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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Hartington woman was honored nationally for her work on a program which combines STEM learning resources with literacy development.
Jackie Steffen was recognized nationally as the first place recipient of the Innovation in Programming Award for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Imagination Guides program and website. Steffen, a Randolph native, received the award at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences’ annual conference in Providence, R.I.
The STEM Imagination Guide program was developed in 2020 and consists of a comprehensive website with resources for early childhood providers and families with materials aimed at children from birth to 8 years old.
The program provides caregivers with books, guided questions, and expanded learning resources to support literacy development, enhance relationships, and to make connections with their local library.
The program builds upon the collaborative Summer Reading Program that takes place nationally with materials changing every year.
The current guide features eight books and learning resources include conversation starters, creative arts, activities for infants and toddlers, a nature and STEM connection and story extensions.
For example, one of the books selected “My Mouth is a Volcano!” by Julia Cook includes a lesson about listening. The STEM connection is an activity on echolocation.
Each book is selected by Steffen, a Nebraska Extension early childhood educator in Cedar County, and others on the program team from across the state — Sarah Roberts, Dixon County Extension, Ingrid Chavarria, Saline County Extension, and Linda Reddish, statewide Extension educator based in Omaha.
“Next year’s theme is ‘Adventure Begins at Your Library’ and we are already making plans,” Steffen said with a rollout of new materials set for March 2024. “We try to pick out high interest, age appropriate books for our audience. The STEM Connection is a hands-on element that extends the learning of the book.”
The STEM Imagination Guides have proven to be a popular concept with children, parents, librarians and childcare providers. Based on download data, Steffen said the guides have indirectly reached more than 73,000 children. Individuals in 19 different states and two countries outside of the United States have downloaded guides. Each user downloads 3-4 guides on average, Steffen said.
The guides have also been used in 34 trainings of more than 800 early childhood professionals.
Carol Benson, an in-home childcare provider in Coleridge, said she is always looking for unique ways to spark the attention of the children in her care. Using the STEM Imagination Guides made her realize the importance of connecting STEM and literacy.
“This educational program was an asset to me as a home provider because it was simple to incorporate into my already busy day,” she said.
Lied Randolph Public Library Director Peggy Leiting said additional materials for Summer Reading are always a plus.
“It offers us creative, fun, hands-on ideas to incorporate in our weekly story times and summer reading programs,” she said.
To learn more about Nebraska Extension’s STEM Imagination Guide program, visit child.unl.edu/nebraska-4-h-stem-reading- connections-program or contact Jackie Steffen at the Cedar County Extension Office, 402-254-6821.
