California STEAM Symposium is celebrating a landmark anniversary!

And if you’re in the Anaheim area, October 1-2, you’re cordially invited to come celebrate–and learn– with them.

That’s the weekend that the annual California STEAM Symposium will once again be an in-person event.

If past experience is any indication, this is going to be, once again, “epic”.

Components of empowerment

(California STEAM Symposium maker space, Anaheim, 2019.)

Co-hosted by nonprofit Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the California Department of Education, the California STEAM Symposium explores exciting and creative ways of empowering students through science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Interactivity is the keyword, as educators conduct sessions on maker skills, robotics, immersive technology and numerous other innovative approaches that will get students learning, hands-on, in ways they’ll remember–and apply to real life.

But the educators aren’t the only presenters.

(Rialto High School students’ Rube Goldberg machine, California STEAM Symposium, 2019.)

Students also offer sessions and present their work!

A+ for virtual programming

(California STEAM Symposium, 2021.)

For the past two years, the California STEAM Symposium has been all-virtual.

Even with the limitations of remote presentations, the 2020 and 2021 events were highly creative and a lot of fun.

(California STEAM Symposium, 2020.)

Both symposia generated dozens of new ideas, even as participants attended from home.

But as Karyn says, there’s really nothing quite like the in-person experience.

(California STEAM Symposium, Anaheim, 2019.)

This year’s California STEAM Symposium, at Anaheim Convention Center, will feature more than 150 sessions, keynote speakers, maker activities and some surprise special features.

Karyn and Glennon talked about their experiences preparing for this landmark event, offered a preview of this year’s schedule and shared ways attendees can get the most out of their STEAM experience.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Glennon and Karyn’s experience with the “curve ball” of the pandemic helped them to prepare to return to in-person events;
  

• The “surprise” involved in going virtual and how Karyn and Glennon found the element of joy amid the pandemic’s planning limitations;
  

• A new feature, this year, for California S.T.E.A.M. Symposium’s 5,000-square-foot maker space;
  

• Some “don’t-miss” activities and advice on time managements for educators;
  

• An imaginary “tour” of what’s going to be happening on October 1, including the expo hall floor and maker space;
  

• A preview of the keynote speakers (and a hint at some “surprise” elements);
  

• Some of the highlights of the sessions that are going to be happening;
  

• How educators who consider themselves “less than technical” can learn alongside their students;
  

• Several areas in which students will be presenting;
  

• The CDE Foundation’s mission statement, and how the California STEAM Symposium will operate on this core purpose;
  

• A special celebration for which you’re invited to stay, on Saturday!;
  

• Guidance for first-time attendees;
  

• Karyn and Glennon’s favorite stories about their experiences with California STEAM Symposium!
  

The tenth annual California STEAM Symposium happens Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, in Anaheim. Here’s the link for more information.