Monday, January 17, 2011

A Look Into the Nano World - Free One Day Professional Development Opportunity - February 23, 2011 Northeastern University

We will be offering the following one-day workshop at Northeastern University on February 23, 2011.

Please complete the application available in the following link if you are interested in attending this session.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M37QY7N

PDP's available for the session.

A Look Into the Nano World

The nanotechnology workshop’s goal is to inform you about the fundamentals of nanotechnology -- probably the most significant technology of the 21st century -- and give you tools and a sufficient comfort level so that you will bring your knowledge and enthusiasm back to your students. Workshop content includes:

What constitutes nanotechnology and how it relates to and enhances material in general science, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics?

Discussion why knowledge of nanotechnology is increasingly important to both you and your students.

Responses to a basic student question, “Why should I be interested in nanotechnology?” through illustrations of current and future applications and products in medicine, computers, and materials, many of which have a distinct, “Science Fiction,” flavor. We will also talk about career opportunities for your students resulting from nanotechnology.

Exploration, through several hands-on experiments, of phenomena unique to the “nano scale.” As a follow-on, we provide you with all specialized materials and complete lesson plans for experiments at no cost.

Demonstration how you can easily access and use university equipment from your classroom in real time.

Addressing public concerns about safety, inherent in all new technologies; exploration of issues of risk and risk perception vs. reality.

Claire Duggan

c.duggan@neu.edu

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

ExploraVision Competition for grades K-12

ExploraVision is a science competition that encourages K – 12 students to work in groups to simulate real research and development teams. Students can select any technology from something as basic as a water fountain to something as complex as nanotechnology. The team imagines and explores what that technology could be like 20 years from now and prepares an in-depth report that conveys its vision to others. It's a hands-on, minds-on project that inspires students and fuels imagination. Get more information on the competition here, and check out their free webinar on Wednesday, January 12.

Society for Science & the Public Fellowship

Applications are now available for the Society for Science & the Public Fellowship. The SSP Fellows Program, with generous support from Intel, provides funds and training to selected U.S. science and math teachers who serve under-resourced students, to enable interested and motivated students to perform high-quality independent scientific research. The deadline is January 17. Find more information here.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) presents the 2011 Professional Development Seminar Series January 25, February 15, March 24 & April 14, 9:30am - 3:30pm

Upcoming Seminars Include:

January 25:Inquiry and the Design Process: Investigations the Integrate the Engineering Design Process, Literacy and Science

Presenters: Karen DeRusha, UMass Dartmouth; Bill Wolfson, Engineering Lens Join Karen DeRusha and Bill Woflson for a full day session to explore how inquiry-based methods can be used to bring the engineering design process into informal and formal educational settings. They will discuss a unique process for using age appropriate literature as a vehicle or children to develop problem solving skills using the engineering design process, science and math skills. Participants will engage in hands- on activities developed for Pre-k to 5th grade students to use in informal settings or the classroom.

February 15:

Groundwater Resources: Where? Why? Sustainable? Presenter: Andrew Stone, American Groundwater Trust Examine core concepts about rocks, the hydrologic system and contamination threats. Explore how .water topics. can be introduced to students and the public as exciting learning opportunities.

What are the scientific and technical basics of geology and hydrology that we need to understand to ensure that society, and the environment, can sustainably maximize the benefits of the precious asset of sub-surface water?


Talking, Writing, Reading and Doing Science: Literacy as a Tool for Teaching Science

Presenters: Karen Worth, Wheelock College and EDC; Jeff Winokur, Wheelock College and EDC Literacy is a tool for learning and understanding science.
In this workshop, Karen and Jeff will focus on how informal and museum educators can support and guide teachers as they work with students to develop the skills for carrying on informed and rigorous discussions.
Participants will engage in hands-on activities and look at samples of student work. The session will also include a discussion of the role of documentation and representation, and the importance of science notebooks.


COST: The registration fee for participants is $25/session (includes lunch). A discounted fee of $60 is offered for attending three seminars, and $80 for attending all four.


For full schedule and registration please see our website www.mits.org or contact us at 617-328-1515 or mits@mits.org

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Science Teacher magazine's Call for Papers

The Science Teacher, NSTA's magazine, has put out a call for papers. If you're interested in writing an article addressing new science standards, there is a March 1 submission deadline. Other articles have ongoing submission deadlines. Author guidelines for The Science Teacher can be found here. Submissions should be submitted here.

Also, the Audobon Society is giving away 50 cameras (PlantCam's and BirdCam's) for classrooms. Entry requires a 500 to 750 word essay about why your classroom needs a BirdCam or Plant Cam and how you will use it to benefit your students. The deadline is January 31. Find more information here.

STEM ED - Umass Amherst summer program offering

UMASS STEM DIGITAL SUMMER INSTITUTE
STEM Digital Images in Geoscience Investigations: Teaching Analysis with
Light (STEM DIGITAL)

" Monday to Friday, June 27 - July 1, 2011 at UMass Amherst
" Funded by the National Science Foundation
" Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute
" Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
" Teams of science and computer teachers encouraged
" Participants MUST bring a digital camera, and are encouraged to
bring a laptop computer (see note at bottom of page)
" Stipends ($375 summer, $300 school year follow-up), materials,
parking, lunches
" Housing and meals for those outside the commuting radius
" 3 to 6 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's
(Professional Development Points)

STEM DIGITAL will show how digital image analysis can be applied to
environmental quality issues in ways that can readily be introduced into
STEM courses, engaging students and encouraging them to think about
related careers. The project will develop research agendas that will
employ a variety of image analysis tools. The air quality theme will
focus on the three components of the atmosphere that primarily
affect visible, infrared and ultraviolet light, respectively:
particulates and aerosols, carbon dioxide, and ozone. The water quality
theme will look at the role of plant biomass on drinking water quality
and on global carbon cycling. Arsenic is listed as number one in the US
in terms of environmental contaminants that pose a potential threat to
human health; research topics will include the identification and
mapping of local arsenic contaminated sites and bioremediation
possibilities. STEM DIGITAL will use the AnalyzingDigitalImages
software which provides free, easy-to-use tools for spatial,
temporal, spectral, and intensity measurements.

During the school year, we will continue working with the teachers on
approximately six projects spread over the fall and spring semesters.
These will be a combination of new projects, extensions from summer
projects, and data sharing projects. The timing and content of these
projects will be largely decided by the teachers during the summer
workshop to match their curriculum needs.

Three optional graduate credits will be available for the institute; the
cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee. Another 3 credits will be
available at $345 for the academic year component. PDP's will be
provided at no cost.

Application process: An application form and additional information are
available at www.umassk12.net/digital. Teachers should 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. Late applications
will be accepted on a space available basis.

More information: www.umassk12.net/digital, msilver@umassk12.net. Voice:
413-545-0734, fax: 413-545-3697

*Note on cameras and computers: You may bring any digital camera, but
if you are shopping for one at moderate cost, we suggest the Pentax
Optio W90, recently $215 on amazon.com. It is ruggedly built and has
many useful features. You don't need to be an expert photographer or
computer user, but you should be comfortable with both.

Your school could own a piece of space history!


NASA is offering Space Shuttle thermal protective tiles to eligible schools, universities, and colleges on a first-come, first-serve, one per institution, basis while the supply lasts. All recipients will be responsible for the shipping and handling fee of $23.40.

Find out more here: http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm

Nanotechnology Resources

You might want to take a look at - http://nanotecknowledgy.org/

nanotecKnowledgy is dedicated to bringing accessible nanotechnology content to teachers. We have constructed the program to reduce the barriers confronting teachers that are inherent in the educational system. Our program's impetus is that your students will live in the nanotechnology age and experience unimagined applications in materials, computers, and medicine. All of us have an obligation to inform them about this exciting new field.

Please watch for future course offerings to be held at NU.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Resources you might find of interest - Middle Web

http://www.middleweb.com/mw/aaOfPartInt.html
(sample of some of the resources/links)

CLASSROOM RESOURCES: BLOOM'S TAXONOMY
Teaching resources maven Larry Ferlazzo is well-known for his "Best of" lists (there must be hundreds). We think you'll appreciate Ferlazzo's best tools for making Bloom's thinking skills taxonomy part of a teacher's regular planning and classroom instruction. In his introduction, Larry says he set out to find resources of practical use to teachers that are not "caught up in academic jargon" and describes some ways he tries to use Bloom's with his own students. You'll find dozens of links to explore, including free posters suggested by a commenter. And if this Ferlazzo "Best of" list isn't your cup of tea, check out his - yep - Best of the 'Best of' Lists for 2010.

DO YOU HAVE A TOP YOUNG SCIENTIST?
America's Top Young Scientist for 2010 is an eighth grader from Brookfield Academy in Brookfield WI, whose solution to a social or security issue (using science) was judged the best among more than 10,000 applicants in grades 5-8. The event is sponsored by 3M and the Discovery Education channel and offers a $50,000 grand prize and a chance to work with 3M scientists on a project. Learn about his project, the structure of the annual Challenge (which also offers prizes to finalists & semi-finalists) and how to keep up to date on the 2011 event at the link above.