2013 InvenTeams

http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/apply.html Applications for the 2012-2013 InvenTeams are being accepted.All deadlines are 5:00 p.m. ET.

Apply for 2013 InvenTeamsProcess

Applying for an InvenTeam grant is a two-step process. The initial application is available online each fall and due in the spring (for grants awarded the following academic year).

Youth Involvement

Educators often begin the application without youth participants. Youth input is encouraged for the initial application and required for the final application. Many educators recruit youth early to create a richer proposal for the initial application.

Invention Ideas

InvenTeam projects span many fields from assistive devices to environmental technologies and consumer goods. Applicants are encouraged to consider needs of the world's poorest people (those earning $2/day) when brainstorming invention ideas. Some InvenTeams pursue inventions that also augment STEM curriculum such as Project Lead the Way. See former InvenTeams and their invention projects. Selection
A panel comprising inventors; educators; InvenTeam student alumni; and MIT faculty, staff, and alumni reviews the applications. Diversity is considered among school settings, demographics, and projects. Up to 35 finalists are selected from the initial applications to continue to the next step. Excite Awards
Selected finalists receive Excite Awards: These educators attend EurekaFest, a multi-day celebration at MIT in June. Finalists meet current InvenTeams, see their inventions, and attend invention workshops, which count toward Professional Development Points (PDPs). Excite Award winners must attend EurekaFest in order to submit a final InvenTeam grant application. Travel, food, and lodging are provided. 2013 InvenTeam Application Timeline

(Grants for the 2012-2013 academic year)
Early feedback deadline: March 1, 2012
Initial application deadline: April 6, 2012
Excite Award recipient notification: April 20, 2012
EurekaFest 2012: June 20-23, 2012
Final application deadline: September 7, 2012 2013
InvenTeams announced: September 28, 2012

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR THE KAVLI SCIENCE VIDEO CONTEST

Grades 6-12 students compete for the chance to win $2000 (first prize) and a travel stipend to Washington DC to attend the festival. The winners are also honored in an awards ceremony, hosted by Bill Nye, as part of the festival.

Our central theme, or driving question, is how to "Save the World through Science and Engineering". Students make a short video (:30-:90) that shows how scientific discoveries and inventions can improve our lives and change our world, either right now or in the future. Enter by March 21, 2012.

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2012festival/contests/kavli-video-contest 

Flying WILD Workshop for Educators

Middle school educators interested in helping students understand the importance of migratory birds and their conservation should attend this workshop! Participants will learn about teacher led classroom activities, volunteer and student led festival activities, and service learning projects focused on using birds as a hook for getting interested in studying the environment.

This workshop is extremely interactive and hands-on. Educators will learn to implement the Flying WILD program (www.flyingwild.org) and learn how to become a City Partner.

This workshop takes place Tuesday, March 13 from 9 am - 3:30 pm in Newburyport. The fee is $15, and light refreshments will be served. Please bring lunch, a mug, and clothing for indoor and outdoor activities.

Contact Pam Landry at Mass Wildlife with any questions at (508)-389-6310 or pam.landry@state.ma.us.

Registration information is below.

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Flying WILD Workshop Registration Form
Name:__________________________
Organization/Affiliation:_____________________________

Mailing address:_____________________________
City/State/Zip:_________________________

E-mail:___________________________________
Phone:_______________________________
What is your interest in attending the workshop?

Intended audience: scouts? after school? general public?
urban youth? classroom ? other (please specify) ______________________________

Please mail completed registration along with a $15 check payable
to MA Wildlife Federation/ProjectWILD to Pam Landry, MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westboro, MA 01581. Registration & payment must be received by March 1, 2012.
Confirmation & directions will be sent after registration deadline.

Aquatic WILD - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

For Educators of Students in Grades K-12

When: Saturday February 11, 2012       Time:  9:00-3:30

Location: Girls Inc., Lynn

Hosted by:  Northeastern University Marine Science Center Beach Sister Program

To Register: Contact Sarah Gillig, AmeriCorps Massachusetts Promise Fellow, (781) 581-7370 x 373 or s.gillig@neu.edu

What to bring: Water, mug, a bag lunch, clothes & shoes for any weather. Plan to be outside!

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to receive training from the award winning, nationally recognized program Aquatic WILD!  It is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school.  The program emphasizes aquatic wildlife because of their intrinsic, ecological value, as well as their role in teaching how ecosystems function. Through the use of balanced curriculum materials and professional training workshops, Aquatic WILD accomplishes its goal of developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment. This results in the making of informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive action concerning wildlife and the environment.

The program guide (Aquatic WILD) contains over 50 activities for educators of youths in grades K-12. Workshop participants will receive copies of the guide, and a certificate of completion. This is an award winning nationally recognized program that is hands-on, easy to use, and has dynamic applications for school teachers, scout leaders, nature center teachers, home educators, after care teachers, etc. 

Project WILD is sponsored in Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (www.masswildlife.org). To learn more about Project WILD or Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children contact MA Project WILD Coordinator Pam Landry at pam.landry@state.ma.us.

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Applications Now Available

The Research Experiences for Teachers Program (RET) is a comprehensive six-week summer research program at Northeastern University that offers teachers a wonderful opportunity to participate in active research projects in professional laboratory settings. Teachers are encouraged to make real connections between the research experience and their classroom curricula as well as create research-based curriculum units that are aligned with local, state, and national frameworks, as well as their own research experience. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in weekly research seminars, special training sessions, professional development meetings, field trips, and network with other district teachers and university faculty.

Please click here for the 2012 application.

The deadline for submission is March 20, 2012. For more information and/or questions on RET, please contact Claire Duggan, Program Director, at c.duggan@neu.edu and/or visit the RET web site at http://www.ret.neu.edu/ .

Tentative program dates for the RET are June 25th – August 2, 2012. 

RET participants will be required to attend several Saturday morning sessions prior to the start of the summer program.

Web based Lab - spongelab

Looking for a Web based Lab to supplement your biology and anatomy courses?

http://www.spongelab.com ..lots of lesson plans...and game based activities.

BioBuilding Curriculum Workshop @ MIT for Middle School Teachers

http://openwetware.org/wiki/BioBuilding_Curriculum_Workshop_@_MIT

Professional Development Workshop @ MIT


If you are a middle school teacher interested in bringing current research and novel inquiry-based curriculum to your students, then we want to work with you!
You are invited to apply to the BioBuilding Curriculum workshop @ MIT. This two and a half day professional development class will prepare middle school educators to bring engineering into their science classrooms and laboratories. Faculty from MIT will work with participating teachers to develop middle school curriculum based on the engineering of biology using the successful activities at www.BioBuilder.org. The workshop will include

* close interactions with high school teachers already teaching the BioBuilder curriculum

* lectures that connect the engineering/science/math and technology aspects of synthetic biology

* small group work with other middle school teachers, high school teachers and MIT’s faculty

* lunchtime seminars

This workshop will run from August 1st-3rd, 2012. Attendees will receive lunch each day, parking validation and 35 PDPs. Attendees should plan to carry out a BioBuilder activity in the 2012-2013 academic year, and provide feedback on the effort.


Who should apply?

This workshop is intended for Middle School science teachers, especially those who are


looking for new ways to teach science content

engaging their students with design challenges and inquiry-oriented activities

eager to bring current research topics into their classrooms

excited by curriculum development

energized by a challenge and comfortable as life-long learners

How to apply?

Send a copy of your CV and a completed application to the following address: Dr. Natalie Kuldell

Department of Biological Engineering, MIT

77 Mass Ave, 16-325

Cambridge, MA 02139