Teams of educators from across Illinois generated their own steam Aug. 3 at Northern Illinois University, doing something most of them probably hadn’t done for decades: racing against time to build model bridges out of pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks and other classroom supplies. As the timer ticked down, cries of “more glue!” and “that won’t...

Robots in the classroom. Science-infused artwork. Digital storytelling. Teachers will learn how to make their classrooms more exciting by adding the arts to STEM to produce STEAM (science, technology, arts, engineering and math) during “STEAMing It Up,” a one-day conference at NIU’s Gabel Hall from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3. Bringing STEAM...

Mars might be farther than 140 million miles away, but that won’t stop kids from using LEGO Robotics to explore the red planet at NIU this fall. STEM Outreach is again offering its interactive, hands-on STEM Saturday classes to help students in fourth-grade and older explore concepts and careers in science, technology, engineering and math....

Are you smarter than your smart phone? Can you outdrive a self-driving car? The technology we rely on is becoming more and more sophisticated. Could humanity survive if that technology turned evil? Daniel H. Wilson, who explores the possibility of a machine uprising in his novel “Robopocalypse,” will visit NIU and the Sycamore Public Library this...