This week in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) news, a new course helps U.S. students learn climate change through a global perspective and the White House announces further commitment to facilitating early learning in STEM. 

STEAM Course Aims to Teach Students Climate Change with Global Perspective 

Level Up Village (LUV) has announced two new STEAM (STEM + Art)  classes that will further help its students merge an understanding of STEAM subjects with a global perspective.

One of the courses, Global Web Designers, helps , “students...team up with global partners from a developing country to design and create a website focused on global climate change. While learning about hydro, wind, and solar power, students also learn to understand trends in global climate change. They will gain essential skills in website development and learn to problem solve from a global perspective,” said LUV on its website.

The second course, Global Conservationists, takes students on virtual field trips to learn about different animal habitats from around the world.

These two new courses are further efforts from LUV to develop 21st century skills in students through collaboration with the developing world.

“Level Up Village courses make it easy for schools to offer impactful global programs to their students by providing fully developed curricula, comprehensive teacher training and careful management of the global collaboration process," said Neesha Rahim, Co-Founder, Level Up Village.

LUV is in more than 100 U.S. schools and has global partners in 23 different countries.

Read more here. 

White House Announces Support of Early STEM Learning

Last week, the Department of Education released a press release stating its support of teaching STEM to early learners.

"Building on the President’s early learning and “Educate to Innovate” agendas, the White House, working with the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, hope to advance this focus on STEM experiences in the coming months by identifying research gaps, best practices, and education technologies to support our youngest learners, parents and caregivers, educators and community leaders with early STEM education,” the Department said.

"This spring, the White House, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Invest in US, will hold an event at the White House to focus on this important work and we hope to help highlight your commitments in this area along with a suite of federal resources and materials.”

Read the full post.

Schools & Individuals Eligible to Win $10K By Sharing Personal Experiences Using Internet

Trend Micro Incorporated is giving schools and individuals in the U.S. the opportunity to win $10,000 by sharing "their personal experiences and thoughts on what the Internet means to them, both now and in the future,” the company said in a statement.

"Trend Micro is offering two $10,000 grand prizes – one for an individual film-maker and another for a K-12 educational institution. Additional cash prizes will be offered for runner-up winners”

Trend Micro is looking to hear about how parents, teachers and communities use Internet safely and responsibly so it can better help people “thrive online.”

"Many of us think about, worry, and praise the way the Internet has impacted the world – for people young and old, for better or worse, now and in the future. But what do you think? What role does the Internet play in your life? What do you do differently because of it? How do you interact with others because of it? Can’t stand it? Can’t live without it? Are you indifferent to it?"

The contest is going on from now until April 12. Winners will be announced May 17, 2016.

"Finalists’ entries will be reviewed by a panel of experts in the fields of Internet safety, media literacy, and technology. In addition to Trend Micro, this year’s judges’ panel includes participants from ConnectSafely, Twitter, iCanHelp, and NAMLE” Trend Micro said.

Find out more details and how to enter here.

Sony Unveils First Part of STEM101 Curriculum

Sony has announced the first initiative of its STEM 101 curriculum.

Through the system Koov, Sony has created new robotics and programming kits that aim to inspire young minds.

"Sony Global Education will actively promote KOOV as a tool for opening children's minds and infusing them with receptivity to the surrounding world, reasoning skills, and problem solving competency, all highly sought after attributes in the 21st century,” Sony said. 

Read more about Koov here.

Compiled by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

3/8/2016