May 1, 2019 STEM All Hands on Tech: Robot Playground Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Carrick branch for a day of experimentation, play, and learning by exploring interactive technology and a variety of robots. STEM All Hands On Tech programs support learning and literacy by introducing children to technology. This event is intended for children in grades pre-k to 5. Questions For questions, contact Jon Antoszewski at 412.381.6543 or antoszewskijo@carnegielibrary.org. This location is handicap accessible. See the event page.
Leap into Science! Workshop Professionals and community members that teach Preschool/School Age children and/or families are invited to join a national network for science and literacy. By joining, you will receive training and materials to lead Leap into Science workshops. What is Leap into Science? Leap into Science is a nationwide program developed by the Franklin Institute Science Museum that integrates open-ended science activities with children’s books, designed for children ages 3-10 and their families. The program empowers educators to offer workshops in community settings like libraries, museums, and out-of-school time programs to engage underserved audiences in accessible and familiar settings. Leap into Science provides workshops on a science theme for three possible audiences: early childhood, elementary, and family groups. Workshops The Pennsylvania Leap into Science Leadership Team is hosting free training sessions on Leap into Science Wind workshops at the following times and locations: Edinboro, PA: August 22, 2019; 10:00 am – 2:30 pm Williamsport, PA: September 12, 2019; 9:30 am – 2:00 pm Allentown, PA: Oct 1, 2019, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm Benefits Each organization who participates in Leap into Science will receive: A 4-hour in-person training on high-quality science and literacy curriculum and facilitation strategies for two or more educators, Ongoing support during program implementation as part of a Leap into Science National Network, Access to the national Leap into Science leadership team and online resources, A curriculum and materials kit (valued at $300), and Web-based training on new curriculum themes in subsequent years Commitments As a Leap into Science partner organization, you are committing to: Scheduling and leading at least three (3) Leap into Science workshops for children and/or families living in underserved rural or urban communities by next spring, Posting each workshop to The Connectory, a searchable directory for STEM programs across the country, Leading Leap into Science activities during National Leap into Science Week during the last week of February, Completing a workshop report following each workshop, Participating in quarterly calls with other trained educators in your state, and Completing an annual survey and possible interview. Registration To participate in the national network and attend one of the training sessions listed above, please complete this brief application form by May 15, 2019. Priority will be given to organizations that can send at least two educators to the training. If selected, you will receive email notification of your acceptance by June 15, 2019, along with details about the training you will attend. Questions For more information, contact the Franklin Institute Science Museum at 215.448.1200 or guestservices@fi.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
April 11, 2019 Science Tots Book Fair | Barnes & Noble Join Science Tots from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. to learn more about S.T.E.A.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The event will have hands-on, educational and fun activities based on the upcoming Earth Day! No registration required! See the event page. About Science Tots Science Tot’s mission is to connect families with the instruction and tools to power early S.T.E.A.M. learning.
March 29, 2019 Pittsburgh Spotlight Receives 82 Innovation Submissions After receiving a total of 82 submissions from southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia schools, museums, libraries, nonprofits, government agencies, and more, HundrED released a full list of the innovative submissions they received. Submissions included: Innovative approaches from 27 schools and school districts in the Pittsburgh region 9 technology tools to facilitate learning developed by local companies and research projects 8 projects of local colleges and universities, including innovations from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Penn State University 31 programs and approaches from local museums, nonprofits, and community centers Our Highlight Listed as a submission, Message from Me (MfM) is an early childhood communications tool developed through the collaborative efforts of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) CREATE Lab and Trying Together. MfM was designed with the intention to involve families in the education experience and bridge the home-school connection while enhancing a child’s communication skills, independence, and opportunities for interaction. Using the MfM app, a child can record and share daily thoughts and experiences, impacting his or her feelings of individuality, self-confidence, and well-being. To learn more about MfM’s purpose, design, and impact, visit the HundrEd page. See the full list of submissions. What’s Next? HundrEd’s global research team will be running a rigorous review of all eligible applications, in addition to a review by a local committee consisting of educators, parents, students, researchers, and community stakeholders who will score each innovation to help decide which ones will be featured in the Spotlight collection. Following this review period, the 10 selected innovations will be announced in May as a part of Remake Learning Days, a regional celebration of the future of learning. About the Pittsburgh Spotlight HundrED is a not-for-profit organization that researches, highlights, and propels K-12 education innovations in an effort to improve education and inspire a grassroots movement by encouraging pedagogically sound, ambitious inventions to spread across the world. The Pittsburgh Spotlight is one of 6 individual spotlight categories, all centered around specific regions or topics. Through this spotlight, HundrED seeks to highlight educators and innovators in our area that are doing extraordinary things to help students. *Information provided by HundrED
Hello Robo: Early STEM Robotics Robots provide unseen services across industries, including transportation, medical, and manufacturing. Early learners need the foundational STEM skills that allow them to imagine and build the robots of the future. About the Event Join the Carnegie Science Center Teaching Excellence Academy for a professional development workshop where participants will use resources from NAEYC and other STEM experts to examine developmentally appropriate concepts to prepare students for robotics technologies. Educators will discover hands-on, standards-aligned activities they can do right away, even if they don’t have a robot — yet! This professional development opportunity is for pre-K through 2nd-grade teachers. About the Academy Carnegie Science Center’s Teaching Excellence Academy offers opportunities for educators in all grade levels, with specific workshops in STEM, early learner education, and digital fabrication. Act 48 credit is provided upon successful completion of each workshop. In addition to onsite workshops, the Science Center offers multiple opportunities for professional development to be delivered at local sites throughout the academic year. For more information, visit their website. Registration & Questions To register or ask questions, contact Toni Stith at StithT@CarnegieScienceCenter.org or 412.237.1616.
March 19, 2019 Tech Tuesday: Emojis How are you feeling today? Join the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in the Nursery as they bring social and emotional learning and digital media literacy to life! Create your own emoji on our iPad or make one to take home with you. This program is designed for our youngest learners (0-5) but is suitable for all ages. The event is drop-in, so guests may come and go as they please! For more information, visit the event page!
March 18, 2019 Tech Tuesday: Green Screen Experience our green screen and the magic that brings superheroes, video game characters and weather forecasts to life! Explore green screen technology as an effective tool for early childhood learning and make your own props and accessories to complete your scene. What new things and places will you imagine and create? This program is drop-in, so feel free to come and go as you please! This program is designed for our youngest learners (0-5) but suitable for all ages. For more information about Early Childhood Learning, visit our home page!
March 15, 2019 Engaging Early Learners with Technology: Sharing Research and Best Practices About In this edWebinar, the presenters will discuss the best practices for technology use with young children (birth through age five) and their families. They will also discuss how to support early childhood educators in grades K-3 with effective technology strategies. Research on technology use in early childhood education from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Common Sense Media will provide the framework for this discussion. With digital devices becoming more readily available in school settings, the logistics of implementing technology in the classroom as a tool for learning must be examined in order to utilize emerging technology most effectively. Roundtable The edWebinar will also share insights from a roundtable facilitated by Hi5!, a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. The roundtable served as a professional development and networking event for over 20 school districts to share best practices for how they are using technology to support the transition to kindergarten for students and families. The discussion included developmentally appropriate technology use across the early childhood continuum. Audience This presentation will be of interest to preK-3 teachers and school leaders. There will be time to get your questions answered at the end of the presentation. Be sure to view and share this event flyer (PDF) with your network. For more information and registration, click here.
December 6, 2018 Dancing Our Way Through STEM Providing children with opportunities to explore creative movement can spark so many natural connections to STEM concepts. During this interactive workshop, educators will participate in a variety of dance-focused strategies that will deepen understanding in science, math, ingenuity, and other fundamental STEM concepts. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their own creative movement techniques that can support student’s STEM learning. Act 48 and PQAS credit hours available. Registration is required. Objectives Through active participation and successful completion, participants will be able to: Define and discuss what “creative movement” means within an early educational experience and how children’s movements connect to STEM learning concepts. Brainstorm and share movement activities, targeting a multi-aged early education environment that focuses on the concepts of science, math, and other STEM learning concepts. Registration and Questions To register or ask questions, contact Rachelle Duffy at 412.421.3889 or rachelle@tryingtogether.org.
June 11, 2018 Digital Media Literacy & Technology Tools for Early Learning This two-hour, online professional development course from Trying Together will focus on how to communicate and build relationships with families using technology tools and digital media and is open July 30 – August 13, 2018. Participants will be asked to consider implications and benefits of using digital communication to bring families into the early education environment. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect on current practices and policies regarding technology in the early education classroom. The pre-requisite foundation for this course is, “Digital Media Literacy & Technology Tools for Early Learning: What Educators Need to Know.” Registration closes at Noon on Friday, July 27, is $20, and may be made below or for credit at pakeys.org.
