The Regional STEM Networks coordinate partners representing K-12 and Higher Education, business, industry, public libraries, after-school providers, non-profits, government, and philanthropy to identify and scale up high-quality STEM programs that will prepare students for Nevada’s 21st century workforce. The goals of the three Regional STEM Networks are to:
- Increase the number and quality of formal and informal STEM-focused education programs in all communities in Nevada.
- Increase student awareness, interest, enrollment, and achievement in formal and informal STEM-focused education programs.
- Grow the number and depth of school-business-community STEM partnerships.
- Identify on-the-ground programmatic gaps or implementation challenges in need of a state-level solution.
- Grow interest, awareness, and achievement in STEM in the region.
- Carry out on-the-ground implementation of state-level programs/goals.
- Identify and build local programs and initiatives worthy of scaling statewide.
- Create and facilitate partnerships and the sharing of resources among K-12, higher education, and business/industry within the region.
Grant Information
Desert Research Institute (DRI) Nevada Robotics was awarded $10,242.00 to develop the Books and Bots Pilot Program. DRI will develop five integrated CS-STEM lessons for elementary that integrate VEX Go and VEX123 robotics. Once developed, educators at Northside Elementary School in Elko County School District will pilot the program and provide feedback to DRI regarding curricula revisions. Once revised, the lessons and robotics kits will be available through DRI’s Lending Library for any Nevada educators to check out.
Duckwater Shoshone Elementary School was awarded $39,758.00 to bring STEM experiences to their K-8 students and their families. The school will provide monthly field trips to STEM businesses within a 300-mile radius of the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation. Students and families will learn about the industry, career pathways, and problems the business solves that are relevant to the community. The school will develop lesson plans that build on the experience, and students will reflect and share their learning about Nevada’s STEM career opportunities as well as their own STEM interests.