Thursday, December 17, 2009

RET Networking Meeting and Poster Session - NSTA 2010

Please complete the survey/application referenced below if you are interested in presenting at the upcoming NSTA RET Networking Meeting and/or Poster Session. Registration for NSTA is processed through the NSTA web site http://http//www.nsta.org/conferences/2010phi/?lid=hp.

We will also be presenting on the RET program on Saturday, March 20th as part of the general meeting.

Please complete the following application:
Click here to take survey

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sam Perez (RET09) has students Build Robot

As posted by Sam to the Group Site...

"Hi Folks

I wanted to share with you the Final project that my Intro to CS atNorthern Essex Community College class did with the robot that Clairepurchased. 3 students assembled the Penguin robot and programmedbehaviors for it.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_BgUmGToWk

Let me know what you think?

Thanks,
-Sam Perez"

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Recent article written by Catherine and Katelyn

This past summer both Ms. Francis and Ms. Carrette were selected to participate in Research Experi-ences for Teachers (RET) at Northeastern University. It was a six-week summer research experience funded by the National Science Foundation for middle and high school mathematics and science teachers, and Community College STEM faculty. The program goals were to provide extensive summer research experi-ence which would be connected to the classroom curriculum. As part of the program participants were re-quired to conduct scientific research in an assigned laboratory, maintain a reflective journal, attend team and professional development sessions, and develop a research poster presentation to be shared with col-leagues at the end of the summer. Program participants worked in research laboratories affiliated with the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Engineering, the Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems at Northeastern University and Boston University, and the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing at Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
Ms. Francis worked in the Dr. Beuning‟s DNA laboratory which is part of the College of Arts & Sci-ences in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department at Northeastern University. The objective of the research was to investigate how cells respond to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet light. A specific type of bacteria, E. coli, was subjected to increasing time intervals of ultra-violet light in order to determine maximum tolerance before cell death occurred as a result of DNA damage. Research techniques in-cluded gel electrophoresis, micro-biological plating, and chemical analysis. The DNA laboratory worked in conjunction with Massa-chusetts General Hospital in order to determine exactly where the DNA in E. coli was damaged by the ultraviolet radiation. As a result of this research, future applications could be made to humans with DNA damaged by ultraviolet light, and why they are at a higher risk for skin cancer.
Ms. Carrette participated in the Environmental Biotechnology lab in the Civil Engineering Depart-ment at Northeastern University. During her session she helped to maintain some of the current research experiments conducted there. Spe-cifically, she spent time working with Carla Cherchi and her algae reactors. Ms. Carrette entered at the very beginning of the project which involved maintaining the growth of three types of algae that will even-tually be used in an experiment to determine the effects of nanomaterials on algae growth. Pre-vious research has shown that nanoscale chemicals do affect bacteria. Research to study how nanoparticles influence other living things is ongoing. Knowing how these chemicals affect algae will give us insight on how these chemicals affect our environment.
Ms. Francis and Ms. Carrette will continue their affiliation with Northeastern University this year. On Veteran‟s Day they will reunite with the other RET teachers at Northeastern University to discuss current teacher preparation programs in science, and how they could be improved in the future. Plans will also be discussed on the upcoming poster presentation at the National Science Teachers Association Conference to be held in Philadelphia, PA in March 2010
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Using Atlas of Science Literacy Workshop Presented by AAAS Project 2061

AAAS and the MIT museum are hosting a science literacy workshop...

"The MIT Museum invites you to explore invention, ideas, and innovation. Through interactive exhibitions, public programs, experimental projects and its renowned collections, the MIT Museum showcases the fascinating world of MIT, and inspires people of all ages about the possibilities and opportunities offered by science and technology. This intimate museum, given one of the 2007 Boston Globe "Best of the New" awards for the Museum's recent expansion, annually attracts 90,000 visitors from around the world."


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education

http://www.visionandchange.org/

To quote the homepage of this particular conference:

"Given the radical changes in the nature of the science of biology and what we have learned about effective ways to teach, this is an opportune time to address the biology we teach so that it better represents the biology we do. The goal of this conference is to mobilize people to focus on undergraduate biology education by engaging them in shared, directed, provocative, and ongoing discussions that lead to action in the immediate future. Participants will include innovators and leaders in biology research and education and representatives of professional societies, funding agencies, and research and educational centers. Together, we will develop a blueprint for change in biology education and, critically, an action plan.

The conference will serve as a catalyst for ongoing, shared activities and will highlight new and existing resources for effecting change. Working sessions during the conference will include articulating key concepts and competencies and how they are best assessed; student – centered learning including how students learn and appropriate pedagogy; the role of scientific research in the curriculum; implementing and evaluating educational innovations; expanding the toolkit of approaches to teaching for both current and future faculty; and changing institutional cultures to overcome barriers and create incentives for innovation."

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

President's "Educate to Innovate" Campaign

President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This campaign will include efforts not only from the Federal Government but also from leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math.
As part of the campaign, this Administration hopes to do a series of events, announcements and other activities that build upon the President’s “call to action” and address the key components of national priority.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate