i-STEM at College of Eastern Idaho

Strand Provider: Heather Cunningham

Strand Description: Trailblazing with BeeBots: Idaho’s Path to Early CS Learning is four days of hands-on professional development designed to introduce K-2 educators to foundational coding and computational thinking skills through the use of BeeBots, simple programmable robots. This training connects coding activities to Idaho’s local industries, such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring, providing educators with engaging, real-world contexts for teaching STEM concepts. Participants will learn to design classroom or after-school program lessons that align with state standards, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration in young learners. By integrating industry-relevant scenarios, such as simulating crop patterns or navigating delivery routes, this training equips teachers to inspire students with meaningful, localized applications of coding.

Your Kit will/may include: Each kit includes six BeeBots and a charging hive, providing ample resources to support individual student engagement at a center or facilitate collaborative group activities for up to six groups in a whole-class setting. Additionally, the kit features lesson plans and printable resources designed to support seamless implementation, empowering educators to integrate coding and problem-solving activities into their classroom with ease.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Rick Stoddard

Strand Description: This hands-on training is designed to empower educators with practical tools and strategies to integrate data collection (using the plethora of built in sensors of Databot) as well as coding in their teaching practices. Over four days, participants will engage in interactive activities, explore cutting-edge technology, and collaborate on lesson plans that inspire inquiry-based learning. By the end of this training, educators will leave equipped with new skills, ready-to-use lesson plans, and the confidence to bring these exciting concepts to their classrooms.

Your kit will/may include: Participants in the “Databots Can Do A Lot Strand” will receive a comprehensive kit designed to support seamless integration of STEM concepts into their classrooms. The kit includes a Databot, a versatile sensor-based device for data collection and programming activities, equipped with tools like temperature probes, accelerometers, and gesture sensors. Additionally, educators will receive laminated graph paper, Vis-à-Vis markers, sheet music, and other activity materials to facilitate interactive lessons. A small greenhouse kit is also included, allowing teachers to create a micro-ecosystem for data collection and exploration. This strand is tailored for late elementary, middle school, and high school educators from any discipline, ensuring they have the resources and confidence to deliver engaging, hands-on STEM experiences to their students.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Tammie Schrader

Strand Description: The four-day STEM workshop immerses participants in the dynamic world of game-based learning, demonstrating how games can transform STEM education into an engaging, interactive experience. Each day focuses on a specific aspect of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—using a mix of board games, digital simulations, and hands-on game design activities tailored to enhance conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Participants will explore how thoughtfully selected games can foster collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, while also addressing diverse learning needs. Guided by experienced educators and game designers, attendees will engage in breakout sessions where they’ll adapt and create games aligned with STEM curriculum goals, test their designs, and reflect on their impact. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave equipped with practical strategies and customizable game-based tools to inspire curiosity and deepen learning in their classrooms or educational programs.

Your kit will/may include: The Game-Based Workshop Kit is a comprehensive resource designed to bring creativity and engagement to a week-long game-based learning experience. This kit includes versatile tools such as dice, customizable cards, and a variety of game pieces, enabling participants to design, play, and adapt games for educational purposes. Each component is crafted for flexibility, supporting activities that span multiple subjects and skill levels. The dice can be used for probability exercises, storytelling prompts, or randomizing gameplay events, while the cards serve as versatile tools for creating question decks, challenges, or scenarios. The game pieces provide tactile elements to foster hands-on exploration and enhance immersion in board game setups or simulation activities. Ideal for educators, students, and facilitators, this kit encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic thinking, equipping participants with the resources to design meaningful, curriculum-aligned games by the workshop’s conclusion.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Angela Reece

Strand Description: Calling all Idaho math teachers! Elevate your impact with the Idaho Standards Academy—a 5th grade level focused professional learning opportunity designed to enhance your understanding of standards, math content and teaching moves all while using best practices! This framework focuses on providing authentic mathematical experiences that are project-based and STEM connected. Backed by transformative research-aligned strategies, this academy is your gateway to enhancing your mathematical knowledge for teaching. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and grow with your Regional Math Center specialists.

Your kit will/may include: As part of the Idaho Standards Academy strand, participants will receive a thoughtfully curated kit designed to empower 5th-grade educators with research-aligned strategies to enhance their teaching practices. The kit includes reusable Wipebooks, perfect for fostering problem-solving collaborations in alignment with the Building Thinking Classrooms model, encouraging active engagement and teamwork in mathematical thinking. Educators will gain access to professional growth opportunities through memberships to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), providing cutting-edge resources and communities dedicated to high-quality mathematics education. A selection of reference books is included to support a deep understanding of standards, the creation of impactful mathematical tasks, and the development of number sense activities. Additionally, hands-on manipulatives such as scales and base ten sets enable educators to provide concrete representations of mathematical concepts, supporting foundational understandings of number relationships, equivalence, and operations. This comprehensive kit equips educators with tools and resources to inspire and engage their students effectively.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Carol Hicks

Strand Description: Calling All Idaho Math Teachers! Join the Idaho Standards Academy for an engaging and impactful professional learning experience designed specifically for 6-8 educators. This strand dives deep into the big ideas of Early Algebraic Reasoning and Operations and Algebraic Thinking (equivalence, generalizations, and properties of operations) and the Math Teaching Practices. We will gain knowledge through the lens of connected learning, big ideas, conceptual understanding, rich tasks, and active learning. Equipped with hands-on manipulatives, professional memberships, units/lessons and activities, participants will leave empowered to create dynamic math experiences for young learners and foster student success in algebraic reasoning.

Your kit will/may include: As part of the Idaho Standards Academy strand, participants will receive a comprehensive kit designed to equip K-2 educators with tools and resources for implementing research-based strategies and enhancing teaching practices. The kit includes Wipebooks, reusable write-and-wipe tools that foster student collaboration and problem-solving in alignment with the Building Thinking Classrooms model. Participants will also receive memberships to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), granting access to valuable resources, articles, and professional learning communities. Additionally, the kit features reference books that provide insights into understanding standards, creating engaging mathematical tasks, and strengthening number sense activities. To further support hands-on learning, the kit includes manipulatives such as rekenreks and Cuisenaire rods, enabling students to explore foundational mathematical concepts through concrete representations.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Veronica Blackham

Strand Description: Join the Idaho Standards Academy for an engaging and impactful professional learning experience designed specifically for your grade level. This strand dives deep into the big ideas of Algebraic Reasoning and Operations and Algebraic Thinking, helping teachers strengthen their understanding of math content standards and research-aligned teaching practices. Participants will explore concepts such as equivalence, generalizations, and properties of operations while collaborating to design standards-aligned curricula and evaluate classroom resources. Equipped with hands-on manipulatives, professional memberships, and practical tools, participants will leave empowered to create dynamic math experiences for learners and foster student success in algebraic reasoning. Teachers will also learn how to incorporate badging into their classrooms by using rich tasks and fostering high levels of student engagement, learning, and self-assessment.

Your kit will/may include: As part of the Idaho Standards Academy strand, participants will receive a thoughtfully curated kit designed to empower educators at their specific grade levels to implement research-aligned strategies and strengthen their teaching practices. This comprehensive kit includes Wipebooks, which foster problem-solving collaborations and active engagement through reusable, write-and-wipe tools aligned with the Building Thinking Classrooms model. Participants will also receive memberships to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and/or the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), offering access to professional growth opportunities, cutting-edge resources, and a supportive community dedicated to high-quality mathematics education. A selection of reference books is provided to deepen educators’ understanding of standards, inspire the creation of high-quality mathematical tasks, and enhance number sense and algebraic activities. Additionally, hands-on manipulatives tailored to the grade level enable educators to offer concrete representations of mathematical concepts, supporting student comprehension of number relationships, equivalence, and properties of operations.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Colton Walker  

Strand Description: Have you ever wanted to incorporate STEM into your classroom, but aren’t sure you have the time or the understanding how? This class will show you multiple hands on activities that can be altered or adapted to fit your content and grade level without the stress and hours spent trying to incorporate STEM!

Your kit will/may include: Their kits would include, a Sphero Bolt which cost 179, plus shipping, A sphero indi which is 150 plus shipping, then I would also include a raft kit classroom set, and then the the other money would supply the funding to provide raft kits that we would do in the classroom. The kits support educators by giving them STEM activities that can be implemented at any grade level and curriculum with alterations that we will teach during the strand. These materials can be implemented at all times. Whether it’s as a STEM corner, whole class participation, After school programs and activities.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment