Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Mathematics Workshop for Middle School Teachers - Free - Musuem of Science Boston

Sunday, May 1

The National Center for Technological Literacy® at the Museum of Science, Boston, is holding free, professional development session focused on teaching mathematics at the middle school level. This session investigates teacher and student understanding of proportional reason in grades 6 - 12.

Teachers receive a certificate of attendance.

Format Workshop
Grades 6 – 12 Location Museum of Science — Museum of Science, Boston
Website Register at

http://www.mos.org/educators/professional_development_and_events/professional_development&d=4376


Duration 3 hours 30 minutes
Reservation Register online
Fee Free

May 1, 2011: 9:00 am



Additional Professional Development Offerings at the Musuem of Science can be found at - http://www.mos.org/etf/pd.html

Engineering the Future® Half-Day Informational Session
Sunday, March 27, 2011 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 1, 2011 | 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (tentative)

Museum of Science, Boston
Cost: Free • Register: Sunday, March 27 | Sunday, May 1 (tentative)

The National Center for Technological Literacy® at the Museum of Science, Boston, is holding free, half-day, informational sessions on teaching technology / engineering. Intended for middle and high school teachers, these sessions are interactive workshops that introduce the standards-based Building Math® and Engineering the Future® programs. (Engineering the Future meets 100% of the Massachusetts Technology / Engineering Standards.)

Teachers receive a certificate of attendance and a free DVD with teacher tips and project descriptions.

Mathematics Professional Development Session
Sunday, May 1, 2011 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m

Museum of Science, Boston • Grades: 6 - 12
Cost: Free • Register: Sign up online.

The National Center for Technological Literacy® at the Museum of Science, Boston, is holding free, professional development session focused on teaching mathematics at the middle school level. This session investigates teacher and student understanding of proportional reason in grades 6 - 12.

Teachers receive a certificate of attendance.

Engineering the Future® Three-Day Institutes
June 27 - 29, 2011

Museum of Science, Boston • Cost: $350 ($400 after June 8) includes breakfast, lunch and materials • College credit: Available for an additional fee. • Register: Sign up online.

This concentrated, hands-on workshop is open to all teachers interested in expanding their knowledge of standards-based engineering design. It is ideal for those teaching Engineering the Future for the first time, or for teachers who want to gain a deeper understanding of engineering and physics applications in the classroom.

Participants work through key activities in each of the course's four projects, and have the opportunity to ask questions, practice what they've learned, and discuss concerns with course developers and experienced teachers.

"Opening the Gateway to Technology and Engineering" Summer Institute
Massachusetts Educators/Administrators Only
July 19 - July 21 | August 2 - August 4, 2011
Museum of Science, Boston • Cost: $500 • Register: Contact gateway@mos.org or call 617-589-3101.

District teams of three to five educators / administrators are invited to come to the Museum of Science to create strategic district plans. This Gateway summer institute offers the tools to implement the Massachusetts Science and Technology / Engineering Curriculum Framework (MA DOE 2001).

Professional Development Institute for Educators
Implementing Technology / Engineering Standards
August 18 - August 19 | August 22 - August 24, 2011

Museum of Science, Boston • Grades: 6 - 12 • Cost: Free • College credit: Available for an additional fee. • Register: Sign up online. (Until July 27, 2011, preference will be given to teachers from high needs districts.)

This institute provides the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and deliver a technology / engineering course that meets the Massachusetts Framework. The course demonstrates laboratory activities for teaching technology / engineering standards. Teachers learn technology / engineering content and approaches for design-based curricula that integrates science and mathematics through engineering.

Engineering the Future® Online Course
Spring Session: March 7 - April 10, 2011
Summer Session: June 20 - July 24, 2011
Fall Session: October 3 - November 6, 2011

Information and Registration
Maximum enrollment: 25 educators per session • Cost: $150 • College credit: Available for an additional fee. • Register: Sign up online.

This moderated four-week online course, which covers the same engineering education material as in the three-day institute, is ideal for high school teachers from other regions, or for those who prefer to study online.

Using course materials (such as a Snap Circuits™ electricity kit) plus other items that can be gathered from around the home, online participants perform hands-on activities, interacting with course content for about six hours per week. Additional time for designing and building projects is also required.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Student and Teacher Opportunities

NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants

The foundation provides grants to increase the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection.

Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Practicing U.S. public school teachers, public school education support professionals, and faculty and staff members at public institutions of higher education may apply. The maximum grant amount is $5,000. Deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 15 each year. For more information, visit the NEA Foundation website.
http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/grant-application/student-achievement-grants/


NOAA Teacher at Sea Program

Have you ever thought about shipping out to sea? This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) program will begin accepting applications for the 2011 field season October 1, 2010. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2010. For more information about the program or to learn how to apply, visit the Teacher at Sea website. http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program

K–12 teachers with a strong background in science, technology, math, or engineering education are encouraged to apply to the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. Those selected will participate in a 10-month paid fellowship in Washington, D.C., working either in a Congressional office or in a federal agency. Einstein Fellows have the unique opportunity to provide those agencies with their insights and perspectives on education programs and policies.

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $6,000 along with a $1,000 monthly cost-of-living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance. For more information, go to the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education website.
http://www.einsteinfellows.org/


Student Competitions

Disney's Planet Challenge

This week, Disney announced the launch of the second annual Disney’s Planet Challenge, a free project-based environmental and science competition for classrooms nationwide. Formerly open to 4th through 6th grade classrooms, Disney’s Planet Challenge is being expanded to include two tracks: one for elementary schools grades 3–5, and another for middle schools grades 6–8. The middle school curriculum will offer an increased focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.

Developed in collaboration with NSTA and the K–12 Alliance, the Challenge offers students the chance to use their imagination and creativity to help the planet while giving educators a fresh new way to motivate students with the help of an educationally sound curriculum that meets national and state guideline requirements.

The national grand prize winning elementary school class will enjoy a celebration at Disneyland® Resort while middle school national winners will earn a $20,000 grant for their school. Both grand prize–winning classrooms will be illustrated and appear within a Marvel comic book. Winning teachers will receive a one year NSTA membership. The grand-prize winning educators will also receive an expense-paid trip to the national 2012 NSTA conference where they will be recognized at the NSTA awards banquet.

For more information or to enroll in the program, visit www.Disney.com/planetchallenge. Enrollment is open through December 17, 2010.

Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors

Are you ready to stretch your imagination? The Akron Global Polymer Academy of The University of Akron is hosting the third annual Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors to encourage students in grades 5–8 to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by creating an invention that incorporates the use of rubber bands.

There will be two separate divisions of competition—Arts & Leisure and Science & Engineering. Four finalists will be brought to Akron, Ohio, where the first place winner and runner-up in each division, will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 14, 2011.

The first place winner in each division will receive a $1,000 savings bond, while the runner-up in each division will receive a $500 savings bond, respectively. The top eight semifinalists who are not chosen as finalists will each receive a $50 gift card. The top four schools with the most entries will each receive a $250 donation. For more information about the contest, visit the website.
http://rubberbandcontest.org/

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

Earlier this month, NSTA, the Siemens Foundation, and Discovery Education announced the kick-off of the third annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a program that educates, empowers and engages students and teachers nationwide to become “Agents of Change” in identifying and solving environmental problems. The third year of this national sustainability challenge—now expanded to include high school students—encourages all students, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, to team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their schools (grades K–5), community (grades 6–8) and world (grades 9–12).

Over 13,000 students competed in the 2010 Challenge across elementary and middle school grades. Projects ranged from reducing lunchtime waste to saving local trees and encouraging eco-friendly gardens. The grand prize team, “No1Idling” from Novi, Michigan, focused on reducing community pollution by raising awareness about the environmental impact of vehicle idling among area drivers.

Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include savings bonds, school grants, exciting trips and much more. The deadline for all entries is March 15, 2011. Finalists and winners will be announced in April 2011 and the national winners will be announced in May 2011. For more information, visit www.wecanchange.com or www.facebook.com/wecanchange.