The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is an initiative that bridges geographical and resource-related gaps to provide Iowa students with access to over 30 advanced online courses. Developed through a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa, IOAPA empowers students to explore challenging subjects, expand their knowledge, and prepare for future academic endeavors. At the heart of this program lies Edmentum, our trusted course provider. Let’s delve into several of the resources Edmentum offers to IOAPA students.
To support IOAPA students, they’ve curated a playlist of YouTube videos. These videos provide step-by-step instructions for completing various tasks within the courses. Whether it’s mastering a complex concept or navigating the course interface, these videos serve as valuable companions on the learning journey.
The Student Resources page is a treasure trove for IOAPA students. Here, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of course materials, including study guides, and supplementary readings/activities. Additionally, the discussion boards foster collaboration among students.
Navigating an online course can sometimes feel like exploring uncharted territory. Edmentum’s FAQ page is your compass. It provides answers to common queries related to course completion. From technical troubleshooting to understanding assessment formats, this resource ensures that no question goes unanswered.
Imagine having a virtual mentor at your fingertips. Edmentum’s Live Help function makes it possible. Need clarification on a math problem? Struggling with a historical context? Simply access Live Help, and you’ll be connected with an experienced educator who specializes in the subject you’re working on. It’s like having a personal tutor available whenever you need assistance.
The Student Success Zone is your hub for orientation and course completion guidance. Whether you’re a first-time IOAPA student or a seasoned participant, this page provides essential information. From time management tips to study strategies, it’s designed to enhance your overall learning experience.
6. The Teacher Connection
While Edmentum’s resources are invaluable, don’t forget about your most powerful resource: your teacher. They understand the curriculum intricacies, tailor instruction to your needs, and provide personalized feedback. Whenever you have curriculum-specific questions, reach out to your teacher—they’re there to support your academic journey. Their email contacts can be found on the student resources page under their course subject.
For any additional questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org. We’re here to champion your educational aspirations.
The Belin-Blank Center is thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) AP® Exam Scholarships. These scholarships provide financial support for AP® exams to IOAPA students with demonstrated financial need. As part of our commitment to fostering educational equity, we extend this opportunity to low-income students in rural schools across Iowa. As funding allows we also extend this opportunity to other IOAPA students. This year, we proudly awarded over 30 scholarships!
AcknowledgingOur School Champions
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the dedicated school staff who advocated for their students by applying for these scholarships:
Malinda Brechwald – Estherville Lincoln Central
Paulina Rodenburg – Glenwood Community High School
Tiffany Weller – Lenox High School
Taryn Mottet – Ottumwa High School
Hollie Weber – Central Lee High School
Helen Stout – Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Jr/Sr High
Lynne Zoulek – Regina High School
Jill Janes – Boone High School
Additional Funding Opportunity!
Funding is also currently available for 7th-9th grade IOAPA students to take the ACT for above-level testing. More information about this program and registration can be found here. Please reach out to us at assessment@belinblank.org for more information about funding opportunities.
The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a collaborative effort between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa. Our mission is to break down barriers to advanced education by providing free access to over 30 online courses for Iowa students. These courses, which include both Advanced Placement® (AP) classes for high school students and high school-level courses for eligible middle school students, are not always readily available in local school districts. IOAPA bridges geographical gaps and ensures that talented students throughout Iowa can access challenging coursework. By removing resource-related obstacles, we empower students to reach their full potential. Registration for Fall 2024 opens on April 8th! As funds allow, we will continue to offer AP exam scholarships, supporting academic excellence and opening doors to higher education. Have questions about IOAPA or the scholarship program? Feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org. We’re here to help!
Let’s celebrate the achievements of our IOAPA students and wish them the best of luck on their AP® exams and beyond!
Fall 2024 registration for Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) opens April 8th! Do you have Iowa students in 6th grade or above? Exciting news awaits! IOAPA is here to empower you with free access to asynchronous advanced courses. The aim of this program is to bridge the gap, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore challenging subjects.
Why IOAPA?
Access for All: IOAPA opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. We believe that every student deserves a chance to excel, regardless of their school district’s offerings.
Empowering Rural Schools: By providing advanced courses online, IOAPA lightens the load for rural schools. No more limitations due to classroom availability or staffing constraints.
Support: IOAPA staff and our course vendors are here to help you every step of the way, from planning to deciding how best to document your students grade. Also, visit our website, you can find a wealth of information, including our course catalog, important dates, registration, and information about getting started, along with support materials designed to help you and your students make decisions about course selections.
Principals, take the lead! Register your school by clicking “Register”here.
Assign the two on-site roles (can be held by the same person):
Site Coordinator: Oversees IOAPA activities at your school.
Mentor: A certified teacher who guides students through the program.
Nominate Students:
After registration, you’ll receive an automated email with a link to nominate students.
Identify the students who will participate in IOAPA courses.
Student Self-Enrollment:
Nominated students receive an email inviting them to enroll in their chosen courses.
Remind them to check their junk mail folders—important emails sometimes end up there!
Students complete the enrollment process and click “Submit.”
College Board Requirements:
Register your school with the College Board.
Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by the end of January. This allows you to label courses as “AP” on students’ transcripts. Detailed instructions for Project STEM courses can be found on our website.
AP Exam Ordering:
Encourage high school students to take the AP exam.
Order all AP exams by the College Board’s deadline.
Keep an eye out for emails about applying for our IOAPA AP exam scholarships.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions or concerns.
Learning a foreign language online can be both exciting and challenging. Traditionally students in our IOAPA foreign language courses have had more difficulty adjusting to the demands of online learning. This is likely because language learning requires a level of immersion that is difficult to find outside of a classroom and without shared class time with peers. Here are some practical tips to help you succeed in your language course:
Consistent Study Habits:
Study every day. Language learning is cumulative, so avoid cramming. If possible, allocate 1-2 hours of study per day if you aim to get an A or B grade.
Focus on different tasks during each study session: vocabulary, grammar, etc.
Class Participation:
Attend and actively participate in every class, even if you’re not fully prepared.
Class time is your best opportunity to practice speaking and listening.
Learn grammar and vocabulary outside of class to maximize in-class learning.
Grammar Mastery:
Learn grammar thoroughly. It’s the backbone of language.
Over-learn by studying beyond recognition to achieve mastery.
Positive Attitude:
Have a clear personal reason for taking the course.
Set realistic and specific learning goals.
Embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.
Reading and Writing Skills:
Train yourself to notice details like accents and gender agreement.
Practice reading comprehension and writing regularly.
Language Immersion:
Speak, read, or watch content in the language before each class to warm up.
If possible, get to know your classmates; a supportive environment helps.
Seek Help When Needed:
Reach out to your teacher for additional help and to discuss goals and fears.
Utilize tutoring services such as Edmentum’s live help feature when needed.
Below is a curated list of free online resources to help you on your language-learning journey. Here are some excellent options:
Apps: There are excellent, free apps to help you along the way. They both also have great websites. Here are some popular language-learning apps that I recommend:
Duolingo: a free, fun language app that gamifies language learning
Memrise: another great language app with a free version.
News:
Paperboy: newspapers from around the world. Be sure to click the arrow button to follow the link to the newspaper’s website.
Google News under settings, you can change the target language and country
Language Guides: Sometimes, just one or two words in a sentence are difficult to understand, even when using context clues. Language guides can help you understand and pronounce these words.
Google Translate: a great language dictionary with increasing functionality daily.
Forvo: has an excellent pronunciation guide and can read new words aloud.
Videos: YouTube can also be a great resource for language learning. Language learning channels can help you learn concepts and hear pronunciations.
Easy French: a mixture of real-world conversations and lessons, including some in “slow french”
Remember, consistency and practice are key. Learning a language takes time, but with dedication and the right approach, you’ll make progress! Happy language learning! 🌐🗣️
Please note: the Belin-Blank Center is not sponsored by any of the services above. The information contained in this blog post is for general information purposes only. The Belin-Blank Center assumes no responsibility for the contents of the services mentioned above. Full Disclaimer can be found here.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and, therefore, reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
We recognize the importance of providing equitable opportunities for all students. To ensure that every eligible student has access to AP exams, The Belin Blank Center’s IOAPA program is pleased to announce our Spring AP Exam Scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year. The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers rigorous courses that can significantly impact a student’s academic journey by improving college outcomes. Additionally, we want to remind you of some important upcoming deadlines.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Order Deadline for AP Exams: March 15, 2024
If you have students enrolled in one-term, spring semester courses, please remember to place your order by this date.
Scholarship Application Deadline: March 8, 2024
We encourage all eligible students to apply for our AP exam scholarships. These scholarships are specifically designed for low-income students who meet the criteria outlined below.
Eligibility Requirements
Our scholarship program prioritizes students who demonstrate financial need. Here’s what you need to know:
Free/Reduced-Cost Lunch Program Qualification (Preference)
Students who qualify for the free/reduced-cost lunch program will receive preference in scholarship selection.
However, even if a student doesn’t meet the specific Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) guidelines, they will still be considered if funding remains available.
Attendance at a rural school
Students from rural schools will also receive preference in applicant selection.
We will also extend our scholarship opportunity to low-income students attending non-rural schools if funding permits.
Enrollment in IOAPA Advanced Placement Courses
To qualify, students must be enrolled in an IOAPA Advanced Placement course during the 2023-2024 school year.
The scholarship is intended to support the AP exam associated with the IOAPA course the student is currently taking and cannot be used for any other AP exams students may be taking.
Scholarship Process
Per-Exam Cost
The per-exam cost for the 2023-24 school year is $62 for students eligible for free/reduced cost lunch.
Schools should plan to pay this fee directly to the College Board with reimbursement being provided after an invoice is received.
Invoice Submission
After students have taken their AP exams, schools should submit an invoice to the Belin-Blank Center.
Include documentation showing that the College Board fees have been paid for these students.
Please note that there will be no reimbursement if a student does not take the exam.
One AP Exam per Student
Funding is limited to only one AP exam per eligible student.
We want to maximize the impact of these scholarships across a broad range of students.
Purpose and Focus
The primary purpose of this funding is to increase AP exam participation among students from rural schools in Iowa.
If your school is already covering AP exam costs, we encourage you to prioritize students who haven’t received funding elsewhere.
Take Action
If you have eligible students, apply for the scholarship by the deadline of March 8, 2024.
Let’s empower our students to excel academically and open doors to their future success. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org. Together, we can make a difference!
Taking an online course can be an exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and acquire new skills. However, it can also introduce difficulties that may be new for some students, as it can be more self-paced than traditional coursework. Whether you’re preparing for more advanced courses in high school and college or enhancing your career prospects, these strategies will help you make the most of your online learning experience.
1. Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
Creating a conducive study environment is crucial. It can also help your brain get into “learning mode”. Designate a quiet, clutter-free space where you can focus on your coursework. Here’s how:
Choose Your Spot: Find a spot with minimal distractions. When at school, work with your mentor to determine the best space for you to work during the dedicated IOAPA time in your schedule. When working on homework, this could be a desk, a table, or even a corner of your living room.
Organize Your Tools: Gather all the essentials—laptop, notebooks, pens, and any other materials you’ll need. Having everything within reach reduces interruptions. Tip: If you find you get distracted whenever you sit down, keep a piece of paper and jot down the other tasks that come to mind. They will still be there when you’re done with your assignment.
2. Create a Realistic Homework Schedule
Online courses require self-discipline because you might not necessarily have a teacher around to remind you of upcoming or missing assignments. Craft a personalized study schedule that aligns with your daily routine:
Time Management: Make sure there is IOAPA time in your course schedule. This is an entire course and requires just as much time as any other. Allocate specific hours each day for homework. This includes time to complete assignments and readings. Stick to this schedule consistently.
Be realistic: Be realistic about how much time you need. If being consistent is difficult, it might be time to step back and determine if another time would be better. If you are consistently running out of time, consider adding additional time into your schedule.
3. Stay Organized
Keeping track of assignments and deadlines is essential. Work can pile up quickly so staying on top of it can make for a less stressful end to your semester. Use these organizational tools:
Planners (Digital or Physical): Explore apps or online tools that help you manage tasks, due dates, and reminders. If you prefer writing things down, invest in a good old-fashioned planner.
To–do List: Knowing exactly what you need to accomplish in a study session can keep you on target and checking off items as you finish them can feel satisfying.
4. Engage in Class Discussions
Online courses often have discussion forums where you can connect with classmates and instructors. Here’s why participation matters:
Learning from Peers: Engage in discussions to gain different perspectives and insights. Seeing material rephrased in multiple ways can help you find an explanation that clicks for you.
Active Learning: Sharing your thoughts and asking (and maybe even answering) questions keeps you engaged. Just the act of forming a coherent response no matter how brief can solidify learning.
5. Tap into Available Resources
Online courses come with a wealth of resources. Don’t hesitate to use them:
In-School Mentor: your mentor is there to help you stay organized and on-schedule
Tutoring Services: If you’re struggling with a concept, seek help from tutors or peer mentors. Edmentum offers a live help function where you can meet with a qualified teacher of that subject for help with assignments. Project STEM offers forums where you can speak to Teaching assistants or crowdsource help from other students.
Technical Support: Reach out if you encounter any technical glitches.
Online learning can be challenging, but maintaining motivation is crucial:
Set Goals: Break down larger goals into smaller manageable steps.
Celebrate Progress: Reward yourself when you complete a module or achieve a goal. It can be as small as a few minutes of free time.
Remember Your Why: Reflect on why you enrolled in the course. It can be helpful to remember when things get tough.
7. Communicate with Your Teacher
Your teachers are there to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out:
Ask Questions: If you’re unsure about something, seek clarification promptly.
Feedback Matters: Act on feedback provided by your teachers—it’s valuable for improvement.
Remember, online courses require dedication and hard work, but they offer immense rewards. Good Luck! 🍀
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and, therefore, reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
There are many reasons to encourage high school students to complete advanced coursework and several options for how to do so. College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) exams are one popular option. But, how many AP courses is enough?
A recent research summary put out by the College Board sheds some light on the most impactful number of courses for a student to take. 1 According to the associated research study based a sample of 400,000 college transcripts, increasing AP participation from zero to one AP exam and from one to two AP exams showed the biggest predicted boost in first-year grades and on-time bachelor’s degree attainment.2 Said another way, encouraging a student to take just one exam had a significant connection with their freshman grades and finishing college in 4 years. This held for moving a student from taking one exams to two and two to three.
Interestingly it also should be noted that taking and performing well on more than four AP exams did not markedly alter predicted first-year college grades and on-time bachelor’s degree attainment rates.2 So depending on the student’s goals more AP courses might not necessarily be better. This may be helpful for showing which students might receive the most impact from counseling related to coursework decisions. One might would imagine that a student that takes 4 or more AP courses probably did not need much outside coaxing to do so. However, for a student who is on the fence about taking their first AP course are likely to benefit from this experience.
In conclusion, taking one or two AP exams can provide a significant boost in first-year grades and on-time bachelor’s degree attainment rates. Iowa school professionals looking to expand the options available to their students may consider Iowa Online AP® Academy (IOAPA) provides free access to nearly 30 online advanced courses for Iowa students who would not otherwise have access to these courses in their schools. Keep an eye out for our upcoming announcements related to AP exam scholarships and Fall 2024 registration.
If you have any questions about your Iowa school’s eligibility for IOAPA courses, email us at ioapa@belinblank.org.
The Belin-Blank Center’s Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy (IOAPA) provides free, advanced online courses to students grade 6-12 in small schools, rural schools, and any Iowa school without the resources to provide such courses on their own. Our support staff takes pressure off of school administrators and teachers, bringing challenging coursework to students, wherever they are in Iowa.
Students taking AP courses through IOAPA may also receive scholarships that pay for their AP exams. In May 2023, 28 Iowa students received an exam scholarship. Another way in which IOAPA supports students is through the new small grants program, in which IOAPA schools may apply for grants that pay for equipment or materials needed for IOAPA courses.
Registration for Spring 2024 IOAPA courses begins on November 6th and lasts until December 15th. To register your school and students, please visit IOAPA’s website. If you have any questions about any aspect of the program, please reach out to ioapa@belinblank.org.
Working with gifted/talented students who are not accustomed to being challenged by coursework can be a challenge for teachers and mentors. These issues can be compounded if challenging coursework is also presented on a self-paced platform, such as in IOAPA courses. Educators will want to help students shift their mindsets surrounding the amount of time homework for an advanced course might actually take. Previously, they may have been able to put off homework until the last minute and still complete it on time because the material was less challenging. Now, they need to allocate extra time to work through difficult assignments. Additionally, with the self-paced component, students must adjust to a new level of responsibility by providing their own reminders to stay on track as opposed to being reminded by their teacher of upcoming due dates at the end of each class.
What are some ways we can help students develop these important and transferable skills?
If these are new skills, sometimes even the brightest students need some scaffolding for how to tackle these problems.
One easily explainable and structured way to do this is learning to set SMART goals.
SMART goals, while not a new concept, may be new to students and can be used in a variety of contexts. The SMART goals process provides some guidelines for setting goals that are attainable and have a built-in timepoint for follow-up, so they can be adjusted as needed. The acronym stands for:
Specific – make the goal as clear as possible
Measurable – think of how you would know that you have reached it
Attainable – make sure goals are realistic (this may need to be adjusted when put to the test)
Relevant – in this context relevance might be built in, but it never hurts to stop and think about why it is important to them
Time-bound – decide when it should be completed
This page describes this concept in more detail and provides questions that can help students with goal generation.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and therefore reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
Fall 2023 registration for Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is now open! IOAPA provides free access to asynchronous advanced courses for Iowa students in 6th grade and above. A primary aim of this program is to provide access to students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district.
16 AP courses are available to high school students. This now includes the new course offering of AP French Language and Culture! See our course catalog for more information.
15 advanced courses are available to middle school students. These above-level courses are designed for high school students and made available to students in grades 6-8. We also now offerU.S. History since the Civil War in addition to our other course options.
Course descriptions and syllabi for all courses can be located by clicking “Learn More” on the course’s entry in our Course Catalog.
Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:
Register your school and assign a site coordinator and mentor. The first step is for principals to register their schools. They can do that on our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) by clicking on Register. As part of this step, schools assign a site coordinator and a mentor. They can be the same person or different people; however, the mentor needs to be a certified teacher.
Nominate the student(s) taking the IOAPA course(s). Completing the school registration page sends the principal or other administrator an automated email with a link to nominate the student.
Confirm that the student has self-enrolled in the course. Once the student has been nominated, an email will be automatically sent to the student to enroll themselves in the actual course. Be sure to have students check their junk mail folders, as automated emails sometimes get filtered there. Students should complete this process and be sure to click submit when they’re done.
After registering, be sure to complete any College Board requirements for offering AP courses:
Register your school with the College Board.
Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by the end of January in order to be able to label courses as “AP” on students’ transcripts. Instructions for completing this for Project STEM courses can be found here.
Encourage high school students to take the AP exam and order all AP exams by the College Board’s deadline. Also, as mentioned above, be on the lookout for emails about applying for our IOAPA AP exam scholarships.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions or concerns.
Mentors of Iowa Online AP Academy’s (IOAPA) computer science (CS) courses have slightly different tasks than those required for mentoring other courses. This is due to Project STEM being a curriculum provider as opposed to an online school. More information about our CS courses and the role of mentors in Project STEM can be found here. However, Project STEM provides a wealth of resources to students and mentors that are helpful for navigating this role.
Getting Started
Project STEM offers a set of onboarding videos to help mentors get started.
At the beginning of the year, you will receive an email from a member of the IOAPA team with specifics for mentoring Project STEM courses. This will include information such as a suggested timeline of due dates, the opportunity to set up an orientation, and reminders of points of contact.
You should also receive an email from the support team at Project STEM with a specific list of resources at the start of the year.
During the Semester
Student and Teacher forums provide access to a team of teaching assistants available 7 days a week to provide students a space to ask questions about coursework and answer mentor’s questions about facilitating courses.
Project STEM’s Help Center page provides a wealth of detailed guides for most tasks that students and mentors will run into, including (but not limited to): account setup, accessing the forums, and completing the AP Course Audit.
The Teacher Resource Sidebar within Canvas provides mentors with information such as syllabi, pacing guides (anticipated time need to complete assignments), and explanations for the few scored tasks in AP CS Principles.
Technical Support& Administrative Support
support@projectstem.org is available for technical support. The initial email from Project STEM sent at the beginning of the year also includes the direct contact person at Project STEM for IOAPA mentors.
Additionally, feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any other questions that may arise.
Looking to go a step further?
IOAPA mentors also have access to Project STEM’s Professional Development Courses. In addition to information about using Canvas, they also provide training for mentors who might be interested in learning more about the curriculum and teaching computer science courses.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and therefore reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students. Keep an eye out for our next blog post for more information about fall enrollment.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) offers three online computer science (CS) courses for Iowa students who don’t have access to these courses within their school district. These courses are offered through the curriculum provider Project STEM. Current computer science course offerings include:
High School
AP Computer Science A (Java): This course introduces students to the Java programming language while emphasizing universal language techniques like syntax, semantics, and readability. This allows the student to understand and master important concepts that will apply to programming problems in many additional languages.
AP Computer Science Principles: This is an introductory college-level computing curriculum that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. The major areas of study in the curriculum are organized around big ideas that encompass ideas foundational to studying computer science.
Middle School
Computer Science Python Fundamentals: An introductory course for students brand new to programming that teaches the foundations of computer science. This course prepares students for AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles, as well as helps build problem-solving skills.
More information about these courses can be found in our course catalog. Additionally, Fall 2023 enrollment for these courses is now open!
Mentors do not need to have any previous CS teaching experience or knowledge to facilitate a course within Project STEM. The curriculum and lessons for these courses are already prepared. However, mentoring these courses differs from others offered by IOAPA in that there is no teacher provided by Project STEM to facilitate the course. This makes the role of mentors slightly different for Project STEM courses. The majority of assignments are assigned grades automatically as your students submit them. This is particularly true in the CS Python Fundamentals and AP Computer Science A courses.
The AP Computer Science Principles course requires the most mentor involvement, as has always been the case. This course requires students to submit some essay questions that need to be graded by mentors. However, these assignments have a rubric in the Teacher Resource Sidebar, which gives mentors all of the information they will need to accurately grade the essays. Additionally, mentors and students can ask Project STEM’s Teacher Assistant team questions in their forums at any time. While teacher assistants cannot make grading decisions, they can provide guidance and answer specific questions mentors may have about the content.
Additionally, as there are no built-in teachers for Project STEM courses, AP Computer Science mentors will need to be listed as the teacher of record on the AP course audit. However, College Board does not allow the teacher of record and AP coordinator to be the same person. So, although our policies do not require that the two roles be filled by separate people, this will be necessary for the two Project STEM AP courses. Therefore, schools where the same person usually fills the AP Coordinator and mentor roles will need to consider alternatives. Step-by-step instructions for completing these course audits can be found at the following links for AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and therefore reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students. Keep an eye out for our next blog post, which will talk more about Project STEM resources available to students and mentors.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
IOAPA offers AP exam scholarships for low-income students completing courses through our program. Applications for this opportunity are currently open, and we want to encourage you to apply if you have eligible students. The application deadline for this funding is March 17, 2023. Please click here for access to this online application.
Eligibility
Students who qualify for the free/reduced-cost lunch program will receive preference. Low-income students not meeting FRL guidelines will be considered if funding is still available.
Low-income students in non-rural schools will be considered if funding is available.
Students must be enrolled in an IOAPA Advanced Placement course during the 2022-2023 school year. Preference will be given to students in AP courses that start in the spring semester. Students taking academic year courses will be considered if funding is still available.
Funding must be used for the exam associated with the IOAPA course the student is taking during the 2022-2023 school year, not a different exam.
Funding is limited. Not all eligible students may receive funding.
Process
The per-exam cost for the 2022-23 school year is $62 for students eligible for free/reduced-cost lunch. Schools should plan to pay the $62 per student to the College Board. Schools with students who receive this scholarship should plan to submit an invoice to the Belin-Blank Center after students have taken the AP exams, along with documentation showing they have paid the College Board for these students’ exams by June 1st, 2023. There will be no reimbursement if a student does not take the exam.
Funding is limited to only one AP exam per student.
The purpose of this funding is to increase the number of students taking AP exams from rural schools in Iowa. If schools are already paying for AP exams, they should not request this funding.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2023.
Awards will be announced by March 24, 2023.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and therefore reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students. Keep an eye out for information about our upcoming fall enrollment period.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
As you may know, an important deadline is approaching if your students are taking Spring semester-only AP courses. AP exams for your students enrolled in one-term, spring semester courses must be ordered by March 15, 2023. Courses that began after November 15 are included in this deadline. This is also the deadline to make changes to existing orders (click here for instructions and check here for additional deadlines). Unfortunately, even if your students are taking their AP course(s) through IOAPA, our team cannot place these orders for your school. Each school must order its own exams.
More information about this can be found on page 64 of the AP Coordinator Manual Part I. Here’s an excerpt for your convenience:
For Students Taking Courses That Begin After November 15 There’s not an option for a second-semester exam only section. You may have students from another school—for instance, a virtual school—who are taking an exam at your school but at the school they attend they’re taking a corresponding course that begins after the November 15 final ordering deadline. You may need to submit the exam order for these students after November 15.
In this case, the student should be enrolled in both:
The second-semester class section for the subject at the school they attend. The student’s Order Exam? status should be No for this class section.
AND
The exam only section for the subject at your school. The student’s Order Exam? status should be Yes for this exam only section.
By being enrolled in both the exam only section and the second-semester class section for the subject, the late order fee isn’t applied if you submit the exam order for this student after November 15.
BEST PRACTICE: Make sure the student is enrolled in both the second-semester class section at the school they attend and the exam only section for your school before you submit the student’s exam order.
Following these instructions should ensure that schools are not charged fees for late ordering. However, to be safe you might reach out to Edmentum to ensure that your students are enrolled in MyAP on their end to fulfill College Board’s requirements. Note: It is also Edmentum’s MyAP sections that allow students to access the resources available there for their course.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) is a partnership between the Belin-Blank Center and the State of Iowa to provide free access to 30 advanced online courses for Iowa students. This program is for Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district and therefore reduces geographic and resource-related barriers to success. IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students as well as high school-level courses for eligible middle school students.
We also offer AP exam scholarships for IOAPA students! Keep an eye out for more information on the spring application process in the coming weeks.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
Iowa Online AP Academy’s (IOAPA) curriculum provider, Project STEM, has made its CS Python Fundamentals course available for IOAPA middle school students to take as a condensed one-semester version of the course this spring. IOAPA provides free access to high-quality, online, advanced course offerings for Iowa students who would not otherwise have access to these courses in their schools. These courses are offered asynchronously so they can fit into any schedule. In addition, our middle school program allows students in grades 6-8 to take high-school-level classes online while still in middle school. This means that advanced middle school students interested in exploring Computer Science or STEM can start their journey in January!
CS Python Fundamentals (formerly called Introduction to Computer Science) is an introductory course for students new to programming that teaches the foundations of computer science. No prerequisites are required. In this course, students will learn problem-solving strategies, software design, and the foundations of computer science using two key tools: the Project STEM programming environment and EarSketch, a software package that turns your code into music. This course prepares students for further computer science coursework such as AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles and helps to develop critical thinking skills.
Spring enrollment is open for IOAPA courses as well! More information about our other spring courses can be found here. While our registration cutoff for this coming semester is December 16th,we will accept late registration for this course until January 2, 2023 in order to provide schools and students time to register for this opportunity. To begin, if your school is new to IOAPA or has not yet registered for this year, visit our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) and review the Getting Started information. If you are ready to register, head over to the registration section of our website and click “Register Now”. If you are trying to register after the normal registration cutoff of December 16th, please email ioapa@belinblank.org to get a school-specific late registration link.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
The Belin-Blank Center has provided challenging programs for decades. Research suggests that when bright students’ readiness is matched with curriculum and instruction, they are more engaged at school. Advanced Placement® classes are just one vehicle we use to bring out the best in students.
Advanced Placement (AP)® is a program created by the College Board College in the United States and Canada. AP® offers a college-level curriculum to students while in high school. The AP® curriculum for various subjects is created for the College Board by a panel (including college-level educators) with expertise in a specific field. Many colleges and universities grant placement and/or credit students based on AP® exam scores. For a high school course to have the designation, it must be audited by the College Board.
There are several benefits of taking Advanced Placement® classes. AP® classes serve as excellent preparation for college. Their content aligns with introductory college courses. AP® classes on a transcript communicate to college admissions that a student is motivated and ready for college’s rigors, especially at selective colleges and universities. AP® classes bolster the strength of an application and could help raise it to the top of the pile of applicants. The content and instructional strategies in AP® classes foster engagement, which is especially important for students tackling rigorous coursework. Finally, students can often translate a good score on the end-of-term AP® Exam into tuition savings, as many colleges will count such scores towards a student’s general education requirements. Research has found that students who take at least one AP® class are more likely to perform better in their first year in college than peers who did not take one (regardless of whether they took an AP® exam or not).
Please visit the Advanced Placement® link of the UI Admission website for more information on Advanced Placement® and the University of Iowa.
Iowa Online AP Academy
Geography can seriously impact the availability of advanced coursework. Offering AP® courses in rural schools is often difficult due to small class sizes and a lack of resources. The Belin-Blank Center’s Iowa Online AP® Academy (IOAPA) partners with the State of Iowa to provide free access to various online advanced courses for Iowa students who do not have access to these courses in their schools. IOAPA offers fifteen different AP® classes (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Statistics, US History, and English Literature) to almost 100 Iowa schools this semester. Registration for the Spring 2023 semester is open now. Please visit the IOAPA website for more information.
The Belin-Blank Center is also proud to be the only approved AP® training site in the state. Each summer, we offer Advanced Placement® Summer Institute (APSI) for teachers to acquire AP® preparation from expert consultants and network with like-minded educators. In Summer 2023, we will offer three weeks of APSI (two on-campus and one online). Like the philosophy of access to AP® for students through IOAPA, the Center commits to providing an online APSI option, so teachers seeking training can attend regardless of location. The APSI offerings for Summer 2023 include Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, Computer Science & Principles, English Language, English Literature, Government & Politics, Macroeconomics, Psychology, Spanish Language & Culture, Statistics, US History, and World History. Please visit the APSI website for more information, including requirements for the Iowa teacher grant that covers most of the APSI registration fee.
Congratulations to our AP Scholarship Exam recipients! This fall, we were able to award more than 25 scholarships to students participating in the Belin Blank Center’s Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA). The purpose of this funding is to increase the number of students taking AP exams from rural schools in Iowa by working to reduce financial barriers for these students.
AP® Exam Scholarship Winners!
The Belin-Blank Center offered scholarships for AP® Exams with priority given to rural students with financial needs. We are pleased to announce the Mentors and Site coordinators that are awarded scholarships for their students!:
Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School
Jadyn Schutjer, Emmetsburg High School
Joan Enockson, Estherville Lincoln Central High School
Laurie Eyre, Maharishi School
Paulina Rodenburg, Glenwood High School
As funds permit, we will continue to offer these AP® exam scholarships. Keep an eye out early in the spring semester for more information on the application process of IOAPA students taking spring courses. Additionally, Spring enrollment is still open for IOAPA’s spring semester courses until December 16, 2022. As always, feel free to reach to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions.
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) registration for Spring 2023 classes is now open! The primary aim of this program is to provide access to Iowa students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district. In addition to courses that run for the full academic year, IOAPA also provides free access to asynchronous, one-semester, advanced courses for Iowa students in 6th grade and above. These courses can be perfect options for students needing more advanced coursework during the school year or who would like to add an additional AP course to their transcript. Additionally, AP exam scholarships are also available to eligible IOAPA students taking spring semester courses.
4 AP courses are available to high school students.
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Psychology
AP U.S. Government
4 advanced courses are available to middle school students. These courses are designed for high school students and made available to advanced students in grades 6-8.
Creative Writing
Psychology
U.S. History to the Civil War
CS Python Fundamentals (formerly Intro to Computer Science)
Course descriptions and syllabi for each course can be located by clicking “Learn More” on the course’s entry in our Course Catalog.
Students who are taking year-long courses do not need to re-enroll; they will be automatically enrolled in the spring semester of their course unless we receive notification from site staff that they would prefer to do otherwise.
If your school has already registered with us this year (i.e., if you currently have IOAPA students), then you will be automatically redirected to the appropriate step in the registration process (nominating the student; see below for details).
Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:
Register your school and assign a site coordinator and mentor.The first step is for principals to register their schools. They can do that on our website by clicking on Register. As part of this step, schools assign a site coordinator and a mentor. They can be the same person or different people; however, the mentor needs to be a certified teacher at the school. For spring semester courses, when schools have already registered during the current academic year: During spring semester registration, site coordinators are able to skip step 1, since the school is already registered for this academic year. You should still start by clicking Register on our website. You will then be redirected to step 2 (student nomination).
Nominate the student(s) taking the IOAPA course(s). Completing the school registration page sends the principal an automated email with a link to nominate the student. The principal either needs to complete the nomination or forward the link to the site coordinator or mentor to complete.
Confirm that the student has self-enrolled in the course. Once the student has been nominated, an email will be automatically sent to the student to enroll themselves in the actual course. Be sure to have students check their junk mail folders, as automated emails sometimes get filtered there. Students should complete this process and be sure to click submit when they’re done.
After registering, be sure to complete any College Board requirements for offering AP courses:
Register your school with the College Board.
Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by the end of January in order to be able to label courses as “AP” on students’ transcripts.
Encourage high school students to take the AP exam and order all AP exams by the College Board’s deadline. Also, as mentioned above, be on the lookout for emails about applying for our IOAPA AP exam scholarships.
Be on the lookout for information about Fall enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year during the spring semester. More information about our program, academic year courses, and important dates can be found here.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions or concerns.
Funding is still available through Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy (IOAPA) for Iowa students in 6th-12th grade! IOAPA provides Iowa students free access to high-quality, online, advanced course offerings not currently available within their school districts. These courses are offered asynchronously so they can fit into any schedule. We also offer scholarships to cover the cost of AP exams for some low-income students participating in an IOAPA course. Additionally, our team is available to support students and mentors every step of the way.
Our current course offerings include the 13 advanced courses for middle school students and 15 for high school students listed below.
Charles Smith (Ottumwa) won 2nd place in the 3rd-grade division, as well as Best Video Presentation, for his E.F.A.F. (Emergency Floor plan App for First responders). Jason Ahn (Ames) won a Patent Application Award and Best Logbook for his ARE Board (Auto Rolling & Erasing Whiteboard). Those who are interested can view the complete list of winners or watch the award ceremony replay.
In the oral presentations, Amara Orth (Lewis Central High) won 2nd place in the Life Sciences category, for an $8,000 scholarship! In the poster competition, Jasmyn Hoeger (Beckman Catholic High School) won 3rd place in the Biomedical Science category and a $350 scholarship. A full list of winners is posted here.
UPDATE: I-Excel testing is now available this spring at no cost for incoming 6th graders.
As we begin to look towards Fall 2022, please note that we have changed our middle school testing requirements for IOAPA middle school students. This testing should be scheduled as soon as possible to meet the June 15th deadline for prospective students without previously I-Excel scores.
Middle School Requirements
The Belin-Blank Center has instituted a requirement for current 5th and 6th graders (who will be in 6th or 7th grade in the fall) to take the above-level test I-Excel. The reasoning behind this new requirement is:
On average, IOAPA students taking middle school courses struggled more than IOAPA students taking high school courses. Therefore, we want to help educators identify students who are ready for these rigorous courses.
Research shows that above-level testing provides an excellent method of discovering students who are ready for advanced coursework such as IOAPA courses for middle school students (Assouline & Lupkowski-Shoplik, 2012).
Research shows that even the short-term intervention of taking an above-level test such as I-Excel provides a boost to students’ academic achievement (Rogers, 2015). These opportunities may be especially important for low-income and disadvantaged students.
The Belin-Blank Center has developed I-Excel to provide an above-level test that is affordable and accessible. Typically, the cost of I-Excel testing is $45 per student. However, the Belin-Blank Center has obtained funding for this purpose! So, we are pleased to announce that schools that are considering identifying students for IOAPA courses may offer this testing at no cost to the student or school.
To schedule an I-Excel assessment or learn more about the testing process, please email assessment@belinblank.org. In your email, indicate that you are interested in testing prospective IOAPA students. If you have other questions about IOAPA courses, email ioapa@belinblank.org.
“The individual weekly meeting helped me get through college with ideas and suggestions for what I can do better or improve on for exams, projects, and life in college overall.”
-Academy for Twice-Exceptionality Student
In Spring 2021, the staff at the Belin-Blank Center began working on a pilot for an Academy for Twice-Exceptionality. Our expertise in twice-exceptionality and experience with university programs (specifically the Bucksbaum Early Entrance Academy), made us the perfect fit for starting such a program. We are now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 cohort!
Academy students must be high school graduates and ideally entering Iowa as first-year or transfer students. (We will consider students who fit other academic standings.) Currently, students who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or identify as Autistic are the target population. In the future, we hope to be able to expand into other areas of twice-exceptionality. Students must also be registered with the University of Iowa Student Disability Services (SDS).
The Academy for Twice-Exceptionality offers a variety of services for its students:
a weekly seminar for the entire cohort
weekly one-on-one meetings to work on individual needs and goals
assistance with connecting to university-based supports and resources
helping students better understand their struggles and then leverage their unique strengths
consistent communication with parents/guardians.
Start the journey to see if the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality is the right fit for you or your student by visiting our website. We are confident we will be!
Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) registration for Fall 2022 classes is now open! IOAPA provides free access to asynchronous advanced courses for Iowa students in 6th grade and above. A primary aim of this program is to provide access to students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district. To aid in this goal, the Belin-Blank Center also provides AP exam scholarships to eligible IOAPA students each semester in an effort to increase the number of students taking AP exams from rural schools in Iowa.
15 AP courses are available to high school students.Note: Beginning Fall 2022, the drop deadline and fee will also apply to AP computer science courses.
13 advanced courses are available to middle school students. These courses are designed for high school students and made available to students in grades 6-8. Note: Beginning in Fall 2022, we will require above-level testing for middle school students. More information about this can be found here. When in doubt, you can also review our guidelines.
Course descriptions and syllabi for each course can be located by clicking “Learn More” on the course’s entry in our Course Catalog.
Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:
Register your school and assign a site coordinator and mentor. The first step is for principals to register their schools. They can do that on our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) by clicking on Register. As part of this step, schools assign a site coordinator and a mentor. They can be the same person or different people; however, the mentor needs to be a certified teacher.
Nominate the student(s) taking the IOAPA course(s). Completing the school registration page sends the principal an automated email with a link to nominate the student. The principal either needs to complete the nomination or forward the link to the site coordinator or mentor to complete.
Confirm that the student has self-enrolled in the course. Once the student has been nominated, an email will be automatically sent to the student to enroll themselves in the actual course. Be sure to have students check their junk mail folders, as the automated emails sometimes get filtered there. Students should complete this process and be sure to click submit when they’re done.
After registering, be sure to complete any College Board requirements for offering AP courses:
Register your school with the College Board.
Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by the end of January in order to be able to label courses as “AP” on students’ transcripts.
Encourage high school students to take the AP exam and order all AP exams by the College Board’s deadline. Also, as mentioned above, be on the lookout for emails about applying for our IOAPA AP exam scholarships.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions or concerns.
With special thanks to Jan Warren for co-authoring this post
Fifteen-year-old Sophie was in Spain as a high school sophomore living with a host family when she decided to apply to college as an early entrant. Her family lived in a small, rural town in the Midwest.
After being accepted to the early entrance program, Sophie received Pell Grants, scholarships, and additional financial aid to cover the cost of attendance. She entered the university as a psychology major at age 16. She intended to transfer to a more well-known university after her first year but decided against it after becoming engaged both academically and socially. Inspired by seeing a political rally on campus, she declared a Social Justice major. Because of her interest in human rights and policy issues, she added a pre-law designation. Sophie was known for her outspokenness, quick sense of humor, loyalty, and ability to bring everyone together.
Sophie graduated with honors at age 20. She currently is working in Fairbanks, Alaska through AmeriCorps and is applying to Law School. Sophie says,
“Although I grew up fairly normal, I was always that one ‘nerd’ who went home after school and continued to research in-depth about the topics we were learning about. However, growing up in such a small town never gave me many opportunities to be surrounded by people who enjoy learning and knowledge as much as I do. I put up with this vague feeling of suffocation caused by lack of stimulation until my sophomore year, when I found a study abroad program that would not only unite me with intellectuals and other cultures but also reignite my love for learning and my curiosity about the world. At this moment, I do not want to stop my exploration of the world when I return [to my state].”
Early entrance to college is a great option for students like Sophie who are ready. What do we mean by ready? Students who demonstrate academic ability, who have already taken many of the challenging courses available in their high school, demonstrate maturity, and are ready to live away from home may be prepared for the challenges of entering college early. These students might enter college early on their own, while others might participate in a formal program designed to support young students entering college.
For example, the Bucksbaum Early Entrance Academy at the University of Iowa is designed for students who have completed 10th or 11th grade. Early entrants live in a cohort on the University of Iowa campus in the honor’s residence hall and attend classes with other college students. Supports offered to the students include a first-year seminar designed to build self-efficacy skills, weekly one-on-one meetings with a graduate student, activities and events designed to challenge and support them, and all types of advocacy and encouragement. After successful completion of the two-year program, nearly all students go on to finish their degrees at the University of Iowa.
Parents might be especially concerned about the idea of early entrance to college. They can be reassured by the body of research supporting early entrance; students have been entering college early for decades, in both formal and informal programs. As a group, they are highly successful. Linda Brody and Michelle Muratori (2015) provide an excellent summary of what we know about early entrance to college. As a group, early entrants achieve at higher levels in college, complete their college degrees and often go on to graduate school, publish professional papers, and earn higher incomes than matched peers who do not enter college early. Socially, this group also performs well – many researchers have concluded that, as a group, early entrants thrive in their new environment. The research indicates that most participants in these programs are successful in developing satisfying social relationships. Overall, they do well.
Some studies have indicated that a few individuals may encounter social or emotional challenges and find it difficult to adjust to early entrance to college. An important goal at the Bucksbaum Academy is to help identify the students who would find the program a good match—students who are ready for the independence and intellectual challenge of college life. The application process includes letters of recommendation from two teachers, a series of student essays, parent essays, high school transcripts, and standardized test scores. All students are required to attend an information session about the Academy and semi-finalists attend a personal interview with their parents/guardians.
Some suggestions for students considering early entrance include:
Take challenging courses in high school. These include honors and accelerated courses, and also the Advanced Placement (AP) courses many high schools provide. AP courses are designed to offer high school students college level material, and they help to prepare students for the challenges of college courses. Talk with your counselor about your interest in leaving high school early so they can assist you in choosing the courses which will best prepare you for life as a university student.
If the high school doesn’t provide enough challenging options, consider attending academic summer programs or online learning courses.
Attend a residential summer camp for the experience of being away from home for an extended period of time. It can be an academic program, a sports camp, or any other summer camp offered on a college or university campus.
Seek out opportunities to develop study skills and time management skills, which will help students be ready for advanced classes and the challenge of managing the independence of a college schedule. For example, students who are used to managing several activities or a job while in high school are better candidates for early entrance because they know how to juggle their time and prioritize tasks.
Talk with your guidance counselor about how your school and community will handle local scholarships for you—will you need to apply as a sophomore? Or wait until your first year at the university, which would have been your junior year in high school?
Recognize that early entrance to college is not the best match for all intellectually talented high school students. If early entrance isn’t the best match for a particular student, other options can be considered, such as subject acceleration, dual enrollment in high school and college, and academic summer programs. Students might also opt for completing college in 3 years instead of 4, if they are able to get credit for work completed before matriculating in a college.
Resources
Brody, L.E., & Muratori, M.C. (2015). Early entrance to college: Academic, social, and emotional considerations. In S. G. Assouline, N. Colangelo, J. VanTassel-Baska, & A. Lupkowski-Shoplik (Eds.), A Nation Empowered: Evidence Trumps the Excuses That Hold Back America’s Brightest Students, Vol. 2 (pp. 153-167). Iowa City, IA: Belin-Blank Center. Access this chapter by downloading the entire publication at www.nationempowered.org
Twice-exceptional (2e) students experience co-occurring high ability and disability that can make it difficult to access appropriate services for both their strengths and their challenges.The Belin-Blank Center’s Assessment and Counseling Clinic is excited to introduce several new programming options for twice-exceptional students in 2022. This post is the first in a series detailing these opportunities. Be sure to check back soon for the next installment!
Many individuals who identify as autistic also have exceptional gifts and talents. When cultivated, these gifts and talents contribute to great advances across a variety of domains in society. However, many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may also experience difficulty with a variety of skill areas, like executive functioning and adaptive skills that are necessary for flexibly navigating everyday life. While many individuals who identify as autistic may have been supported within their primary and secondary education, there has been a proverbial “cliff” described for the significantly fewer services and supports they receive after leaving high school. The Belin-Blank Center is bringing a new program to the University of Iowa to support college students who otherwise might have come upon such a cliff. This program is called the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality.
The Academy for Twice-Exceptionality is for University of Iowa college students who are on the autism spectrum or identify as autistic and have high cognitive ability and/or academic achievement. Such students are also known as “twice-exceptional” (2e), given their exceptionality in both their cognitive ability and/or academic achievement, as well as in their neurodevelopment that results in a disability. Participants in the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality will be supported through weekly meetings with a graduate assistant, organized social events, and a weekly seminar, where they can identify goals, as well as gain knowledge and skills to support their adjustment to campus life and the increased expectations for greater independence. Additionally, professional staff at the Belin-Blank Center will communicate and work closely with parents to support their student’s success.
The Academy for Twice-Exceptionality is currently in a pilot year, supporting 2e University of Iowa students who identify as autistic. Activities include individual goal setting, and assistance navigating and adjusting to campus life. Emily (Emmy) Kuhlmann, a graduate assistant for the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality, meets with students on a weekly basis, to encourage their overall well-being and offer information regarding ways to seek appropriate supports if needed, either on- or off-campus. She described her work with the students: “I have been working with students on individual goals to ease their transition into college student life. Some students wish to discuss organization and time management, others want to discuss stress and imposter syndrome. All are hoping to work on their goals to be successful college students – beyond the classroom.” Additionally, she added, “Goal setting and adjusting are a big part of my work. I want students to feel they can set big goals. I also encourage them to take smaller steps to reach their goals or adjust their timeline or approach if it’s not going well.”
One current participant in the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality shared how they have found meeting with the graduate assistant to be helpful. They shared, “Emmy helped me get through college with ideas and suggestions for what I can do better or improve on for exams, projects, and life in college, overall.” This U of I student identified organized social events as helpful in introducing them to new people on campus, as well.
Emmy also described the importance of a strong working relationship with students. She stated, “with my background in counseling, I have learned that the most successful growth and change comes through the support of a strong working relationship. With each student I am working with, I try to build relationships to really get to know the students – their interests, their strengths, and their needs. It is only by understanding more of who they are that I am able to assist with individualized support to work towards their goals. This has also been the most enjoyable part of my job, as I now know many wonderful students!”
In addition to these invaluable relationships and weekly meetings, which are supervised by a licensed psychologist, weekly seminars are designed to support University of Iowa students who are in the Academy. More specifically, seminars were developed with input from University-wide stakeholders who share expert knowledge regarding the needs of college students who identify as autistic. Seminars were designed by Belin-Blank Center experts in education and clinical psychology to provide instruction aimed at building important knowledge and skills for independence, social-emotional maturity, effective communication, and career readiness, Belin-Blank Center professional staff and faculty also utilize instructional strategies and accommodations to help twice-exceptional students understand the importance of gaining and using new skills, such as instruction with visuals, support in perspective taking, and peer-mediated instruction. “It has been such an honor to be a part of developing this much-needed service,” shared Dr. Amanda Berns, a clinical psychologist at the Belin-Blank’s Assessment and Counseling Clinic, with expertise in supporting twice-exceptional individuals who identify as autistic. An integral team member in the development of the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality, Dr. Berns also indicates, “I am so excited to see the impact the Academy will have in so many young autistic people’s lives!”
The Academy for Twice-Exceptionality is currently accepting applicants for the 2022-2023 academic year. If you or someone you know is interested in attending the University of Iowa and participating in the Academy for Twice-Exceptionality, more information about the academy and the application can be found on the Belin-Blank Center’s website: belinblank.org/2eacademy. Questions can be sent through the website or via email at 2eacademy@belinblank.org .
We are pleased to share two fantastic opportunities for high school student researchers and their teachers!
Mentorship for High School Student STEM Researchers
JSHS is offering a virtual mentoring program for high school students involved in STEM research.
Is this mentorship for me?
Any student who starts a research project and intends to submit their research at the regional Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS) competition can participate. This resource is free for students and supported by JSHS.
How can mentors help?
Mentors share their expertise and advice to help guide and encourage you throughout your research.
Mentors can provide assistance and feedback on your original research concepts.
How will I work with my mentor?
Chronus is a virtual mentoring platform that houses the JSHS virtual mentorship program. Through Chronus, you will be able to:
View mentor profiles and find mentor matches based on shared interests.
Connect with mentors for flash (one-time consultation) or long-term mentoring (on-going mentoring) year-round.
Receive valuable resources that help you get the most out of your mentorships.
Set up virtual meetings, ask questions, and manage your mentorships online or through the Chronus app.
For STEM teachers, the Advancing Science Research Teaching (ASRT) program is accepting applications for their free, in-person, educational outreach program. This program is designed to equip high school teachers with the knowledge, insights, and activities to increase the amount, type, and scope of science research projects for their high school students.
Is the ASRT program for me?
The ASRT program is customized to help high school teachers who provide science research opportunities within a traditional STEM classroom setting, or helping those with a small, growing research program/club, or even helping those with more established Science Research Programs/Clubs. High school teachers may apply individually or as a group.
How are participants selected?
Applicants will be evaluated by a committee from Regeneron and/or ZEISS, based on a number of different criteria including, but not limited to:
Their interest in increasing the number of activities that build understanding & critical thinking, technology-based skills, networking skills, presentation skills, and lifelong skills.
Their interest in increasing the number of high school students who carry out projects and participate in regional, state, national and international science fairs.
Their interest in increasing the quality/level of the projects that their high school students are involved in.
Their interest in increasing the types/categories of the projects that their high school students are involved in.
Their level of support from the school community and their administration for creating science research/STEM opportunities for high school students.
We are hard at work creating new computer science opportunities for academically talented students! We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been up to. In the meantime, check out these popular options. Registration is open!
Advanced Computer Science currently has one course open for registration. Explorations in Computer Science is an introductory course based on Project STEM curriculum that empowers students to engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun. Through a series of real-world scenarios, projects and challenges, students are introduced to foundational concepts that they will return to repeatedly throughout the course.
Computer Science Python Fundamentals is an entirely self-directed learning experience to complete whenever and wherever you want. Computers are simple. They do only what you tell them. Through a series of interactive online modules, with built-in support from experienced programmers, you will learn to talk to computers using the Python programming language. You can progress through the modules at a pace that is just right for you, with access to an exclusive expert forum to have your questions answered along the way. During the course, you’ll learn more about programming, create programs of your own using Python, and have a lot of fun along the way. And, who knows, you may end up writing the next big program!
Are you a teacher who works with students during the invention process? Invent Iowa will return in a virtual format on April 18, 2022. Now is a great time to make sure your budding inventors and entrepreneurs are getting started on their projects!
We are excited to announce a new platform from our colleagues at Invention Convention Worldwide. InHub is a collection of professional development, curriculum resources and information about experiences and field trips. This is a free resource to learn and share with other inventive educators and students.
If you are a student or have a student who would like to participate in Iowa’s State Invention Convention, be sure to mark your calendars for these important dates:
January 20, 2022: Registration opens
February 22, 2022: Competition materials are due
March 22, 2022: Students are notified of their qualification status
March 28, 2022: Qualifying students must commit to State Convention
As you may know, the Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) and the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS) team up to provide identification and programming services to help Iowa teachers discover talented students and develop their abilities. For more on how BESTS and IOAPA work together, check out our IOAPA-BESTS blog roundup. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, IOAPA will require 6th or 7th grade students to have taken I-Excel in order to be eligible for IOAPA courses. We highly recommend using the ACT to inform eligibility for older students to take IOAPA courses. Testing is not required for students registering for Spring 2022 courses, although it is recommended.
In order to use this year’s above-level testing scores to inform eligibility for next spring’s IOAPA courses, now is the time to begin the above-level testing process. (Spring registration opens November 8, and we expect seats to fill quickly.) You may also use above-level test results from this academic year to decide which students you will register for fall 2022 classes, when that registration is available. There are four basic steps for participation in BESTS.
Find the students who are ready for additional challenge; these are the students who will be recommended for participation in BESTS. Typically, students who have earned scores at or above the 90th percentile on grade-level standardized tests, such as the Iowa Assessments, are strong candidates for above-level testing.
Notify the students identified in Step 1 and their families about the opportunity to participate in BESTS.
Contactassessment@belinblank.org as soon as possible to set up testing. We have two options for testing, one for 7th-9th graders, and one for 4th-6th graders.
7th-9th graders take the ACT. Due to the pandemic, ACT has been prioritizing testing 11th and 12th graders. We plan to offer above-level testing for our 7th-9th grade students later this academic year. If you would like to be notified when testing is available for 7th-9th graders, visit belinblank.org/talent-search for specific information and email assessment@belinblank.org to be added to the notification list. ACT testing is not required, but it is highly recommended.
4th-6th graders take I-Excel. I-Excel testing sessions for current 4th-6th graders are flexible to schedule. However, it’s still important to reach out soon to ensure that the process can be completed in time for your desired test date(s) and IOAPA spring registration. Please allow approximately 6 weeks from the time of registration to having the assessment results in hand. I-Excel testing will be required for students interested in taking 6th-7th grade courses next school year, so we highly recommend testing eligible 5th and 6th graders this year.
Inform students and parents about test results and the recommended course of action following testing.
Costs
The cost for ACT registration will be announced at a later time. Students testing through the Belin-Blank Center will receive access to individualized reports explaining their test results and comparing them to other talented students in the same grade.
The cost for I-Excel is $45 per student when groups of 4 or more students are testing. Iowa schools using I-Excel for the first time in the past 3 years can request up to 20 free student test registrations to try out I-Excel with their students. Schools receive group results as well as individual student reports following I-Excel testing. Families also receive the individualized report.
For both I-Excel and ACT, fee reductions are available for students eligible for the free/reduced cost lunch program.
Now that the school year is underway, it’s time for Iowa high school students and teachers to get started on projects for the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Your future selves will thank you!
If you are a high school student thinking that you would like to solve a problem, stretch yourself, and stand out – now is the time to get started on an original research project so you can present it at the Iowa Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.
If you are a teacher looking for opportunities for your students to present their work to an authentic audience of experts, explore STEM careers, and build a sense of belonging, start planning for JSHS now
Top 10 Reasons to Join Us at the 2022 Iowa Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium:
The symposium is returning to the University of Iowa campus!
Trivia night is back! Geek out with nerds from across the state in a friendly competition.
Experience the wonders of the newest dining hall on campus where you can have sushi, a made to order burger, a Southwest salad, and pancakes all for lunch.
Be inspired by research presented by students in Iowa who win big scholarships at National JSHS.
Every high school in Iowa can bring 5 students and a teacher for FREE. We sponsor housing, meals, and all activities – including a trip down the lazy river.
Five students will win scholarships and an all expense paid trip to National JSHS in Albuquerque, NM.
If we can’t meet on campus, we will meet online for virtual presentations, tours, and activities that span the globe.
Join us on Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
In March, the Belin-Blank Center hosted students from across the state to compete at the premier high school science competition in Iowa, the 2021 Iowa Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Students competed for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of original research projects.
A panel of experts judged 10 impressive oral presentations, and the finalists were:
1st place: Meena Ramadugu (John F Kennedy High School) — “Comparison of nickel chelator to current standard triple antibiotic therapy to treat Helicobacter pylori infection”
2nd place: Kayla Livesay (Van Buren High School) — “Analyzing the effectiveness of nutrient placement on crop production and soil fertility: A study of the law of limiting factors”
3rd place: Shreya Khullar (Iowa City West High School) — “Dendrochronological data analysis to measure climate sensitivity and to develop climate reconstructions”
4th place: Claire Gu (Valley High School) — “Predicting harmful algal blooms in Iowa’s green valley lake using a machine learning model”
5th place: Karshana Kalyanaraman (Johnston Senior High School) — “Novel miRNA and gene enrichment associated with cardiac function in athletes”
Meena Ramadugu (John F Kennedy High School)
Kayla Livesay (Van Buren High School)
Shreya Khullar (Iowa City West High School)
Claire Gu (Valley High School)
Karshana Kalyanaraman (Johnston Senior High School)
In addition to scholarships, these five students qualified to compete at the 59th Annual National JSHS in mid-April.
Approximately 160 high school students from all over the world attended the National JSHS to compete for scholarships and recognition in the fields of environmental science; life sciences; biomedical, cellular and molecular sciences; medicinal, behavioral and health sciences; engineering; mathematics and computer science; physics; and chemistry and material sciences.
For the fourth consecutive year, Iowa regional finalists placed at the national competition! Kayla Livesay (Van Buren) and Meena Ramadugu (Cedar Rapids) both took home 3rd place in their respective divisions of the prestigious oral presentation competition, along with $4,000 scholarships.
Iowa Winners at 2021 National JSHS
This year marks the first time two Iowa regional finalists placed at National JSHS! It is also the first year an Iowa finalist has placed at National JSHS for a second time.
In 2019, Kayla earned third place in the Life Science division of the poster competition for her project, “Accelerating plant growth to improve crop production and soil fertility: analyzing the effects of macronutrients and mycorrhizal fungi for Zea mays: Phase III.” This year, Kayla earned third place in the Environmental division of the oral presentation competition.
Congratulations to all who participated in both the Iowa Regional and National Junior Science and Humanities Symposia! For more information on getting started with student research or the JSHS program, visit:
On April 19, the Belin-Blank Center announced the 2021 Invent Iowa State Invention Convention winners who will advance onto the National Invention Convention. Young inventors from schools across Iowa submitted their inventions to the state competition. We were impressed to see so many creative inventions to everyday problems!
Winners qualified to compete at the virtual National Invention Convention. The Belin-Blank Center awarded the top 5 inventions with all expenses paid to advance to the next level of competition. Check out this Google Earth tour of the winning inventions!
Congratulations to our 2021 Winners:
1st place: The B.O.S.S. (The Beneficial On-Site Skin Scanner) by Charles Smith from Ottumwa
Firefighters have a higher risk of cancer because they are exposed to carcinogenic chemicals in fires. There is not an on-site method to locate the toxins on the skin, which greatly increases their cancer risk. The B.O.S.S. (The Beneficial On-Site Skin Scanner) is a dermal scanner that will allow firefighters to locate the carcinogenic chemicals quickly, enabling them to remove the toxins while on-site. This helps decrease the chemical absorption through their skin, which would reduce their cancer risk and could save lives.
2nd place: SSS (Smart Sensing System) by Sujan Vijayraj Shadrak from Marion
The SSS is a system that can be used in an automatic sliding door. The SSS runs through a Rasberry pi 4 and is coded in NODERED. The SSS will use Artificial Intelligence and human image detection to first take a picture of the person standing outside, then process it, and if the picture resembles a human the door will open. This invention will prevent animals from entering public places and can also act as a filter by tracking who enters and leaves the area. We have made the SSS prototype along with a visual example of a sliding door.
3rd place: Ring Around the Dog Collar by Carolyne Jorgenson from Treynor
Leather dog collar that has multiple D-rings for easier leash attachment.
4th place: Aqua Cleaner by Manasvi Devi Reddy from Marion
It solves the problem of oil spills making the oceans and rivers clean. This in turn helps the ecosystem.
5th place: Reptile Pedicure by Mason Smith from Dyersville
The purpose of the Reptile Pedicure is to make it easier to get the toe shed off your reptile’s toes. This allows your reptile to be comfortable during the process and the owner to have more control. Those that own reptiles know that the shed on the toes is the hardest for the reptile to get off on their own. This results in deformities and their toes to fall off. It also changes their walking pattern.
Finally, we want to say a big thank you to our generous sponsor McKee, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C. Congratulations to all who competed, and keep inventing, Iowa!
The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) offers Iowa students free access to online advanced course offerings for students who would otherwise be unable to find these courses offered in their school district.
Additionally, the Belin-Blank Center provides AP exam scholarships to eligible IOAPA students each semester, in an effort to increase the number of students taking AP exams from rural schools in Iowa.
IOAPA registration for Fall 2021 classes is now open! This includes full-year courses, as well as one-semester fall courses. Registration for Spring 2022 one-semester courses will open in November.
15 AP courses are available to high school students.
14 courses are available to middle school students. These courses are designed for high school students and made available to students in grades 6-8. While not yet required, we still recommend above-level testing as the best method in identifying students for advanced coursework. When in doubt, you can also review our guidelines here.
Course descriptions and syllabi for each course can be located by clicking “Learn More” on the course’s entry in our Course Catalog.
Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:
Register your school and assign a site coordinator and mentor. The first step is for principals to register their schools. They can do that on our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) by clicking on Register. As part of this step, schools assign a site coordinator and a mentor. They can be the same person or different people; however, the mentor needs to be a certified teacher at the school.
Nominate the student(s) taking IOAPA course(s). Completing the school registration page sends the principal an automated email with a link in it to nominate the student. The principal either needs to complete the nomination or forward the link to the site coordinator or mentor to complete.
Confirm that student has self-enrolled in the course. Once the student has been nominated, an email will be automatically sent to the student to enroll himself/herself in the actual course. Be sure to have students check their junk mail folders, as the automated emails sometimes get filtered there. Students should complete this process and be sure to click submit when they’re done.
After registering, be sure to complete any College Board requirements for offering AP courses:
Register your school with the College Board.
Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by the end of January in order to be able to label courses as “AP” on students’ transcripts.
Encourage high school students to take the AP exam, and order all AP exams by the College Board’s deadline.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at ioapa@belinblank.org with any questions or concerns.
Spring is coming, and that means it’s time to start planning for next year. In a typical year, this is when we would recommend having students participate in above-level testing. Above-level testing helps educators to determine which students might need advanced programming, such as subject acceleration, because it measures students’ aptitudes in specific subjects. Using an objective measure such as an above-level test helps us to make informed decisions. During the challenging year brought upon us by COVID-19, we might have wondered if it was possible to conduct this sort of testing in a school setting. The good news is, yes, it can be done!
Over the last few months, the Belin-Blank Center has assisted numerous educators throughout the country, including in Iowa schools, to conduct above-level testing with their 4th-6th grade students using I-Excel. We require an in-person proctor, so that means testing sessions have had fewer students spread apart in a classroom with other appropriate safety precautions in place. When considering your options for testing, please make sure to consult local and national public health guidance. Schools that typically test large numbers of students have provided the testing in several different sessions, so there were fewer students in each group. Schools have then been able to use the test results to inform decisions about placing students in advanced programing, such as IOAPA.
IOAPA, a longstanding online accelerative program for students in Iowa, has an impressive record of student success. Middle and high school students take advanced online courses in a program administered by the Belin-Blank Center and in cooperation with local school mentors. The IOAPA program was created especially for students in rural Iowa schools who do not have access to advanced courses in their home schools. They work online, with the support of a local teacher/mentor. We have found that one of the best predictors of success in IOAPA courses is the objective information gleaned from above-level testing, where we measure a student’s aptitude in specific subjects. Currently (due to the pandemic), we do not require above-level testing. However, we highly recommend it. The data provided by I-Excel testing can help educators determine which students would benefit from the rigors of the IOAPA program. If at least 10 students from a particular school or district have participated in testing, educators receive an aggregate report that helps them to see how students’ scores compare to each other and assists them in making these decisions.
In some cases, parents are interested in having their children tested individually, so they can learn more about their child’s aptitudes. They can set up individual testing with the assistance of a local educator who serves as the test proctor. After the testing, parents receive an individual student report, which they can share with educators at their child’s school.
It has indeed been a challenging year. It is good to know that, in spite of the challenges, we still have a systematic process in place for assisting educators and their talented students to find the academic opportunities that they need.
Although it may be cold outside, we are already gearing up for spring and summer at the Belin-Blank Center! We are offering many exciting online opportunities for educators, students, families, and gifted education researchers. Mark your calendars with these upcoming dates.
Let us bring our UNESCO City of Literature and the Writing University to your home with the Writers’ Room!
The Writers’ Room is a collection of online creative writing classes for students in grades 6-12. Challenge yourself by exploring form, discussing creative writing fundamentals, and completing stimulating assignments. Receive thoughtful feedback of your work from world-class faculty and graduates of the University of Iowa’s famed writing programs. Learn how to give and receive artist-centered feedback with your peers and enjoy the benefits of building a community with other inspired young writers.
Join the community
Our community of student writers is impressive and welcoming. Check out this digital anthology of past students’ work. You could be next!
“I really enjoyed the fact that the teachers seemed to be so engaged, and that I was able to make friends, even online. My confidence as a writer has been so strengthened by this experience.” – 2020 student writer
Get your seat at the table
Submit your application to the Writers’ Room today to make your writing stand out from the crowd. Don’t wait – time and space are limited! The program starts February 14th. Apply before it’s too late!
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their complex interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
Don’t miss the last class of the session, coming up in January!
Bravery: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Grades 2-4 January 24, 9:00 am – noon (Central)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice for 27 years, passed away this year. As a lawyer and a judge, she used her voice to fight for equal rights for all people – regardless of race, gender, or ability. In this class, you will learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (or RBG as many call her) and her work fighting for our rights. We will focus on the writing and speaking strategies that help others want to listen to us. From writing to speaking to history and even a little bit of art, this class will cover it all! You’ll also get to continue your expedition after class ends with the Ruth Bader Ginsberg issue of the beautiful Bravery magazine. Be ready to channel your inner RBG and speak up!
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
Amelia Earhart
Adventures in the Sky
Grades 2-4 December 6, 9:00 am – noon (Central)
Airplanes revolutionized our ability to travel to new places around the world. Believe it or not, they are a fairly new technology. Two aviators – Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart – were some of the first to explore the skies using airplanes.
In this class, you will learn about these two amazing women’s adventures, and the sometimes-mysterious stories told about them. This class mixes writing and STEM! We will spend half of our time exploring the structure of airplanes and how well they fly. We will spend the other half learning how to write a good story with narrative writing. When we’re done, you’ll get to continue the fun with your own copy of the Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart issue of the beautiful Bravery magazine. Writers, builders, explorers, and all lovers of adventure are encouraged to join!
It’s not too late (yet) for your child to join the Coders’ Lab!
Our new Coders’ Lab class, called Explorations in Coding I, will teach students how to code “for real” using the Python programming language. It will also help them discover how they can make a difference in the world through computer science!
How it works
Students will meet twice weekly with one of our best teachers and other curious and highly capable kids. They will also have independent time to work through modules and develop projects on their own. Classes at this level are typically recommended for middle school students, but bright and motivated students in grades 4-6 will feel right at home. We think your child has what it takes! No prior computer science experience is necessary.
“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”
-Bill Gates
Help your child become 21st century-ready
This class will help your child grow in problem-solving, critical thinking skills, creativity, collaboration, and communication – all from the comfort of your home. So, what are you waiting for? Hurry, class starts November 2nd!
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
Grades 6-8 December 5, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Central
Do you have the skills needed to survive in a world full of Zombies? Using your Zombie Survival Kit, you will navigate in a world without GPS, build a primitive tarp shelter, and learn some basic first aid. Our expert guide will teach you some of the essential skills needed to survive a Zombie Apocalypse. These skills are also very useful for wilderness and/or backyard activities like hiking, camping, scouts, geo-caching, scavenger hunts, adventure races, but more likely… surviving a zombie apocalypse!
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
Getting to Know Your Brain: A Crash Course in Neuroscience
Grades 6-8 November 10 (Part 1) and November 17 (Part 2) , 5:00-6:30 Central OR November 14 (Part 1) and November 21 (Part 2) , 5:00-6:30 Central
Take a peek between your ears and get to know your beautiful brain! The brain helps us experience everything in our world. From information coming in from our environment to internal memories of a fun day that happened years ago – your brain is what makes you “you”! In this class, you will explore how the brain processes sensory information and learn how different parts of the brain communicate with each other. Then, you’ll use this knowledge to build your own “ideal” brain.
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
Master Mathematicians Battle Round
Grades 4-6 November 15, 3:00 – 6:00 pm (Central)
Are you ready to outwit your friends and become a mathematics problem-solving master? Get your brain and buzzer set for a fun, game-filled session of math challenges and competitions. This class will teach you some of the best math problem-solving strategies and challenge you to think outside the box. You’ll get your own copy of Edward Zacarro’s fun book, ”Becoming a Problem Solving Genius.” We’ll use it to help you master math using logic, “Think 1”, algebra, functions, and more. The best part…you’ll practice your new skills in several live-action games with buzzers, whiteboards, and lots of FUN!
We’ve heard your requests for online versions of the enrichment opportunities you love from the Belin-Blank Center! We’ve designed our new Enrichment Expeditions program to reconnect bright children with each other and to explore their interests, both online and offline.
These are not your typical Zoom class! Our expert instructors combine hands-on learning with high-quality, live, online sessions that follow a depth and pace that keeps bright students engaged. We send a customized fun kit straight to your door, containing all the necessary supplies. There’s no need for shopping, ordering, or gathering items around your house.
Don’t miss the last class of the session, coming up in January!
Bravery: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Grades 2-4 January 24, 9:00 am – noon (Central)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice for 27 years, passed away this year. As a lawyer and a judge, she used her voice to fight for equal rights for all people – regardless of race, gender, or ability. In this class, you will learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (or RBG as many call her) and her work fighting for our rights. We will focus on the writing and speaking strategies that help others want to listen to us. From writing to speaking to history and even a little bit of art, this class will cover it all! You’ll also get to continue your expedition after class ends with the Ruth Bader Ginsberg issue of the beautiful Bravery magazine. Be ready to channel your inner RBG and speak up!
Enrichment Expeditions are evening and weekend online classes that explore fun topics like aviation, female role models, problem-solving strategies, neuroscience, survival skills, and more!
Our Coders’ Lab classes will teach you programming and help you discover how you can make a difference in the world through computer science. No prior computer science experience is necessary.
Learn the Python programming language at your own pace, wherever you want, without worrying about class times or the pressure of grades. No prior computer science experience is necessary.
Are you looking for joyful and engaging online learning experiences? Do you know a bright elementary or middle school student who would like a chance to connect with other like-minded kids? Our Enrichment Expeditions program is a new way to experience the classes you have come to love from the Belin-Blank Center. Shake up your pandemic routine with bite-sized lessons that will cultivate interests, spark curiosity, and enhance learning!
Enrichment Expeditions are 1-3 hour online experiences built around topics that kids don’t often have a chance to learn about in school. Each class includes:
Live instruction from vetted teachers who can work with bright students.
Curriculum developed or approved by our gifted education experts.
A fun supplies kit with everything you’ll need to support the hands-on activities. No shopping, ordering, or hunting around your house!
Each expedition introduces students in grades 2-8 to advanced level topics and other bright kids their age. Plus, these engaging online classes are limited to 10 students, giving children room to enjoy their instructor’s unique talents and hands-on experiences with their classmates. Our current classes explore aviation, female role models, problem-solving strategies, neuroscience, survival skills, and more! Students do not have to be in a gifted and talented program to participate.
We are creating a variety of evening and weekend Enrichment Expeditions to fit any schedule. With the addition of new classes throughout the academic year, we aim to have something for everyone! If you or a child in your life has an idea for an expedition, let us know, and we’ll do our best to create the experience.
Mark your calendars for the many exciting online opportunities for educators, students, families, and gifted education researchers that are happening at the Belin-Blank Center this year!
Do you like logic, puzzles, or putting things in order? Are you creative? Do you want to make a difference in the world? Are you interested in learning how to code? If any of these describe you, check out the Belin-Blank Center’s new online coding courses!
“We need more of our children to learn computer programming skills, regardless of their future profession. Along with reading and writing, the ability to program is going to define what an educated person is.”
– Salman Khan
Our Coders’ Lab program currently offers a class called Explorations in Coding I for talented students in grades 4-6. (More are on the way!) This class will teach you how to code using the Python programming language. It will also help you discover how YOU can make a difference in the world through computer science! Sometimes, you will meet with the instructor and other curious, smart kids about your age. Other times, you will have independent time to work through problems and develop projects on your own. Class starts on November 2nd.
Coding with Python is a self-directed online learning experience for bright and motivated students in grades 7-9. Through a series of interactive online modules, you will learn computer science using the Python programming language. This isn’t just any online course, though. You will have access to an exclusive student forum where expert coders are standing by to answer your questions or help you debug your code. (Don’t worry, parents, it’s moderated!) You will learn how to think computationally, solve complex problems, and be prepared for advanced computer science courses. Start anytime, and enjoy access to the content through June 30th, 2021.
“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”
Bill Gates
No matter what your future goals are, coding will be an essential skill for your career. At the Belin-Blank Center, we know that you’re not too young to start learning. And the best part? There are no grades to worry about, and no prior computer science experience is necessary! Join us to unlock your superpowers and build your future your way.
Belin-Blank Center 