1. Sparks! Grant for the Southern Prairie Library System
Team STEEEM:
Molly DettmanN, Shaun Klee, Alyssa Peterson, Lyssa Prince
April 25, 2015

2. Southern Prairie Library System: Needs and Challenges
SPLS Mission Statement
To meet the informational needs of all ages, the Southern Prairie Library System commits its resources to the promotion of reading and lifelong learning. The library will draw upon available resources to present programs that stimulate intellectual growth, instill a love of reading, and encourage the sharing of ideas. The library will provide access to information through a variety of materials and the effective use of technology.
Brief Overview of Southern Prairie Library System:
Located in southwest Oklahoma, Serves Jackson and Harmon Counties
Two Branches: Altus and Hollis
Includes the Altus and Hollis School Systems
Both Title 1 schools, which means over 40% of the students come from low income homes
Offers programming for children and adults, but neglects teenagers
SPLS only owns 12 public access computers

3. Growing Our Stems Series: littleBits and Lego Mindstorm Robots
Lego Robot
Robot Arm
littleBits Creation
Basic littleBits Kit
In order to provide STEM education to our patrons, we will develop a series of programming for littleBits (a circuitry kit) for kids 8 & up, Lego Mindstorm Robots (building and programming robots) for kids 12 & up, and computer classes on SCRATCH, Hour of Code, and Code.org for all tweens/teens. We will also partner with the Altus and Hollis public school systems to offer outreach classes at the schools.

4. Project Work Plan/Timeline: Growing Our STEMs Series
Training with Pioneer Library System
Consult teachers
Free Webinars
Training
October 2015
littleBits (8 & up)
Legos (12 & up)
Computer Classes
Outreach Classes
Programming
November 2015-May 2016
Attendance Count
Evaluation Forms
Assessment
Adjustment
Evaluation
Ongoing
TRAINING:
Selected children’s and teen’s librarians will train/consult with Pioneer Library System librarians who already offer STEM programming.
We will also partner with the math and science departments at Altus and Hollis to determine the specific educational needs of our young patrons and to help make the Growing Our STEMs Series as educationally beneficial as possible.
Our librarians will also take free webinars from Library Journal and Infopeople.org
The librarians will then develop programs for the Growing Our STEM Series.
PROGRAMMING
The seven month long series will consist of:
5 littleBits classes
7 Lego Mindstorm Robots classes
6 computer classes
5 outreach classes
EVALUATION
Attendance will be counted.
Evaluation forms will be offered to teens and parents following each event.
We will periodically assess the evaluations and adjust our programming as needed.
Throughout the process, we will consult with the Pioneer Library System and Altus and Hollis teachers in order to serve the students in the best way possible.

5. Budget Justification:
Financial requirements consist of supplies, materials, equipment, and travel:
10 – Lego Mindstorms EV3 Robots
10 – Lego Mindstorm EV3 Core Set
2 – Software Site Licenses
10 – Dell Inspiron Series Laptops
10 – Little Bit Arduino Base Kits
Travel between the two SPLS branches and
the Altus and Hollis Junior High Schools
Technology Maintenance
Budget Total: $15,000

6. Project Justification: Fill STEM Gap Nationwide
With the Growing Our STEMs Series, we hope to increase tween and teen programing at SPLS and improve the education of our teen patrons, who will go on to become the future of Oklahoma, the United States. As of 2013, more than half of high school graduates were not prepared for college level math and science classes. With the Growing Our STEMs Series, we can increase the amount of STEM education our teen patrons receive, as well as use our materials, knowledge, and results to help other libraries develop similar programs. It is time for libraries and STEM to join together for a new and improved educational acronym: STEEEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Educational, Entertaining, and Mathematics.
*Graphic from the National Math + Science Initiative

7. Project Justification: Benefit Rural Areas
"Some rural districts said they lack access to extracurricular activities, like after-school programs and summer programs, which support STEM and can build interest and skills in students.”
-Education Week
“Rural districts are particularly concerned because, as we’re getting into 21st century learning, they’re having a hard time keeping up, largely due to money as well as [teacher] recruitment and retention issues”
-Denise Harshbarger
For the Tulsa presentation, Lyssa’s going to give her personal story of inadequate STEM education.
Although we hope to benefit the nation by providing STEM programming, we can also fill a more immediate need of teens and tweens in rural areas. Rural schools struggle to provide students with STEM education due to financial issues as well as teacher retention. After all, small towns don’t have nearly the draw as larger cities. The Growing Our STEMs series may spark interest in fields that rural students might never have been exposed to previously and help to strengthen the technical education of the students.

8. Project Results: Growth!
Teamwork
Cognitive Ability
Multiple Perspectives
Increased Interest
Higher Test Scores
Project Results: Growth!
We hope that our evaluations would show the participants’ minds have been expanded and that they have have learned to solve real world problems using teamwork and multiple perspectives. Also, we hope teachers at Hollis and Altus schools see an increase in STEM interest and a change in cognitive behavior due to the skills learned through STEM work.
The success of our program will show that other rural library systems can easily implement this program, since the cost isn’t too great (and the tech can be re-used!). We will share our work by creating a step by step guide that includes instructional materials, evaluation materials, and program guides.
We’ll also be exposing rural students to opportunities that they maybe would have never have been exposed to otherwise, as well as adding STEM skills to the future workforce.

9. Project Results: Sustainability
Low Cost
Technology Acquisition
Collaboration
Community Impact
Share Results
LOW COST – only need to acquire technology, but can use free resources and colleagues to create programming
TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION – once the technology is acquired, it can continue to be used for several years
COLLABORATION – We, and other libraries, can help each other out. We can also form partnerships with schools.
COMMUNITY IMPACT – Once community members see the benefits of STEM education, they may be willing to donate or volunteer.
SHARE RESULTS – We will share any documents created, lessons learned, and our results with other libraries so they can develop their own programs. We will also invite other librarians to observe our programming in person.
Image from: