The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) meeting will be held on Dec. 6 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston. The agenda will focus on cybersecurity with guest speaker Scott Augenbaum, former FBI - Cybercrime. Agenda here. Lunch will be provided immediately following.
January 3 HAA Meeting
Since this is the first day back for many school districts following winter break, the Jan. 3 HAA meeting will be held entirely via Zoom. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and consist of partnership updates only.
Computational thinking skills inspire problem solving, innovation and creating – skills that are essential for our future workforce. Computer science opens worlds of opportunity for young Iowans to improve how we work and live. Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) takes place Dec. 5-11, 2022, and is an annual call to action to provide American youth with resources to learn more about computer science, explore the opportunities that exist and encourage participation in computer science education.
A variety of resources, panel opportunities and activities are available for anyone interested in learning more about computer science at www.iowastem.org/csedweek. These resources can be utilized to set up unique experiences and events and are customizable for a variety of settings, including classrooms, libraries, businesses, at home, among others.
Throughout the week, schools and other education providers in Iowa and all around the world will offer activities and programs to engage students in computer science education. Scheduled activities for Computer Science Education Week include:
Dec. 5
9 a.m. – Panel for Secondary Students: “What it’s like to be a computer scientist”
10 a.m. – Panel for Non-Traditional Learning Environments (Librarians, After-School Providers, Homeschool, 4-H): “How to include CS in your programming”
4 p.m. – Panel for Classroom Educators: “How to grow CS in your building and/or district”
Dec. 6
3:30 p.m. – Panel for School Counselors: “How to impact and support all learners with CS”
4:30 p.m. – Panel for School Administrators: “NOT one more thing! How to build a CS culture, incorporate into core content, support implementing your K-12 CS plan”
Dec. 7
11 a.m. – Panel for Business and Community Partners: “How to support CS efforts in your community, school districts and/or building”
Dec. 8
6:30 p.m. – Virtual Family Coding Night
Dec. 9
12:30 p.m. – Nutcracker Ballet + STEM at Stephens Auditorium, 1900 Center Drive, Ames, IA 50011
The following companies and organizations are collaborating to help build awareness and provide various resources, events and activities to integrate high-quality computer science education throughout Iowa’s educational systems.
- Alliant Energy
- Bio::Neos
- Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) Iowa
- Google
- Iowa’s Area Education Agencies
- Iowa Business Council
- Iowa Department of Education
- Iowa Technology & Education Connection
- Iowa Workforce Development
- Kirkwood Community College
- Microsoft
- NewBoCo K-12 Education
- Technology Association of Iowa
Learn more about CSEdWeek activities by visiting www.iowastem.org/csedweek. Follow on social media using the hashtag #CS4IA to see Computer Science Education Week events happening throughout Iowa.
In this issue of the Heartland AEA Digital Learning newsletter:
- Animate Your Audio with Adobe Express
- Computer Science Education Week
- Seesaw Updates
- The 12 Days of Chrome-mas
- Learning Over Break
- Technology Courses from Heartland AEA
At this time of year, many of us may begin to look forward to holidays and celebrations with family and friends. In the December/January newsletter, we consider the celebrations that our newly arrived students and families may also celebrate at this time of year. You may access the newsletter through this link.
The December Future Ready Network meeting on Dec. 15 and will be a full day with the Future Ready meeting in the morning from 8:30-11:00 a.m. and a workshop session in the afternoon from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
District teams can join in person in the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston or via Zoom at this link.
The day will focus on Work-Based Learning and will include guest speaker Kristy Volesky from the Department of Education Bureau of Career and Technical Education and Laura Williams from the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning. Several districts will also present their Work-Based Learning programs and how they use the Iowa Clearinghouse to manage their projects. The afternoon workshop is for educators who are interested in becoming a district project board manager in the Clearinghouse.
If you would like to know more about becoming a project board manger on the Clearinghouse, watch this short video.
In this issue:
- 3 Recommendations on Teaching Secondary Students To Write Effectively
- Early Literacy Accelerators K-2
- Familiarity and Concreteness Can Help Beginning Readers
- Professional Learning Opportunities
Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling; rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Dec. 5, 2022
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Invited Audience: Any District Staff
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3OhHvom
