The Southwest Corner 2010 Regional STEM Conference was held on February 3, 2010 at Penn State-Beaver. Job Training for Beaver County, Inc. and Southwest Training Services, Inc., in collaboration with Penn State Beaver, hosted the event with over 190 educators, workforce and economic development professionals, and students in attendance. The overall focus of the conference was “Preparing Pennsylvania’s Youth to be Globally Competitive Learners and Workers in the 21st Century.”

Keynote address: “Enhancing Scientific Literacy in the K-20 Classroom," Dr. Tanya Furman, Penn State University Professor of Geo Sciences

Conference Sessions:

“Are We Preparing Our Students to be Globally Competitive in the 21st Century?” Barbara Houtz, Director of Outreach, Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University

“How to Focus on the T & E in STEM," Dr. Stanley Komacek, Interim Associate Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs, California University of PA

“Bringing Nanotechnology into Your Classroom,” Jamie G. Houseknecht, College Recruitment Coordinator, Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) and Research Assistant for Penn State Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization

“Regenerative Medicine: Exciting Youth about Careers in the Life Sciences," Joan Schanck, MPA, Director of Education &Workforce Development, Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Inc.

”Bringing STEM Education to Life: Connecting Classroom Learning, Interactive Experiences and Real World Opportunities,” Linda Ortenzo, Director of the Regional SciTech Initiative & Executive Board of the Carnegie Science Center

“Coming Soon! Video Games in a Classroom Near You: The evolution of video games into learning vehicles and trends,” Tracy Brown, CEO & Founder, Evil Genius Designs

Best Practices in STEM Education Session:

Moderator: Nancy Tsupros, Program Director-IU#1 Center for STEM Education, Washington & Jefferson College

Presentations:

“I3, Invention-Innovation-Inquiry: An Elementary Link to Technological Literacy,” Dr. Sandra Cavanaugh, Elementary Education Teacher, Canon McMillan School District– North Strabane Intermediate School (MS PowerPoint slides)

“Partners in Education,” Dr. Ronald Sofo, Superintendent, Freedom School District, and Rita Kaplan, Guidance Counselor, Freedom School District

"Bots IQ Competition," William Fielder, Technology Education Teacher, Central Valley School District