Our Crowdfunding Groups
We invite you to join an innovative group of early childhood educators (PreK-3) for a 2-day STEAMPOSIUM event! This exciting professional development conference includes a focus on the incorporation of experiential learning, project work and the Reggio approach through an integration of STEAM investigations (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics). Thousands of teachers across the world have been studying and incorporating aspects of the Reggio Approach after being immersed in the preschool classrooms in Reggio Emilia and Pistoia, Italy. These schools garnered international attention when they were named the number one early childhood program in the world by Newsweek Magazine in 1999 and continued to receive awards and recognitions from many nations of the world in the ensuing years. Integrating Reggio pedagogy within a STEAM approach is a natural conduit for positive learning outcomes across our classrooms.
Conference Purpose
Our collaborative goal is to increase teachers’ self-efficacy towards the application of STEAM curricula across WV, Western Maryland and Western Pennsylvania for Pre-K through 3rd grade teachers while incorporating the Reggio approach and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Increased awareness of the value of STEAM curriculum within preschool, kindergarten, and primary classrooms continues to grow as does the volume of resources to support this curriculum. Sadly, early childhood teachers report lack of self-efficacy and confidence related to planning and implementing STEAM curriculum. Your generous donation will go toward purchase of STEAM equipment for early childhood classrooms, transportation to the Harrison county STEAM Lab and The Giving Tree Farms of Preston County, peridium to key note speakers, and conference presenters, STEAMposium conference t-shirts and other miscellaneous conference expenses.
Institutions and collaborative partners
Participants will have an opportunity to engage with other early childhood professionals during authentic learning experiences relating to real world problems while developing solutions to STEAM experiments. These experiences can easily be transferred into early childhood classrooms. The conference offers a STEAMposium Facebook page as a tool for professional mentoring and collaboration. Register early as enrollment is limited.
Conference History
The Marshall University Early Education STEAM Center (program of the June Harless Center) has been on a journey of implementing new techniques and principles that are Reggio inspired since 2012. The STEAMPOSIUM conference originated with the thought of creating a collaboration and network for inspired learning based on the Reggio philosophy. With support of a grant from the Benedum Foundation, the June Harless Center hosted the first STEAMPOSIUM conference in the summer of 2018. Throughout the conference, educators engaged in hands-on workshops and reflected on best practices. The conference focused on creating inspired learning environments, purposeful play, provocations, project work, loose parts, early numeracy, and early literacy. Educators were also introduced to the importance of natural materials and real-world experiences. The workshops allowed the educators to collaborate and begin the creation of a network for inspired learning.
In the fall of 2019, Marshall University’s June Harless Center and WVU’s Nursery School decided to partner to expand STEAMposium and offer new location for participants on WVU’s campus. Through this collaborative effort, our hope is to reach as many early childhood educators as possible and impact teaching and learning in our state and beyond.
This donation will cover a STEAM book and manipulative for one teacher who attends the conference.
This donation will cover presenters conference stipend that will assist with travel and lodging expenses. Some of our presentations include: Robotics, Hydroponics, Reggio Emilia Schools, Astronomy and Electricity, Early STEAM Exploration, Project WET, Healthy Homestyles – supporting students and families within our community, PBS, Incorporating the arts into STEAM experiences.
This donation will cover conference t-shirts for 5 teachers / additional presenter materials (Micro:bit, Sphero)
This donation will cover bus transportation to Harrison County STEAM Lab and to the Giving Tree Farms of Preston County.