At the California STEAM Symposium, education is exciting.

It’s also playful, thoughtful, and innovative.

This annual event, co-hosted by nonprofit Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Department of Education and the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, allows education professionals to explore new and imaginative ways to involve students in learning through highly visual combinations of science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Rockets, virtual reality, Lego construction, Rube Goldberg demonstrations, student panels and keynote sessions on space science, literacy and music, as applied to math, are just a few of the ways the STEAM Symposium introduces new ideas.

CDE Foundation Communications Intern Ashley Alvarez is currently involved in preparations for the eleventh annual California STEAM Symposium, happening at the Long Beach Convention Center Friday and Saturday, February 9th and 10th. (You’re invited! Here’s the link for information.)

Ashley, who will graduate Harvard this spring with a major in sociology and educational studies, offered a preview of what guests will experience during the 2024 California STEAM Symposium, shared some of her insights on education and talked about the experiences she’ll carry forward into her career in education.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Ashley first discovered her passion for early childhood education;

• The experiences she’ll carry with her, from her own education, into her career as an education professional;

• Ashley’s vision for her future “dream job”;

• What she remembers best, from her early days working with the CDE Foundation;

• What’s currently happening, in preparation for this year’s California STEAM Symposium;

• An imaginary “tour”, from an arts and humanities perspective, of the 2024 California STEAM Symposium;

• Some of Ashley’s favorite ways to show more arts-oriented students that they belong, in STEAM;

• A preview of the 2024 keynote speakers;

• How students will be participating in the event;

• One of the most important lessons Ashley learned, as a future education professional;

• Some of Ashley’s favorite resources, for preparing students to succeed;

• One especially memorable moment she experienced, during a previous California STEAM Symposium.