01 Nov 2013

Governor's STEM Advisory Council Announces Four STEM School Recipients

By Rick Martin

(CEDAR FALLS) - The Governor's STEM Advisory Council has named Davenport Community School District, Hoover High School of the Des Moines Community School District, Mount Pleasant Middle School and Sioux Center High School as the recipients of a $50,000 district-matched award to implement a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classroom in their schools. The recipients were chosen from a group of 23 applications submitted through a request for proposals released earlier this summer.

Initially, only three schools were to be funded, but with additional contributions a fourth school has been funded. Contributors are: Des Moines Area Community College, DMG Mori Seike/Ellison Technologies, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Kemin, Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., Pella Rolscreen Foundation, University of Iowa and Vermeer Charitable Foundation, Inc. Each of the four schools will serve as models for other schools around the state. These schools serve various populations in Iowa, both urban and rural in large and small communities.

"The broad cross section of these recipients speaks to the importance of innovative STEM education in the state of Iowa," Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds said. "As the diversity of Iowa increases, both in the classroom and in the workforce, so does the need to educate students of all geographic, demographic and ethnic groups. The STEM learning environments will bring that focus in four model classrooms."

All of the selected schools have in common a commitment to transform the learning space in three ways: (1) An altered physical and technological space that empowers learners to investigate and collaborate; (2) An innovative curricular and pedagogical approach that frames the teacher as a facilitator and students as real-world problem solvers working in groups across disciplinary boundaries; and (3) Connections to the world beyond the school walls through partnerships with business and industry.

Davenport Community School District will be implementing an active learning classroom that will integrate STEM coursework and highly focused vocational skills at West High School. Their curriculum will strengthen STEM disciplines with the necessary 21st Century Skills and other critical shortage areas, needed in today's workforce.

Des Moines Hoover High School, which serves one of the most diverse student populations in the state, plans to launch a STEM Academy for 102 boys and girls. The academy's goals are to create the ideal environment for empowered collaboration, a STEM-focused community and building a quality next generation of innovators.

Mount Pleasant Middle School is the only middle-level learning environment chosen to receive the award. The new classroom will replicate the University of Iowa's Transform, Interact, Learn and Engage (TILE) classroom as a model in its learning environment to facilitate collaboration, peer instruction and activities enhanced through advanced technology. Their STEM classroom will serve as a prototype for a school redesign which may be duplicated in other classrooms in the following year.

Sioux Center High School has proposed a partnership with Dordt College to redesign learning spaces and curriculum. They will not only cost share, partner in professional development and connect the college and high school classrooms but they will also collaborate through close relationships across campuses.

"These schools are an example to the future of STEM education in Iowa," said Mary Andringa, Advisory Council Co-Chair and Vermeer Corporation President and CEO. "With the combination of powerful community partnerships and relevant curriculum, the STEM learning environments will prepare students for their next steps in college and the workforce."

Implementation of these four redesigned STEM learning environments will begin in spring 2014. All of the selected STEM learning environments also use at least one of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council's nine scale-up programs. 987 schools and organizations in Iowa are currently impacted by the Advisory Council and its funding.

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29 Oct 2013

Grassley: Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest Submissions Due Dec. 31

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley encourages Iowa middle school and high school students to participate in the 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest sponsored by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

The contest is open to students from around the country and is split into two divisions. Students in grades 6-8 will participate in a junior division contest, and students in grades 9-12 will participate in the senior division contest.

Each division will award three prizes:

·         1st Place- $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to receive the prize.

·         2nd Place- $500.

·         3rd Place- $250.

·         The two first place winners' schools will also be awarded $1,000.

"This is a good opportunity for young Iowans to share their insight about the U.S. system of government," Grassley said.

The subject of the essay contest is: "The rights and responsibilities of citizenship."  Students may expand upon their constitutional rights and their primary duties as U.S. citizens. They should also consider how these constitutional rights affect themselves and their families. Grassley encourages Iowa students who are interested to submit their work to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

Further information regarding the contest, official rules, and entry forms can be found at www.uschs.org, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's website.

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society, founded in 1962, is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization chartered by Congress.  Its goal is to inform the public about Capitol Hill and the duties of Congress.
28 Oct 2013

Lt. Gov. Simon to Release College Completion Playbook

By Ted Nelson

Innovative tools to increase college completion and reduce costs to be released at higher education conference

Building on her efforts to reduce costs and boost graduation rates at Illinois universities and community colleges, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon on Wednesday will release a College Completion Playbook while hosting the two-day Scaling Up: Effective Practices in Higher Education invitational conference in Bloomington. Simon's guide collects the effective practices of national experts and successful Illinois educators.

"It can be challenging to take a good idea from one campus and make it work on another," Simon said. "The guide will instruct educators on what to do - and what not to do - when trying to replicate programs that help students complete meaningful degrees on time and in less debt. Our goal is to scale up successful college affordability and completion practices across the state."

Finding and recommendations of the College Completion Playbook include plans for:

 

·         Reducing "credit creep" or the unnecessary credits students take to attain a degree. Modeled by Southern Illinois University.

·          Increasing internship opportunities, preparing students to join the workforce and creating connections with future employers. Modeled by Illinois State University.

·         Streamlining course credit transfers from one school to another. Modeled by Northern Illinois University and Waubonsee Community College.

·          Identifying when students may be heading off course for graduation. Modeled by Northern Illinois University.

The conference is hosted in partnership with the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, Lumina Foundation, College Productivity Strategy Labs, Complete College America, and Microsoft. Speakers will include : Jamie P. Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation, the nation's largest private foundation committed solely to enrolling and graduating more students from college; Harvard Graduate School Professor, Dr. Christopher Dede; Dr. Larry Abele, Provost Emeritus of Florida State University; and Illinois State University President Dr. Timothy Flanagan.

Prior to coordinating the conference, Simon visited all 48 community colleges in Illinois to discuss their completion efforts and convened Affordability Summits at each of Illinois' 12 public university campuses to learn how best to address rising costs. In February, she released a white paper outlining game-changing reforms that save students money and speed time to degree; the conference shows many of these reforms in practice.

Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. She aims to make our state workforce prepared for the highly skilled jobs of the future, to improve employment opportunities and ensure continued economic growth.

The Scaling Up: Effective Practices in Higher Education will take place Oct. 30-31 in the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University in Bloomington.

EVENT: Scaling Up Press Conference

DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 30

TIME: 10:30 a.m.

LOCATION: Founders Suite (lower level of Bone Student Center), 100 N. University St., Normal

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28 Oct 2013

Personal Finance Article: GI Bill Eases College Costs for Military Families

By Jason Alderman

As Veteran's Day approaches, this is a good time to remind our active duty service members and veterans and their families of the many educational assistance benefits available to them, both during and after service. In this Practical Money Matters piece, Mr. Alderman discusses several of the more popular government-provided education benefits for military families.

By Jason Alderman

As Veteran's Day approaches, this is a good time to remind our active duty service members and veterans about the many education assistance benefits available to them through the G.I. Bill and other government programs.

Here's a rundown of a few of the more commonly used programs:

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is more flexible and generally offers more generous benefits than earlier GI Bills. It provides up to 36 months of support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001, or those with a service-connected disability after 30 days. An honorable discharge is required.

Approved training includes undergraduate and graduate degrees, and vocational/technical/on-the-job training, among others. You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.

This program covers 100 percent of tuition and fees for in-state students at public institutions, paid directly to the school. For those attending private or foreign schools, it will pay up to $19,198.31 per academic year (sometimes more in certain states).

If you attend a costlier private school - or a public school as a non-resident - you also may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, where schools voluntarily fund tuition expenses exceeding the highest public in-state undergraduate rate. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and the Veteran's Administration will match the amount.

The 9/11 GI Bill also will pay a books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year, and a monthly housing allowance generally comparable to the military Basic Allowance for Housing for a military pay grade E-5 with dependents, based on the ZIP code for your school.

Another advantage of this newer GI Bill: Armed Forces members with at least six years' service can transfer some or all of their benefits to their spouse and/or children. Here are the basic rules:

  • You must agree to four additional years of service. (Special rules apply if standard policy precludes you from serving four more years or you're eligible for retirement).
  • Because the clock starts ticking from the date you elect to participate - and you can't enroll additional beneficiaries after leaving the military - it's best to sign up all family members right away. You can always go back and change allocation percentages or remove beneficiaries at any time until the benefits are used.
  • Spouses may begin using transferred benefits right away; however children must wait until you've served the full 10 years.
  • You and your spouse must use the benefits within 15 years of your leaving the military; children must use them by age 26.

Montgomery GI Bill. This older version of the GI Bill may still be available if you didn't already opt for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. You're eligible if you started active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, served continuously for three years, are honorably discharged and had your pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months. (There's a separate plan for reservists.)

For most people, this program is less generous than the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Benefits typically expire 10 years after military separation and are not transferrable to family members; plus, you pay tuition and fees upfront and are later reimbursed. The VA website has a tool to compare benefits under the two GI Bills.

To learn more about the GI Bill, visit www.gibill.va.gov. Other VA-sponsored educational financial aid programs can be found at www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/index.html.

25 Oct 2013

Upper Iowa University announces scholarship recipients for 2013-14

By Monica Bayer Heaton

FAYETTE, IA (10/25/2013)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University has released the winners of the Presidential and Trustee Scholarships for 2013-14. Receiving these prestigious scholarships are:

  • Joshua Hilty of Wilton, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000;
  • Taylor Livermore of Muscatine, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000;
  • McKenna Luepker of Wheatland, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000;
  • Kaylea Rusch of Muscatine, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000;
  • Bryce Melton of Bettendorf, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000;
  • Kyrstin Plohr of Rock Island, IL receiving a Trustee Scholarship in the amount of $17,000;

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

25 Oct 2013

Grassley Internships Available, Applications Due Nov. 15

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley said today that spring internships for college-age Iowans are available, and applications are due Nov. 15.

Internships are available in Grassley's Washington, D.C., office as well as his offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.  The spring session will run from Jan. 13 to May 23.

Interns will be placed in one of three departments:  administrative, legislative or communications.  An internship allows for a wide range of learning experience and exposure for students on Capitol Hill.  A firsthand account of a Grassley internship can be read here.

Grassley said he encourages young Iowans who are interested in learning more about the government to apply.  "Interning in a congressional office is a good way for college students and new graduates to learn more about the legislative branch of the federal government while gaining valuable experience.  Internships in my offices are available to students in all areas of study," he said.

Application forms are available on Grassley's website and in Grassley's offices in Iowa.  Due to security-related delays in postal mail delivery to U.S. Senate office buildings, internship applications should be emailed to intern_applications@grassley.senate.gov or faxed to 202-224-5136.  For additional information, email intern_applications@grassley.senate.gov or call 202-224-3744.

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25 Oct 2013

University of Kansas announces summer 2013 graduates

By Christy Little

LAWRENCE (10/24/2013)(readMedia)-- LAWRENCE - The names of more than 1,100 candidates for degrees at the University of Kansas this spring - representing 55 Kansas counties, 44 other states and the District of Columbia, and 27 other countries - have been announced by the University Registrar.

Area graduates are as follows:

Sarah McHugh, of Bettendorf. She received a Certificate of Residency in Pathology -Anatomic & Clinical.

Michelle Stoffel, of Muscatine. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology.

Because KU conducts only one formal Commencement ceremony each year, some of these graduates will return Sunday, May 18, 2014, for the university's 142nd Commencement.

21 Oct 2013

Kelsey Qu Admitted to Carleton College

By Eric Sieger

NORTHFIELD, MN (10/21/2013)(readMedia)-- Kelsey Qu of Bettendorf, IA, has been admitted to Carleton College as a member of the Class of 2017. She is the daughter of Zhiming Qu and Xin Liu. Qu is a graduate of Saint Katherine's/St Mark's School.

Ranked among the nation's top liberal arts institutions, Carleton is a private, co-educational college of 2,000 students located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. High academic standards, an excellent faculty, a commitment to teaching and learning, and a diverse student body contribute to Carleton's outstanding reputation.

21 Oct 2013

Department of Energy's National Science Bowl Registration Now Open

By Rick Martin

Washington, D.C. - Teams of high school and middle school students across the country can now register to compete in the 24th annual Department of Energy's National Science Bowl (NSB). Thousands of students compete in the contest annually and it has grown into one of the largest academic math and science competitions in the country.

The top two high school teams nationwide win educational adventure trips and the top middle and high school teams win money for their schools' science departments.

"Participating in the National Science Bowl both regionally and at the national championships encourages student involvement in math and science activities, which is of importance to the Department of Energy and the nation," said Patricia M. Dehmer, Acting Director of the DOE Office of Science, which manages the National Science Bowl and sponsors the NSB finals competition. "These students represent our nation's future science leaders. We wish them success in their efforts to reach the National Finals in Washington, D.C."

Teams of students can sign up to participate in the NSB by registering with the coordinator for their local competition, which they can find on the NSB website HERE. Separate competitions are held for high school and middle school. Regional competitions for each area typically last one or two days and take place throughout the country between January and March.

During the regional and national competitions, students participate in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions from all branches of science and math. Each team is composed of four or five students and a teacher who serves as a coach. Teams can find sample questions on the NSB website to help prepare for the competitions.

The winning team from each qualifying regional competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the National Finals held in Washington, D.C., from April 24 to April 28, 2014. The national events include several days of science activities, sightseeing, and competitions. As part of the National Finals, middle school students design and race lithium ion battery-powered model cars. High school students compete in team science challenges in addition to participating in the academic competition.

The prizes for the top two high school teams for the 2014 NSB will be announced at a later date. The high school team that won the 2013 NSB received a nine-day, all-expenses-paid science trip to Alaska, where they learned more about glaciology, marine and avian biology, geology, and plate tectonics. The second-place high school team at the 2013 NSB won a five-day, guided adventure tour of several national parks, which included a whitewater rafting trip.

The top 16 high school teams and the top eight middle school teams in the National Championship also win $1,000 for their schools' science departments.

Last year, approximately 14,000 high school and middle school students from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico competed in the NSB.

DOE created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 225,000 students have participated in the competition since it began.

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21 Oct 2013

2014 Iowa Teacher of the Year

By Tammy Wawro

DES MOINES, IA (10/18/2013)(readMedia)-- The ISEA is proud that one of our own, Jane Schmidt, has been selected as the 2014 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Jane is a tremendous educator who has dedicated her career to the success of every student in her care. She represents the best of the best in Iowa schools today with unending passion and commitment to continuous improvement. She truly embodies what we know is at the heart of our profession and what is taught in our schools.

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