Highlights of Hope Spring/Summer 23

EDUCATION
Building the future of education
A summer of renewal for students and educators
With the dawn of a new school year, Van Andel Institute for
Education saw strong interest in events and programs for teachers
and administrators. The momentum began building over the
summer when we hosted Science on the Grand: A STEAM Conference
for Inquiry-based Educators.
More than 120 teachers and administrators visited the Institute for
the two-day conference, where they explored the latest researchbased,
classroom-tested content to support STEAM instruction.
Educators were able to network and hear from experts about
cutting-edge instructional methods. The conference featured
keynote speaker Erin Gruwell, an educator and catalyst for
social change and New York Times bestselling author of “The
Freedom Writers Diary.” Science on the Grand will return to VAI
on July 10–11, 2023.
Demand for VAI Summer Camps was at an all-time high: we
welcomed 305 students for camps, nearly doubling the total from
2021. Campers enjoyed hands-on investigations in areas including
science, engineering and robotics. Due to popular demand for
summer schools in 2022, the Institute will more than double our
camps for 2023 and offer a new, one-day camp format.
The Institute’s K–8 Project-based Summer School professional
development program provides summer school teachers with
customized instruction and projects that meet their grade level,
scheduling and content needs.
Meaningful professional development and networking
The educational landscape is ever shifting, and VAI is here to help
educators meet new challenges and elevate their instructional
practices. Flex PD is a comprehensive and affordable professional
development program designed to meet the needs of all teachers.
This year, VAI offered Flex PD solutions to more than 25 schools
and provided professional development services to more than
2,300 educators.
VAI’s New Teacher Network allows teachers to receive the targeted
support they need as they get started in this rewarding and
challenging profession. By learning great content, sharing their
experiences and receiving validation from their network, teachers
grow as people and professionals as they embark on their
learning journeys.
Innovative instructional support
VAI offers Blue Apple projects based on an internationally
recognized gold standard, delivering lesson plans, online resources,
cross-curricular mini-lessons and a host of other tools that make it
easier for teachers to get started right away. During the 2021–22
school year, VAI shipped 324 Blue Apple projects to teachers — an
increase of 16% over the previous year.
Several new Timely Topic lessons were launched, including “Valuing
our Veterans” and “Hispanic Heritage Month.” The full suite of
Timely Topics saw more than 5,000 downloads in more than
40 countries, with many educators even reaching out to express
their gratitude for the free lessons.
Inquiry in Action offers a variety of inquiry-based lessons that
are sure to engage students and get them thinking deeply about
science. These 15- to 30-minute experiences allow teachers to
introduce a variety of relevant concepts without adding prep and
planning to their busy schedule.
Our NexGen Inquiry Quests come with story-driven videos that
guide students through a process of scientific inquiry and hands-on
experimentation. Students exercise critical and creative thinking
through scientific journaling, collaborate with peers and apply what
they learn to make the world a better place.
Hands-on STEM lessons, wherever you are
Our expert educators hit the road with Curiosity on Wheels,
a program that takes inquiry-based science to new heights as
participants think and act like scientists by conducting hands-on
STEM investigations. Whether it be addressing science standards,
enhancing thematic units or just having fun, VAI customizes each
Curiosity on Wheels trip to meet the individual needs of educators.
Coming out of the pandemic, teachers have been particularly
interested in exploring VAI’s Field Trips. These are available at the
Institute and on-location at schools; students conduct unique,
grade-specific investigations that emphasize hands-on discovery.
The Institute hosted more than 2,500 students for Field Trips, an
increase of 50% over the previous year.
For more information about VAI’s latest resources, please visit
vai.org/k-12-education.
16 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE