Incorporating STEM into Your Library and Teen Tech Week

STEM -- Science, Technology, Education, and Math -- is the latest buzzword in education. How does your library incorporate STEM into its offerings? What are some ideas for using Teen Tech Week to highlight your library's STEM resources?

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The first thing that comes to mind for me is to talk about our databases.  Teen patrons are usually happy to see that there is another way to use their library other than trying to get that ONE book that is relevant to their research subject!

I teach English part-time at a local college, and one of the things I learned to stress to students from teaching information literacy skills is that the databases will automatically cite their research in whatever format they are required to cite the source in (ex: MLA, Chicago, ALA). After I tell them this part, their eyes shift from being glossed over to being bright and perky. They hate citing sources and this really offers them a good solution to the problem, even if the databases take longer to access then web search engines.

When I did my Technology Garden idea, the first thing I wanted to ensure was that I offered something for every discipline. So I looked for apps and sites that would offer up a real choice. I ended up with some math-related things like the TanZen Lite app and the KhanAcademy.org site (also good for some science), and I covered science with the iPad app Science360, Exploratorium.edu, and Geo-cube.eu. All of the apps and sites were educational, but I rounded things out with Tagxedo.com (pulls webpages and does Internet searches by topic to populate a word cloud), Storybird.com, PicLits.com, the Timbuktu iPad magazine app, and the Sgraffito scratch-art app, with Mad Libs thrown in, just for fun.

We have started incorporating STEM by offering some special events programming in cooperation with museums.  While that may not be an option for everyone, I budgeted funds to have the Houston Museum of Natural Science visit with their dome and Earth Science on Wheels programs during this year's summer reading programs.

For Teen Tech Week, I am doing an activity scavenger hunt.  One of the activities is creating a podcast. 

My city’s Visitors Bureau started a city-wide event called “Homeschool Week” last year. They got all different kinds of local organizations to host programs specifically for homeschooled and online K-12 students in order to bring in tourism. We joined up with them and had some interesting success! We decided to create a Science/Technology program during this week and conduct it almost like a small convention. Last year we had students of all ages learn how to create video games on Sploder.com; make bouncy balls; design t-shirts with bleach pens, bleach spray & tape, and spray paint; mold clay around a flashdrive for a steampunk look; and see who could create the farthest flying airplane. We’re going to run it again this year with a Maker theme. It was great to target this community with these types of activities, because homeschooled students were able to dive into STEM learning with peers that they usually didn’t get to spend much time with.

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Encourages teens to visit the library to use all of the great digital resources offered to make a change in their life and community. #TTW17

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Passive Program

Started by Valerie Gilbert in Sample Title. Last reply by Amy Ojserkis Mar 6. 1 Reply

Any ideas for a TTW passive program? We're a small branch and get a handful of teens.ThanksContinue

Successful High School Programs

Started by Karen Abraham in Sample Title. Last reply by Amy Ojserkis Feb 27. 4 Replies

I have always struggled to get a large turnout at my high school for teen tech week.  Any suggestions on how to draw them in?  Any ideas that have worked for other high school libraries?  Thanks!Continue

Tags: school, high

What are your planning for your public library for TTW 2017?

Started by Carla Avitabile in Sample Title. Last reply by Carla Avitabile Feb 27. 3 Replies

I have always felt that TTW can be many things. So many in fact it can be hard to focus on on aspect or another even when there is a theme. The public library where I work is located in a school…Continue

Open Source Media

Started by Dawn Abron in Sample Title Feb 6. 0 Replies

Teen Tech Week 2017 includes coding.  If you are looking for coding sites/activities for your programming, check out this article on…Continue

Tags: Coding

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TTW Posts from YALSABlog

Instagram of the Week – March 14

A brief look at ‘grams of interest to engage teens and librarians navigating this social media platform. Last week from March 6-12 marked this year’s “Create it at your library” Teen Tech Week celebration. Sponsored by YALSA, this yearly initiative aims to connect teens and libraries, and encourage teens to make use … Continue reading

Create it at Your Library: Preparing for Teen Tech Week 2016

Teen Tech Week is YALSA’s yearly initiative encouraging libraries to engage their teen community with resources that enhance their digital literacy skills. During March 6-12, libraries across the country will be buzzing with tech programs, STEM activities, and will be showcasing their digital resources with pride. Not only does this … Continue reading

Teen Creative Writing & Art Contest for Teen Tech Week

As part of Teen Tech Week, YALSA is teaming up with the Connected Learning Alliance, Deviant Art, the National Writing Project, and Wattpad for the Twist Fate challenge. The challenge is to get young people (ages 13-17) telling stories about what happens when a hero becomes a villain, or a … Continue reading

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