEM fields in Idaho.
Cherydan Onishi at U of I Minidoka County Extension Office
Hello, my name is Cherydan Onishi and this is my second year doing the extern program. I was placed with the University of Idaho Minidoka County Extension Office again but this year I had a different focus on what I was doing for the extension office. My focus this year was planning and implementing STEAM activities for lunch in the park and learning/teaching coding with legos.
Lunch in the park was a great experience for working with a variety of ages and different personalities. Each week I would plan an activity and go to three different parks throughout the week for the children.
My favorite part was the coding with Legos. This was my first time working with Legos that could be programmed to do different things, so I was nervous to take on the task of teaching Lego classes. I attended a class on how to code the different projects and it was fascinating how a tub of Legos can do so many things.
I was volunteered to teach coding with Legos at the Wilson Theater. It was an amazing learning experience. I taught the students some of the different Lego parts that were used in all of the projects that were available on the program. Then I had them practice building a sled that could drive forwards and backwards. After that the students were able to make a project of their choice. I had students make a bowling lane, a swing, a helicopter, and more. I was so astonished on how quickly they caught on and were teaching me new things on the coding app.
It was another great summer externing for the Minidoka Extension office and I hope to do it again so I can continue to broaden my knowledge.
Stephanie Aguilera at Franz Witte
One of the most eye-opening aspects of my experience with Franz Witte was realizing the pervasive nature of marketing. It became evident that marketing is not confined to the business world alone but is also integral to education. Just as businesses use marketing to attract and retain customers, educators employ similar strategies to convey information effectively to students. This realization highlighted how essential marketing is in various contexts and how it can shape perceptions and engagement.
Key Takeaways: Comprehensive Plant Knowledge: I learned about the fundamental needs of various plants, from soil requirements to optimal watering techniques.
Marketing Proficiency: I learned to navigate and utilize tools like Canva, ChatGPT, Work Management Apps, and Adobe Express was instrumental in understanding how modern marketing operates.
In summary, my externship at Franz Witte provided me with practical skills, expanded my understanding of different business functions, and highlighted the broader applications of marketing. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to applying these insights within my classroom.
Kim Gross at Girl Scouts of the Silver Sage
This summer has been rewarding and challenging. I have been doing an externship with the Girl Scouts of the Silver Sage creating some online content for some of their badges. I am a high school computer science teacher and am not good with younger kids, but through the help of my cohorts I have been able to adapt and have created over a dozen videos and slide shows to help leaders who know nothing about Cybersecurity and Coding teach the Cybersecurity and coding badges for the girls.
Here is one of the videos I created. I have done all the work virtually, so I don’t have any pictures to show unlucky.
I am happy with the outcome. I have tested them on some of my granddaughters and they have said Papa did a good job, so I’m hoping the rest of the world thinks the same. Thank you to the Girl Scouts of the Silver Sage and the Idaho STEM Action center for this great opportunity. I hope I can do it again next year and continue my learning outside of my normal box.
Matt Dyorich at Idaho Health Care Association
I had the opportunity to write curriculum for an IHCA online course. I spent many hours researching, writing and gathering resources. I also had the opportunity to attend and help at their annual conference. The Externship Program was a great learning experience and pushed me out of my comfort zone while still using the skills I have gained as an educator. I networked with the medical community and really gained insight into what it takes to get a career in the medical fields and am now able to share that with my students.
Brandon Crain at INL
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to join the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for an externship that was an absolute blast. The program, designed as a hands-on summer camp, was tailored for students from 2nd to 8th grade. I loved showing these young students the world of science and technology was both creative and fun.
Throughout the camp, we explored a variety of engaging activities, from interactive experiments to real-world problem-solving challenges. It was amazing to see students’ eyes light up as they learned about computer programing and robots through fun and inventive projects. Whether it was building simple circuits or creating paper robots, the hands-on approach made learning feel like an adventure.
One of the highlights was students witnessing the birth of new baby cows on a field trip to a local dairy. Students learned how technology is utilized in the real world. Along the trip they also experienced the miracle of life.
This externship was a great reminder of the importance of early STEM education and the impact it can have on shaping future innovators and careers. Seeing these young students engage with science in such a dynamic way was a fantastic experience, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.
Here’s to many more summers filled with exploration, discovery, and the joy of learning!
Renee Nigon at University of Idaho Interstate Drone League (iDrone)
This summer I worked with the Interstate Drone League (iDrone) at the University of Idaho, developed and facilitated by Dr. Jae Ryu. In Dr. Ryu’s program, students build a drone from scratch and learn basic coding exercises using Arduino and MIT Scratch and hear local professionals share their applications to solve real-world problems.
Last summer, I worked at both an in-person camp in Sandpoint, Idaho and an online camp hosted for middle school aged students. Building upon my experience from the summer before, I had the opportunity to collaborate on a curriculum with iDrone, professors at the University of Idaho, a current University of Idaho student, and Shelly Harrop, a 5th grade teacher in Rigby, Idaho. Shelly and I first had the chance to work together in the previous summer via an online iDrone camp.
Shelly and I collaborated to build a curriculum that introduces coding and drones to 5th and 6th grade students. One of the goals of the curriculum was to ensure there wasn’t a barrier with resources or materials. Sometimes with STEM curriculum, there is a barrier with finding the materials or needing funding. We wanted to make it easy for educators to introduce drone technology and coding to their classrooms, without any challenges. Our driving question of the unit is, “How can we as students design a solution to a real-world, community problem using drone technology to improve our local communities?” Throughout the unit, students will investigate uses of drones, make connections to their community, and brainstorm how to use drones to solve real life problems that students identify within their communities. Students will create a prototype of their drone idea and will present their drones and findings to their peers in a Gallery Style presentation at the end of the unit.
In the unit, we collaborated with University of Idaho iDrone and incorporated resources from the program that would be easy for educators and students to access. We also enjoyed having the opportunity to collaborate with a University of Idaho student who created an iDrone workbook. This workbook provided guidance on how students could creatively interact with the material and allows space for students to brainstorm and note their ideas in multiple ways.
Mary Castronova at Idaho Department of Labor
This summer I had the opportunity to work with the Idaho Department of Labor in the Registered Apprenticeship Division. My job was researching the requirements for becoming a Workforce Consultant under an apprenticeship program. This was a fully remote externship whereby we had meetings online via TEAMS. This entailed learning about state and national labor laws and programs. It required an extensive amount of research regarding what it takes for an individual to become part of an apprenticeship program and the skills required to go into the workforce. My tasks were to research what specific skills an entry-level workforce consultant needs in order to successfully do their job. I contacted various employers and employment agencies and created a survey for individuals at IDOL asking specific questions regarding the requirements for one to become a workforce consultant. From that survey, I compiled a “job requirements” document that could be used to set the criteria and standards to be mastered for a person choosing the workforce consultant career path. The apprenticeship program requires 144 hours of instruction, so I needed to find educational pathways related to the field of a workforce consultant and display the various courses a person could choose from. I found a multitude of free online courses as well as programs requiring a fee. In completing my research, I learned what it takes to work behind the scenes with the Idaho Department of Labor and how much work goes into just one career path. I am excited to take back what I learned and share this information with students and career counselors.
Robin McKinney at Silver Sage Girl Scouts
This year was my second year participating in the externship program. My host this year was the Silver Sage Girl Scouts. I learned an incredible amount during my time working this summer. Girl Scouts is a program that focuses on helping girls become well-rounded individuals. The activities and opportunities that this program provides to young girls is far above my initial understanding of Girl Scouts.
My initial task was to create a spreadsheet breaking down the highest awards and leadership awards. This included defining the award, the steps the participants needed to fulfill the award requirements, and examples of the awards.
The next task that I focused on was creating a booklet that contained all of the information accumulated in the spreadsheet. The goal of this booklet is to provide a go-to document that participants and their adults can refer to in assisting participants in accomplishing the highest and leadership awards.
I very much enjoyed working on these tasks! One of the reasons I enjoyed it so much is that I learned an incredible amount about the Girl Scouts program. I had no idea the level to which this program supports their participants. Another aspect that I enjoyed about my externship this year is that I learned a lot about using Canva, which is the program I used to create the booklet. Learning about Canva has been one of my goals over the last year and this was the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish this goal.
I hope that the Girl Scouts program can continue to use the work I performed!
Myriame Fisse at On Ramp Boise State
Embracing Growth and Community Engagement through ONRAMP Externship
As a Library/Media Paraprofessional Librarian at Hawthorne Elementary School, I am always seeking ways to enhance my teaching methods. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Idaho STEM Action Center’s externship partnership with Boise State’s ONRAMP program. This transformative experience connected me with industry leaders, educators, and community partners passionate about STEM education. Through hands-on projects and collaborative sessions, I gained a deeper understanding of practical STEM applications and learned why each one of their student mentors was pursuing a STEM career. Hearing their personal learning journeys made a significant impact on me. The externship provided new strategies and resources, especially through Apple’s “Your Apple Teacher Journey,” to make STEM more accessible and engaging for my students. Integrating real-world problems into the curriculum will inspire students to think critically and creatively. The externship also emphasized the value of community engagement in education. Building connections with local businesses and organizations will provide unique learning experiences and mentorship opportunities. Additionally, integrating technology into outdoor learning, supported by Apple tools will help me create dynamic, interactive lessons. As I prepare for the new school year, I am excited and confident in my fresh perspective on teaching. I am committed to fostering a learning environment that encourages curiosity, innovation, and community involvement. I look forward to sharing these insights with colleagues and inspiring students to explore the endless possibilities STEM offers.
Kendria Ashby at Girl Scouts of Silver Sage
I have loved the summer externship program. It is very nice to have a way to earn extra money during the summer. For my externship, I worked with the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Program. I created a Community Partner Resource Guide for troop leaders to use. I started by creating a list of badges and the steps required to obtain them. I researched various businesses that could potentially help girls reach each badge. It was very interesting to learn about all the educational opportunities available to kids in areas across Idaho. I found lots of STEM, outdoor, creative arts, and life skills learning opportunities. I contacted all the businesses that I researched and sent them a survey.
From the survey responses, I created a resource for troop leaders. I organized and formatted a document detailing all of the community partners that responded to the survey. I listed which badges these partners could help with and what areas the partners were located in. The guide is very detailed and was designed to be user friendly for troop leaders looking for opportunities for their girls. For remote locations of Idaho that did not have many available opportunities I tried to find online free learning resources and videos to help with various badges. I learned a lot about the Girl Scout program. It is much more well-rounded than I ever thought it was. I also learned there are many more courses available for kids to sign up for to have well-rounded experiences. I plan to eventually homeschool my kids and many of these resources would be great learning opportunities for homeschooled children. I am also excited to share some of the resources I found with my coworkers at my school.
Todd Fogdall at Micron Gives
I was able to leverage my experience with K12 outreach programs to complete an evaluation of Careers in a High Tech World, one of many STEM outreach programs that Cathy Ammirati administers through Micron’s philanthropic arm, Micron Gives. This program evaluation allowed me to experience Micron’s culture and day-to-day life at levels I didn’t expect, including an in-depth tour of Micron’s research and development fabrication facility, where Micron’s team members craft state-of-the-art semiconductor “recipes” that are used in their high-volume production facilities around the world. Thanks in part to the CHIPS and Science Act, high-volume production will return to Boise in 2025 when the company’s new ID1 facility, currently under construction, comes online in 2025. Micron needs employees to fill thousands of positions at these new facilities in Idaho, as well as at new facilities in upstate New York, so the influence of K-12 programs is a high priority for the company.
Evaluating Careers in a High Tech World required interviewing almost two dozen Micron employee volunteers, as well as a handful of school district participants and students. As most people are aware, students from underrepresented and/or marginalized communities are usually not provided the same level of exposure to the possibilities provided by a career in STEM, and the results of my evaluation showed that while these programs work well for students with pre-existing interests in STEM, they often fail to capture the imaginations of students from those marginalized areas, including rural and economically disadvantaged communities in Idaho.
The research on these kinds of “informal learning experiences” is that, much to teachers’ chagrins, they often have more influence on students than the formal experiences they get in traditional school settings. More importantly, however, is that students are able to see themselves in the people they interact with when visiting sites like Micron’s. As they say, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Ultimately, my recommendations for the program, in addition to a few logistical suggestions, are that Cathy and her team equip Micron employee volunteers with methods and strategies for engaging with students more deeply, with the hope that they will take those experiences and use them in bringing a career in STEM to fruition.
Katherin Dickson at ETS (Eminent Technical Solutions)
I had the opportunity to work with ETS this summer and have learned some new things about internet access, as well as federal and state funding to improve broadband internet access in Idaho. ETS is a tech company that serves the Magic Valley. They are a very innovative and collaborative company that is a partner/coordinator for the Idaho BEAD Program, which is the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment grant, that is funded through the state Idaho Office of Broadband within the Idaho Department of Commerce. I assisted ETS with the Magic Valley Coalition of Counties, and their implementation of expanding broadband in their rural communities. The grant has many phases and components. I assisted with marketing for current internet users to complete speed tests to verify their current internet speeds, to fulfill the challenge process within the grant requirements that assists in ensuring and replacing current services with improved ones.
I spent the remainder of my summer actually in the rural towns knocking on doors and informing residents that new OpenAccess Idaho fiber optic lines will be installed in their community this fall. The residents have the opportunity to receive a free fiber optic line dug from the new main line to their home, which sets them up for a quick and easy install with the service provider of their choice. I was knocking on doors and leaving informational material so the residents can take advantage of this opportunity. I learned that these new fiber optic lines will be owned by the respective county, and the OpenAccess allows for multiple internet service providers to utilize them, which will not only increase speeds but will help with costs for internet plans. I also did this by attending the Lincoln County Fair and participating and handing out materials in the Camas County Fair parade.
Overall, through the summer I was able to gain valuable insight into how rural communities currently have internet access, the affordability issues that can arise in rural areas, and the grant funding opportunities available to counties from state and federal agencies. I also got to work with some smart and wonderful people in rural towns that I have never visited before.
Kenneth Graham at Teton Toyota (Marketing)
I had the amazing opportunity of joining Teton Toyota and the Teton Auto Group marketing department during my externship in 2024. You may be asking yourself what does marketing have to do with STEM, and what could I possibly bring back to my students?
A term that I’ve learned in marketing is “activation.” This is basically what you are going to do in order to draw people in and interact with them. We did anything from playing carnival games at the rodeo to coding challenges at the Ronald McDonald Family Movie Night. I look forward to bringing this philosophy back to my students by activating their curiosity with activities that will get them excited about what they are going to learn.
Gray and his team do a great job of focusing on relationships rather than just trying to sell cars. Over the course of these three months, I got to participate in so many events and make connections with other businesses and non-profits in the community. I cannot wait to use who I have met and what I have learned to benefit my students. There are already plans to partner with some of these establishments and bring in experts in areas to enhance their education.
Overall, I would not trade this experience for anything. I learned a lot, got to help put smiles on faces, and was part of a company that really is like family.
Kristin Jones at Boise Urban Garden School
“Life happens when you experience new things.” That was one of the nuggets of wisdom I got to hear while working at Boise Urban Garden School this summer as an extern. While I was up to my elbows (literally) washing and pitting cherries, I thought about the truth of that statement, and I decided that this blog post should include all of the awesome, new experiences I’ve gained during this summer externship.
This is the first externship I’ve ever done. I had heard of the externship program before, but as an English teacher, I assumed that an externship through the STEM Action Center wasn’t for me. I decided to apply to the externship program on a whim this past spring, and I figured, “I can apply, and let others decide if I am qualified or not.” And I am so glad that I did. This externship has been a profoundly positive experience.
At this externship, I have gained new skills and experienced new things. As an English teacher, I love adjectives. Descriptive words are my jam. One word I would never use to describe myself is “outdoorsy.” This externship has pushed me out(doors) of my comfort zone, and as a result, I now have a fun new repertoire of outdoorsy party tricks as a result.
I was out on a walk with a good friend the other day, and out of context, I spotted a carrot growing in a rocky area of her neighborhood. Prior to this externship, I would have just assumed it was a weed, but when I tell you I saw that little leafy patch of goodness, I knew in my bones that it was a carrot. I pulled it up to show off this new party trick, and voilà – carrot! I can also do this with inedible flowers, like the Milkweed in the photo, but this is less amusing to my nieces, so I stick to the edible flowers for my party tricks.
I can now identify all sorts of edible flowers – my nieces think this is an incredibly fun party trick! Nothing quite like the cool aunt who will walk up to a seemingly random plant, name it, rip off a flower, and start eating said flower. Some of the flowers I have used to show off this party trick are Snapdragons, Pansies, and even the weed Purslane.
At this externship, I have tried all sorts of new-to-me foods. In addition to not being outdoorsy, I am also not a culinary queen. I can cook well enough to survive but making a meal sparks little to no joy for me. In addition to running garden camps in the summer, BUGS also has amazing culinary summer camps (as well as culinary classes for adults, teens, and families throughout the year – highly recommend checking those out). The culinary campers harvest garden-fresh produce and then provide lunch for all the campers and staff at BUGS, which means I get lunch every, single day. It’s literally the best! Here are some of the new-to-me foods I have gotten to try this summer as a result of this externship:
- Veggie burgers made with oats
- Watermelon mint agua fresca
- Falafel
- Crispy Tofu Katsu
- Samosas
- Mint Chutney
- Lemon Curd Pavlova
This summer externship has been an important reminder for me to take risks and try new things. While I do enjoy a good summer rot, this summer of trying new things has been a much richer, restorative experience that sitting on my couch and watching videos until my vision goes blurry. I feel energized for the school year ahead, and I can’t wait to find opportunities to share all of the knowledge I’ve gained with my students.
If you’ve been on the fence about wanting to try the summer externship program for any reason, I hope that this well help sway you to take a risk for next summer and see what cool new experiences you can find for yourself!
Tiffiny Coffey at International Rescue Committee
This is my first year as an Extern through the STEM Action Center and I am loving the experience. I was placed with The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in their Cash Assistance Program. “The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, we now work in over 40 countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas.” In Boise, The IRC works with refugees who are beginning to make Boise their home to help them become self-sufficient.
My job was initially going to be working in support of the Cash Assistance Program and their efforts to enroll new-to-country families. However, a drop in arrivals led to me being used in many different capacities across the organization. I have loved getting to learn about all aspects of the process of acclimating families to a new country. The IRC is there to support families (AKA clients) from the initial airport pick up, through temporary housing placements, and cultural and financial education. The IRC also helps clients find jobs and get into permanent housing so they can work toward financial self-sufficiency. I have helped interview clients about their previous job experiences and preferences, helped clients make budgets and created resumes for clients. I have also helped document and organize client information and tried to help ease the workload of my wonderful co-workers.
Through this experience, I have been reminded of the importance of understanding people’s stories and keeping the person first. That can only be accomplished when people are curious and open to new experiences. This reminder will help me focus on what is important when I return to the classroom in August.
Steve Shaw at Hard way Pipeline
Ian Norland at University of Idaho iDrone
The summer of 2023-2024 found me excited and grateful for my 2nd year Externing with Dr. Jae Ryu and the University of Idaho iDrone program. We mounted a powerful effort to host drone camp programming this Summer but ran into personal medical issues, institutional hurdles and time crunches. Nevertheless, I was able to pay forward a lot of institutional learning and hopefully pave the way for future successes. After spending last Summer orienting myself within the emerging technology of drones and writing curriculum for digital and in person youth development programming, I was ready this year to take on new challenges. This year I developed a drone design challenge, created a readiness to benefit survey and committed to studying for and taking the part 107 FAA exam. Aptly though, the testing center had technology issues during my exam, and I am now in the process of rescheduling:-l . I found great latitude for learning during my time at iDrone and as such I greatly appreciate Dr. Ryu’s flexibility, open mind and wildly intelligent guidance.
Theresa McSweeney at State of Idaho Department of Human Resources
Vast experiences awaited me at the State Department of Human Resources. I met with several agencies, all captured in my one-pager. I dispelled stereotypes of state employees and saw how similar they are to those who serve our children and teachers. Through my field trips and experiences, I recognized the need for agencies and the state to play a larger role in student learning.
By using a one-pager with links directed to educators, agencies can spread the word to teachers with a simple marketing tool. They can include a link or two, then email BLAST it to our school districts.
The takeaways and classroom/community integration opportunities feel endless. Agency field trips and experiences can be applied to the classroom and community in various ways, utilizing the relationships built through the externship. Agencies offer great opportunities for learning about our state and its resources!
I developed several lessons through the externship. By utilizing the real data provided on agency websites, students will develop a deeper knowledge of data and how it is visualized. To foster autonomy and leadership development, our class will create an economy and society where students take the lead in day-to-day procedures, make decisions about their learning atmosphere, and explore other growth opportunities. The lessons, one-pager, web design experience, and connections made will all be applied to the next group of students and teachers I interact with.
Leslie Albor at GuardRailz
During my externship at GuardRailz, I learned about different types of AI: standard, generative, general, and diffusion. I also gained hands-on experience with their various AI bots, including learning and assistant bots. This experience allowed me to understand the importance of teaching students about digital citizenship. Additionally, I helped the GuardRailz team identify and resolve bugs to safeguard the GuardRailz platform and helped create video tutorials for troubleshooting. I also collaborated with other externs to give input on what to name each feature on their platform. All of these activities helped me gain a comprehensive overview of how AI can be integrated into various platforms and how important it is to maintain security and privacy while using AI in the educational setting.
Other important things I learned about during my externship at GuardRailz included the importance of prompting, asking the bot to answer questions one at a time, and telling the bot to randomize responses. This insight was crucial for improving the interaction experience and making the bot more user-friendly. Furthermore, I explored the platform by creating educational lessons that I could implement in the upcoming school year. This gave me practical experience in lesson planning and curriculum development. I am also working on helping GuardRailz create tools and examples for educators to help them see how they can use AI in the classroom and to help foster an open mindset where educators can feel comfortable using AI in education. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time at GuardRailz, which has given me the knowledge on how to effectively integrate AI into my educational practices.
*Written with the help of GuardRailz’s Blynker bot ☺️
Tober Dyorich at Idaho Health Care Association
I had the privilege of doing my externship remotely with Idaho Health Care Association (IHCA). My responsibilities focused on providing feedback on how their websites were set up and on reviewing the content of their courses. I suggested edits or used my graphic design skills to provide other graphics to include in the curriculum. As the externship progressed, I was also able to design some brochures for IHCA as well.
IHCA wanted me to find pain points and suggest ways to improve their online material, as I would be a set of fresh eyes looking through it. I enjoyed working with and getting to know the team at IHCA, as well as their contracted IT team. It was neat to see their website and classes be updated and improved as we met and worked during the summer.
During my externship, I learned how important it is to think about how someone who is not familiar with the website and content would feel navigating them. This lesson will help me do better in providing instructions and designing my Canvas pages and instructions for my students this school year. I also learned a ton about health care careers, which knowledge I can use to help students as they start to consider possible career choices.
Rebecca Dyorich at IHCA (Idaho Health Care Association)
I had a great summer learning about Idaho Health Care. I learned about Assisted Living Administration and how to become certified to be an administrator. I had the amazing opportunity to work with Robert and Dana at IHCA. They are friendly and kind. They work hard to make sure that Assisted Living, Home Health and Skilled Nursing Facilities are supporting in caring for our aging population. I spent most of my summer externship time at the computer researching and editing.
Each summer IHCA hosts a Convention in Boise to provide renewed certification classes and support for Health Care workers. I had the opportunity to attend this year. It was amazing to be a small part of this an important work and to rub shoulders with some of the kindest people you will ever know.
Joseph Grimm at McMillen
For my externship I had the opportunity to work with McMillen which is a full-service engineering, environmental, and self-performing construction firm. Their focus is on water conservation with things like dams, waterways, fish ladders and any number of other water projects. I worked from my own home with their safety manager on transforming existing onboarding training PowerPoints into more of a dynamic e-learning course using a program called articulate 360. Once I learned how to use the software, I spent my time creating two safety training courses. What’s great is the software I used could easily be used to do training in any industry including education. When I accepted this externship I wasn’t sure exactly what I would be doing. I was just hoping that I would have the skills necessary to do what was expected. The program was described as PowerPoint on steroids. It was definitely that. Just grateful for the great group at McMillen for the opportunity to work with them for the summer and the experience and skills that I gained from it. Below is an overview snapshot of one of the projects I was working on.
Suzanne Palmer at Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS)
What a summer! I am a science teacher for the Melba School District, and one class I teach is Horticulture. I wanted more experience in that area, so I accepted the assignment to work in the garden at BUGS. What an amazing place this is! I recommend you take a moment and Google Boise Urban Garden School and see what they have to offer. Throughout the summer they offer 2 different day camps. For younger children they have a Garden Camp to learn about planting, harvesting, composting, pollinating, and sustainability. They also have a big red barn on sight which has an industrial kitchen in it for older student to come to the Culinary Camp. These kids learn how to harvest from the garden and cook what they harvested. We all get to enjoy a delicious lunch full of delicious vegetables grown on site.
As part of the gardening crew, I helped direct sow seeds, transplant sprouted seeds, weed, fertilize, water, and harvest the fruits and vegetables that grow there. There are different sections in the garden and each row of each section is assigned a number. The head gardener has a computer program that will tell us what to plant, where to plant, and when to plant it. Since each week has new campers, we planted successions of vegetables, so they were ready throughout the summer for the different camps. I learned about okra, ground cherries, eggplants, varieties of cucumbers, kale, lettuce, and a variety of herbs. Like a true Idaho girl, I even got to plant potatoes!
I will definitely take what I have learned back to my classroom. I hope to eventually have raised garden beds at Melba where students can plant and harvest vegetables for a salad each semester. Until I can get those beds, I will have to make do with small planter boxes in my classroom to teach about soil health, fertilizer, composting, planting, and harvesting. This will be a great opportunity to for my students to have hands-on experiences in gardening. Thank you BUGS for allowing me to be a part of your crew this summer!
Samantha Duncan at Lincoln County Youth Center
This is my second externship experience and my first with the Lincoln County Youth Center (LCYC). During the school year, I am a 7th-12th grade science teacher in Lincoln County, but for the summer, my focus has been working directly with the pre-k to 5th graders. As an extern, I am teaching STEM to each age group on a rotating basis with an emphasis on making it fun and not school. The LCYC services about 75 students a day with about 8-10 per age group from Richfield, Shoshone, and Dietrich. The overarching theme for the STEM camps was the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water.
This externship experience has allowed me to bring a new approach to teaching in the coming school year. I have a greater understanding of the level of support our younger students need. I have a new sense of classroom management. I am developing differentiated material based on the needs of students who will eventually be in my classroom.
I am working more toward project-based learning as I am seeing the direct results of students benefiting from asking their own questions and guiding them to the answers, rather than just giving it to them. I have learned new STEM skills throughout this externship due to this approach. Due to some of the projects and ideas students want to explore that are outside of my comfort zone, I have learned more about engineering and tech that I can now bring back to my own classroom.
I am honored I got the opportunity to work for the LCYC this summer and look forward to partnering with them throughout the school year.
Esther Emery at Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center
I have gone back to summer camp this year as an environmental education extern at the Jim Halls Foothills Learning Center. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental education is, “a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment.” Although the Foothills Learning Center has a number of programs to accomplish this, my position has been focused on weeklong outdoor summer camps for children ages 6-11.
I have loved working alongside early career environmental educators in pursuit of our lofty and important mission. My coworkers are primarily college students, some of whom are AmeriCorps volunteers. It has been rewarding to trade tips and tricks from my experience as a teacher in return for their passion for stewardship and knowledge of current environmental concerns. Together we share our appreciation for the beautiful Boise foothills with our young campers, engaging them with lizards, red-tailed hawks, and sagebrush.
The Foothills Learning Center has also generously given me the time and opportunity to network at other City of Boise environmental education sites, including Project WET at the WaterShed, Project Learning Tree, Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS), and the Idaho Botanical Garden. I believe that partnerships between these organizations and the public school system are more important than ever. I look forward to staying in touch with all of the people I have met. As I return to my second-grade classroom this fall, I am inspired to engage in environmental education in my own context, tapping into the wealth of STEM education resources that these organizations represent.
Janiece Braswell at Girl Scouts of Silver Sage
This summer I had the privilege of working with Girl Scouts of Silver Sage and was tasked with creating activities that would meet badge requirements for the girls that were working towards earning badges. This externship was mostly a work from home opportunity, which worked great with my summer schedule.
The overall objective of this summer was to create ready to go “kits” for Girl Scout groups to use at camp or to have troops be able to use by checking out the kits from the Girl Scout office. I had such a fun time researching badges and coming up with fun, educational, creative activities for the girls to do so they could earn their badges. I was tasked with creating activities for five badges this summer and also had the opportunity to attend Girl Scout Camp in McCall to see some of my created activities come to life as I taught them to girls, had camp counselors implement and use them, etc. My week at CAP, Camp Alice Pittenger, was phenomenal! I attended a weekend camp session called Me and My Gal, which was comprised of girls from Daisy to Junior level and their moms, and a four-day week called Wild at Heart with older girls working on a Cadette level Outdoor Adventure Night Owl Badge. It made my heart so happy to see girls in action, empowering each other, having fun, making new friends, engaging in new experiences and meeting badge requirements. I definitely recommend this summer extern experience!
Amanda Moore at Glanbia Gooding Plant
Do you like solving problems, creating new things? Do want to make the world a better place? Then you are an engineer. My adventure into engineering started as I stepped into the amazing world of Glanbia Nutritional’s at the Gooding Plant. The first couple of days I toured the plant seeing how the facility functions. During one of the tours to the boiler room I saw how they harnessed thermal energy from the processes of evaporation and condensation, this blew my mind! How they could take a simple change of state and use it to do the work they needed? I was in awe of how this was done, who thought of doing it, and who made the machinery to accomplish this? The answer I got was …..Engineers. They create solutions to make the impossible – possible! From that point on I was hooked. There are so many engineering marvels found in this plant and there are a myriad of other amazing projects that are in the works to fix problems and increase facility efficiency.
For six weeks I was able to join a team of Glanbia engineers, interns, and grad students to do my part in being an innovative problem solver. Each person in the engineering team and at the plant were kind, patient, and pushed me do my best to learn how the plant worked. I was given roles to work on existing projects such as the Lactose Robotic Arm Replacement, Boiler Feed Water Optimization, and the CIP 7K Flooring repair & piping mitigation. I was thrown into the midst of the engineering department – to tackle the projects I was given, just like the rest of the team. This was the best way to learn, on the spot and putting myself out there not knowing anything. This gave me the opportunity to ask questions, to experience failure, to be able to know my limitations and when to ask for help, to learn the engineering project flow process, and discover how equipment works in the plant. These are skills that I need make sure that I am implementing into my classroom for my students.
Most importantly I learned the significance of learning how to communicate with others and building relationships. When you take the time to do team building through planned events such as luncheons or dinners as team, rafting together, celebrating each other’s birthday/successes, or just taking a break to talk or laugh you really get to know and care about each other, and you become a more cohesive team. I want to make my classroom a place where students can be a part of a team where they know and care about each other. Thank you to the team of engineers at Glanbia for making my externship so wonderful! Who knows, maybe I will see them next summer… if I am fortunate enough to qualify for this program again!
Erik Kendall at Idaho Drone League
This year I participated in the externship program with Dr. Jae Ryu from the University of Idaho in his iDrone program. The bulk of my time was spend looking at Cybersecurity and its impact on the drone industry. I focused my research in three key areas: drone communication protocols, drone electronic warfare, and drone exploit techniques. While my work this summer focused mainly on aerial drone, the concepts can be extended to ground and water based drones as well.
Commercial drones rely on various communication protocols to exchange data with their operators and other devices. These protocols establish a standardized language for seamless interaction, ensuring real-time control, data transfer, and critical updates. Some prevalent communication methods employed by commercial drones are Wi-Fi, manufacture specific proprietary protocols, and cellular networks.
Drones are no longer a novelty in warfare; they’re a dominant force. The Ukraine conflict exemplifies this, with both sides deploying a diverse range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). From commercial off-the-shelf drones like the DJI Mavic Series to purpose built military drones like the Turkish Bayraktar TB2. Regardless of the platform employed, both sides are constantly working to counter the other sides drones by attacking their electronic communications networks.
Because most consumer drones relay on Wi-Fi for communication, they can be exploited using standard tools included in Kali Linux and downloadable drone control emulation software. To capture a drone the current operation must have their control separated. This is commonly called deauth or a deauth attack. Once control has been separated, emulation control software can be used to establish a new connection to the drone and fly it off.
I have enjoyed the research I complete this summer. I hope to bring some if the information I learned back to my classroom this fall.
Kurt Biehl at Exyte
This summer I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Exyte U.S., a global engineering, design, and construction company. I have worked closely with the design management team, working through client issues and requests with the design team. Throughout the summer I have had the opportunity to interview managers of different departments (architects and electrical, process, chemical, and civil engineers) to learn more about the high-tech engineering and construction industry.
Throughout the summer I have had the opportunity to review issues and concerns with the project Exyte is working on locally. This has given me an understanding of the depth and breadth of expertise required for these sorts of projects. I have been able to observe how new technologies are being used to demonstrate how technology and software are being used to improve and streamline construction processes. I have also been given the opportunity to get to know and use industrial technologies which are being broadly used in construction projects world-wide.
Through the experience of this externship, I have identified a variety of skills my students will need to develop and practice in my classroom. I will also bring new learning opportunities and activities based on my summer experience which will enrich the learning experience for my students. My summer experience will be a benefit to me as a teacher and to my students who are interested in any STEAM field.
Lynnea Shafter at GuardRailz
Exciting Developments in AI for Education: My Experience as an Extern at GuardRailz
As an educational consultant, I have had the incredible opportunity to work as an extern with GuardRailz, an innovative AI company developing a cutting-edge platform for K-12 and higher education. Being part of their team during the beta phase has allowed me to gain valuable insights into the transformative potential of AI in the education sector.
Throughout my externship, I received comprehensive training on GuardRailz’s AI platform, enabling me to provide constructive feedback on its strengths and areas for improvement. It has been truly fascinating to witness the real-time troubleshooting, bug fixes, and enhancements made to the platform through coding. This hands-on experience has given me a deep appreciation for the dedication and expertise of the GuardRailz team in creating a robust and user-friendly AI solution for educators and students.
Collaborating with a talented group of fellow externs, we have contributed to the development of training materials, including documents and videos, to support the platform’s adoption. Additionally, we have engaged in extensive literature reviews, exploring the latest research and best practices in AI development, implementation, and applications within the education sector. This immersive experience has greatly expanded my knowledge and understanding of how AI can revolutionize teaching and learning.
As GuardRailz continues to refine and enhance its AI platform, I am excited about the transformative impact it will have on education. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, educators will be empowered to personalize learning experiences, identify and address individual student needs, and foster a more engaging and effective learning environment. Moreover, the platform’s potential to streamline administrative tasks and provide data-driven insights will enable educational institutions to make informed decisions and allocate resources more efficiently. It’s Blynker bot helped me write this blog post. 😀
The future of education is undeniably intertwined with the advancements in AI technology, and GuardRailz is at the forefront of this revolution. As an educational consultant and extern, I am thrilled to be part of this journey, contributing to the development of a powerful tool that will shape the way we teach and learn in the years to come.
Lola Johnson at Micron Foundation
This externship experience has been a whirlwind of opportunities, engagement, learning, and making connections. I have been a middle school art teacher for the lasty 25 years. I always encourage my students to look at STEM as STEAM. Art is an integral part of the design thinking, creative thinking, problem solving, persistence, and ingenuity aspects of science, technology, math, and engineering.
My wonderful experience was with the Micron Foundation working on a variety of projects. I assisted with Micron’s Chip Camps at Boise State University and College of Western Idaho, helping with everything from student interactions and guidance to set up, but my main assignment was to document the camps as their photographer. I was so excited to get to use one of my personal skill sets and photography background to contribute, and the images are being used in Micron communications and media promotion.
I was given the opportunity to learn about Micron Foundation’s philanthropic work and support it by learning new technology and design platforms to help design informational articles for Micron’s team members. I was able to observe a portion of their STEM programs for teachers as well as their broader communications for Micron. I learned about the sciences and practices behind communication and the technology used to inform stakeholders and the community of important Micron events.
I plan to bring all I have learned back to my students so they can understand the various ways the skills they learn in art can benefit them beyond becoming practicing fine artists. Photography, graphic design, and web page development are important STEM adjacent careers that offer them a wide variety of opportunities in a multitude of fields. I will share my experiences to enhance student understanding of workplace expectations and the soft skills they develop daily in art class that will help them succeed, such as time management, persistence in learning and developing new skills, collaboration, and creative problem solving. I leave this experience excited to share my gained knowledge and experience, with a reinforced belief that STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math are pillars of learning that will lead students to great success.
Colton Walker at Wild West Farms
For this externship, I had the opportunity to return to my roots in agriculture and remember how Idaho is an agricultural state famous for its potatoes. I remember that, but at times, working in education, I am more concerned with what is occurring in Boise and forget what is happening around me. It was amazing to work on the farms and see how STEM has changed how farming is done. From using drones to spray crops, analyze and predict yields, and much more to the science and math behind the application of fertilizer and all that goes with it. It has shown me what I can now go back and discuss with my students and show them all that STEM offers for the agriculture community and how it can be applied to what I am teaching!
Heidi Pluska at Life Outdoors
This summer has provided me the opportunity to combine my computer science skills and passion for the outdoors. Over the past few months, I have been working with a local non-profit – Life Outdoors – to expand their digital presence. I’ve set up a Cloud Server on which I installed a learning management system that will provide Life Outdoors a digital platform to host resources and professional development for their programs. Additionally, I redid their website which will serve to offer them a more professional presence.
Jim McKenzie at ESI Construction
This summer I had the opportunity to work with ESI Construction for my externship. ESI is a General Contractor company that has been in business for 51 years, working in 43 states and 36 countries with 925 employees.
Through the years I have worked on several construction sites and with a number of contractors prior to becoming a welding instructor. I have never (until now) had the pleasure of working with a company that “literally” walks the talk. What I mean by this is that from the first day I walked into the office I was told that this is a company that is all about the employees and that safety is the number one priority. I hear this all the time, so I just brushed it, by expecting to see the same thing I always see. Safety looks good on paper, but it does not help the bottom line or dead lines, it seems to always get pushed to the side when it gets in the way of getting the job done.
In a very short period of time, I came to see that for ESI this is not the case. When they say that the employees come first and that safety is important, it would be an understatement. ESI’s relentless pursuit of safety in everything they do is so that their employees and subcontractors make it home to their families every day. This is at the core of everything they do and are. Hands down the most impressive company I have had the privilege of working with.
I had the opportunity to visit several different job sites during my time with ESI these sites included community living, commercial, special projects and self-perform divisions. I also had the opportunity to attend several trainings. The trainings I attended were lock out tag out, mental health first aid, crane awareness, CWI brazing camp, OSHA 10, and OSHA 30.
I will be sharing this experience with my students as well as the staff at my school. Being able to bring in this culture to my classroom, lab, and possibly my school could be amazing.
Monica McDonald at St. Alphonsus Talent Aquisition
This is my second rewarding summer Externing in the Talent Acquisition Dept at St. Alphonsus! I am building on the work I did last year–creating presentations and hands-on activities that will be utilized in the recruitment of high school students into future healthcare careers. In this role, I assisted in developing a scenario-based activity to educate students about the different roles within a hospital and the materials explaining the pathways to achieve those careers. My other major project is helping to create a presentation and classroom materials for Idaho Connect’s CTE instructor’s conference in early August.
In June, I was given the unique opportunity to attend Idaho Workforce Development’s Experiential Learning Summit at Boise State, which included in depth discussions with attendees from state-wide industries and colleges. Other experiences have included: participating in interviews for internal scholarship applicants; touring the maternity and surgical departments to learn about and observe surgical roles; and creating school district information resources for recruiters to share with potential adult hires in SW Idaho and Eastern Oregon. I have also assisted with employee appreciation events, including the St. Alphonsus service awards luncheon, and bringing the candy cart to employees in different departments.
During the school year, I teach 8th grade Science and the 8th grade AVID elective, which focuses on college and career readiness. This summer has furthered my understanding of healthcare pathways to promote to my students, which is especially important as they will be creating their own 4-year high school planners, which often include college preparatory and CTE courses. Another focus for all my students this coming year will be to discuss and model career ready attributes, such as soft skills and professionalism in the workplace.
Renae Lewis at K-12 Tech/STEAMWorld
I am a high school science teacher currently finishing my externship with K-12 Tech in Salmon, ID. This has been an excellent experience for me on multiple levels. The business operates on three fronts. The first is a brick-and-mortar tech store named Computer Zen. It not only carries typical office supplies but also specializes in STEM materials for learners of all ages. I was able to see how many of the products work and how they could be applicable in classrooms across our district. The second, and largest portion of the business, K-12 Tech, specializes in school security systems.
During my externship, I had the opportunity to sit in on multiple planning sessions with schools across the Northwest. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the amount of work that goes into our technology systems, from cameras and PA systems to specialized door locks. The third part of the operation, STEAMWorld, is a non-profit organization that brings free activities to schools throughout Idaho and Montana, many of which are very rural and isolated.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had this experience. My primary role was to develop a K-12 curriculum for our school district that could serve as a guide for other schools. Currently, we do not have any cohesive STEM program in our district, so having the time to lay one out and research funding to provide materials for a makerspace has been pretty amazing.
Throughout the summer, Steve and Patty Dahl, the owners, have made me feel welcome and have given me guidance on moving forward.
I have been able to secure some district funding to begin creating a STEM lab in my classroom. I am also working on multiple grants that will hopefully fund a full makerspace within our district. The ultimate goal is to have dedicated time in my schedule to become a STEM coordinator, facilitating activities and multiple curriculums across the district. This was a great experience that I never expected to participate in while staying in Salmon, and I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Hester Comstock at The WaterShed, Boise Public Works
My externship at the Boise WaterShed has been a cross-curricular experience (not only water quality, water renewal, and climate science… but also art, history and a little bit of urban design) that I’m excited to share with my co-teachers and students at Koelsch Elementary in Boise, as well as my colleagues on the BSD Green Team. I’m learning from a team of outdoor educators who have backgrounds in environmental science and lots of experience working with kids of all ages and adults.
As far as the day-to-day job goes, I’ve been employed here as an assistant educator with student groups. The WaterShed educators spend the majority of our time outside. We learn in outdoor classrooms on the river or ponds as we collect macroinvertebrates to determine water quality and identify other life in and out of the water. We also engage students on the River Campus, where the artwork provides a beautiful and interactive metaphor for the water cycle and the Boise River Watershed that sustains us. When I’m not participating in a scheduled lesson, I have the opportunity to greet unscheduled visitors to the River Campus and orient them to the flow of the artwork and what it means.
My culminating project here this summer is to help design climate science engagement activities for what will be called the “Innovation Station”, a part of the new Climate Science Education Center that will open next year. The new education center will be an exciting and impactful destination for students and teachers at all grade levels!
Craig Daniels at University of Idaho – IDRONE Program
This summer was my first year working with Dr. Jae Ryu from the University of Idaho with his iDrone program. At the beginning of my externship I learned how to use and program his iDrone kits. I then attended a conference with him where I was able to learn about all the industry applications of drones and autonomous land vehicles. It was really cool to see how drones can impact agriculture in Idaho. At the College of Southern Idaho, we saw a industrial drone fertilizing fields and then have an opportunity to fly an assortment of drones ourselves.
Currently I am working on projects that focus on programming drones and land vehicles from Dr. Ryu’s customized kits to collect data from sensors and use that data for real-time decision making. With the advancement of drone technology, it is amazing how many sensors can be equipped on a single drone. Drones can be used for surveillance, bridge surveying, water sampling, delivery services, and many more applications. I have found Dr. Ryu’s undergrade research assistant, Grant Player, to be very helpful when I have run into obstacles in my work.
As my time as an extern this summer comes to a close, I have identified some projects I would like to continue on in the future with Dr. Ryu’s approval. I look forward to learning more about drone technology and advancing educational opportunities for students to pursue careers with drones and autonomous vehicles.
Leigh Wilson at University of Idaho, College of Engineering
My Externship this year is with the College of Engineering at University of Idaho. I have had the privilege of helping to run 2 summer coding and robotics camps for middle schoolers in Moscow and in Boise. In addition, I have been tasked with reviewing, editing, revising, and creating new STEM activities for the College of Engineering Ambassadors to take into local classrooms and teach students STEM related hands-on activities for the purpose of igniting an interest in and passion for STEM related careers. The work this summer has been extremely meaningful by giving me more tools and knowledge to take back into my middle school classroom to be more effective at teaching STEM activities and at getting students more excited about coding, robotics, engineering, and STEM related areas. In addition, by revising and creating lesson plans for the Ambassador Activities, my own knowledge-base is growing and I am becoming more aware of resources that are available to help me teach STEM. I also am becoming more versed in the areas of engineering at the UI and what it takes to get into those careers. This Externship has definitely prepared me to help student be excited about and find the pathways available to STEM careers.
Kerena Clifton at E Street Community Center
My experience at the E Street Community Center’s student-led summer program has been a journey of discovery and growth. I have learned the importance of effective classroom management, the power of tapping into students’ interests, and the value of leveraging community resources. With these insights, I am eager to create an engaging and fun learning environment for students, especially in subjects like math that can often seem daunting. By making math fun and relatable, I hope to inspire a new generation of enthusiastic learners.
Molly McCoy at INL STEM Scholars
On the recommendation of my principal I decided to try the externship, I am very glad that I did. This experience over the summer has been a fantastic experience. When I interviewed for the INL I had no idea it would provide the experiences and networking that it has provided for me over the summer. It has been an invaluable experience. I have discovered and learned new materials to share with my learners in the classroom and my colleagues. The material was very age appropriate and well designed for the time we had within the classroom. The camp was very well organized, and they were fully prepared for their campers. Sunshine was a very good supervisor and very prepared for any and all circumstances. The atmosphere was very kid friendly and made all the campers very comfortable and safe to be with us. The field trip that we had the first week was one of the best field trips I have ever experienced. I would love to be a part of this program every year if given the opportunity.
Jill Chaffin at iDRONE League
So, I’m wrapping up my externship with the iDRONE League, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride! I thought I knew a thing or two about drones before this, but boy, was I wrong. Here’s the scoop on what happened during my time with the iDRONE League at the University of Idaho.
First off, building a drone. Building drones is like putting together a puzzle that can fly. And not just any puzzle – one where every piece has to be just right, or your puzzle piece might end up in a tree somewhere. But seriously, the hands-on experience was instructive and growth-promoting.
Then, there was the coding part. That’s a whole new ball game since I’ve had very little experience with coding. Learning to code was like learning a new language. The vernacular of the language is complex and challenging at first. Over time, I eventually picked up a few things that will be useful in teaching about drones.
But it wasn’t all just technical stuff. One of the coolest parts was getting to chat with industry experts. These people have been in the industry for years and have extensive knowledge. I got insights into everything from the future of drone tech to the ethical dilemmas surrounding drone use. It opened my eyes to the bigger picture.
Oh, and get this: part of my externship was to help build a drone curriculum for 9th-grade Physical Science classes. Yeah, I had to take all this cool stuff I was learning and figure out how to break it down for high schoolers. Talk about a challenge! But it is awesome to think that something I helped create could inspire the next generation of drone enthusiasts.
Overall, my time with iDRONE League was good. I learned a ton, met some incredible people, and dabbled in an industry changing the world. If you ever get to dive into something like this, I say go for it. You won’t regret it.
Now, excuse me while I go see if I can convince my school to start a drone club. Wish me luck!
Megan Weaver at Micron
Externship Blog
By: Megan Weaver
June 25, 2024
For my externship, I have the privilege to be placed at Micron. Micron is a technology company that has created many innovations for “delivering optimal memory and storage systems for a broad range of applications.” I work in the Human Resources department. I get to see the collaborative work of a cohesive team who work on recruiting. Micron is a global company and I have gotten just a little bit of an idea of how amazing this huge company works together to accomplish the company’s goals.
This is the second summer that I have been able to work with the same team in talent acquisition. They are an accomplished group of individuals, who graciously welcomed me back and I have been able to dive right into where I left off from last summer. I have been working within the “TA Playbook” which provides information and materials for those new to talent acquisition. Also, I have been working with scripts which will be used to create training videos for those newly hired to the department.The team is a wonderful group of people who are so kind to me as I learn more about the world that they work in, and a great opportunity for me.
Heidi Northover at Idaho Drone League, iDRONE
As a teacher who is passionate about STEM-related curriculum, I feel privileged to work with the Idaho Drone League, (iDRONE) to bring drones to my classroom! This is my first year working with the Idaho STEM Action Center externship program and so-far, it has been one of the best summer-work opportunities I have experienced. I have been able to rub shoulders with education professionals who have vast amounts of experience of STEM related curriculum under their belts which has allowed for connections with experts that I otherwise would not have been exposed to.
Through this program I have been allowed to develop a drone curriculum for grades 6-8. The content includes hands-on experience in building, coding and flying drones. It also teaches drone safety, and laws. Students will learn about the different applications of drones in the workforce, and will be exposed to potential drone use in current and future careers. The culminating project will require students to solve a real-world problem using drones.
The majority of my students have not been exposed to the use of drones. Their understanding of drones is that they do not apply to situations found in rural communities, when in fact, rural communities are where they may apply the most!
iDRONE gifted me this summer work opportunity to develop a curriculum rich in content that is relatable to the rural setting of these students. Agriculture and ranching are perfect settings to demonstrate the usefulness of drones. Because of this opportunity to develop a curriculum, students will now be educated about the use of drones in the communities they are most familiar with, which can then be relatable and meaningful to them.
Thank you Idaho Drone League for this amazing opportunity. I hope to stay connected and work with you again in the future!
Lily Rasmussen at E Street Community Center
This summer, I had a great growing experience at E Street Community Center, where I witnessed children embracing emergent learning to take charge of their education. This philosophy empowered them to explore their interests deeply, whether through science experiments, art creation, or literature exploration. The center’s commitment to nurturing curiosity and self-directed learning was evident in every interaction, shaping a dynamic educational environment.
During my time at E Street, I also forged meaningful connections with community leaders such as the library tech program and Fish and Game department. These collaborations highlighted the importance of community engagement in enriching educational experiences. Inspired by these connections and the principles of emergent learning, I am eager to integrate these insights into my teaching practice. By fostering a classroom environment where students are encouraged to explore and discover their passions, I aim to empower them to take ownership of their learning journey and cultivate a lifelong love for learning.
Lynn Rivera at Micron
Exploring the World of Technology and Empowering Future Innovators: My Externship Experience at Micron
As a teacher passionate about bringing the latest in technology to my students, embarking on an externship with Micron has been an exhilarating journey into the heart of innovation. Micron, a global leader in memory and storage solutions, welcomed me into their world with open arms, offering me a unique opportunity to participate in their Chip Camps hosted at BSU and CWI campuses. These camps, designed to ignite young minds with a passion for STEM, provided a dynamic setting where I could merge my teaching experience with hands-on learning in a real-world industry environment.
Collaborating with middle school students at Chip Camps has been particularly rewarding. Guiding them through interactive activities and projects, I’ve seen their curiosity and enthusiasm grow as they grasp complex concepts and unleash their creativity. It’s immensely fulfilling to empower these future innovators, instilling in them the confidence and skills necessary to thrive in a technology-driven world.
My externship at Micron and involvement with Chip Camps have been transformative experiences that have enriched my teaching practice and reinforced my commitment to fostering a love for STEM among young learners. I look forward to integrating the knowledge and inspiration gained from this externship into my classroom, inspiring the next generation of technology leaders to dream big and pursue their passions. If you’re an educator looking to expand your horizons and empower students through hands-on STEM experiences, I encourage you to explore similar opportunities for professional growth and impact.
Joanna John at Children’s Museum of Idaho
Are you ready to blast off? Take a trip to faraway planets? Or stay closer to the earth and check out farm life? This is my second summer in the externship program. The museum is the beginning of early STEM. Children are immersed in so many experiences. They can travel through the museum and several dramatic play areas. They offer early STEM activities for toddlers through messy play, simple coding, and ways to explore the world around them. Children learn through hands-on play and they get an opportunity to act in several STEM careers. The staff there is amazing and enjoy what they do. While there I could lead story times, Daily Discovery, and my favorite the planetarium shows. The planetarium shows were geared toward a younger crowd but had kids thinking about Outer Space. They also have a mobile planetarium that they bring to schools and programs. They have excellent outreach in the community and are always thinking of new ways to engage children and families. If you have a chance go and check them out! Thank You Children’s Museum of Idaho!
Christina Widner at Micron Foundation
The first five weeks of summer break were a whirl wind of awesomeness! I had the opportunity to be an extern with the Micron Foundation and help coordinate and lead STEM camps throughout the valley. We hosted 3 STEM Camps that were three days long. Each camp was at a college campus, giving every camper an amazing opportunity to be on a college campus. Students learned to weld, create circuits, build rockets and more. In addition to these STEM camps, we also went to the YCAMP at Horsethief to lead sessions on building rockets. We were able to go up on three separate occasions and it was a learning experience for all. I am so grateful for this experience and the lasting relationships that were built.
Rick Stoddard at Northwest Machining and Manufacturing
This summer, I embarked on an incredible journey into the world of machining and manufacturing. Armed with curiosity and a bit of nervous energy, I dove headfirst into the realm of CNC machines, G-Code, and the meticulous art and science of machining. What started as an externship turned into a humbling whirlwind of learning, laughter, and hands-on experience that I can’t wait to share with my students!
My externship began with a tour of the machine shop floor, where I was amazed by the variety and scale of the machines—some the size of a shed, others towering like small buildings. These mechanical marvels are the backbone of modern manufacturing, and I realized I had never truly appreciated the precision with which machinists work. These incredible people and machines operate with measurements in the tenths of a thousandth—precision I hadn’t thought possible before my experiences at Northwest Machining and Manufacturing.
After my tour, I had the opportunity to talk to each person on the business side of the manufacturing process, where I learned about sales and the quoting process. I was amazed at how complex it is to quote a customer a price to produce a part. Everything must be meticulously documented and considered—things like the type of material from the mill or foundry, chemical treatments, specialized and specific paint, heat treatments, inspections (so many different kinds), assembly of parts, and estimated man/machine hours, just to name a few.
The rest of my time at Northwest Machining and Manufacturing consisted of job shadowing the many professions on the machining floor. I spent time with machinists, machine programmers, inspection technicians, assembly technicians, and even the shipping department. I found this part of my externship—the time spent on the manufacturing floor—the most enjoyable. I learned so much from each person and department!
I thoroughly enjoyed my externship and I wish everyone could see how cool and complex the machining profession truly is. During my externship, I was humbled by the level of skill and knowledge at this company. I was welcomed and shown a profession where the application of science, technology, engineering, and math is done every minute of every day. Thank you, Northwest Machining and Manufacturing, for a wonderful experience!
Donna Hill at Museum of Idaho
During my externship at the Museum of Idaho, I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the vibrant world of educational programming and community engagement. This experience was not only rewarding but also eye-opening, providing me with a deep appreciation for the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into creating enriching experiences for young learners.
One of the highlights of my time at the museum was helping to facilitate two unique camps: a Magic and Science camp and the StoryQuest camp. Each camp presented its own set of challenges and learning opportunities.
Through my involvement in these camps, I gained valuable insights into what it takes to put on a successful camp. Lesson planning was a critical component, requiring meticulous attention to detail and a clear understanding of the educational goals. I learned to anticipate the needs of the children and plan activities that would cater to various learning styles.
In addition to facilitating camps, I also led school groups through the museum. This involved guiding students through exhibits, explaining historical and scientific concepts, and making the museum experience both educational and enjoyable for them. This role helped me refine my public speaking skills and taught me how to engage a diverse audience.
Furthermore, I contributed to the development of the curriculum for future camps. Drawing from my hands-on experience, I helped design activities and lesson plans that would continue to captivate and educate young minds. This aspect of my externship allowed me to apply my creativity and knowledge to create meaningful educational experiences.
Lauren Baughman at Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County-Post Falls
This is my second year participating in the Educator Externship. I have been with the Boys and Girls Club of Post Falls both years. My role has been to teach STEM. The Boys and Girls Club in Post Falls has about 200 children on an average day. That is about the size of a small Elementary school. During the day these youths receive breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Every hour or so they are presented with new activities they get to participate in. My lessons are just one of those options.
During the school year, I teach lower Elementary aged students. I am a general classroom instructor not a specialist in STEM. But before I was a teacher, I worked in Food Science utilizing my Bachelors in Science in Biology. I really enjoy getting to dust off that science knowledge and make lessons that, I hope, get our youths excited about science and STEM careers.
Over the last two summers, these lessons have ranged from building Legos as an icebreaker and intro into Engineering to growing crystals to taking nature walks. I try to make these lessons start with a science lesson and then move to a hands-on experiment or building challenge. My goal is to introduce science and STEM in general but fun ways. When we extracted DNA from strawberries, we first did a quick lesson on DNA and how seeds carry DNA to grow a whole new plant. I let the youths do most of the hands-on work. I want them to remember science as exciting and fun. So hopefully when they look at careers in the future, they think that STEM jobs could be a fun and fulfilling option.
I do my lessons with Elementary-aged youths and our Middle school-aged students. During the school year, I do not teach Middle School aged students. So, this is fun for me to stretch to find harder challenges. To show them essentially a preview of what they will learn in Middle School. I have been so impressed with their willingness to try and ask really thought-provoking questions.
Overall, my experience with this externship and with the Boys and Girls Club has been challenging and fulfilling. I appreciate this opportunity. I hope that I am reaching my goals and enticing a new generation of students to become scientists, engineers, etc…
Tonya Symons at GuardRailz AI
Embracing the Future of Education with GuardRailz AI: My Externship Journey
As an educator, continually finding innovative ways to engage students and prepare them for the future is paramount. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to join GuardRailz AI through the 2024 Idaho STEM Action Center’s Idaho Educator STEM Summer Externship. Halfway through my externship hours, I am thrilled to share my experiences and the exciting insights I’ve gained.
Week One: On-boarding and Hands-on Training
The first week was packed with on-boarding sessions and hands-on training that familiarized me with the GuardRailz AI Platform. I learned to create educational chatterbots designed to assist teachers, facilitate student learning, offer tutoring, and provide assessments. The level of customization available ensures that these bots can cater to any educational need.
Engaging Educational Tools
Some of my favorite projects included chatterbots aimed at improving reading comprehension and a fun assistant bot for teachers that incorporated a Star Wars Jedi theme. These tools not only engage students but also make learning interactive and enjoyable.
Supportive and Innovative Environment
GuardRailz AI stands out not just for its technological prowess but for its commitment to the educational sector. The team is incredibly supportive, friendly, and deeply invested in leveraging technology to enhance education. This externship is not only boosting my professional growth but also promising significant benefits for the broader educational community.
Ensuring a Safe and Secure Educational Experience
GuardRailz is dedicated to providing a safe and secure learning environment. Their AI research tool filters and analyzes content based on age and grade level, ensuring that students access trustworthy and relevant resources. With proprietary AI technology, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, GuardRailz offers a personalized experience while prioritizing user safety and privacy.
A Vision for the Future
The mission of GuardRailz is to foster a secure and engaging communication platform for learners of all ages. By prioritizing safety, accessibility, and parental control features, GuardRailz is transforming the educational landscape, making learning more inclusive and inspiring.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming weeks and cannot wait to integrate these real-world STEM experiences into my classroom.
Amy Wattles at Idaho AFL-CIO
“I want to work!” is the mantra of many of the students I serve regarding their plans after high school. Realizing that many work options students identify as possibilities do not equate to a living wage, it was time to get to work myself. This summer I had the opportunity to do my externship with Idaho AFL-CIO. This placement was the perfect answer to expand my knowledge and ability to support my students with thoughtful development of individualized Transition Plans for life after high school.
I had the pleasure of attending the annual Idaho AFL-CIO Convention which provided me with exposure to networking with individuals from a variety of different trades along with experiencing the processes and procedures within the union. I gained tremendous insight into the endless amount of career opportunities, workforce training and youth programs in the state of Idaho for those not interested in pursuing a traditional education through a college or university.
I also worked to support the Communications Coordinator with updating information and contact records and exploring a variety of tools, platforms and opportunities to strengthen communication amongst membership and organizations. When we weren’t in the office developing opportunities and future plans, we were out visiting job training sites and opportunities available to those who choose to pursue an alternate path into a career and the workforce.
Patsy Jackson at Novus Glass
What would change if all our community members were seen as scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians? The iSTEM Externship program can assist with this questions. This has been a great experience as a first year iSTEM Externship program participant. This experience with Novus Glass has been an incredible opportunity. The employee that I worked with was kind, helpful, and so willing to foster a relationship between the STEM industry and education. This year I was able to learn about the detailed process of bringing clarity to windshield needs, whether it was a small chip or full windshield replacement. There are so many other details that need to be considered with this business such as: insurance, bookkeeping, customer service, timekeeping, accounting, proper cleaning techniques to maintain visibility, and tips for avoiding damage. I am so excited to share what I have learned this summer with my elementary school students this fall. It makes math and technology so much more meaningful. Also, my job as a teacher is more fulfilling when students can see a connection between science, technology, engineering, and math with the world they live and grow in.
Marilyn Gibson at High Country Concrete
This summer I had the opportunity to work with High Country Concrete. The homebase for the company is in McCammon, Idaho. I learned of the company in our small town through word of mouth and also Social Media. They volunteered to do the concrete work for a pavilion that our PTO is proposing to build at our school, and this was my first interaction with the owners of High Country Concrete. They specialize in flatwork concrete. As I began my externship, I watched to learn more about the work being done. I learned about preparing the ground, setting forms, and finishing the surface. As I became familiar with the processes, I helped to measure job sites and set up forms for the work to be done on different jobs. I sat and learned from the owners as they bid jobs and ordered supplies. Soon, I was able to help call for cement and talk to different vendors on supplies. I also talked with the builders to coordinate dates and expectations.
Everything that I learned during my externship, I will be able to use in the classroom. I will be able to introduce basic concepts of engineering and design through activities like building structures with blocks or designing bridges to hold weight. I can bring real-world examples of measurement and estimation, showing how math is used in everyday jobs. Working in construction, I experienced how important teamwork and communication are for success. I will share stories with my students on how different workers on the job site had specific roles and responsibilities but needed to work together towards a common goal. This will help my students work in teams to solve problems or complete projects. I have asked High Country Concrete if they would come to my class to teach a small lesson on concrete and possibly help students to build some small walking pavers for our school year. This will incorporate STEM and we will discuss this as a group.
Finally, my externship sparked my interest in construction, engineering, and design. Sharing my experiences can introduce others to different career paths and inspire them to explore their own interests and passions. By connecting my externship experiences to classroom learning, I will not only enrich my own understanding but also inspire students to see how the skills and knowledge they gain in school can be applied in the real world.
Brenda McKenzie at Foothills Learning Center
This summer I spent time working with the day campers at Foothills Learning Center. I was able to learn more about the flora and fauna of the foothills as well as hike many of the trails. I spent most of my time with the kids. I wrote lesson plans for several weeks of summer camps. I was also able to write and deliver some lessons to children of all ages. I helped the staff take apart and then rebuild a preschool classroom for the coming school year. It was super fun to help think through the best items for preschoolers and the best placement of furniture/materials for easy access. I am excited to hear how the year goes with the newly designed space and materials! We also went to the other Boise City Environmental Education facilities to learn more about what they have to offer and take tours.
Maria Loera at Micron
I’m used to living in my school counselor bubble. I had not knowledge of the semi conductor industry prior to my exterships. I’ve learned so much. The expansion that is currently under construction at Micron is going to bring 2000 jobs to the Treasure Valley! During my extership I was able to take tours and job shadow. It loved meeting new people and enjoyed the ameneties out at Micron. I’m very grateful to Micron, my wonderful host and the Idaho STEM Action center for making it all possible. Now I get to use the extra money I earned and enjoy the rest of my summer.
Andrea Coles at Premier Technology Inc
This is my second year participating in the iSTEM Externship program with Premier Technology Inc and it has been an incredible experience yet again. All of the employees I work with are so kind and helpful and eager to foster a relationship between the STEM industry and education. This year I was able to learn about the detailed process of receipt inspecting. I was asked to summarize processes in a training binder for receipt inspectors. In order to do this, I met with receipt inspectors to learn about what they did and then used the trainee binder to summarize thirteen different processes. In addition to the training summaries, I was able to teach math classes to craftsmen working in Premier’s welding/machine shop. We started these math classes last year with Premier’s welding apprenticeship program and opened the classes up to other craftsmen this year. In all, I will teach about 8 classes. I am so excited to share what I have learned this summer with my high school students this fall. It makes math so much more meaningful and my job as a teacher more fulfilling when students can see a connection between math and the world they live in.
Jared Barnes at Glanbia Cheese Innovation Center
Years ago, I saw a cheese commercial that advertised using a Christmas theme. The commercial shows a young girl approach the Christmas tree that is overloaded with presents. The parents walk up behind her and mention she must have left amazing cookies for Santa. The girl corrects the parents by stating that she left him a plate of cheese. I do not know why I still remember this commercial decades later, but it stuck. I fully expect because cheese is a powerful and influential food in American cuisine.
During the early spring of 2024, I attended a stem meeting and found out about externship opportunities. I had been considering how to find work during the summer to help support limited finances. When the opportunities became available, one stood out among the others that had caught my attention at the meeting. That opportunity was with Glanbia, an international nutrition company that had facilities here in the region. I applied for the opportunity and accepted without knowing much of what I was going to be doing. Little did I know how influential it would be on me.
Chances are that you have never really heard of or thought about Glanbia, but you have consumed their products more than you know. Glanbia has become a major cheese supplier to varied aspects of American cuisine from fast food to a nice dinner at home. Glanbia is company that demonstrates well the idea that a product can become useful and amazing in varied ways and forms. Glanbia works with dairy products from the milk stage to cheese, and all the way to protein powder.
The opportunity was much more than I had hoped for and expected. It has helped me become a better educator by gaining experiences and knowledge to help me facilitate student success. I have had the opportunity to observe, participate, and experiment with cheese making. I was able to gain a perspective about how science is central to the process of making cheese. Prior the that meeting, I had done research into cheese making in preparation for a future chemistry lesson. In my research I was fascinated just by the level of chemistry involved. When I began the externship, it was amazing to see the process in action and produce something useful.
While working as an extern at Glanbia, I was able to look for great ideas that translate into real world examples that I can use in teaching. When I teach science, I look for ways the concepts and ideas translate to real life. This opportunity has given me much to consider in terms of the applications of the sciences in something so close to everyday life. I saw ways that the sciences can are utilized be cheese makers while observing and assisting in the cheese making process. I look forward to bringing these concepts to my students in the coming and following years.
In research conducted during the externship, I found a source that explained that in 2000 the average consumer would use about 32 lbs. of cheese annually. Since then, as of 2022, the amount has increased to 42 lbs. annually. The statistics show that dairy products have become more prominent in use and not less. It also tells me that cheese has become more important to the American diet. This helps add more importance to the cheese making process and why understanding the science thereof may help our students learn science. My intention is to take what I have learned and bring it to the students in the classroom effectively to increase their success in learning.
Going forward, I have more material and opportunities I can give my students to not only do firsthand learning, but also see science done as something that is close to them potentially. When students learn using something that connects with the things that excite them, they learn the concepts more effectively. I am excited to see the students take the opportunities and grow from them.
I am grateful to Glanbia for allowing me this opportunity to gain experience, learn new things, and find a way to apply them in a way that helps my students grow. I hope that going forward I will have more opportunities like this to help me become a better educator. I am always looking for more ways to learn and grow as an educator and as an individual.
Tim Lucore at Global Bound LLC
Embarking on my externship with Global Bound LLC, a distinguished consulting and executive coaching firm specializing in nonprofit organizations, opened a door to a profound exploration of psychological wellbeing and performance optimization. This experience not only deepened my understanding of organizational psychology but also equipped me with practical insights crucial for navigating the complexities of nonprofit settings. Global Bound LLC is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations by tackling mental performance challenges that impact both individual wellbeing and organizational effectiveness. Their approach blends psychological expertise with strategic coaching, aiming to create environments where leaders and their teams can thrive.
Throughout my externship, I engaged in diverse projects that allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. From participating in leadership workshops to conducting research on engagement strategies, every task enriched my perspective on how to foster positive workplace cultures and enhance organizational outcomes.
One highlight of my experience was working with assessments focused on psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction. These assessments provided quantitative data that illuminated the interconnected nature of personal fulfillment and professional success. Analyzing these insights underscored the importance of holistic approaches in nurturing employee satisfaction and organizational resilience. My time at Global Bound LLC include the pivotal role of effective leadership in shaping organizational culture and the significance of tailored interventions to meet the unique needs of nonprofit environments. Witnessing firsthand the impact of coaching on leadership development reinforced my belief in the transformative power of supportive mentorship.
My externship with Global Bound LLC was not just a learning opportunity but a transformative journey that reaffirmed my commitment to promoting psychological wellbeing and optimizing performance in nonprofit sectors. Armed with newfound knowledge and practical skills, I look forward to applying these insights to make meaningful contributions to future organizations and communities.
Autney Lucore at Global Bound LLC
During my recent externship with Global Bound LLC, a leading consulting and executive coaching firm specializing in nonprofit organizations, I had the invaluable opportunity to explore how psychological wellbeing and performance optimization are intertwined for leaders and their talent. This experience profoundly expanded my understanding of organizational psychology and provided practical insights applicable within the nonprofit sector.
Global Bound LLC focuses on empowering nonprofit organizations by addressing mental performance obstacles that impact individual wellbeing and organizational effectiveness. Their approach integrates psychological insights with strategic coaching to create a supportive environment conducive to personal and professional growth.
Throughout my externship, I actively participated in various projects that allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings. I conducted research on engagement strategies, contributing insights that directly influenced organizational policies aimed at improving employee satisfaction.
A particularly impactful aspect of my experience was working with assessments related to psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction. These assessments provided quantitative data that underscored the importance of holistic approaches in organizational development. Analyzing these metrics deepened my appreciation for the interconnectedness between individual wellbeing and organizational success.
Key learnings from my externship include the importance of adopting a holistic approach to addressing psychological wellbeing and the significance of tailored interventions for nonprofit organizations. Effective leadership emerged as a critical factor in cultivating a supportive workplace culture that fosters talent and enhances organizational performance.
My externship with Global Bound LLC was a transformative journey that reaffirmed my passion for organizational psychology. It equipped me with practical skills and insights that I am eager to apply in my future career endeavors, as I continue to promote psychological wellbeing and optimize performance within nonprofit organizations.
Sherise Porchia at Idaho Workforce Development Center
This is my second year being part of this externship program and similar to last year, I am enthusiastically enjoying the experiences I am having. Only half way through, I have been able to network and gain insightful knowledge that inturn will be passed down to the students and families I serve. I am working with the Idaho Workforce Development Council (WDC) having the chance to be part of state-level meetings, data collection, and various learning development opportunities. While the WDC is a small team, the work they do is mighty! Before this year’s externship, WDC was another state agency to know and because of the externship, it has allowed me to truly understand the work they are doing and the impact they have in our state – stemming from childcare funding to connecting Idahoans with employment, all the way to providing student and adult grants! The WDC team has been welcoming and encouraging as I learn the ins-and-outs of each of their roles. Their team chemistry is something I have found inspiring. Even though their different roles don’t always align, they provide space to share concerns and the time to get the support needed, so they can be successful.
As educators, we are boots on the ground – implementing programs and policies with students and families. The WDC are the ones who develop, create, and adjust those programs and policies. Due to this externship, I am able to see the value one has on the other. As a College and Career Counselor, I am looking forward to having meaningful conversations with students, families, and staff members about the opportunities their own home state can offer them.