Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Course Registration Open - Northeastern University (GNSSP)

This is to announce the opening of priority registration for the Mathematics I and Energy II courses offered at Northeastern University and UMass-Boston by the Greater North Shore Science Partnership (GNSSP) and Boston Energy in Science Teaching (BEST) grants. These courses run one evening per week starting in January. Further details about each course are below. Priority registration for teachers from grant partner districts (Boston, Malden, Lynn) extends through December 10th. Teachers from these districts who have registered online AND submitted their registration checks before December 10th will receive priority enrollment status over teachers from other districts. However, interested teachers from all districts are encouraged to register and mail their $50 checks as soon as possible, to be processed on a first-come-first-served basis during the general registration period.


COURSE SCHEDULE (http://www.bostonscience.org/try/upcoming.html)

Winter & Spring 2011
• Mathematics I – Mathematics for Middle School Science Teachers (Northeastern University) – REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
Course Details & Registration: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/MathematicsI(Winter2011).html
• Energy II – Energy Concepts for Teaching Science (UMass-Boston) – REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
Course Details & Registration: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/EnergyII(Spring2011).html
• Energy I – Integrating the Sciences through Energy (Northeastern University) – Priority Registration Opens in February 2011
Course Details: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/EnergyI(Spring2011).html

Summer I 2011
• Physics I – Forces, Energy & Motion (Northeastern University) – Priority Registration Opens in May 2011
Course Details: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/PhysicsI(Summer2011).html

Summer II 2011
• Biology II – Ecology, Evolution & Diversity of Life (Northeastern University) – Priority Registration Opens in May 2011
Course Details: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/BiologyII(Summer2011).html
• Earth Science I – Weather & Water (Northeastern University) – Priority Registration Opens in May 2011
Course Details: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/EarthScienceI(Summer2011).html
• Chemistry III – Structure & Function (Northeastern University)
We are considering the possibility of offering a Chemistry III (Structure & Function) course at Northeastern University in Summer 2011 for high school teachers needing an additional chemistry course for licensure. This course would cover the topics of chemical equilibria, electrochemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry and would be targeted specifically towards high school chemistry teachers, covering both the content and pedagogy required to teach beginning and advanced chemistry on the high school level in Massachusetts. If you are interested in this course, please take a minute to complete the brief survey. If enough teachers are interested we may run the course. LINK TO BRIEF SURVEY: http://www.bostonscience.org/try/ChemistryIII(Summer2011).html


Contextualized Content Course Model Overview
These Contextualized Content Courses were originally created by the Boston Science Partnership through funding provided by the NSF, to serve the needs of Boston’s science teachers and learners in grades 6-12 in order to immerse teachers in the science topics most relevant to their teaching practices. In these courses, teachers become students of science, developing their conceptual understandings through scientific inquiry. To ensure their relevance and high caliber of instruction, all courses are co-developed and co-taught by a combination of university faculty from University of Massachusetts-Boston and Northeastern University and teacher leaders from the Boston Public Schools and other partner districts. Each course provides contextual linkages between the science content and the standards-based curriculum of the Boston Public School district. The program is open to science educators at all stages of the professional continuum, from pre-service teachers up to the levels of master teacher and science administrator. The program welcomes all teachers who teach science at the middle or high school levels, including those who serve students with special needs or English language learners. If you teach or are preparing to teach any science at the middle or high school level, these courses are for you!

This course model has been adopted by the Greater North Shore Science Partnership, which receives funding from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, to extend the reach and significant impact of these course to teachers from districts across Eastern Massachusetts.

Mathematics I – Mathematics for Middle School Science Teachers (sponsored by the Greater North Shore Science Partnership through the Massachusetts DESE)
Course Audience: Middle school science teachers
Course Description: The course will cover mathematical concepts using mostly examples from science. Its goal is to refresh and enhance the mathematical skills middle school science need to teach science more effectively. The course will cover the following topics: ratios and proportions, algebraic equations (linear and quadratic), systems of linear equations, functions (linear and quadratic, graphical representation and interpretation of graphs), basic statistical analysis of data (mean, range, standard deviation, curve fitting), basic geometry (area of triangles & circles, volume of solids, similar and congruent triangles) and basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent and basic vector analysis into components). Furthermore, this is a required course for the completion of the Master of Education in Middle School Science at Northeastern University.
Session: Winter 2011
Dates: January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 5 (Saturday), 10, 17 (24 – NO CLASS); March 3, 5 (Saturday), 10, 17, 24, 31; April 2 (Saturday).
Times: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM on Thursday dates, 3 Saturday all-day classes.
Location & Room: Northeastern University (Room Location TBA)
Parking: Parking passes will be available.
Instructional Team: Larry McGrail (RESEED), Malcolm Pringle (MIT), Ryan Keser (BPS).
Course Tuition Payment/Graduate Credit: Northeastern University will grant 4 quarter hours of graduate credit for satisfactory completion of this course (equivalent to 3 semester hours). Tuition for the course will be $600 for teachers from all school districts (with $18.25 in mandatory university fees). The total cost of the course will be $618.25. Teachers will be billed directly for the total cost of the course (the bill will be issued by Northeastern close to the end of the course). As such, teachers will not need to make a tuition payment on the first day of class. Teachers wishing to receive a stipend for the course MUST take the course for graduate credit.
Stipend Information: Teachers are eligible to earn stipends of $600 which will directly cover the cost of tuition (not university fees). Stipends will be issued to teachers once all required work has been submitted and a passing letter grade has been issued. NOTE: All students MUST take the course for graduate credit (teachers will receive up to 60 PDP’s as well, pro-rated based upon attendance).
Attendance Policy: In order to receive graduate credit for this course, participants may not miss in excess of 8 instructional hours over the duration of the course. Any hours missed up until this point must be cleared with the instructional team, and alternative arrangements must be made to make up the work if necessary.

Energy II – Energy Concepts for Teaching Science (sponsored by the Boston Science Partnership/BEST through the National Science Foundation)
Course Audience: K-12 science teachers ***NOTE: Energy I is a Pre-Requisite***
Course Description: This course is a graduate-level science content course designed for pre-service and in-service middle and elementary school science teachers. It focuses on increasing understanding the big ideas in science and how they can be used to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. Through an energy theme, and dependent on basic understanding of energy across the disciplines and in the K-12 curriculum (Physics 572—Integrating the Sciences Through Energy is a pre-requisite), this course deepens teachers’ content knowledge of the big ideas in science and applies this new knowledge to teaching children. Open inquiry, research methods, and pedagogical content knowledge will be emphasized. Observations of teaching integrating ideas, conducting interdisciplinary activities, and asking complex scientific questions will help students increase their understanding of how people learn science as well as move students from novice to expert in their ability to teach science that transcends disciplinary boundaries.
Session: Winter/Spring 2011
Dates: January 31; February 7, 14, (21 - NO CLASS), 28; March 7, (14 - NO CLASS), 21, 28; April 4, 11, (18 - NO CLASS), 25; May 2, 9, 16.
Times: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location & Room: UMass-Boston (Science Building - 3rd Floor, Room 126)
Parking: Parking passes will be available.
Instructional Team: Bob Chen (UMB), Robert Stevenson (UMB), Bala Sundaram (UMB), Haven Ripley (BPS).
Course Tuition Payment/Graduate Credit: The University of Massachusetts-Boston will grant 3 semester hours of graduate credit for satisfactory completion of this course. Teachers wishing to receive a stipend for the course MUST take the course for graduate credit through UMass-Boston. Teachers from all districts may pay for this course with a check in the amount of $305 (made out to UMass-Boston) on the first day of class, or elect to be billed by the university directly.
Stipend Information: Under the new stipend policy in effect for Boston teachers, teachers from BPS will receive a stipend of $435 for satisfactory completion of this course for graduate credit. This stipend amount will be issued by BPS and placed directly into your paycheck as a line item once you have received a final grade in the course. Non-Boston teachers are eligible to earn stipends of $600. This stipend amount will be issued by the GNNSP grant sponsoring non-Boston teachers. NOTE: All students MUST take the course for graduate credit (Boston Public Schools teachers will receive up to 60 PDPs as well, pro-rated based upon attendance).
Attendance Policy: In order to receive graduate credit for this course, participants may not miss in excess of 8 instructional hours over the duration of the course. Any hours missed up until this point must be cleared with the instructional team, and alternative arrangements must be made to make up the work if necessary.

If you are interested in taking either of these courses, please register online and send in your $50 registration fee (per course) as soon as possible. The $50 registration check is nonrefundable if you cancel less than 2 weeks prior to the start of the course. Confirmed receipt of your registration check will hold your position in the class, on a first come, first served basis. Once we receive your registration check, you will be sent a brief e-mail confirming your spot in the course. Two weeks prior to the start of class, you will receive a more detailed e-mail with building and room location and other important information.

We are anticipating a high level of interest in these courses, so please take the time to register (and mail your check) as soon as possible to ensure your spot.

Registration Check Information:
FOR ENERGY II: Please make the registration check in the amount of $50 (per course) payable to: UMass-Boston(include the course name and your preferred e-mail address in the memo line)
FOR MATHEMATICS I: Please make the registration check in the amount of $50 (per course) payable to: Northeastern University (include the course name and your preferred e-mail address in the memo line)

Send the checks for BOTH COURSES to:

Nick Smetana
Center for STEM Education
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, 520 INV
Boston, MA 02115

Feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have.


Nick Smetana
phone: (617) 373-3706
e-mail: n.smetana@neu.edu
e-mail: bsp@umb.edu

Summer Professional Development Opportunities

UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2011 SUMMER INSTITUTE
" Monday to Friday, July 11 - July 15 at UMass Amherst
" Funded by the National Science Foundation
" Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for
Hierarchical Manufacturing
" Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
" $75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, lunches
" Housing (new air conditioned dorms) those outside the
commuting radius
" 3 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's
(Professional Development Points)
" Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty

Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of nanometers. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, or about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials can have surprising and useful behaviors and properties.
Applications of this rapidly growing field include regenerative medicine, fabrics and construction materials of unprecedented strength, ultra-high performance computers and data storage, more efficient solar photovoltaic cells, and much more. Activity in this field cuts across the traditional disciplinary boundaries, and involves chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering.

The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Framework.
During the institute, participants will begin to develop curriculum units for their own classes. They will complete and implement these in the fall and report on their progress and results online. Three graduate credits will be available for the institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee. PDP's will be available at no cost.

Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano. Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2011. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

STEM Ed Institute: www.umassk12.net/stem,
413-545-0734, fax: 413-545-3697 Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing: www.umass.edu/chm

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Student and Teacher Fellowship Opportunities

You might find the following site of interest - http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/
and - http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/?s=einstein



A few of the current listings - Fellowships

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
2,000 fellowships were awarded with value of $41,500 in 2010.

Includes full tuition and all required fees for three years, as well as a stipend of $30,000 a year, a $10,500 cost of education allowance, and a one time International Research Travel Allowance of $1,000. Awarded annually.

Other fellowship pages:Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowships- Faculty Fellowships -University Based Fellowships -Funding for Working Scientists and Engineers- Fellowships with Special Applicant Requirements
Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation Defense Scholarship for Research Program (SMART)

300 scholarships with full tuition and related fees, health insurance, book allowance, an annual cash award rate between $25,000 and $41,000 (depending on prior educational experience), and post-graduation employment

Includes all university tuition and required fees as well as stipends depending on educational experience. Stipends start at $25,000 and go up to $41,000. It also offers paid summer internships, a medical insurance reimbursement allowance up to $1,200 per calendar year, and a $1,000 book allowance.

SMART Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)

300 awards with value of $30,000 awarded annually

$30,000 per year, renewable up to three years, divided as follows: $21,000 student stipend, $6,000 student allowance, and $3,000 university allowance. Approximately 300 graduate students are supported annually.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship

200 fellowships with a minimum value of $30,500 awarded annually

Includes full tuition and all required fees for three years as well as a stipend, as follows: $30,500 for first year, $31,000 for second year, and $31,500 for third year; also includes up to $1,000 for health insurance. Approximately 200 fellowships are awarded each year.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship

Approximately 120 awards – $37,000 per year per fellowship

Benefits of an EPA STAR Fellowship include: Up to $37,000 per year of support, including $12,000 per year for tuition and fees, $20,000 per year in a monthly stipend, and an annual expense allowance of $5,000. Master’s level students can receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students can be supported for a maximum of three years with funding available, under certain circumstances, over a period of four years.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Approximately 78 awards with stipends between $20,000 and $ 40,000 annual

Ford Foundation Fellowship awards are offered at the Predoctoral, Dissertation and Postdoctoral levels.

Predoctoral Fellowship:
Ford Fellowship program will award approximately 40 predoctoral fellowships. The predoctoral fellowships provide three years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree.

Annual stipend: $20,000
Award to the institution in lieu of tuition and fees: $2,000
Expenses paid to attend at least one Conference of Ford Fellows
Dissertation Fellowship:
The program will award approximately 20 dissertation fellowships. The dissertation fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a dissertation leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree.

One-year stipend: $21,000
Expenses paid to attend one Conference of Ford Fellows
Postdoctoral Fellowship:
The program will award approximately 18 postdoctoral fellowships. The postdoctoral fellowships provide one year of support for individuals engaged in postdoctoral study after the attainment of the Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree.

One-year Stipend: $40,000
The stipend may be supplemented by sabbatical leave pay or other sources of support that do not carry with them teaching or other responsibilities.. No dependency allowance is available.
Employing Institution Allowance: $1,500
Expenses paid to attend one Conference of Ford Fellows
US Department of Energy – The Office of Science Graduate Fellowship Program

Approximately 80 graduate fellowships with a yearly stipend of $35,000 for general living expenses

This program is to support outstanding students to pursue graduate training in basic research in areas of physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computational sciences, and environmental sciences. Graduate programs not eligible for the DOE SCGF fellowship include: joint BS/MS degree programs, DVM, MBA, MD, joint MD/PhD, JD, or joint JD/PhD degree programs. Each fellow is eligible to receive the following benefits for each of the three years of the fellowship.

Goldwater Science Scholarships

Approximately 300 scholarships with a maximum value of $7,500 awarded annually

Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering and to foster excellence in those fields.

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship US Department of Education

Approximately 27 fellowships with an average value of $43,755 awarded annually

A fellow receives the Javits fellowship annually for up to the lesser of 48 months or the completion of their degree. For fiscal year 2010, the maximum stipend will be $30,000, and the institutional payment is estimated to be $13,755.

Eligibility is limited to individuals who at the time of application (1) will be entering a doctoral program in academic year 2010-2011 and/or who, at the time of application, have not yet completed their first full year of study in the doctoral program for which they are seeking support; (2) will be entering a Master of Fine Arts program in academic year 2010-2011 where the master’s is the terminal highest degree awarded in the selected field of study.

Monday, November 8, 2010

AP Biology Callbacks - Harvard Medical School - Please RSVP

AP Biology Callbacks

Dear colleagues,
The goal of the program is to enhance dialogue in science education and engage education professionals in Advanced Placement professional development throughout the academic year. Professional Development Points (PDPs) can be earned by attending AP Biology Callbacks and logging onto “mylearningplan.com.” This is an opportunity to meet other instructors and share your experiences and ideas. Please RSVP and parking at 200 Longwood Ave. is available upon request.

AP Biology Callbacks is open to everyone, not just AP Biology teachers, and will be held at Harvard Medical School on the following dates below and in enclosed invitation:

November 10, 2010:
Managing and Implementing an AP Biology Curriculum by David Barry, Boston Latin Academy
Location: TMEC Room 250, 260 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
Time: 3:30-6:00pm


December 13, 2010:
How to Effectively Teach Critical Thinking by Dr. Daniel Willingham, author of
“Why Don’t Students Like School?”
Location: Cannon Room, Building C, 240 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
Time: 3:30-6:00pm


January 27, 2011:
AP Biology Best Practices, by various AP Biology teachers
Location: TBD
Time: 3:30-6:00pm


March 22, 2011:
Genomic Sequencing: Medical, Personal and Social Implications, by Dr. Ting Wu, Harvard Genetics
Location: TBD
Time: 3:30-6:00pm

Please reply to:
Anne Marie Clarke - annemarie_clarke@hms.harvard.edu
If you are interested in attending.

Friday, November 5, 2010

**U.S. MATH PERFORMANCE IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: HOW WELL DOES EACH STATE DO AT PRODUCING HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS?**

**U.S. MATH PERFORMANCE IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: HOW WELL DOES EACH STATE DO AT PRODUCING HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS?**

November 10, 2010: 12:30 - 1:45 pm (EST)

This free event is a Webinar and takes place ONLINE. Registration required.

A report being released on November 10 provides new information on the percentage of high-achieving students in the U.S. high school graduating class of 2009 in each of the 50 states, as compared to the percentage of high-achieving students in 56 other countries.

This study will become available on November 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST. It has been prepared under the auspices of Harvard’s Program on Education Policy and Governance & Education Next in the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

For an online copy of the report, see: www.hks.harvard.edu/pepg

For an abbreviated version, with a map that provides specific information for each state, see: www.educationnext.org

In concurrence with this release, this Webinar will feature two of the report’s authors who will present a summary of the findings and take questions from the audience for discussion. Ample time will be allocated for this Q&A session.
The report authors are:

*ERIC A. HANUSHEK – Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution and Stanford University

*PAUL E. PETERSON – Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government, Harvard University

LUDGER WOESSMANN – Professor of Economics, University of Munich

*Presenting at Webinar

REGISTER NOW – Please fill out some basic information if you are interested in attending. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/math_performance_1110

INSTRUCTIONS – Review these instructions and practice logging in ahead of time (Try it now!). http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/spotlight.html? id=2480

RESOURCES – Links to resources related to this event (this list will be updated periodically). http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/spotlight.html?id=2481

QUESTIONS? Contact us: james_cooney@ksg.harvard.edu