What is STEM?

“I’ve heard people talking about STEM careers or STEM education. What does it mean?”

STEM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. The term was coined around the early 2000s by Dr. Judith Ramaley, who at the time was working as the assistant director of education and human resources at the National Science Foundation. According to Eleanor Chute’s 2009 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the acronym was originally “SMET.” Dr. Ramaley made the change not only because she found SMET to be an unappealing word but also because she thought putting science and math first in the acronym made it seem as though they were more important.  “STEM” gives a better balance between the four fields.

STEM has come into focus lately because educators are encouraging students to have fun with science, technology, engineering, and math, and not to shy away because they think they’re too challenging. These fields are always developing and will continue to do so in the future, and future STEM professionals could be instrumental in helping to develop new technologies and solve the problems of the world.

Where can I go to brush up on Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is a computer program for making spreadsheets and processing data. It’s used in many offices, so it’s good to be familiar with it. The Newton Falls Public Library has several resources available to help people learn more about using Microsoft Excel and computers in general.

Brooke Mayle, our computer instructor, teaches 90-minute classes three Mondays evenings and one Saturday afternoon each month. The classes cover everything from computer basics to e-media, including basic and intermediate Microsoft Excel classes. She also offers one-on-one sessions.

For people who can’t make it in to the library for the scheduled classes, OhioMeansJobs.com provides free online classes on Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, and more through LearningExpress. The classes are split into sections and can be watched at any pace from any computer, whether at home or at the library. While setting up an OhioMeansJobs account allows people to track their progress, it isn’t necessary to use the service.

Finally, we have a selection of books on computer skills, including several versions of Microsoft Excel, all available for borrowing. 

Could I have more information about the school ranking system?

“I don’t understand everything that goes into Ohio’s school ranking system. Could you help?”

Up until the 2013-2013 school year, Ohio public schools and school districts were given one of six ratings: Excellent with Distinction, Excellent, Effective, Continuous Improvement, Academic Watch, and Academic Emergency. The ratings were based on attendance, high school graduation rates, how many students passed the state tests and how well they scored, and the value-added calculation, which is meant to measure how much progress students make in a year. [source] According to the 2009-2010 Ohio State Report Card, value-added scores were calculated for reading and mathematics in schools and school districts with grades four through eight.

Starting in 2012, the state switched to a different system where schools are now given a letter grade: A, B, C, D, or F. The standards have also changed. Graduation rates, test scores, and the value-added calculation are still taken into account, though there’s now an overall value-added calculation as well as specific ones measuring the progress made by gifted students, lower-performing students, and students with disabilities. The new rating system also measures how many students are learning to read in kindergarten through third grade, whether schools are closing the education gap, and how well the schools are preparing students for life after graduation.

The “Gap Closing” grade currently measures how many students are meeting the state standard in reading, math, and graduation rate. Along with the total number of students, there are nine different subgroups that can be evaluated: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, Multiracial, White, Economically Disadvantaged, Students with Disabilities, and Limited English Proficient. As long as there are thirty students in a subgroup, that subgroup will be measured and factored into the grade. [source]

The “Prepared for Success” grade currently measures how many students participated in ACT and SAT tests and remediation, how many participated in the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs and how well they scored on the exams, and how many received honors diplomas, dual enrollment credit, and/or industry-recognized credentials. 

Do You Know Any Online Computer Classes?

“I’d like to learn more about using computers, but I can’t make it in to all the classes at the library. Are there online classes I can take?” The Newton Falls Public Library offers free computer classes and one-on-one times three Mondays and one Saturday every month. However, we understand that everyone has busy schedules. Fortunately, there are online resources available. Cynthia Casterline, our technology educator, recommended LearningExpress Library and GCFLearnFree.org.

LearningExpressLibrary requires that you set up an account first at a participating library (such as Newton Falls Public Library), but after that, you can access it from anywhere. Along with tutorials on everything from the very basics to Adobe Photoshop, LearningExpress Library also offers practice exams for the SAT, ACT, GED, AP tests, CDL exams, NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN, and many others. It also provides math and English practice and help.

GCFLearnFree.org can be accessed anywhere even if you don’t have a library card. It offers math, English, and career help as well, along with a wealth of computer tutorials on Google, Facebook, Microsoft Office, using the mouse, Skype, iPads, iPhones, and many more.

I'm Looking for a Job

“I need help. I’m looking for a job, my computer skills are poor, and I’m not sure how to go about writing a resume. Can you help me?” The Newton Falls Public Library has a new opportunity to assist this patron. Thanks to a grant from the First Place Bank Community Foundation, the library will be offering a program to assist adults who are job seeking. There will be three sessions of three classes offered throughout 2010. The first series of classes will be Fridays, April 9, 23, and 30 from 1 – 3 p.m. The classes will be offered again in July and October. Registration is required as space is limited. Participants are expected to attend all three classes. The R. J. Wean Foundation provided the grant monies allowing the library to purchase the necessary equipment for our wireless laptop computer lab.

 • April 9th - The first class is Networking and Job Seeking. In this class attendees will list people to network with and make a plan. The instructor will assist them in creating a 30 second “elevator speech” and go through some websites of interest.


• April 23rd - The second will cover Writing a Resume. It will focus on the content of the resume and will specifically have the participants writing accomplishment statements and summary statements for their resumes.


• April 30th - The final class is Creating a Resume in Microsoft Word. This will include basic instruction that teaches how to create a resume using Word.



While waiting for the classes to begin, patrons may want to examine some of the many materials available for borrowing. Some of the titles in the library’s collection are The Job Search Solution: the ultimate system for finding a great job now! by Tony Beshara, Gallery of Best Resumes: a collection of quality resumes by professional resume writers by David F. Noble , and Perfect Phrases for Cover Letters by Michael Betrus.



Online, library card holders may access the LearningExpressLibrary through the Ohio Web Library [http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/]. The LearningExpressLibrary offers unlimited 24/7 access to courses for computer skills; job search and workplace skills; resume writing; interactive targeted skill-building in math, reading, and writing; as well as hundreds of online interactive practice tests.

 The Ohio Career Information System [http://www.ocis.org/] assists people in making better career decisions including self-assessment, occupational information, employer locator, military employment, self-employment, job search files, and school and apprenticeship information. You must first come to the library to “Create My Portfolio.” Once an account has been established this site may be accessed away from the library.

English as a Second Language

“I know someone who wishes to further her education so she can find employment, but English is not her first language. She needs to improve her fluency. Is there anywhere she can get help?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff understands the need for good language skills in these difficult economic times; not just for those for whom English is their second language, but also those who need to strengthen their basic skills or prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) test.

The Trumbull Career and Technical Center (TCTC) is the administrating agency for the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program which includes both English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and GED. We were able to tell our patron that the ESOL classes are held at TCTC, 528 Educational Highway, Warren, OH 44483 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in room AE163. They are free and are offered continuously. For more information about the ABLE program, contact TCTC at 330-847-0503 ext. 1611. Copies of TCTC’s 2010 Adult Workforce Education Training Catalog are available at the Newton Falls Public Library.

The Newton Falls Public Library also has both print and online resources to assist those seeking to further their education. If preparing for the GED test, the library has several books including Cracking the GED/the Princeton Review, GED Success, and TABE level D : test of adult basic education: the first step to lifelong success by Phyllis Dutwin and Richard Ku. Online, library card holders may access the LearningExpress Library through the Ohio Web Library [www.ohioweblibrary.org]. The LearningExpress Library offers unlimited 24/7 access to courses for computer skills; job search and workplace skills; resume writing; interactive targeted skill-building in math, reading, and writing; as well as hundreds of online interactive practice tests for exams including grade school achievement, college entrance exams, GED, U.S. Citizenship and civil service positions.

Get Back to Work @ the Newton Falls Public Library Computer Skills Training Courses

“I’m trying to find a job. Can you help me? I know nothing about computers; they want me to apply online. I need to . . .” “Get back to work” are wonderful words for a laid-off employee to hear. The Newton Falls Public Library is trying to help people to do that very thing with computer skills training courses. The R. J. Wean Foundation provided the grant monies allowing the library to purchase the necessary equipment for the new wireless laptop computer lab.

Computer classes and labs will cover the topics of:
· basic computer skills
· setting up email accounts
· online job searching including the Ohio Career Information System [OCIS]
· resume and cover letter writing
· navigating government assistance sites such as Ohio Unemployment Benefits Online
· accessing the online tutorials at Learning Express, as well as LearningExpress Library‘s practice tests including the GED.
· MS Office Basics
· MS Excel
· OCIS for high school students, including interest and career assessment, and post high school education
· photosharing.

Trained library staff will teach and guide class attendees, so they can increase their opportunities to find a job. A listing of the classes and labs is available at the Newton Falls Public Library.

The library also has an extensive collection of materials to borrow with information to aid in job searching, cover letter and resume writing, interviewing, and skills improvement, along with handouts about getting an email account and resume writing, including online resources. Feel free to ask our helpful staff to direct you to these items.

Students, teachers, parents and reports

“My daughter has to do a report on a city. Can you help us? She wants to use the Internet, but are there any books too?” School has begun and the Newton Falls Public Library staff is always happy to assist students in finding the information they need. We won’t do their homework, but we can help them to learn how to locate what’s required.

An interesting city which this child might consider is Washington D.C. The library has two books specifically for elementary students on this subject: Around Washington, DC with kids by Kathryn McKay and Washington, D.C.: a scrapbook by Laura Lee Benson. Encyclopedias such as World Book are great sources of basic information on a topic and the library has copies which may be borrowed. The City of Washington: an illustrated history by the Junior League of Washington will include important events going back to 1790.

A good place for this student to begin searching online is the library’s home page www.newtonfalls.org. Selecting CHILDREN’S will take her to the Internet Public Library and HomeWorkNow. This latter site will let your child chat online with a librarian who assists in finding reliable information. Ohio Web Library [http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/] also provides many resources including popular magazines, scholarly research journals, newspapers, encyclopedias, and more. Your library card is all you need to access this from home. Since, in this case, we are looking for materials for an elementary age child, we select Resources at Ohio Web Library. There is a section called STUDENTS AND HOMEWORK that can be used to search for information on the selected city.

Your child’s teacher may have also elected to have the library create a Pathfinder. If the teacher requests it, we can assemble a list of websites specifically for the students to use for a particular assignment and make it available on our website. All they need to do is go to our website, select TEACHERS’, find the teacher’s name, click and complete the work. It is an easy way for students to find reliable websites for their homework.

Teachers, if you are interested in having a Pathfinder for your students you may request one through the library’s TEACHERS’ link. Teacher Totes may also be requested. To ensure that all the students will have access to the required materials, give us an Assignment Alert so we can pull books and hold them for just your class to use.

If the worst case scenario occurs and we cannot find anything for a student, we will give a completed and signed Sorry . . . We Tried slip. This notifies parents and teachers that we were unable to fill the request and why. Taking the time to do this also helps us to become aware of subject areas where we may need to acquire more materials.