Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

blog posts

• BeeSpotter Webinar

  Apr 11, 2024 12:00 pm

  Learn how you can help the preservation of bee diversity & enhance pollinator appreciation at BeeSpotter's webinar on April 16 in collaboration with the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County (FPWC)!

  You can join in person or online. RSVP on the FPWC Events page.

• Project the Sun for the Solar Eclipse

  Apr 4, 2024 1:45 pm

  Ready for the solar eclipse on April 8? ☀️ 

  Visit our Projecting the Sun activity to learn how to observe the sun at anytime without needing glasses. You can use this method to track how different the sun looks before, during, and after the eclipse!

• Computer Science for K-5 with Scratch

  Dec 22, 2023 8:45 am

  Last Tuesday, MSTE's Judy Rocke held a remote presentation where she shared hands-on activities and resources for teaching computer science to grades K-5 with Scratch! Check out her K-5 Scratch activities and lesson plans here.

• MSTE at the 2023 National Science Teacher Association Conference

  Nov 1, 2023 9:00 am

  Last Thursday, MSTE's Jana Sebestik and Lara Herbert presented at the 2023 NSTA Conference in Kansas City! Their workshop, titled Smart Circuits: The Power of Logic Gates and Relays, showcased classroom activities that allow students to conceptually explore topics in electricity. View their presentation slides here.

• Free Computer Science Curriculum

  Sep 8, 2023 11:45 am

  The "Discovering Computer Science & Programming Through Scratch" book series is now free to download for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of programming! Download the books here.

• Now Available! "Build a Power Park: Lights on in the Neighborhood"

  Aug 11, 2023 8:00 am

  Build a Power Park: Lights on in the Neighborhood is now available in the 4-H store! This workbook has over 25 hrs of hands-on activities that introduce coding, microcontrollers, and sensors to circuitry projects. Purchase it here.

• New Environmental Pathways Waste Management Unit

  Jun 28, 2023 12:00 pm

  Check out “What should I do with this trash?” for a free curriculum unit for middle-school students to consider when and how to recycle, and explore alternatives to waste. 

• 9th Annual BeeBlitz

  Jun 9, 2023 6:00 pm

  Join us on Saturday, June 24, 2023 for the ninth annual BeeBlitz, taking place during National Pollinator Week! Get outside to spot some bees, snap some pics, and upload them to BeeSpotter.

• FoodFlows.org Data Visualization Map Updates

  Apr 27, 2023 9:15 am

  FoodFlows.org has been updated to include cold chain food flows! Visit FoodFlows.org to visualize food flow data between counties across the US.

• Bumble bee queens are out and about!

  Apr 13, 2023 4:30 pm

  It seems spring is finally here - the BeeSpotter team has begun seeing bumble bee queens out and about! This is an excellent time to get out and start spotting bees, as you're more likely to spot a queen at the beginning of the season than any other time!

• Now Available! "Discovering Computer Science & Programming Through Scratch" for Scratch 3.0

  Mar 20, 2023 12:15 pm

  The "Discovering Computer Science & Programming Through Scratch" books are updated for Scratch 3.0!

• BeeSpotter presents at Wild Things 2023 conference

  Feb 27, 2023 12:45 pm

  This past Saturday, BeeSpotter webmaster Michael McKelvey and identifier Terry Miesle presented at the biennial Wild Things conference in the Chicagoland area.

• Fall 2021 MSTE Friday Lunch - Hope for the Future: Reaching, Teaching, and Empowering to Prioritize Academic Achievement

  Nov 12, 2021 12:15 pm

  Please join us for the last MSTE Friday Lunch of the Fall 2021 semester! The presentation will be given over Zoom and all are welcome to attend!

• Fall 2021 MSTE Friday Lunch - Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program (ChiS&E)

  Oct 7, 2021 2:00 pm

  MSTE Friday Lunches are back!! After a long hiatus, MSTE Friday Lunches are returning virtually for the Fall semester. The presentation will be given over Zoom and all are welcome to attend!

• Summer Illinois Mathematics Teacher Educators (IMTE) Mini-Conference!

  Jun 14, 2021 2:15 pm

  Join the Illinois Math Teacher Educators (IMTE)  association virtually for a special summer “Mini-Conference” on July 14th, 2021 to celebrate its 20th year. This event is free and open to the public, please register here!

• 7th Annual BeeBlitz

  Jun 10, 2021 11:30 am

  Join us on Saturday, July 3, 2021 for the seventh annual BeeBlitz (rescheduled from 6/26 due to rain), taking place during National Pollinator Week! Get outside to spot some bees, snap some pics, and upload them to BeeSpotter.

• STEM for All Showcase - CISTEME365

  May 17, 2021 1:45 pm

  The Catalyzing Inclusive STEM Experiences All Year Round (CISTEME365) program is part of the STEM for All Video Showcase, from May 11-18, 2021. Engaging conversations about all things #STEMed are happening at the #STEMvideohall, including Catalyzing Inclusive STEM Experiences: Tune In For Equity!

• STEM for All Video Showcase - LTEC-2

  May 11, 2021 2:30 pm

  For the 6th year, Learning Trajectories for Everyday Computing (LTEC-2) has submitted a video for the STEM for All Video Showcase! Learn more & view the LTEC-2 video: Learning Trajectories for Everyday Computing

• CREDC DarkSky at NSTA

  Apr 29, 2021 1:30 pm

  On Wednesday, April 28, the CREDC Education team presented their latest project, DarkSky Investigations, at the annual conference for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

• Now available! "Discovering Computer Science & Programming Through Scratch" Student Notebooks!

  Jul 1, 2020 3:15 pm

  "Discovering Computer Science & Programming Through Scratch" workbooks are now available through the National 4-H Mall. This curriculum introduces young people to fundamental principles of computer programming.

• Now available! "Design a Power Park: Smart Circuits"

  Jun 15, 2020 3:00 pm

  "Design a Power Park: Smart Circuits", is now available through the National 4-H Mall. This hands-on activities book explores smart circuits and is the second book in the "Explore a Power Park" series.

• Beth Kirchgesner wins campus award for excellence in Public Engagement!

  Jun 15, 2020 11:00 am

  Beth won a College of Education Award for Breakthrough Innovation in 2013 and now has won the campus' Emerging Award for Excellence in Public Engagement from the Office of the Provost. Congratulations, Beth!

• Food Supply Chain Map beta launch

  Jun 11, 2020 2:45 pm

  Professor Megan Konar in Civil and Environmental Engineering partnered with the MSTE Office to develop a Food Supply Chain Map to visualize the flow of food between counties in the United States. 

• Sixth Annual BeeBlitz

  Jun 8, 2020 11:30 am

  Join us (virtually) on Saturday, June 27, 2020 for the sixth annual BeeBlitz, taking place during National Pollinator Week! Perfect for social distancing - get outside to spot some bees, snap some pics, and upload them to BeeSpotter.

• MSTE and IL-EPA Food Waste Curriculum is piloted

  May 15, 2020 9:00 am

  Sammy Lindgren at MSTE developed a new Food Waste Curriculum with collaboration and support from the Illinois EPA. It was recently piloted in two fifth grade science classes in Springfield, IL!