A+ Ideas, Programs, and Practices

This hands-on program at Benedict A. Cucinella School enhances autistic students’ creative thinking, communication skills, scientific thinking and problem-solving abilities by working with robotics. At the same time, it promotes learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Students are engaged in basic computer programming, keyboarding and robot construction. Started in 2012, the Robo Kids … Continued

Interscholastic competition is not just for sports. Teaching students to master and use STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – while engaging in interscholastic academic competition is the goal of the NJ Interscholastic STEM League. Started as a grass-roots effort in 2014 with four Bergen County teams, the Interscholastic STEM League has grown to … Continued

Many teachers continue to struggle with the integration of engineering and technology into their elementary classrooms. The “iStem is Elementary” program provides teachers with training on how to implement iSTEM – integrated science, technology, engineering and math – into every-day elementary school learning. In grade school, for example, students can learn the engineering design process … Continued

Spring Lake Heights Elementary School was one of a dozen shore-acre schools to receive grants that will help develop dream classrooms. Spring Lake Heights Elementary received a $10,000 grant to create a model classroom, the HEAT lab (Heights Engineering and Technology Lab) in late 2014. The classroom will be used in the implementation of the … Continued

Students in 7th and 8th grade in Bayonne are making a big commitment to build their skills in science, technology, engineering and math. They are taking time away from their regular weekend pursuits, and coming to classes on Saturdays, to learn computer coding, math enrichment and more. Classes are taught by certified math and science … Continued

To inspire young women to pursue or continue to pursue studies and careers in STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics – Summit held a community-wide workshop for middle and high school girls and their mothers or other significant women in their lives. Hosted by school board member Gloria Ron-Fornes, who was then board … Continued

In Absecon, the schools have embraced the importance of learning about science and technology with an added twist: The arts. Students there are going full STEAM ahead, with a new district program focusing on STEAM – science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. The Absecon Public School community, comprised of teachers, administrators, staff, parents and … Continued

The goal at Livingston’s Heritage Middle School was to increase girls’ involvement in STEM education. The result was the FemGineers Female Engineering Club. The club began with a group of ten eighth-graders, founded exclusively for girls to design and build solutions to real world problems. Students meet on their own time, before and after school, … Continued

The Peshine Avenue School in Newark has been recognized for its efforts to spark girls’ interest in engineering and computer science. The Newark school was recently selected to receive a $50,000 grant from Samsung to increase access to tools for science, technology, engineer and math learning. The school was chosen following its completion of a … Continued

A team of students from Livingston High School recently won an award at the Shell Eco-marathon, a competition for high school and college student teams from around the world. The students design and build energy-efficient vehicles; winning teams are those that can travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. The Livingston High … Continued