Join CodeJoy for this exciting new Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program!
"Exploring AI and the Future of Work" is a new program being offered exclusively to Iowa educators in 2026! This Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program offers 3rd-12th grade Iowa educators curated, exploratory, hands-on activities for students and teachers. These activities are built on safety, pedagogy, relevance, and FUN! The program explores tech, computer science, and AI in important Iowa fields such as agriculture, healthcare, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and more.
Program Quick Facts
Program Name: Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program: Exploring AI and the Future of Work with CodeJoy
Grades: 3rd-12th
Subjects: AI is everywhere, so this program is open for all! In-school or out-of-school-time educators welcome.
Hardware: Teachers receive a full class set of reusable tech hardware.*
- 15 FarmBeats for Students kits
- 15 FarmBeats motor extension kits
- 30 micro:bits
- ChatBot Design Program Subscription
Professional Development:
- Duration: 4 x three-hour sessions
- Times: Flexible scheduling, July-September
- Location: Virtual, live sessions - join from anywhere!
Student Experiences: During the school year, you can choose from a variety or direct-to-student experiences for your school:
- Live, Interactive Coding & Robotics Session: These highly engaging experiences for K-12 can host up to 400 students, and last 45 minutes. No hardware required!
- Live, Interactive AI Experience: These sessions take up to 100 6th-12th grade students through an interactive AI experience using Google Teachable Machine.
AI Coaching for the Building: CodeJoy offers the AI coaching YOU need, such as helping you establish or refine AI policy, design AI integration, present the latest pedagogical research, and more!
*Note: It's standard for teachers to receive one classroom set of hardware, although they may request more if they serve more students, or less if they are partnering with other teachers in their building.
Sample Program Activities
Click through the pictures above to check out some of the projects and activities you will be able to do with YOUR students after you complete this program!
- Exploring AI in Agriculture: Use the FarmBeats for Students kit to create automated watering systems for the plants YOU love!
- Exploring AI in Healthcare: Use micro:bit CREATEAI to train a robot to recognize gestures and track biodata!
- Exploring AI in Automation and Manufacturing: Use Google Teachable Machine to create your own working AI model to sort materials!
- Explore AI in Entrepreneurship: Explore GenAI's potential by creating your own chat bot!
About the Training: Professional Development with CodeJoy
CodeJoy is a proven professional development delivery partner in Iowa. CodeJoy has deep relationships with Iowa teachers, as a past Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program delivery partner, through partnerships with Iowa AEAs and school districts, and as the highest rated PD partner during past Iowa CS PD weeks.
Professional development is delivered in four 3-hour live, virtual sessions (A, B, C, D), offered multiple times between July and September, giving teachers flexible scheduling options. (Check out the video below to see what live, virtual learning with CodeJoy feels like!) There is also an asynchronous option for those unable to attend live sessions. This hybrid model has achieved 100% completion from CodeJoy’s past Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program participants. Teachers receive a portion of the hardware in the mail before the sessions, with the remainder sent to their schools after completion.
How Can Teachers Apply?
The following teachers are eligible for this program:
- Must teach in the state of Iowa
- Public, private, AND charter school teachers
- Public library educators
- After school program providers
- District leaders
- Any subjects
- Serving students in any grades 3rd-12th
Application Tips and Info:
- Applications open on January 27, 2026.
- Informational Webinar on February 17th, 2026 at 12pm CT: Watch the recording HERE
- Writing Support Virtual Session on Feb. 25th, 3:00-6:00pm CT
- Applications are due March 10, 2026.
- You can apply together!
- Multiple teachers from the same building or organization may apply together.
- Co-applicants should fill out ONE application.
- Co-applicants may request multiple classroom sets of hardware, or just one, or none, if the school already has the hardware they need.
- Other tips:
- Applications are more likely to be approved if a teacher includes specific information about their teaching context, such as why your students and teachers will benefit from this learning.
- Applications are also more likely to be approved if a teacher has situational awareness, meaning they have chatted with others at their district/organization to find out if anyone else is applying.
- Teachers should apply through the IowaGrants.gov website.
- GRANT WRITING HELP: Use the Grant Writing Planning Tool below to better plan and execute your application.
Questions about the Program?
Email hello@codejoy.org
Questions about the Application Process?
Email your Regional STEM Manager
Southwest - Casey Wenstrand, Southwestern Community College - casey.wenstrand@iowa.gov
South Central - Sarah Derry, Drake Univ. - sarah.derry@drake.edu
Southeast - Matt Stier, Univ. of Iowa - matthew-j-stier@uiowa.edu
Northwest - Mary Trent, Iowa Lakes CC - mtrent@iowalakes.edu
North Central - Mauree Haage, Iowa State Univ. - mhaage@iastate.edu
Northeast - Jeff Beneke, Univ. of Northern Iowa - jeff.beneke@uni.edu