The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) was recently the recipient of the 2014 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for their project “Librarians as STEM Educators.”
With a high focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education in our schools, ACLA partnered with Asset, Inc. to provide high-level training to 30 county-wide youth services librarians in inquiry-based, STEM learning for K-5 programming. Seven-hour training sessions, held once a month, began in September and will continue through May 2017.
Two area youth services librarians, Dolores Colarosa from Baldwin Library and Denise Ignasky from Whitehall Library, were chosen to participate in the training program. STEM programming will be introduced at the library level beginning in February 2015 and expand during the summer months and beyond.
Students will have the opportunity to collect, synthesize, and analyze information, use technology to communicate their ideas and thoughts, and build their final products.
Here is a list of our upcoming STEM Programming here at the library:
Engineering Adventures / Registration requested
If you love to create, problem-solve, work as a team, and challenge yourself, this program is for you! Through open-ended discussion and challenges, we will be learning the steps leading up to, and designing, your own recycled racer.
Monday, February 2, 6:30-8:00 pm (grades K-2)
Monday, February 16, 6:30-8:00 pm (grades 3-5)