Winners announced for “Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2023” Awards
The Teich Group and Catapult X announce the winners of the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2023 Awards, the only awards program judged by STEM educators. The awards program, operated in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and MCH Strategic Data, and for the first time this year with the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), spotlights innovative products, technologies, and services that are changing the world of STEM education.
Phoenix-based STEM Sports was honored for its “Culturally Relevant Teaching” curriculum for students in grades K-5.
These STEM products were subject to a two-part evaluation process. First, by an expert panel of judges including Dr. Linda Johnson-McClinton, Dr. Lance Brand, Dr. Jeffrey Crapper, Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan, Kim Collazo, Christina Wilson, Jamica Craig, and Erin Barr. Once judges selected the finalists, more than 267,000 STEM educators were given the opportunity to evaluate the finalists via survey.
“The number of remarkable products and the degree of innovation made an enormous impression on the judges,” said Annie Galvin Teich, president of The Teich Group and lead judge. “Educators value the alignment with NGSS standards, the use of simulations, instructional support for teachers, and the flexibility of implementation for different modes of instruction across all STEM topics.”
Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2023 Awards Winners
|
Best Educator Support for Teaching & Learning |
BrainPOP Science |
| Best Freebies for STEM Careers | STEM Careers Coalition (Discovery Education) |
| Best Freebies for STEM Curriculum Integration | FILTERED (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology) |
| Best Innovation for 2023 | ExploreLearning Frax |
| Best Integration of English Language Arts (STEAM) | CS Connections—Coding with Poetry Module (Code.org) |
| Best of STEM: Computer Science Grades PK– 5 | CodeMonkey |
| Best of STEM: Computer Science Grades 6–12 | LUMA (Pitsco Education) |
| Best of STEM: Culturally Relevant Teaching Grades K–5 | STEM Sports® Supplemental Curriculum |
| Best of STEM: Culturally Relevant Teaching Grades 6–12 | Code.org Culturally Responsive 6–12 Curriculum |
| Best of STEM: Most Comprehensive Culturally Relevant Teaching | Smithsonian Science for the Classroom (Carolina Biological) |
| Best of STEM: Engineering Project Kit | Drone Maker Kit (Pitsco Education) |
| Best of STEM: Engineering Inquiry-Based Program | A World in Motion (SAE International) |
| Best of STEM: Environmental Science | CS Connections—Simulating a Marine Ecosystem (Code.org) |
| Best of STEM: Life Sciences | Breakout Box: Body Systems Mission (Learning Undefeated) |
| Best of STEM: Phenomena-Based Teaching Grades K-5 | Collaborate Science ML-PBL Powered (Accelerate Learning) |
| Best of STEM: Phenomena-Based Teaching Grades 6-8 | BrainPOP Science |
| Best of STEM: Physics | Meter Stick Optics Complete System (PASCO Scientific) |
| Best of STEM: Robotics: Most Innovative | Evo (Ozobot) |
| Best of STEM: Robotics: Most Flexible Implementation | Finch Robot 2.0 (BirdBrain Technologies) |
| Best of STEM: Video-Based Learning | PASCO Academy (PASCO Scientific) |
| Bridging the Gap—Adaptive Technology | ALEKS (McGraw Hill) |
| Bridging the Gap—English Language Learners: Multiple Language Support | Code.org |
| Bridging the Gap—English Language Learners: Science & Literacy | Building Blocks of Science 3D (Carolina Biological) |
| Bridging the Gap—Math Intervention Resources | ExploreLearning Reflex |
| CTE Champion: Mechanical Engineering | Sphero Blueprint Build Kit |
| CTE Champion: Career Explorations | Pathways to Success (JASON Learning) |
| CTE Training: Health Science—ECG Training | ECG Simulators (Realityworks) |
| CTE Training: Health Science—Training Kits | Carolina® Healthcare Simulations Kit Series (Carolina Biological) |
| Social Impact Award: Developing Citizen Scientists | Beyond the Water Bottle: Minimizing Microplastic Pollution (JASON Learning) |
| Trailblazer Award: Hybrid Learning Superhero | Carolina Distance Learning® Online Gateway |
| Trailblazer Award: Early Learning Grades PK–5 | CS Connections Curricula (Code.org) |
| Trailblazer Award: Immersive Reality | Eduverse (Avantis Education) |
| Trailblazer Award: Inspiring Computational Thinking | Ellipsis Education |
| Trailblazer Award: Cross-Curricular Coding | Coding with Vehicle Sensor Technologies Kit (PASCO Scientific) |
STEM educators interested in becoming a judge for the Educators Pick Best of STEM® 2024 Awards should contact Teich at [email protected]. For more information about the awards program, visit www.bestofstemawards.com.