Nebraska Extension to participate in NSF STEM for All Video Showcase

May 8, 2019

Lincoln, Neb. — Dagen Valentine, innovation and entrepreneurship educator, and Bradley Barker, science and technology specialist with Nebraska Extension will be featured in the 2019 STEM for All Video Showcase funded by the National Science Foundation.  The event will be held online May 13 -20 at https://stemforall2019.videohall.com.

The presentation, entitled “Connecting Makers and Mentors with VR & Telepresence,” looks at how teams of youth and mentors collaborate regardless of geographic location and to creatively problem solve and innovate. The project advances a model of connectedness and social innovation using two main strategies: virtual collaborative spaces and robotic telepresence, to provide rural youths and their communities access to the Maker movement. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation. 

“Makerspaces provide a rich context for students to learn and develop many skills and habits of mind: problem solving, perseverance, and STE(A)M skills to name a few,” Valentine said. “Access to makerspaces in rural communities is limited due to geographic distance and possibly access to skilled mentors. These tools allow UNL students and faculty to be ‘present’ in rural makerspaces and support the learning.” 

The two Nebraska sites engaged in this project were Sidney and Columbus.

Now in its fifth year, the annual showcase will feature over 240 innovative projects aimed at improving STEM learning and teaching, which have been funded by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies. During the week-long event, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and members of the public are invited to view the short videos, discuss them with the presenters online, and vote for their favorites. 

The theme for this year’s event is “Innovations in STEM Education.” Video presentations address improving K-12 STEM classroom, informal environments, undergraduate and graduate education, teacher professional development, and community engagement. Collectively the presentations cover a broad range of topics including science, mathematics, computer science, engineering, cyberlearning, citizen science, maker spaces, broadening participation, research experiences, mentoring, professional development, NGSS and the Common Core.

Last year’s STEM for All Video Showcase is still being accessed, and to date has had over 81,000 unique visitors from 186 countries.