Girls Design for Good:

LSU Engineering Challenge Celebrates Success

We are excited to celebrate the success of the "Girls Design For Good" engineering challenge held by the LSU College of Engineering on April 22, 2023. This event was specifically designed for female students in grades 8–12 and proved to be a great success. The LSU Society of Peer Mentors earned the 2023 Love Purple, Live Gold "Outstanding Educational Program" Award for this event. Throughout the day, the participating students explored various engineering fields such as civil, environmental, mechanical, and automotive. They collaborated to solve multiple challenges, receiving valuable support from LSU peer mentors. This experience was both engaging and unforgettable for the girls involved.

Nguyen Wins Award for Teaching Excellence

Rebecca Nguyen, a Master Teacher in LSU's Geaux Teach program, earned the prestigious Dr. Marion D. “Soc” Socolofsky Award for Teaching Excellence. Her exceptional guidance and expertise in mathematics have empowered students to become outstanding teachers themselves. This award recognizes faculty members in the College of Science who demonstrate exceptional teaching skills and embody Dr. Socolofsky's pedagogic and personal qualities, including strong mentoring, student engagement, going beyond the classroom, passion for student experience, and public outreach.

Capitol Middle School Robotics Team
Selected to Attend D.C. Conference

Congratulations to Capitol Middle School's robotics team for their outstanding achievement! They have been selected to attend the prestigious National Energy Education Development (NEED) Youth Energy Conference and Awards, taking place in Washington, D.C. from June 24 to 27, 2023. The team's exceptional energy education project, which offers an innovative and cost-effective alternative to traditional transformers, has earned Capitol Middle School the well-deserved titles of Louisiana Rookie of the Year and Exemplary Energy Engineering and Design Project. This recognition highlights their dedication, ingenuity, and commitment to creating a sustainable future. We applaud their remarkable accomplishments and wish them continued success at the conference.

STEM Summer Camps

A few spots remain in our exciting summer camps! On-campus lodging is also available! LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy offers exceptional STEM programs, including summer camps tailored for grades 6–12. Don't miss this incredible opportunity. Deadline fast approaching. Check availability and get more information by reaching out to Dr. Harald Leder, summer-academy@lsu.edu.

Register by June 5th: K–12 Foundational Science Professional Learning Series

The Department of Education is offering a foundational science professional learning series in Baton Rouge on August 3–4 for:

• Current K–12 science teachers
• Pre-service teachers
• Individuals who support science instruction

This free series is recommended for newcomers to science teaching and those seeking to:

• Deepen your understanding of the shifts called for by the Louisiana Student Standards for Science;
• Explore pedagogical strategies for student mastery of grade level content; and,
• Foster collaboration among other science educators.

Contact STEM@la.gov with any inquiries.

Full-Day Making & Tinkering Workshop

Greenwell Springs Regional Branch Library

Friday, July 28 or Saturday, July 29, 2023 
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

Join nationally recognized author and educator, Cate Heroman, and a team of experts for an interactive, full-day workshop tailored to PreK-3rd grade educators:

• Immerse yourself in the concepts of tinkering, making, and engineering as you actively explore practical and effective methods for introducing and developing these ideas with young children.
• Participate in a variety of hands-on tinkering activities, ranging from low-tech to high-tech, and learn seamless techniques for integrating them into your classroom.
• Take on design challenges inspired by the obstacles faced by characters in children's storybooks.
• Gain valuable strategies for creating an environment that fosters creativity, encourages risk-taking, and supports problem-solving.

Teachers Love Code.org’s Professional Learning

This comprehensive professional learning program is highly supportive and will prepare you to deliver high-quality computer science instruction to your students.

• No prerequisites for teachers or students new to CS
• Access easily understandable content for teachers and students
• Obtain scaffolding for comprehensive computer science and digital literacy understanding
• Led by local facilitators, Code.org workshops ensure personalized support
• Connect and learn from fellow Louisiana educators through our local network
• Join a vibrant and diverse STEM education community
• Embrace the opportunity to unlock your teaching potential and inspire your students with the exciting world of computer science

LSU is the Code.org® Regional Partner and K–12 computer science hub for Louisiana. All must register with Code.org to participate. It takes just 10–15 minutes to create an account. Please reach out to us with inquiries: code-org@lsu.edu 

Try an Hour of Code This Summer!

Our December newsletter mentioned that Hour of Code is available year-round. Why not plan one this month?!

Code.org® provides a variety of fun, student-guided tutorials for all age groups and experience levels. It’s popular for students to try self-led tutorials, though many activities include lesson plans for teachers to guide discussion or extend the activity as well. Remember, even teachers aren’t expected to be “techies,” so enjoy learning alongside your children.

Beyond an Hour of Code
(No Experience Required!)

You don't need to be a programmer or “techie” to engage your child in rich computer science learning experiences. In fact, many of the teachers who use the Code.org® curriculum for the first time have never studied computer science before.

Code.org® offers a wide variety of beginner-friendly computer science activities. While working with your child, Code.org offers these tips for how you can effectively take on the role of “lead learner.”

• Encourage your child to figure things out on their own by providing them with time and space.
• Don’t give the answer right away, even if you know it.
• It’s OK to not have all the answers! Making mistakes in front of your child lets them see that it is part of the learning process.
• Guide your child's attention towards the issue to investigate by asking them questions, without revealing what they should change.
• Model the steps of learning a new subject by explaining the questions you ask yourself and how you find answers.
• Encourage exploring alternative activities when faced with challenges and returning to the initial challenge with increased knowledge and skills.
• Try out Code.org’s Express Course yourself—get a feel for how these courses work and learn the basics of computer science. If you get stuck, they provide you with solutions to the puzzles.

LASM Brings Back DINO DAY 

The Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) will host Dino Day on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The museum will offer hands-on activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinosaur-themed shows in the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium until 5 PM.

On loan from Raising Cane's and the Todd Graves Family, "Jason," the Triceratops skull, will be on view for museum visitors. This 66-million-year-old fossil has inspired LASM visitors since 2016.

BASF's Kids' Lab chemistry workshops will be offered at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM for children ages 6-12 and accompanying adults. 

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