Virtual Learning

SPOTLIGHT – Community Development & STEM, Hands-on In-Person and Virtual Programming

The Popular Annual Financial Report provides a concise summary of the financial condition and activities of Pickaway County. The report is designed to promote transparency in government while educating the public by providing a summary of the county’s finances, taxes, services, and useful reference materials in a readable and understandable format.

Youth STEM Career Development Programming

Our programs strive to expose youth to STEM fields and careers through engaging hands-on activities that link to career exploration opportunities.

Visit a couple of program blogs from STEM clubs to scholastic drone racing, learn more, STEM Club Program and Scholastic Drone Racing Program.

Adaptive STEM Programming

Rethinking how we program by proactively using technology in our hands-on programming, but also how we deliver programming. Keeping the Growth Mind approach for both youth and educators! Offering in-person, virtual, and hybrid programming – programming through COVID-19.

Newton’s first law: An object at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, remains in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by a net external force. As long as we are living, we are in motion, so let’s extend that energy and force to learning and maintaining a growth mindset.

Growth Mindset Heads

Ohio Christian University and Pickaway ESC Summit STEM, Session Overviews

Ohio Christian University and Pickaway ESC Summit on November 6, 2021  

Session 1: Learn about OSU Extension’s local hands-on informal STEM learning opportunities and youth career exploration programming in Pickaway County, Hands-on STEM Learning & Career Exploration Programming:

The goal of the Community Development STEM programs is to promote student engagement and interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. participants are engaging in hands-on STEM acNviNes and career exploration with visiting professionals and educators from the community and The Ohio State University. Select programs also involve high school mentor students that assist with program acNviNes while themselves gaining both soX and technical skills, leadership, community service, and college/career exploration opportunities.

Session 2: OSU Extension: Pickaway County K-12 Teacher/Student PercepKons: Virtual/Hybrid Learning Environments Preliminary Results, Preliminary Results K-12 Virtual Hybrid Learning Study:

Prezi Presentation: www.go.osu.edu/remotelearningstudy

The COVID-19 pandemic has also forced educators to reevaluate their programming formats and plan and create more virtual learning and teaching lessons for the current 2020/21 school year forward. The study is led by me, Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator 3, M.R.P. at OSU Extension, Community Development & STEM, College of Food, Agricultural, & Environmental Sciences. The purpose of the study is to measure the experiences of K-12 teachers and 6-12th grade students in virtual and/or hybrid learning environments, to measure teacher perceptions and attitudes of virtual and hybrid learning strategies, and to identify challenges and opportunities of virtual and hybrid learning environments compared to in-person instruction. This session will share out preliminary results of the action research study currently under analysis.

MEGHAN THOREAU, OSU Extension Educator with a unique mix of skills and experience in construction management, planning, and educational outreach and programming. Meghan focuses on preparing Pickaway County youth for STEM careers. She works collaboratively with a team of Extension professionals, volunteers, campus collaborators, and community partners to provide leadership for the development, production, and evaluation of educational programs and applied research to foster STEM educational opportunities that increase career a\ainment in STEM fields. Email: thoreau.1@osu.edu. 

The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce. Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond?

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

This poster presentation, ‘The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce and Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond?’ was presented at the 2021 Virtual National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) National Conference on May 18, 2021. There were three versions created and provided below: 1) a video image-based poster presentation, 2) an online word-based poster presentation, and 3) a PDF word-based poster presentation.

Video Presentation (duration 13:40)

 

The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce and Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond? (PDF version)

Virtual Learning Event: COSI SciFest Make a Rube Goldberg Simple Machine


COSI SciFest Goes Digital

Join Pickaway County Library’s Youth Services and OSU Extension as we create a Rube Goldberg’s Simple Machine together in our all ages virtual hands-on science program, Thursday, May 6, 2021, @ 6:00 p.m. Registration is required for this free educational virtual one-hour event, click here to register. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing personalized meeting details and a passcode to joining Zoom. We’ll also send a reminder email prior to the event. Participants will need a smartphone or laptop.

We will be making our machines out of simple household items and toys. Get creative and take a look around your house and see what supplies you can find to build your machine with us. Here the supplies list we’ll be using:

We very much hope you can join in. This learning event is great for young learners or the entire family to participate in!

Watch the Recorded Program Below!