CS-STEM
Happenings
Events
Upcoming Dates:
METRICS Professional Development Offerings 2024-2025 School Year
Las Vegas, NV: April 9
METRICS comes to Las Vegas!
Nevada Robotics will be at DRI Wednesday April 9, 2025 for a Prek/K METRICS workshop.
METRICS – Mentoring Educators Teaching Robotics and Innovation in Computer Science – is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics Books and Bots lessons. PreK and K Books and Bots lessons partner high quality picture books with robotics lessons to promote literacy and to teach computer science. All lesson activities meet state computer science, ELA, and math standards. Also, lessons provide the opportunity for teachers to incorporate, and for students to practice, Social Emotional Learning competencies such as teamwork, perseverance, communication, and collaboration.
METRICS trainees receive stipends, classroom robot sets, free lessons, free books for the classroom and for their students, and all necessary teaching materials and supplies to implement robots in their classrooms.
In PreK/K METRICS, teachers become confident coders and learn how to use robots as tools to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Graduates of the training series become members of the DRI Educator Academy and receive free access to lessons, resources, and technology support.
This workshop is at DRI’s Las Vegas Campus, SNSC 181/182. Sign in is at 4:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 4:30 p.m., and training runs from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This training series is full.
Please email nvrobotics@dri.edu to be added to the Nevada Robotics email list, and to learn about upcoming professional development opportunities.
To stay connected to Nevada Robotics, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X – @nevadarobotics.
Las Vegas, NV at the Discovery Children's Museum: April 10
METRICS at the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum in Las Vegas
Nevada Robotics will be at the DISCOVERY Thursday April 10 for a PreK/K METRICS workshop.
METRICS – Mentoring Educators Teaching Robotics and Innovation in Computer Science – is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics Books and Bots lessons. PreK and K Books and Bots lessons partner high quality picture books with robotics lessons to promote literacy and to teach computer science. All lesson activities meet state computer science, ELA, and math standards. Also, lessons provide the opportunity for teachers to incorporate, and for students to practice, Social Emotional Learning competencies such as teamwork, perseverance, communication, and collaboration.
METRICS trainees receive stipends, classroom robot sets, free lessons, free books for the classroom and for their students, and all necessary teaching materials and supplies to implement robots in their classrooms.
In PreK/K METRICS, teachers become confident coders and learn how to use robots as tools to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Graduates of the training series become members of the DRI Educator Academy and receive free access to lessons, resources, and technology support.
This workshop is at the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum in Las Vegas. Sign in is at 4:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 4:30 p.m., and training runs from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This training series is full.
Please email nvrobotics@dri.edu to be added to the Nevada Robotics email list, and to learn about upcoming professional development opportunities.
To stay connected to Nevada Robotics, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X – @nevadarobotics.
Thank you to our partner the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum in Las Vegas for providing a beautiful training space for METRICS, and for supporting Clark County PreK/K educators.
Douglas County, NV: April 15, May 8 & 29
METRICS is coming to Douglas County this spring!
Nevada Robotics will be in Douglas County this spring for a PreK/K METRICS workshop series.
METRICS – Mentoring Educators Teaching Robotics and Innovation in Computer Science – is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics Books and Bots lessons. PreK and K Books and Bots lessons partner high quality picture books with robotics lessons to promote literacy and to teach computer science. All lesson activities meet state computer science, ELA, and math standards. Also, lessons provide the opportunity for teachers to incorporate, and for students to practice, Social Emotional Learning competencies such as teamwork, perseverance, communication, and collaboration.
METRICS trainees receive stipends, classroom robot sets, free lessons, free books for the classroom and for their students, and all necessary teaching materials and supplies to implement robots in their classrooms.
In PreK/K METRICS, teachers become confident coders and learn how to use robots as tools to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Graduates of the training series become members of the DRI Educator Academy and receive free access to lessons, resources, and technology support.
Dates of the three-part training are the following:
-Tuesday April 15
-Thursday May 8
-Thursday May 29
Workshops are from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Airport Training Center (ATC), 1126 Airport Road in Minden, Nevada. Dinner will be provided.
This training series is full.
Please email nvrobotics@dri.edu to be added to the Nevada Robotics email list, and to learn about upcoming professional development opportunities.
To stay connected to Nevada Robotics, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X – @nevadarobotics.
Ely, NV: September 10, October 1, February 25
CS-STEM Professional Development for Ely Area PreK – 5 Educators! METRICS is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Teachers receive a $450 stipend for 9 hours of training, free meals, free lessons, free books, and free access to robots.
Training Details
Training Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
3-Part Training Series
Tuesday September 10
Tuesday October 1
Tuesday February 25
Location: GBC – Ely Campus
Participants must attend all three sessions.
Register here by 8/27! Space is limited.
Spring Creek & Liberty Peak Elementary: September 11, October 2, January 24, February 26
CS-STEM Professional Development for Spring Creek and Liberty Peak PreK – 5 Educators (must be employed at these schools only).
METRICS is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Teachers receive a $500 stipend for 10 hours of training, free meals, free lessons, free books, and free access to robots. Teachers can earn an additional $500 for 10 hours of teaching Books and Bots in class and providing feedback ($1000 total).
Training Details
Sign in & dinner at 4:30 p.m.
Training from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday September 11
Wednesday October 2
Friday January 24 (1:00 – 3:30)
Wednesday February 26
Location: Liberty Peak ES
Participants must attend all four sessions.
REGISTER HERE by 8/28! Space is limited.
Elko, NV: September 12, October 3, January 23, February 27
CS-STEM Professional Development for Elko Area PreK & K Educators! METRICS is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Teachers receive an $800 stipend for 10 hours of training, free meals, free lessons, free books, and free access to robots.
Training Details
Sign in & dinner at 4:30 p.m.
Training from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday September 12
Thursday October 3
Thursday January 23
Thursday February 27
Location: Great Basin College, Elko
Participants must attend all four sessions.
Redfield Foundation Schools: September 24, October 15, November 19, December 10
CS-STEM Professional Development for PreK – 5 Redfield Community Outreach Program (RCOP)* Educators! METRICS is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK-5 literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Redfield educators receive a $600 stipend to attend the 10-hour training series and earn free resources, robots, and books! Grade level teams are encouraged to sign up together!
*RCOP schools include: Anderson Elementary School, Katherine Dunn Elementary School, Hidden Valley Elementary School, Hunter Lake Elementary School, Grace Warner Elementary School, Lincoln Park Elementary School, Mamie Towles Elementary School, Nancy Gomes Elementary School, and Peavine Elementary School.
Training Details
Sign in & dinner at 4:30 p.m.
Training from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday September 24
Tuesday October 15
Tuesday November 19
Tuesday December 10
Location: Desert Research Institute
Participants must attend all four sessions.
REGISTER HERE BY 9/9! Space is limited.
Wells, NV: September 13, October 4, February 28
CS-STEM Professional Development for for Wells Area PreK – 5 Educators!METRICS is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Teachers receive a $600 stipend for 9 hours of training, free meals, free lessons, free books, and free access to robots for their schools.
Training Details
Training Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
3-Part Training Series
Friday September 13
Friday October 4
Friday February 28
Location: Wells Family Resource Center
Participants must attend all three sessions.
REGISTER HERE BY 9/6! Space is limited.
Other CS-STEM Happenings
We Are Hiring!
We are looking for people in Winnemucca, Elko, and Las Vegas who are passionate about STEM education, who love working with teachers and students, and who are eager to make a difference in their communities.
The positions are part-time and are ideal for former, retired, or current educators. On the job training is provided!
2024 -2025 School Year Robot Lending Library Requests OPEN!
Robot Library Expands and Diversifies
Our library is growing. The robot collection has grown to 737 bots. Nevada Robotics runs Robot Lending Libraries with branches in Reno, Las Vegas, and Elko. Robots are available for Nevada Robotics-trained teachers and are checked out for a quarter at a time. Done checkout is available for educators who are starting teams during the 2024-2025 school year, or who want to explore using drones with their students.
Newer additions to the Lending Library include Ozobots and CoDrones Edu. Ozobots are accessible to students from ages preschool to high school. They use color coding so that even non-readers can learn to code the bots. Ozobots are small, round robots that fit into a preschooler’s palm. CoDrones Edu are educational drones for middle and high schoolers. During the 2023-2024 school year, seven Washoe County JROTC programs checked out drones to prepare for the state’s inaugural educational and aerial drone competition season.
The Robot Lending Library is open for requests now!
Send in your requests using the inquiry form.
Nevada Tech Hub Receives $21M for Lithium Loop Workforce Development, Nevada Native Nations Center, and More
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Nevada Tech Hub Receives $21M for Lithium Loop Workforce Development, Nevada Native Nations Center, and More EDA: “The Nevada Lithium Batteries and Other EV Material Loop (Nevada Tech Hub), led by the University of Nevada, Reno, aims to build a self-sustaining and globally competitive full lithium lifecycle cluster, spanning extraction, processing, manufacturing, and recycling. With a foundation of rich sources of lithium and materials essential to electrification, the Nevada Tech Hub is working to align and coordinate its innovation and economic development activities with established companies, startups, education, and workforce development organizations to enable this region to become a global lithium leader.
The Nevada Tech Hub seeks to position the Silver State as a strong node in the critical lithium supply chain and an ideal location for the nation’s future sustainable electrification storage industry. In July 2024, EDA recommended this Tech Hub receive grant funding of approximately $21 million to implement two projects, including: Working with community colleges, state agencies, industry, and labor unions to bolster the region’s reservoir of skilled workers; Providing educational opportunities and wraparound support for students at the secondary and post-secondary levels; Promoting awareness of STEM-related occupations across Nevada’s lithium economy, increasing retention of Native students in STEM-related fields, and creating guided pathways to family-sustaining jobs in the growing Hub workforce; Supporting the administrative capacity and readiness of Nevada’s Native American and Indigenous communities to promote their ability to productively engage with industry; and Creating and maintaining effective and equitable management and decision-making processes, advising on workforce development strategies, and facilitating connections to relevant experts and organizations.
To ensure that the impacts of the Tech Hub benefit the entire region, the consortium is committed to developing equitable workforce training and recruitment strategies, including working with the University of Nevada, Reno’s Office of Indigenous Relations on a Nevada Native Nations Center initiative to support the participation of Native and Indigenous peoples in key decisions.”
Read More: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2024/nevada-tech-hub-funding https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Nevada-Tech-Hub |
NV STEAM Conference: The Joy of Discovering: April 5, 2025
NV STEAM Conference: The Joy of Discovering: April 5, 2025
Nevada Museum of Art
April 5, 2025
Reno
Bots Blog
METRICS-trained educators implement robotics in PreK – 5 classrooms across Nevada
As the school year comes to an end, it is a great time to reflect on the progress and feedback of Nevada Robotics METRICS-trained educators. METRICS stands for Mentoring Educators Teaching Robotics and Innovation in Computer Science and is a Nevada Robotics designed professional development program that was first piloted in the 2022-2023 school year at Pleasant Valley and Mamie Towles elementary schools in Washoe County. The training utilizes Nevada Robotics Books and Bots curriculum and other original lessons to teach state standards in computer science, math, and ELA.
Project ROSE seeks to solve data collection challenges for cloud seeding research
Project ROSE (Remote Operated Sample Extraction) is designed to make obtaining samples easier. Project ROSE’s goal is to be able to remotely collect samples via drone.
Books & Bots Curriculum Pairs Robots and Reading for Pre-K through 5th Students
Nevada Robotics is developing innovative literacy-based curriculum that incorporates robots as learning tools to teach Nevada Content Standards in ELA, math, and computer science. Lessons are developed based on themes in popular storybooks and include hands-on and...
Videos
Nevada Robotics likes to capture what we do on video so we can share it with the community. You can view some of our work on the videos below.
We want to hear from you!
If you are a classroom or enrichment teacher and have videos or photos of robotics education in action to share with us, please reach out. Email jill.strawder-bubala@dri.edu with information about your content.