"Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science" - Edwin Powell Hubble
STEM & Innovation
Kate's passion for education is one that runs deep, and she loves to create positive change at a macro-level. As a part of the Wheeler Center for Advance Studies' capstone Advance Scientific Internship and Research courses, Kate has had the opportunity to further her passions through interning with Dr. Sally Creel, the Director of STEM and Innovation for the Cobb County School District. For four days a week, Kate works both at the county's district offices with the STEM and Innovation team, as well as off-site at varying Cobb County schools and businesses partnered with STEM education. Because STEM education development requires a balance between curriculum development, classroom observation, corporate partnerships, and community engagement, no two days working with the STEM and Innovation team are the same.
A large portion of Kate's work under Dr. Creel focuses on STEM events for Cobb County, specifically the Elementary and Middle School Science Olympiad competitions. Kate works on the development side of the competitions, assembling events for Title I and Regional competitions, as well as testing new events, including the recently-introduced 24 Game. The Science Olympiad events are used at both the county and state-levels, and the games are designed to be adaptable to the different levels of competitions.
Kate shadows Dr. Creel and the STEM and Innovation team at school-level conferences for elementary, middle, and high schools seeking STEM certification. At these conferences, Kate contributes as an admin, assisting in the technology side of events, and by providing a insight on STEM education from a student perspective. Events Kate has helped work include EdCamp, a series of leadership and department development for schools' STEM committees, and the Science of Baseball, a collaboration between CCSD and the Atlanta Braves to promote STEM education via application learning through baseball-related activities and events. Kate has also had the chance to attend conferences including the CEISMC Georgia Tech STEAM Leadership Conference, where keynote speakers discussed the future development of technology and the implications on curriculum development.
A large portion of Kate's work under Dr. Creel focuses on STEM events for Cobb County, specifically the Elementary and Middle School Science Olympiad competitions. Kate works on the development side of the competitions, assembling events for Title I and Regional competitions, as well as testing new events, including the recently-introduced 24 Game. The Science Olympiad events are used at both the county and state-levels, and the games are designed to be adaptable to the different levels of competitions.
Kate shadows Dr. Creel and the STEM and Innovation team at school-level conferences for elementary, middle, and high schools seeking STEM certification. At these conferences, Kate contributes as an admin, assisting in the technology side of events, and by providing a insight on STEM education from a student perspective. Events Kate has helped work include EdCamp, a series of leadership and department development for schools' STEM committees, and the Science of Baseball, a collaboration between CCSD and the Atlanta Braves to promote STEM education via application learning through baseball-related activities and events. Kate has also had the chance to attend conferences including the CEISMC Georgia Tech STEAM Leadership Conference, where keynote speakers discussed the future development of technology and the implications on curriculum development.
Research
Kate is currently designing and building the new county-level website for the Cobb County STEM and Innovation department. To develop the website, she has completed background research on web design and aesthetics, the CCSD requirements for a STEM and Innovation website, and interviews with David Burch. CCSD Digital Media Specialist, and Dr. Sally Creel, to define the objectives and desired execution of the final website. A Research Concept Map is posted below to give an outline of Kate's foundational research and the final product, the CCSD STEM and Innovation website.
60 Seconds of Me
The following video is Kate's "60 Seconds of Me", a video resume summarizing her background and plans for her professional used to prepare for her internship with CCSD's STEM and Innovation department.