STEM Everyday

The leaders behind Science of Sport use the familiarity of athletics to make STEM education more approachable and inclusive to all learners. The nonprofit organization partners with professional sports teams to provide exciting hands-on, minds-on learning experiences for elementary and middle school students across the county, creates interdisciplinary programming that translates the concepts of sports into an understanding of the underlying science and mathematics, and hosts training events for teachers to help bring more diverse lesson plans and STEM learning into classrooms.

To date, Science of Sport has created over 100 lesson plans, handed out 20,000 STEM kits, and trained over 6,000 teachers, which has impacted more than 600,000 students.

Science of Sport Executive Director Daren Heaton oversees all operations and programming and has worked with over 35 professional sports teams to deliver impactful education programs (MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL, and College Conferences). Heaton previously worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks as the Manager of Education Initiatives, where he managed all education programs in the community through the Sales Department, and helped start the D-backs Science of Baseball program. His additional affiliations to professional sports teams include the Los Angeles Galaxy from 2009 to 2011 where he was a Group Sales Account Executive

Connect with The Science of Sport and Daren:

• Website: sciencesport.org
• Find the lesson plans: sciencesport.org/lessons
• Email Daren: [email protected]
• Twitter/X: @ScienceofSport_
• YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC-knCxjr7xKJohaSW-U2LQQ
• Facebook: @scienceofsportofficial
• Instagram: @scienceofsport__

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the Show.

As The Franklin Institute’s Senior Vice President of Science and Education, Dr. Darryl N. Williams oversees all aspects of the science and educational programming at the heart of the Institute’s efforts to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology.

Dr. Williams earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Hampton University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. After earning his doctorate, he served as a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in pediatric cardiology research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He also served as a Dean at Tufts University's School of Engineering, Dr. Williams joined the Institute from Tufts University’s School of Engineering as well as four years with the National Science Foundation, managing a range of federal programs and research focused on STEM teaching and learning, formal and informal learning environments, and workforce development.

With more than a decade of experience in everything from clinical research to workforce development, Dr. Williams brings not only a wealth of knowledge on science and technology learning to The Franklin Institute, but also a vibrantly interdisciplinary perspective.

Two important Franklin Institute programs discussed are the PACTS (Partnership for Achieving Careers in Tech & Science) program, which is a middle school program that partners with STEM professionals for middle school students to understand the processes of science, and STEM Scholars, which helps high school students with college and career prep, ACT tutoring, college essays, scholarships, paid internships, and more.

Connect with The Franklin Institute and Darryl:

• Website: fi.edu
• Check out the Franklin Institute Award winners
• Twitter/X: @thefranklin
• Instagram: @franklininstitute
• Darryl's Twitter/X: @dnwilli

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the Show.

Adam Todd is an elementary Media Arts teacher in New York City Public Schools. He turned his experiences in the media industry into practical opportunities for his students to create the daily "Bee TV" news at his school. His students have even appeared on local news in NYC! Check out some of their work & appearances on their YouTube Channel.

Adam also started the Classroom Dynamics podcast to help educators "dive into powerful professional development insights designed to cultivate a vibrant 21st-century classroom environment." In April of 2024, the podcast focuses on STEM & STEAM experts sharing ideas and experiences.
Learn more by following the links below or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with Adam:

• Website: classroomdynamics.wixsite.com/podcast
• Twitter/X: @classdynamics

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

Endress+Hauser is a global company focused on measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications, helping to shape the industry’s digital transformation.

Nicole Otte is the Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser, and previously spent 11 years as a HS Engineering & Technology teacher, including using Project Lead the Way curriculum. She also served as Director of Central Nine Career Center in Greenwood, Indiana.

Endress+Hauser USA has made a commitment to students and community members through its workforce development and philanthropy initiatives. In 2023, Endress+Hauser USA hosted 15 visits for more than 800 K-12 visitors from seven public and private school corporations at its Design & Innovation Studio in Greenwood, Indiana, delivering learning opportunities and resources to students and educators. The Design & Innovation Studio is equipped with Industry 4.0 technology. In partnership with the Purdue Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), the Endress+Hauser USA Design & Innovation Studio also offers 3-D printing, robotics, Sphero BOLTS, littleBits, micro:bits, engineering and science modules and coding. In addition, Endress+Hauser USA’s annual Community Career+Education Forum (CCEF) hosted more than 300 students in Greenwood and more than 250 students in Pearland, Texas.

Connect with Nicole and Endress+Hauser:

• Website: endress.com
• Learn about the Design & Innovation Studio

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

Josh Korb strives to revolutionize the world of education. Beginning his career as a math teacher, Josh's innate drive to innovate led him to become a Director of Technology and Innovation. This role allowed him to merge his love for teaching with his profound experience in instructional technology, in hopes of transforming the educational landscape. As an accomplished author, educational consultant, and captivating speaker, Josh shares his insights on the intersection of technology and education, inspiring audiences and unboxing potential. His ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and conviction has cemented his reputation as a thought leader in his educational community.

Josh's new book Be The Cause is based on a simple statement, yet it holds the power to change lives, shape futures, and set countless stories in motion. His goal is to help educators come away inspired to not just be A teacher, but THE teacher! "If we are intentional in the little moments, they can stack up to be a massive shift in the way a child learns, feels, and ultimately grow. Be The Cause challenges you to reflect on your own experiences as both a student and an educator. Consider the teachers who made a lasting impact on your life and how they did it. Then, ask yourself how you can do the same for your students."

Connect with Josh:

• Website: joshkorb.org
• Book Website: youcanbethecause.com
• Twitter/X: @bethecausebook
• Twitter/X: @mrjkorb
• Instagram: @mrjoshkorb

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

Mike Harmon is a "retired" middle school technology teacher from Michigan, but his real passion is sharing with kids & educators how to build and create in digital space! His YouTube channel @HLModTech is filled with over 4500 videos to help everyone from novice to expert master the skills for design software, especially Tinkercad.

Mike even recently partnered with CADclass.org (Ep 248) to create Tinkercad in Twenty Days (https://www.cadclass.org/courses/Tinkercad). If you visit the website, you can learn more about the exciting courses that are offered, including FREE previews of the courses so you can determine if they fit your learning style (use the coupon code 25hltinkercad to get 25% off).

Some of the playlists Mike mentioned:
Day 1 Tinkercad
Tinkercad Sim Lab Tutorials
Tinkercad TV
The Tinkercad 10

Connect with Mike:

• Website: hlmodtech.com
• YouTube: @HLModTech
• Twitter/X: @HLtinkercad

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Harshal Chhaya is a distinguished Engineer looking for ways to help educators integrate STEM, coding, & robotics in practical ways. He believes that "Life is cross-curricular" and that education should reflect that.

As the lead Systems Engineer and Product Manager for TI's STEM product line, Harshal has led the development of products like the TI-Innovator Hub and TI-Innovator Rover, and led the system design for adding Python programming to TI calculators. His work at Texas Instruments has allowed him to see the convergence of technology with teachers, and help educators find ways to respond to ever changing tech.

Ultimately, his goal is to extend the reach of STEM technology products to coding, physical computing, and robotics for middle school and high school students.

Connect with Harshal:

• Twitter/X: @hschhaya
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harshal-chhaya/
• Blog posts: education.ti.com/en/search?page=1&size=25&q=harshal

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Career technical education and workforce development has arguably never been more important than it is now, due the rapidly changing landscape. With things like innovation and AI happening so quickly, it becomes more important for educators to prepare students for the changing work environment through early STEM integration that continues through a student’s academic career.

By the time they reach high school, most students have already decided whether or not they think science and math are ‘cool’. That's why the VEX Continuum begins with Kindergarten and spans through a child's career. Starting with intuitive tool-less systems, then snapping together robots and graduating to advanced metal robots, VEX Robotics can unlock a curiosity and a passion that will stay with them for a lifetime.

No one knows that more than Lauren Harter, Director of Instructional Technology for VEX Robotics! She has dedicated her professional career to developing robust educational tools for teacher support from Kinder to College. Combining her practical and academic expertise in math, technology, and education, Lauren designs and writes supplemental resources including STEM Labs, articles, and develops video support that is distributed globally. Be sure to check out the Education and Resources links on the vexrobotics.com website.

Lauren discusses some issues facing STEM education in the US today, including:

• the changing landscape of STEM education
• How STEM education is leading to workforce growth
• How to ensure that students are equipped with practical skills that mirror industry needs
• How schools can integrate advanced technology into the classrooms without a significant financial burden

Connect with Vex Robotics & Lauren:

• Website vexrobotics.com
• Twitter/X: @vexrobotics
• Instagram: @vexrobotics
• Facebook: @vexrobotics
• Listen to more ideas for VEX Robotics on Episodes 241 and 176

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Gareth Campbell is a Bristol based artist and former secondary school science teacher who founded The Museum of Science, the Arts & Interdisciplinary Collaboration (The MoSAIC) in 2022 to address a problem in the education system that frustrated him. "Science is not seen as a creative subject in schools, even worse my experience as a teacher showed me that our current rigid curriculum fails to show students the beautiful, and essential, connections that exist between disciplines. All of the greatest scientists have had to be creative to innovate. STEM industries are desperate for creative employees willing to explore outside the box. And students crave context to connect with their internal motivation to learn. Many students found it eye opening to have a science teacher that also worked as an artist, and often it made them rethink their own career paths."

The MoSAIC is providing both educators and learners with unique resources, training and in-person workshops that help to bridge the gap between the arts and the sciences. They work with UK schools, learning hubs and community groups to elucidate the hidden links that elevate artistry with scientific knowledge and help people to problem solve by thinking differently. They also work with researchers and industry to showcase their latest work to a younger audience through STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths). We passionately believe that the days have gone where ‘art/science’ integration means an unplanned poster lesson.

Connect with Gareth & The MoSAIC:

• Website themosaic.uk
• Twitter/X: @themosaicuk
• Instagram: @themosaicuk/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Chad LeDune lives in rural Indiana with his beautiful wife, Heather, their four children, and their two dogs. He loves to travel wherever his teacher’s salary will allow, spend his rare downtime with family and friends, and competing against his fellow middle-aged friends in local basketball games. Experiencing the ups and downs of life has given him an appreciation of time and all of the small, precious details of an ordinary day.

Having dedicated 21 years to educating middle and high school students, Chad is passionate about meeting today’s students' diverse needs through STEM education. His dedication to his vision and message of 'Discomfort by Design' has taken him well beyond his previously cherished comfort zone. In addition to his work as a Science, STEM, CTE teacher, and STEM coach, Chad has challenged himself with several other educational endeavors. These include writing STEM curriculum for his state of Indiana, founding and coordinating an annual STEMfest for area youth, leading teachers and teaching students at a summer migrant education school, training and accompanying STEM teachers for summer exchange in China, and branching into the online education sector as STEM coordinator for an online private academy. Dr. LeDune currently works as a STEM Coach for Southwest School Corporation and is a STEM Certification Coach for the National Institute for STEM Education. Chad also enjoys the opportunity to speak to educators on the benefits that come from his vision of design learning.

Connect with Chad:

• Website discomfortbydesignbook.com
• Twitter/X: @Dr_LeDune
• Facebook: @Discomfortbook

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: youtube

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon