i-STEM at Lewis-Clark State College

Strand Provider: Amy Post

Strand Description: With 73% of Idaho’s schools moving to a 4-day week last year, elementary STEM is one of the first things to go. A STEM afterschool program can help counteract this learning loss by teaching kids essential STEM skills. Afterschool is the perfect setting for hands-on, inquiry-based, experiential STEM learning. Best of all, teaching STEM in an afterschool program is FUN for both kids and adults! In this workshop, participants will gain confidence as a STEM educator, learn how to hand over (some) control to kids, and walk away with a plan to start a program at their school or organization.

Your kits will/may include: Developed in partnership with STEMfinity, the “Afterschool STEM Fills the Gap” contains easy-to-use, low-tech, low-cost materials for 3 hands-on, STEM activities. The selected activities teach basic concepts in circuitry, engineering and physics through inquiry and experiential learning.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Heather Cunningham

Strand Description: Code the Future: Empowering Idaho’s Next Generation with Micro:bits is four days of hands-on professional development designed to introduce 3rd-5th grade educators to foundational coding and computational thinking skills through the use of Micro:bits, versatile and programmable microcontrollers. 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 students. By integrating industry-relevant scenarios, such as automating irrigation systems or optimizing supply chain routes, this training equips teachers to inspire students with meaningful, localized applications of technology and coding.

Your kit will/may include: Each kit includes a classroom set of 10 Micro:bits, along with comprehensive lesson plans and printable resources to support seamless implementation in the classroom. This kit equips educators with the tools and guidance needed to integrate hands-on coding and computational thinking activities into their curriculum, fostering student engagement and skill development.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Lynette Leonard

Strand Description: This hands-on workshop helps educators integrate 3D printing into their classrooms, fostering creativity and innovation in student projects. Teachers will learn the basics of 3D printing, design prototypes, and gain experience with printing tools and software. Focusing on project-based learning (PBL), participants will align 3D printing with curriculum standards to create real-world learning opportunities. Educators will develop 3-4 PBLs they can implement right away, encouraging students to solve problems through design and technology. Participants will have lesson plans, strategies, and a 3D printer to bring back to their classrooms, incorporating design and printing with Idaho content standards and cross-cutting concepts.

Your Kit will/may include: Participants will receive a comprehensive kit designed to support 3D printing integration in the classroom, including a 3D pen for students to explore design concepts and a 3D printer with several rolls of filament for hands-on creation. The kit also includes a Pro Grade 3D Printer Tool Kit, equipped with all the necessary tools for removing, cleaning, and finishing 3D prints, ensuring seamless maintenance. Additionally, educators will receive books and project-based learning (PBL) lessons that align 3D printing with curriculum standards, helping them foster student creativity and problem-solving through meaningful projects. This kit equips educators with the tools and resources to bring innovative design and prototyping experiences into their classrooms.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Amanda Harris

Strand Description: “Engineering Your Path” is a dynamic, hands-on strand designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies to inspire students through real-world engineering and prototyping projects. Participants will explore the engineering design process using practical tools like the ChompSaw, hot glue guns, and other essential materials to create engaging prototypes and models. The strand focuses on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving while highlighting how these skills connect to future STEM careers. Each participant will receive a comprehensive kit, including precision tools and prototyping supplies, enabling them to implement these activities in classrooms, libraries, afterschool programs, or community settings. This strand empowers educators to integrate engineering principles across various content areas, helping students develop essential 21st-century skills while making learning exciting and relevant.

Your Kit will/may include: Participants in the “Engineering Your Path” strand will receive a thoughtfully curated kit to facilitate hands-on engineering and prototyping for up to 30 students. The kit includes a ChompSaw with versatile accessories, enabling precision straight cuts, circle cutting, and angle cutting to support innovative design. Mini hot glue guns and sticks are provided for quick and efficient prototype assembly, while masking tape and cordless electric scissors offer practical solutions for connecting and shaping materials during the creative process. To further expand project possibilities, optional supplemental supplies such as Makedo screws, Canary cardboard cutters, and additional resources are also included, empowering educators to inspire creativity and innovation in their classrooms.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Kelsey Wright

Strand Description: The “Empowering Creativity Through Design” strand is designed to inspire educators by integrating graphic design and creative technology into the classroom. Throughout the training, educators will explore graphic design projects and cross-curricular applications, learning how to use these tools to bring student ideas to life through hands-on projects. These projects can be implemented in a variety of educational settings, including classrooms, afterschool programs, and extracurricular activities in alternate learning locations such as libraries. The strand emphasizes innovation, creativity, and design principles that enhance student engagement and learning. Participants will also gain practical skills for integrating design into their existing curriculum, creating a graphic design course for any level and learn about the Create Idaho project using Adobe. Participants will need to bring a laptop to connect to the circuit joy and color printer.

Your Kit will/may include: Participants in the i-STEM strand, “Empowering Creativity Through Design,” will receive a practical kit designed to inspire creativity and innovation in their classrooms. Each kit includes a Cricut Joy, a color printer, and essential supplies like vinyl and premium printing materials. During the training, participants will learn to use these tools to help students bring their ideas to life through hands-on projects that can be implemented in classrooms, afterschool programs, or other educational settings. In addition to the kit, participants will engage in hands-on activities that demonstrate cross-curricular applications and creative design strategies, providing inspiration and practical ideas to integrate into their teaching.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Andrea Roderick

Strand Description: This engaging strand is designed for K-5 teachers, and after-school program leaders, offering a variety of lesson plans and activities. We will blend online and offline learning opportunities using many free resources. Over four exciting days, participants will dive into Minecraft Education, exploring lesson plans that align with educational standards while enjoying a beloved game. We’ll also utilize free software from Code.org, ensuring lessons meet ISTE standards and more. Additionally, AI software will simplify lesson creation, allowing educators to focus on teaching. By partnering with local community members, we aim to build connections that prepare our youth for success. Join us for this exciting journey!

Your Kit will/may include: The kit is an exciting resource designed to immerse participates in the world of Minecraft and No Fear Coding with key subjects like computer science, math, science, and ELA. It features interactive books, coding activities, and AI integration strategies, along with a board game on Digital Citizenship and crafting activities. Plus, it includes a classroom set of 30 headphones and mice to enhance online learning. Join us and unlock the wonders of learning through play!

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment

Strand Provider: Jim Ekins

Strand Description: Join experienced educators to combine four impactful, interrelated investigative science learning programs. Participants will earn four certifications: IDAH2O Master Water Stewards, TRM Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), and 4-H Wildlife and Water Habitats Curriculums; the first two being citizen science programs. Entirely interactive classroom sessions each morning will build to daily afternoon hands-on, place-based investigation of water quality and freshwater ecosystems within the Tammany Creek ecological restoration and outdoor classroom project at Hells Gate State Park.

Your Kit will/may include: Participants will bring home a complete official IDAH2O Master Water Stewards Water Monitoring Kit, including the equipment and supplies to conduct habitat, physical and chemical, and biological assessments on local streams or ponds. A crayfish trap and a crayfish measuring board are also included. We also include the brand new Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Foundations Guide, and the Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems Curriculum Guidebook. Both of these are directly connected to NGSS (ISSS) and Common Core standards.

Setting(s): Formal Classroom, Informal Learning Environment