Students explore interests through Genius Hour

February 2, 2015

Riem Hassan wants to tackle poverty. Ivan Ramos wants people to stop killing spiders. Demetrious Ramirez wants improved education for American Indians on reservations. Using these interests as springboards, seventh-graders Hassan, Ramos and Ramirez are developing projects during a new activity at South East Junior High called Genius Hour. Read more online.

Entrepreneurship and innovation in the K-12 STEM classroom

December 30, 2014

There's good news and bad news about K-12 education in Iowa. The bad news of from Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education (2011): "Iowa has started slowly slouching toward educational mediocrity." The good news? In response to Duncan's call to action, the Iowa Governor's STEM Council was formed to coordinate reform efforts. Read more online.

UI hosts Innovation Institute: tech, entrepreneurship camp

July 22, 2014

West High junior Michael Abdo is fascinated by science and technology. And someday, the 16-year-old says he will be an engineer. Read more online.