K-12 Engagement at Penn State: Building Pathways, Partnerships & Future-Ready Youth
[Recorded April 2] Penn State is shaping the future of education by fostering meaningful partnerships, hands-on learning experiences, and innovative pathways for youth engagement. Through 377+ youth programs, and collaborations with schools, community organizations, and initiatives, we are preparing students to be adaptable, forward-thinking, and ready for anything.
This webinar will explore:
- How Penn State’s youth programs impact 30,000+ students annually, offering immersive learning experiences.
- The Readiness Institute’s mission to empower youth to thrive in their communities and future workforce.
- The Global Impact Forum High School Student Spotlight connecting students’ innovation and ideas with global leaders.
- The Penn State K12 Sustainability Summit, where educators collaborate with experts to drive solutions for a more sustainable future.
- The impact of Remake Learning Days, a celebration of creativity, exploration, and discovery that empowers youth and educators.
Whether you’re an educator, school leader, or out of school time leader, discover how we can collaborate to build sustainable learning ecosystems that empower students to explore, create, and lead in a rapidly evolving world.
Say Amen to STEM: Empowering Churches to Inspire the Next Generation
[Recorded March 13] In a rapidly evolving world, churches have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between faith and STEM education, creating transformative learning experiences for youth. Say Amen to STEM: Empowering Churches to Inspire the Next Generation is a dynamic, one-hour webinar designed for faith-based leaders, pastors, and youth program directors who are eager to serve their communities by offering high-quality STEM programs.
Led by Dr. Natalie King, this engaging session will explore how churches of all denominations can integrate STEM into their ministries, making them more relevant and impactful for today’s youth.
Spanning topics from integrating STEM across the curriculum and innovative teaching methods, to the crucial inclusion of underserved communities and the expanding role of technology, this series delivered cutting-edge insights and practical strategies for fostering STEM excellence.
Preparing for STEM Careers: 5 Strategies to Ignite Interest in STEM Careers
[Recorded June 19, 2024] This virtual session will highlight five ways to engage young people in STEM with a focus on the future. Learn: Strategies to support STEM career exploration during out-of-school time; Techniques for incorporating relevant standards and digital resources; Methods to recognize, nurture and honor student passions and aptitude in STEM; and Strategies for guiding youth in uncovering their own STEM identity and career aspirations.
STEM Beyond the Classroom
[Recorded June 12, 2024] Out-of-school time (OST) learning environments are the perfect venue for youth STEM exploration. These experiences not only strengthen the development of a STEM identity among learners but also provide tangible, hands-on opportunities to cultivate their skills in science and engineering.
Role of Technology in STEM / Future Trends in STEM Education
[Recorded May 22, 2024] The role of technology in STEM education is evolving faster than instructional material. Explore future trends in STEM education to identify ways your learning community can plan to stay ahead of the technology adoption curve.
Creating STEM identities for Underserved Communities, Women and Minorities
[Recorded May 8, 2024] Discuss best practices in STEM education tailored for underserved communities, women and minorities. Explore strategies to increase access and participation in STEM fields, addressing the unique challenges faced by these groups. Gain valuable insights into creating inclusive learning environments, fostering diversity, and empowering underrepresented individuals to develop and embrace their STEM identity. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and contribute to building a more equitable and diverse STEM landscape.
Integrating STEM Across Curriculum: Innovative Teaching Methods in STEM
[Recorded April 24, 2024] Integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) across the curriculum and employing innovative teaching methods in STEM education are crucial for fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity among students. Learn ways that cybersecurity education can be used to design interdisciplinary projects across various subjects, such as mathematics, science, technology and even language arts.
Exploring Virtual and Extended Reality Webinars
Virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) are immersive tools that can transform how students experience science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, build valuable 21st century skills, and explore career pathways..
Leveraging Extended Reality for Social and Emotional Learning and Career Exploration in Afterschool and Summer Programs
[Recorded Oct. 24, 2024] Extended reality (XR), encompassing augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR), offers unique opportunities to support social and emotional learning (SEL) and career exploration for youth. Harrisburg University will demonstrate how XR can be leveraged to create immersive environments that simulate real-world experiences, such as virtual job shadowing and interactive scenarios for conflict resolution. Explore practical strategies for using XR to build skills in communication, empathy and teamwork, making it a valuable addition to both SEL and career readiness programming.
Exploring Virtual Reality to Enhance STEM Learning in Afterschool and Summer Programming
[Recorded Oct. 22, 2024] Explore the use of virtual reality (VR) technology as a tool to enhance STEM learning experiences in afterschool and summer programs. Harrisburg University will guide participants through the basics of VR applications, demonstrate how it can be integrated into current STEM curricula, and discuss age-appropriate implementation strategies for both elementary and middle school students. Experience an interactive demonstration of a VR activity, showcasing its potential to engage students and deepen their understanding of complex scientific concepts.