In My eSTEMation....

In my eSTEM-ation, LEGO® robots really can make STEM education come alive!  In early September, FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) quickly established itself as one of the most popular Scale-Up grants in Northwest Iowa.   This grant provides registration fees, a specially designed LEGO® robot kit, a team computer and more! 

It is interesting to note that many of the STEM educators that applied for the FIRST LEGO® League grant were from outside of the traditional school system:  non-formal educators including Girl Scout leaders, 4-H Club coaches, and after-school program instructors.  

In our region alone, nearly sixty thousand dollars in FLL grants were awarded.   The Governor's STEM Initiative has made it possible for hundreds of kids in Northwest Iowa to explore their creativity, ingenuity and academic passions.  FLL uses robotic technologies to allow young computer programmers to solve problems, overcome obstacles and work toward continuous improvement using an iterative design cycle.  

The FLL State Championship will take place at Iowa State University in Ames on January 19.  Read More.

In my eSTEM-ation, LEGO® Rocks!