I-STEM joins national program to train science, technology, engineering, math teachers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana's I-STEM Resource Network has been chosen as a partner in 100Kin10, a program aimed at training 100,000 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers by 2021.

I-STEM is a partnership of public and private higher education institutions, K-12 schools, businesses and government hosted by Purdue University. It provides science curriculum and professional development for K-12 teachers in the STEM disciplines. It seeks to make quality STEM education available for all Indiana students.

"Our goal is to work with Indiana teachers to implement high academic standards that will provide STEM literacy for all students," said Paul Ainslie, I-STEM managing director. "That makes us a perfect partner for 100Kin10."

The nearly 200 partners in 100Kin10, an independent nonprofit organization, have access to exclusive competitive research opportunities, collaboration grants, a growing research and learning platform, and a funding marketplace. Each of these is designed to foster collaborative problem-solving and support partners in their commitments.

Organizations are accepted into 100Kin10 after a vetting process conducted by a team of partners and the University of Chicago. Reviewers look for organizations that bring innovation, boldness and a proven track record to expanding, improving and retaining the nation’s STEM teaching force. 

In the first two years of the effort, 100Kin10 partners have recruited and prepared 12,443 teachers. In addition, nearly 75 partners are working to support and improve existing teachers so that more of them stay in the profession.

I-STEM has provided teacher professional development in math and science since its beginning in 2006 and will add engineering integration this coming summer. 

 It is committed to providing training to 11,500 teachers in integrated science, mathematics, engineering design and literacy, offering face-to-face training to at least 1,500 teachers by 2016 and online training to an additional 10,000 teachers by 2018.

The signature I-STEM program is the Indiana Science Initiative, which uses research-based science curricular materials that are implemented with instruction to support literacy strategies. 

 Piloted in 2010, ISI includes 31 school districts statewide with 134 schools, more than 2,000 teachers and 54,000 students. It provides science curriculum for grades K-8, with an emphasis on supporting higher-need districts.

I-STEM is supported by grants from the Lilly Co. Foundation, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Commission on Higher Education, Biocrossroads, and the Lilly Endowment.            

More information on I-STEM is available at https://www.istemnetwork.org/

More information on 100Kin10 is available at http://www.100kin10.org/ 

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jaustin@purdue.edu