Unlocking Success: Edmentum Resources for IOAPA Students

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.

1. Informational Videos

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.

2. Student Resources Page

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.

3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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.

4. Live Help Function

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.

5. Student Success Zone

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.

IOAPA AP® Exam Scholarship Winners

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!

Acknowledging Our School Champions

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the dedicated school staff who advocated for their students by applying for these scholarships:

1. Malinda Brechwald – Estherville Lincoln Central
2. Paulina Rodenburg – Glenwood Community High School
3. Tiffany Weller – Lenox High School
4. Taryn Mottet – Ottumwa High School
5. Hollie Weber – Central Lee High School
6. Helen Stout – Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Jr/Sr High
7. Lynne Zoulek – Regina High School
8. 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!

IOAPA Fall Registration opens soon!

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.

Explore Our Course Catalog:

High School Students (16 AP Courses):

• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science A (Java)
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Environmental Science

• AP French Language and Culture
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Psychology
• AP Spanish
• AP Statistics
• AP U.S. Government
• AP U.S. History

Middle School Students (15 Advanced Courses):

• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Biology
• Computer Science Python Fundamentals
• Creative Writing
• Environmental Science
• Geometry

• Physical Science
• Precalculus
• Probability and Statistics
• Psychology
• Spanish I
• U.S. History since the Civil War
• U.S. History to the Civil War

Ready to Register? Follow These Steps:

Step-by-Step Registration:

1. Visit Our Website:
   • Head to belinblank.org/ioapa.
   • Review the Getting Started information.
2. Register Your School:
   • 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.”
5. 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.
6. 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.

Tips and Resources for Online Foreign Language Learning

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: 

1. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. Grammar Mastery: 
   • Learn grammar thoroughly. It’s the backbone of language. 
   • Over-learn by studying beyond recognition to achieve mastery. 
4. 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. 
5. Reading and Writing Skills: 
   • Train yourself to notice details like accents and gender agreement. 
   • Practice reading comprehension and writing regularly. 
6. 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. 
7. 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: 

1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Videos: YouTube can also be a great resource for language learning. Language learning channels can help you learn concepts and hear pronunciations.
   • Spanish
     • Butterfly Spanish: a native speaker who shares free lessons
     • The Spanish Dude: An English speaker fluent in Spanish who provides excellent explanations of Spanish language concepts
     • Easy Spanish: a mixture of real-world conversations and language lessons, including some in “slow spanish”
   • French
     • French Pod 101: lessons and website with a variety of additional resources
     • Learn French with Alexa: a fun language learning channel
     • 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.

Tips for Success in Online Courses

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.
  • Edmentum: email ioapa@belinblank.org and cc kim.sosomccullough@edmentum.com
  • Project Stem: email ioapa@belinblank.org and cc support@projectstem.org

6. Stay Motivated

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.

The impact of 1 AP exam

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. 

Source(s)

1. Summarizing Research on the Relationships Between the Number of APs,

AP Performance, and College Outcomes

2. Studying the Relationships Between the Number of APs, AP Performance, and College Outcomes

Opportunities for Students in Iowa’s Small Schools and Rural Schools

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

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.

Helping when gifted students fall behind

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 Registration is open for IOAPA courses!

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.

On 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.

COURSES OFFERED

• 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 offer U.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.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

To begin, visit our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) and review the Getting Started information. When you are ready to register, navigate back to the registration section of our website and click Register.

Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Resources for IOAPA Computer Science courses

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.

Introduction to IOAPA Computer Science courses

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 Spring AP Exam Scholarships

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

1. 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.
2. Funding is limited to only one AP exam per student.
3. 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.
4. The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2023.
5. 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.

Ordering AP Exams for Spring only courses

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.

Spring Computer Science Course for Advanced Middle Schoolers

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.

Advanced Placement Opens Doors

Photo by Nicole Berro on Pexels.com

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. 

Check Out IOAPA

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.  

Learn About AP Summer Institute

Fall 22 AP® Exam Scholarship Winners!

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.

IOAPA Spring enrollment is now open!

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.

On 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.

ONE-SEMESTER COURSES OFFERED

• 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.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

To begin, visit our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) and review the Getting Started information. When you are ready to register, navigate back to the registration section of our website and click Register.

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:

1. 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). 
2. 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.
3. 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.

There’s room for your students in IOAPA!

Funding is still available through Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy (IOAPA) for Iowa students in 6^th-12^th 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.

Middle School

• Algebra I (Honors)
• Algebra II (Honors)
• Biology (Honors)
• Computer Science Python Fundamentals
• Creative Writing
• Environmental Science
• Geometry (Honors)
• Physical Science
• Precalculus (Honors)
• Probability and Statistics
• Psychology
• Spanish I
• U.S. History to the Civil War

High School

• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP English Language & Composition
• AP English Literature & Composition
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Psychology
• AP Spanish Language & Culture
• AP Statistics
• AP U.S. Government & Politics
• AP U.S. History

More information about this program is on our website. There you can find course descriptions, information about getting started, and support materials. You can also find more information about School Eligibility and Requirements here. If you are ready to register students, contact us at ioapa@belinblank.org by September 2nd.

Coming Up at the Belin-Blank Center

Don’t miss any exciting opportunities for students, families, and educators at the Belin-Blank Center!

For Educators

• Professional Learning Courses / TAG Endorsement:
  • Introduction to Educating Gifted Students: August 22, 2022
  • Conceptions of Talent Development: October 17, 2022
  • Practicum: October 24, 2022, or November 14, 2022
• Summer Programming for Educators:
  • Chautauqua: July 11, 2022
  • AP Summer Institute (Online): August 1-5, 2022

For Students & Families

Summer Programs

• Junior Scholars Academy
  • Registration open
  • Session 3: July 5-8, 2022
  • Session 4: July 11-15, 2022
  • Session 5: July 18-22, 2022
• Summer Art Residency
  • Applications open
  • July 10–29, 2022
• Summer Writing Residency
  • Applications open
  • July 10-29, 2022 (on campus) or July 11-29, 2022 (online)
• Workshop for Young Writers
  • Applications open
  • August 1-5 (online)

Join Us!

Sign Up for Summer!

Don’t miss any exciting opportunities for students, families, and educators at the Belin-Blank Center!

For Educators

• Professional Learning Courses / TAG Endorsement:
  • The Integrated Acceleration System: Making Decisions About Grade-Skipping: February 26, 2022
  • Topics in Teaching and Learning (Teaching Outside the Lines: Developing Creativity in Every Learner): February 16, 2022
  • Prog/Curr for High Ability Students: March 7, 2022
  • Curriculum Concepts in Gifted Education: March 21, 2022
  • Practicum: March 21, 2022, or April 18, 2022
  • Continuing Education Individual Study (Connecting to Align Gifted Programming and Services): April 25, 2022
  • Intro to Educating Gifted Students: May 16, 2022, June 13, 2022, or August 22, 2022
  • Academic Acceleration: June 6, 2022
  • Senior Honors Project: June 13, 2022
  • Conceptions of Talent Development: October 17, 2022
  • Practicum: October 24, 2022, or November 14, 2022
• Summer Programming for Educators:
  • Belin Fellowship: June 19-24, 2022
  • AP Summer Institute (On Campus): June 28 – July 1, 2022
  • Chautauqua: July 11, 2022
  • AP Summer Institute (Online): August 1-5, 2022

For Students & Families

Summer Programs

• Junior Scholars Academy
  • Registration open
  • Session 1: June 13-17, 2022
  • Session 2: June 20-24, 2022
  • Session 3: July 5-8, 2022
  • Session 4: July 11-15, 2022
  • Session 5: July 18-22, 2022
• Summer Art Residency
  • Applications open
  • July 10–29, 2022
• Summer Writing Residency
  • Applications open
  • July 10-29, 2022 (on campus) or July 11-29, 2022 (online)
• Workshop for Young Writers
  • Applications open
  • August 1-5 (online)

Join Us!

IOAPA Fall enrollment is now open!

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.

On 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.

COURSES OFFERED

• 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.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

To begin, visit our website (belinblank.org/ioapa) and review the Getting Started information. When you are ready to register, navigate back to the registration section of our website and click Register.

Step-by-step course registration instructions are included below:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Guide for IOAPA Middle School Courses

We are excited to share the IOAPA Middle School Course infographic! This infographic uses data from 2020-2021 IOAPA students and may be helpful for upcoming fall enrollment decisions. This infographic, our high school infographic, and other useful information can be found here on our website. On this page, you can also find our course catalog and more information about individual course options.

Guide for IOAPA High School Courses

We are excited to share the IOAPA High School Course infographic! This infographic uses data from 2020-2021 IOAPA students and may be helpful for upcoming fall enrollment decisions. This infographic, our middle school infographic, and other useful information can be found here on our website. On this page, you can also find our course catalog and more information about policies and individual course options.

IOAPA AP® exam scholarship winners

This year, the Belin-Blank Center was pleased to continue receiving funding to offer scholarships for AP® Exams for IOAPA students with financial needs. IOAPA mentors were able to submit applications to receive this funding. The purpose of these scholarships is to pay for the cost of AP® exams for low-income students in rural schools who are currently participating in IOAPA courses. We typically offer these scholarships once in the fall and again in the spring to extend this opportunity to students in both full-year and one-semester courses.

This year we have been able to award over 50 scholarships! We are pleased to congratulate the following school staff who applied for these scholarships for their students!

• Jadyn Schutjer, Emmetsburg High School
• Joan Enockson, Estherville Lincoln-Central High school
• Molly Sterner, Oskaloosa High School
• Laurie Eyre, Maharishi School
• Paulina Rodenburg, Glenwood Community High School
• Jill Janes, Boone High School
• Patti Kuennen, Oelwein High School
• Taryn Mottet, Ottumwa High School
• Hollie Weber, Central Lee High School

Congratulations to all the IOAPA students who received AP® exam scholarships this year! We wish them the best of luck on their AP® exams and other academic endeavors. As funds permit, we will continue to offer these AP exam scholarships. Be on the lookout next year for more information about the application process.

Save the Date for Summer

Don’t miss any exciting opportunities for students, families, and educators at the Belin-Blank Center!

For Educators

• Professional Learning Courses / TAG Endorsement:
  • The Integrated Acceleration System: Making Decisions About Grade-Skipping: February 26, 2022
  • Topics in Teaching and Learning (Teaching Outside the Lines: Developing Creativity in Every Learner): February 16, 2022
  • Prog/Curr for High Ability Students: March 7, 2022
  • Curriculum Concepts in Gifted Education: March 21, 2022
  • Practicum: March 21, 2022
  • Practicum: April 18, 2022
  • Continuing Education Individual Study (Connecting to Align Gifted Programming and Services): April 25, 2022
  • Intro to Educating Gifted Students: May 16, 2022 and June 13, 2022
  • Academic Acceleration: June 6, 2022
  • Senior Honors Project: June 13, 2022
• Summer Programming for Educators:
  • Belin Fellowship: June 19-24, 2022
  • AP Summer Institute (On Campus): June 28 – July 1, 2022
  • Chautauqua: July 11, 2022
  • AP Summer Institute (Online): August 1-5, 2022

For Students & Families

Academic Year

• Bucksbaum Early Entrance Academy
  • Information Days: March 8, 2022 and April 19, 2022
• Computer Science Python Fundamentals
  • Start anytime! You’ll have access through June 30, 2022.
• Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
  • Iowa Regional Symposium: March 7 – 8, 2022
  • National Symposium: April 20-23, 2022
• Invent Iowa
  • State Invention Convention: April 18, 2022

Summer Programs

• Junior Scholars Academy
  • Applications open now
  • Session 1: June 20-24, 2022
  • Session 2: July 18-22, 2022
• Perry Research Scholars Institute
  • Application opens: February 21, 2022
  • Application closes: March 24, 2022
  • Program: July 10-22, 2022
• Secondary Student Training Program
  • Decisions Announced: April 1, 2022
  • Program: June 20 – July 28, 2022 (online) or June 22 – July 29, 2022 (on campus)
• Summer Art Residency
  • Applications open now
  • Priority: Applications submitted by March 1, 2022
  • Program: July 10–29, 2022
• Summer Writing Residency
  • Applications open now
  • Priority: Applications submitted by March 1, 2022
  • Program: July 10-29, 2022 (on campus) or July 11-29, 2022 (online)
• Workshop for Young Writers
  • Applications open now
  • Priority: Applications submitted by March 15, 2022
  • Program: August 1-5 (online)

Join Us!

A Summer Research Program That Boosts Your College Applications

Do you want an in-depth insight into university-level research? Check out the Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) for students in grades 10-11. Applications are open now!

SSTP is an intensive summer research program that connects high-achieving high school students with world-class faculty research mentors from the research-intensive University of Iowa. SSTP offers rare access to elite opportunities that help students realize their academic and professional goals. Students participate in classes and events that will stretch them as researchers and scholars. They have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore their interests, enhance their academic skills, and make meaningful friendships with intellectual peers.

Research areas include:

On-Campus

• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Biomedical Engineering 
• Business Analytics
• Chemistry
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Genetics
• Health & Human Physiology
• Industrial Engineering
• Internal Medicine
• Mathematics
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Orthodontics
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy and Rehab Science
• Physics & Astronomy
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Online

• Biology
• Business Analytics
• Chemistry
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Genetics
• Industrial Engineering
• Mathematics
• Neurology
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Orthodontics
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy and Rehab Science
• Physics & Astronomy
• Religious Studies

Applying to college? This program can help your application stand out. Also, students in SSTP can earn 3 hours of university credit. 

Check out the SSTP website for more information on SSTP and the application process. Start your application today!

STEM Research Mentorship Opportunities for Students & Teachers

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.

How do I sign up?

Visit https://virtualmentoring.jshs.org/chronus to register today or reach out at admin@JSHS.org!

Mentorship for High School STEM Teachers

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.

How do I apply?

Visit https://forms.gle/W3335h1vRFP6aojVA to apply by November 14, 2021. The FAQ section of the www.ASRTprogram.com website has additional information.

Learn More About JSHS!

Computer Science for Talented 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
4th – 6th grade students,
Starts November 1st

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
7th – 9th grade students,
Self-paced; start anytime

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!

Using BESTS for IOAPA Decisions

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 6^th or 7^th 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.

1. 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 90^th percentile on grade-level standardized tests, such as the Iowa Assessments, are strong candidates for above-level testing.
2. Notify the students identified in Step 1 and their families about the opportunity to participate in BESTS.
3. Contact assessment@belinblank.org as soon as possible to set up testing. We have two options for testing, one for 7^th-9^th graders, and one for 4^th-6^th graders.
4. 7^th-9^th graders take the ACT. Due to the pandemic, ACT has been prioritizing testing 11^th and 12^th graders. We plan to offer above-level testing for our 7^th-9^th grade students later this academic year. If you would like to be notified when testing is available for 7^th-9^th 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.
5. 4^th-6^th graders take I-Excel. I-Excel testing sessions for current 4^th-6^th 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 6^th-7^th grade courses next school year, so we highly recommend testing eligible 5^th and 6^th graders this year.
6. 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.

For more information, see:

What’s the Best-Kept Secret in Gifted Education? Above-Level Testing — This post offers an overview of the theory and research behind above-level testing.

An Easy Way to Learn More About Your Students’ Needs— Specific steps for setting up I-Excel are included in this post.

Have Your 7th-9th Graders Registered to Take the ACT? — This post includes useful information about using the ACT as an above-level test for 7th through 9th grade students. Current information about fees, test session dates, and registration deadlines can be found at www.belinblank.org/talent-search.

Update on IOAPA’s Computer Science Courses

This year, there are some changes with IOAPA’s computer science (CS) courses. Our curriculum for these courses is now provided by a non-profit organization called ProjectSTEM.

So, what will this transition look like for IOAPA students and mentors?  Much of the experience will be the same as before. The course material is the same, but there are some slight differences within the platform. You can find helpful information for navigating ProjectSTEM’s website on their help center or reach their support team at info@projectstem.org.

Below are some helpful notes about this transition:

• Be sure to keep an eye out for emails from Project STEM. This includes adding emails from the projectstem.org domain to your safe sender list.   

• Our middle school course formerly called Introduction to Computer Science is now called CS Python Fundamentals.  

• The CS Python Fundamentals course is only offered as a full year course. A one-semester option is not available.

A common question about our CS courses is what does “more mentor involvement” look like? Mentors do not need to have any previous CS teaching experience or knowledge to facilitate a course within ProjectSTEM. The curriculum and lessons for these courses are already prepared. Additionally, 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 the information they will need to accurately grade the essays. Additionally, mentors and students can ask ProjectSTEM’s Teacher Assistant team questions in their forums. While teacher assistants cannot make grading decisions, they can provide guidance and answer specific questions mentors may have about the content.

For more information about ProjectSTEM, visit their help center. If you have more specific questions, contact their support team at info@projectstem.org. And as always, please feel free to reach out to the IOAPA team with any questions or concerns at ioapa@belinblank.org. 

Art and Writing Summer Programs

High school students, don’t miss your chance to join our summer art and writing programs. Hurry – classes start soon!  

Summer Art Residency
Grades 9-12

High school artists will earn college credit for doing what they love! The University of Iowa houses a nationally ranked School of Art. Our talented faculty have been teaching art online all year long, and they know how to do it right! Students will receive 2 semester hours of graded University of Iowa credit. This will appear on an official university transcript that they can add to their college applications!

Summer Writing Residency
Grades 9-12

High school students will have the unique opportunity to work with world-class writing faculty from the University of Iowa – better known as the Writing University and home to the famed Iowa Writers’ Workshop and landmark Prairie Lights bookstore. Students will receive 2 semester hours of graded University of Iowa credit. This will appear on an official university transcript that they can add to their college applications!

Workshop for Young Writers 
Grades 6-8

Middle school students will meet classmates from across the country and passionate instructors from the “Writing University” to help build a writing community. Accepted students can look forward to developing their writing skills, workshopping their pieces among peers, and expanding their creative abilities.

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Check out Curated Collections for Gifted Kids!

Hurry! The Writers’ Room Starts Soon

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!



Adventures in the Sky with Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart

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!  

Check it out

Register today!

Photo by Ömer Aydın from Pexels

Python Programming for 4th-6th Graders

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!

Get your seat before it’s gone!

How to Survive 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.

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! 

Check it out

Register today!

Online Neuroscience Class for Middle Schoolers

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. 

Check it out

Register today!

Online Math Class: Master Mathematicians Battle Round!

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! 

Check it out

Register today!

Online RBG Class

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!

Check it out

Register today!

New Online Student Programs!

Experience the classes you have come to love from the Belin-Blank Center, from the comfort and safety of home.  

Enrichment Expeditions 
Grades 2-8 

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! 

Start your adventure

Coders’ Lab
Grades 4-6 

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. 

Register before class starts!

Coding with Python 
Grades 7-9 

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. 

Request access