This Weeks TiffanyGram

Hello fellow science educators!

It appears we are coming to the close of another school year and I know this can carry both joy and sadness as you anticipate a summer break and prepare to say goodbye to the wonderful students you’ve had this year. We at the Oklahoma State Department of Education would like to congratulate you on a job well-done! And I would personally like to thank you for your efforts in molding the lives our future medical professionals, scientists, and citizens.

Vision 2020 Conference Update and Registration:

We’ve been working hard in the Office of Instruction to provide a wonderful experience to those of you who will be attending the Vision 2020 Conference June 12^th-15^th!

June 12^th: Science Focus

The lineup of sessions for June 12^th is exciting and I hope you will all join us at the science luncheon that day as we honor some very special science educators in our state! The science luncheon will be a unique time for me to share some exciting information with you as well as humbly ask for your input on a few things. It will be a time of celebration, connection, and collaboration you won’t want to miss!

June 13^th: STEM and Science Focus

We have several STEM sessions lined up for the day along with a keynote speaker for the STEM luncheon! We are also very pleased to announce that Doug Llewellyn will be joining us on June 13^th to provide three sessions on the power of argumentation in the science classroom. Look for further information about his sessions to come out later this week!

To register for the Vision 2020 Conference please visit:  VISION2020REGISTRATION or https://register.wciconferences.org/OSDEVision2020

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers:

2012 AAPT/PTRA ToPPS II:

Designed for In-Service Oklahoma Teachers of Physics and Physical Science, this professional development opportunity is a 5-day summer institute (with 2 follow-up sessions during the 2012 – 2013 academic year).  This is a very “hands-on,” “minds-on” professional development opportunity.  Those seeking to enhance their students’ learning in physics and physical science are encouraged to apply!

Details:

o   Summer institute runs July 9 – 13^that the Alva campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University

o   $600 stipend ($400 at end of 5-day summer institute; $100 for each follow-up session)

o   Free instructional/curriculum materials endorsed by AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers)

o   High-tech and Low-tech equipment used

o   This year’s topics: Energy, Momentum and Impulse

o   Total of 40 hours of professional development (30 in July, 5 at each follow-up session)

o   Free on-site housing (if staying in dorms)

o   Website:  www.nwosu.edu/ToPPS

o   Participants may enroll in 3 hours of graduate EDUC, PHYS or PHSC credit to apply toward an advanced degree

o   A $100 refundable check will be required of applicants (checks will be returned at the close of the summer institute)

Contact Dr. Steven Maier for details at: sjmaier@nwosu.edu  or by phone at 580.327.8562

K-8 STEM Teacher Institute — Oklahoma State University, June 15
The K-8 STEM Teacher Institute, at Oklahoma State University on Friday, June 15^th, will provide unique professional development opportunities, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.  Get “hands-on” with Full Option Science System (FOSS) kit-based curricula and teaching strategies.  Learn how to help your students develop deep understanding of science through authentic investigations, analysis, and reflection.  Look forward to lunchtime “meet & eat” opportunities with STEM researchers!  Institute details and registration information are online: http://osu-crstl.org/

AGSTRAVAGANZA:

Ag in the Classroom is partnering with Redlands Community College to offer a great day of professional development, learning and connections.

o   The guest speaker for the event will be Betty Thompson (Miss Oklahoma and Miss America Runner-Up). Please see the attached flyer for details.

Reproductive and Developmental Biology Workshop at the University of Tulsa August 2^nd and 3^rd:

The 2-day workshop will focus on the introduction to the myriad of fascinating reproductive and developmental systems of vertebrate animals, and modern methods and tolls that are used for research and discovery. Please see the attached flyer and application for details.

Science Opportunities for Students:

Registration for Cyber Patriot V Now Open:
Registration for the nation’s largest high school cyber defense challenge, CyberPatriot, is now open for its next season. CyberPatriot V is inviting students from all U.S. high schools, accredited home school programs and Civil Air Patrol squadrons to participate in this exciting competition while space is still available. Registration ends September 30, 2012. CyberPatriot is an exciting and educating competition that motivates the talent who will become the next generation of cyber leaders. Established by the Air Force Association, CyberPatriot was created to inspire high school students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Click here for more information.

Lastly, I just wanted to extend the celebration of, “Teacher Appreciation Week”, by saying how much I appreciate your efforts and your willingness to work with me at the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide amazing science experiences for students across our state!

I’ve had a chance to visit with teachers from Stillwater, OKC, and Moore this past week and more importantly with their students who love science because of the amazing teachers they have.

I hope to continue to celebrate the successes of our state and shine spotlights on those that most deserve it, you the teacher! Thank you for inspiring me and for making my first days on the job so amazing!

I appreciate you all!

-Tiffany

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OK Green Schools

Greetings Oklahoma Educators,

Since the 2011-2012 school year is coming to an end soon, we wanted to update you on the FREE summer training opportunities with the OK Green Schools Program, Inc.   We will need at least 15 registrants to implement each workshop, so bring a friend or members of your Green Team! If you will sign-up for our Updates list serv here:  http://www.okgreenschools.org/updates/ (minimal postings), you will receive details and a registration link by July 1. Or, you may email me your summer e-dressfor my individual notification list.

We are still working with our host sites to pin down the dates, but are aiming for the weeks of July 23-27, July 30-August 3 or August 6-10.   This year’s training events will be only two hours, with several events including optional tours of the site.

Proposed locations:

Oklahoma City:  Metro Career Academy (+optional tour)

Stillwater:   Skyline Elementary (+optional tour)

Ada:    East Central University (ECU)

Tulsa:    Location TBA (+possible tour)

Weatherford:  Location TBA

Have a great summer!

Best Regards,

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Vision 2020

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is excited to share with you news about it’s upcoming VISION 2020 conference.  VISION 2020 is right around the corner and online registration, hotel accommodations, and conference information are now available to you.

VISION 2020 will be Oklahoma’s first ever all-encompassing conference brought to you in one central location. It offers learning opportunities, professional development, and training to the parent, teacher, counselor, librarian, technology instructor, principal, district superintendent, & others.

This conference will host more than 900 concurrent sessions with dynamic content, nationally-recognized keynote speakers, and engaging professional development.

Focus Schedule

June 11th: Parent Power Night
June 12th & 13th: Teacher-Focused Professional Development
June 14th: Teacher-and-Administrator-Focused Professional Development
June 15th: Administrator-Focused Professional Development

$25 Attendee Fee includes:

All professional development sessions

One luncheon with keynote speaker

$100 Out-of-State Attendee Fee includes:

All professional development sessions

One luncheon with keynote speaker

For general conference information & to register, please visit: VISION2020REGISTRATION or https://register.wciconferences.org/OSDEVision2020

We look forward to sharing this highly-anticipated conference with you June 11th-15th.

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The Nation’s Report Card: Science 2011 Final Report Issued

May 2012

Author: National Center for Education Statistics

Download The Nation’s Report Card: Science 2011 PDF for viewing and printing (3322K PDF)

Executive Summary

A representative sample of 122,000 eighth-graders participated in the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science assessment, which is designed to measure students’ knowledge and abilities in the areas of physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences.

Eighth-grade performance in science improves from 2009

The average eighth-grade science score increased from 150 in 2009 to 152 in 2011. The percentages of students performing at or above the Basic and Proficient levels were higher in 2011 than in 2009. There was no significant change from 2009 to 2011 in the percentage of students at the Advanced level.

Achievement-level results in eighth-grade NAEP Science: 2009 and 2011

*Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.

Racial/ethnic gaps narrow: Score gaps between White and Black students and between White and Hispanic students narrowed from 2009 to 2011. In comparison to 2009, average science scores in 2011 were 1 point higher for White students, 3 points higher for Black students, and 5 points higher for Hispanic students. There were no significant changes from 2009 to 2011 in the scores for Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaska Native students.

No significant change in gender gap: Average scores for both male and female students were higher in 2011 than in 2009. Male students scored 5 points higher on average than female students in 2011, which was not significantly different from the 4-point gap in 2009.

Public school students score higher than in 2009 but private – public gap persists: The average science score for public school students was higher in 2011 than in 2009, while there was no significant change in the score for private school students. Private school students scored 12 points higher on average than public school students in 2011, which was not significantly different from the 15-point score gap in 2009.

Eighth-grade public school students in 16 states score higher in 2011 than in 2009

• Among the 47 states that chose to participate in both years, scores were higher in 2011 than in 2009 in Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• No state scored lower in 2011 than in 2009.

¹ Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2009 and 2011 Science Assessments.

Download the complete report in a PDF file for viewing and printing:

The Nation’s Report Card: Science 2011 report PDF (3322K PDF)

See previous OSTA coverage of NAEP at http://www.oklahomascienceteachersassociation.org/?p=2562

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First Public Draft of Next Generation Science Standards Released Today.

Comment Period Open Until June 1The first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) was released today and will be online for public comment until June 1.In a process managed by Achieve, 26 states led the development of the Next Generation Science Standards. The NGSS is based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education, issued by the National Research Council last summer, which defines the major practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas that all students should be familiar with by the time they finish high school. A Framework for K-12 Science Education offers a new vision for K-12 education in science and engineering, and represents a significant shift in how these subjects are viewed and taught. It is expected that the Next Generation Science Standards will have a profound influence on curriculum, assessment, and teacher professional development in the years ahead. Science educators, supervisors, administrators, and anyone interested in shaping the future of science education are strongly encouraged to read and thoroughly review the draft standards and provide comment back to Achieve on their dedicated website. Let NSTA be your guide to the Next Generation Science Standards Sign up now for two FREE webinars scheduled the week of May 14 to discuss the NGSS draft 1. Introduction to the NGSS Public Draft: Tuesday, May 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Stephen Pruitt, Vice President for Content, Research and Development at Achieve, will provide an introduction to the NGSS draft and answer your questions. 2. How to Lead a Study Group on NGSS Draft: Three top NSTA officials Harold Pratt, Gerry Wheeler, and Ted Willard will lead an in-depth webinar to help you develop and/or lead a group to review the draft NGSS, Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Check out our 14-page, FREE, and easy-to-read booklet on organizing study groups to have focused discussions about the NGSS draft. The booklet includes sample questions, a facilitator guide, and more. Visit NSTA’s Next Generation Science Standards Forums in the NSTA Learning Center where you can share your thoughts with other teachers and ask questions about the standards. Forums are organized by grade level and topic to facilitate focused discussion about the standards. Access the vast variety of NSTA resources and materials on NGSS (including background information) and don’t miss the FREE NSTA Reader’s Guide to A Framework for K-12 Science Education, Expanded Edition, an important companion to the Framework that will help science educators prepare for the standards. Sign up today for the comprehensive NSELA/NSTA Summer Leadership Institute, June 24-28, 2012, in Austin, Texas, where teachers and leaders will hear from key speakers and together explore the K-12 Framework and draft Next Generation Science Standards in depth, identify next steps for their schools and districts, determine what research is needed to support standards reform, and much more.

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STEM Teacher Institute at OSU

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Online Survey About Teaching Climate Change in Secondary Science Courses.

Dear Educators,

We are working with the University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation to invite you to take an online survey about teaching climate change in secondary science courses.

This survey is intended for middle and high school science educators who teach in the Southeast (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia). We are interested in hearing from you whether or not you currently cover climate change in your classroom.

The results of this survey will guide the development of a new Project Learning Tree secondary module that will focus on climate change impacts on southern forest ecosystems, forest impacts on climate, and ways people can affect these relationships. The module is being developed primarily for science and agriculture courses in grades 9-12, with potential use in middle school or community college courses as well.

If you teach secondary science in the Southeast, we welcome your input through completing this survey, which will take 10-15 minutes.

Your responses will be recorded anonymously to protect your identity to the extent provided by law. You may stop answering questions at any time. There are no risks or benefits to participating. There is no compensation for your participation, only the knowledge that you have contributed to the development of this educational resource.

Please click the following link to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TRHYYWL

Your thoughts and opinions are very important to us. Thank you!

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact

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ANTISCIENCE EFFORT FALTERS IN OKLAHOMA

From NCSE’s Evolution and climate education update: May 4, 2012

A last-ditch legislative attempt to attack the teaching of evolution and of climate change in Oklahoma failed when a legislative deadline passed. After two antiscience bills, House Bill 1551 and Senate Bill 1742, died in committee, Steve Russell (R-District 45) proposed to amend House Bill 2341 — a bill that would have extended by two years a deadline by which local school districts are required to meet certain standards for media, equipment, and textbooks—by adding the language from HB 1551, encouraging teachers to present “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses” of “controversial” topics such as “biological evolution” and “global warming.” The amended version of the bill would have been considered when the bill came to a floor vote in the Senate, but April 26, 2012 was the deadline for bills to receive their third reading in the opposite house, so presumably no floor vote will occur.

The legislative session is not over until May 25, 2012, however, so the possibility of similar amendments to unrelated bills remains. Resistance to the amendment to HB 2341, as well as HB 1551 and SB 1742, was coordinated by the grassroots organization Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.

For Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, visit:

http://www.oklascience.org/

And for NCSE’s previous coverage of events in Oklahoma, visit:

http://ncse.com/news/oklahoma

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Seminars on Science at AMNH

The team at Seminars on Science at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has been working hard to keep our courses up-to-date and rigorous, while still being fun and engaging.  They are a great way to fulfill requirements for graduate credit, PD hours, or just help teachers learn more about a subject they’re interested in!

For those of you looking for professional development and graduate credit, registration is open for Seminars on Science from the American Museum of Natural History.  Each six-week course is fully online and can be taken for up to 4 graduate credits each. You can sign up now at learn.amnh.org.

Courses include: Evolution; Climate Change; Earth: Inside and Out; The Solar System, Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; The Diversity of Fishes; Water: Environmental Science and more.  Since the courses are web-based, there is no need to come to the museum in New York City at any time and all courses are led by both an experienced classroom teacher and a PhD research scientist.

 2012 Summer Sessions run May 28 – July 8 AND July 2 – August 12. 

Sign up today and get $50 off your registration cost!”

For more information about the program, check out Seminars on Science at our website: learn.amnh.org

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Teaching Science to Students with Disabilities: A Survey

Dear K-12 Science Educator,

We need your help! We are conducting a research study (eIRB#7242) entitled, “Teaching Science to Students with Disabilities: A Survey of Teacher Preparedness and Attitudes.” This voluntary, anonymous survey will help provide insights into science teachers’ preparation, needs, and views regarding teaching students with disabilities. By conducting this study, we hope to better understand how well-prepared science teachers are in assisting students with disabilities and to determine strategies that may support teachers in engaging and educating these students.

Your expertise as a science educator is invaluable to this study. The anonymous online survey will take between 15-20 minutes to complete. We know you are very busy but hope you will consider lending your time and expertise to this important endeavor. We invite all K-12 science teachers to participate by clicking here: (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScienceAndDisabilities). Once you begin the survey you may exit it at any time. If you wish to continue where you left off you may click the link provided to complete the survey.

Your participation is important for helping educators, administrators, government agencies, and your science teaching organization to determine needs in this area and to develop strategies to assist teachers in providing meaningful science education to all students.

For more information regarding any facet of this research please contact:

Sami Kahn samikahn@mail.usf.edu or Dr. Anna Lewis arlewis@usf.edu.

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