Volunteers: State VEX Robotics Tournament - February 19-20

Register to volunteer at the Virginia State VEX Robotics Tournament at https://2016vavex.my-trs.com/

Volunteer support makes these competitions possible for thousands of students in Virginia.  After clicking a button below, click on Volunteer Opportunities and you will see a list of volunteer positions opened for the 2016 VA State Championship.

For most positions, no experience is necessary and no technical expertise is needed.  We train volunteers to guide students and teams to the right place at the right time as well as how to keep score for a match or interview teams for judged awards.  Some opportunities are split into timeslots each day for those who cannot volunteer for the entire competition and some are requiring a two day commitment.

Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, breakfast, and lunch for the day's work!  After finding your opportunity please complete your profile so that we can give you the right sized shirt, meet your dietary restrictions and contact you if anything changes.

• Returning Volunteers - Choose 'Login' if you already have an account.
• New Volunteers - Choose 'Register Now' on the right to begin registration.

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2016 VA VEX State Championship 

February 19-20, 2016

Deadline today for STEM fellowships and scholarships

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium awards 80+ scholarships to fellowships to ODU, Hampton U, William and Mary, UVA and Virginia Tech students. Today is the deadline for research students majoring in STEM to apply online for these awards.  Please be so kind as to pass this on to your students.

Undergrad link to information and online application: http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/sf/undergrad/

Grad link to information and online application:http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/sf/gradfellow/

VASCD Article on the VSLN

 VASCD Feature article - February 2016

The Virginia STEM Learning Network:

A Catalyst for Advancing Virginia's New Economy

by Amy Sabarre and Jim Egenrieder 

"The Network serves as the catalyst for reaching and inspiring more Virginia students to pursue additional STEM subjects, STEM jobs, STEM certificates and degrees, and STEM careers. " 

STEM-focused teaching and learning is here to stay. STEM education is not just a passing phase in educational practice; it's the foundation for long-term economic drivers in which educators play a critical role in preparing our students for post-secondary education, training, careers, and advanced citizenship.  STEM leaders have a real and immediate opportunity to align good teaching practices with an emphasis on STEM habits of mind that benefit students around the Commonwealth.  This opportunity also advances Virginia's position in the national landscape of STEM and STEM education, considering:

• Virginia is a national leader in STEM fields; 
• Virginia has been rated first in the country for high tech jobs[1];
• Virginia ranks in the top 10% of states for science and engineering degrees obtained[2];
• In Virginia, the average hourly earnings in STEM-related employment are almost twice that of all other occupations[3]; and,
• The US Chamber of Commerce named Virginia the Best State for STEM jobs in 2013.[4]

Challenges and Needs

Our Commonwealth and its economy are advantaged by these successes, and our STEM-literate citizens are better able to create, recognize and support wise public policy.    However, in looking to the future, our increasingly global and technology-driven economy and society will require even

A visual depiction of our efforts

Welcome to our Network

Welcome to the Virginia STEM Learning Network, a collection of regional STEM leaders throughout Virginia sharing ideas, resources, successes and challenges, and strategies for engaging more young people in STEM and STEAM courses, post-secondary plans, and careers.

For more information, send an email to info@vastemlearning.net or to asabarre@harrisonburg.k12.va.us