Upcoming Events and Workshops

STEAM Socials w/ the STEM Ambassadors

• Mosaic Frame STEAM Social: Thursday, January 29th, 5–7 p.m.
  Find out more information or register on the RedbirdLife event page.

Upcoming Professional Development Workshops

Student-Led Faculty Professional Development Workshop Series 

This series of professional development workshops is facilitated by the STEM Ambassadors. In this three-part series, you will learn about the program, effective practices for faculty/student partnerships, and create a plan to support STEM students. You will leave with a curated list of resources that you can use with your own students. Tenure-track faculty, non-tenure track faculty and course instructors, and graduate students are eligible to participate. A $125 stipend is available if you participate in two or more sessions. (Note: Compensation for GAs is dependent on pre-approval from their department/school and HR.) Registration is required for each session.

Session 1: Supporting Students through Successful Life Transitions in the Classroom & Beyond

Date and Time:

• Tuesday, February 17, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (Register by Monday, February 16.)

Description: Join ISU’s STEM Ambassadors for an interactive presentation and Q&A panel. Faculty support for students as they navigate transitions helps students thrive in college and beyond. ISU student researchers have developed a unique understanding of student perspectives on career transitions through research on ISU students’ experiences and the broader literature. 

Session 2: Promoting Student Success Through Faculty–Student Connections

Dates and Times:

• Wednesday, January 21, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (Register by Tuesday, January 20.)
• Tuesday, March 3, 12:30–1:30 p.m. ( Register by Monday, March 2.)

Description: Join ISU’s STEM Ambassadors for an interactive presentation and Q&A panel. Strong connections with faculty lead to greater student belonging and greater student success. Student researchers surveyed ISU students and faculty to understand the indicators and implications of faculty–student connections. Suggestions from ISU students and the literature will be shared during this session. 

Session 3: Small Steps to Set Students Up for Success

Dates and Times:

• Wednesday, February 4, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (Register by Tuesday, February 3.)
• Tuesday, March 17, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (Register by Monday, March 16.)

Description: Join ISU’s STEM Ambassadors for an interactive presentation and Q&A panel. Universal Design for Learning and related movements in education show that small course changes focused on overcoming obstacles can have positive impacts for all students. Student researchers surveyed ISU students to understand stumbling blocks in ISU courses and identified small steps that faculty can take to ensure all students have a path to success.

 

Past Events and Workshops

Events

• Finals Week Destresser STEAM Social: Thursday, December 4th, 5–7 p.m.
• Trinket Shelf STEAM Social: Wednesday, November 12th, 5–7 p.m.
  
• Pumpkin Painting STEAM Social: Tuesday, October 14th, 5–7 p.m.
• Make Your Own Ice Cream STEAM Social: Monday, September 29th, 5–7 p.m.

Workshops

• Avoiding Burnout Using Self-Determination Theory to Foster Well-being in Both Ourselves and Our Students
  Hosted by Dr. Rebekka Darner and Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks; Illinois State University (Summer 2024)
  
  Description: We will use self-determination theory to explore our own motivations within and beyond teaching, identify how we can avoid burnout, and conceptualize what psychological wellness really is. Then we will explore how self-determination theory can be applied to foster motivation in our students by supporting their psychological wellness, fostering their STEM identity, offering choices in the STEM classroom, fostering goal setting and achievement in STEM classrooms, fostering a sense of belonging in STEM, and making STEM feel new and exciting.