March 8th, 2010 Bob
Looking to spice up your math or science class? Want to learn new skills? Apply to the OSU Summer Engineering Research Experience for Teachers.
For six weeks in the summer, teachers selected as Engineering RET Scholars will participate in this hands-on laboratory research experience at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Teachers will develop effective techniques for translating research experiences to simple and affordable experiments designed to engage students in the middles grades; develop or adapt effective techniques for teaching middle school students ways to think about and conceptualize emergent processes vital to understanding complex phenomena and systems; and build long-term, sustainable, relationships with Oklahoma State University faculty and other middle school teachers across Oklahoma.
Program Dates: June 7 – July 16, 2010
Qualifications: Oklahoma middle school mathematics and science teacher teams (6-9th grade). Two teachers need to come from a given school.
Stipend: $7,500
Obligations: Two pre-research professional development days, six weeks summer engineering research commitment, follow-up days during the school year, curriculum unit development and implementation, teacher narrative, reflective journaling, and assessment and dissemination of project.
Deadline: March 22 (postmark)
To apply: Complete and submit Application form
For more information: Contact Dr. Karen High by phone at (405) 744-9112 or by email at karen.high@okstate.edu.
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March 5th, 2010 Bob
EVOLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING REDUX (from NCSE’s Evolution Education Update)
“Critics of the teaching of evolution in the nation’s classrooms are gaining ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming, arguing that dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be taught in public schools,” reported The New York Times (March 3, 2010). “Wherever there is a battle over evolution now,” Lawrence M. Krauss told the Times, “there is a secondary battle to diminish other hot-button issues like Big Bang and, increasingly, climate change. It is all about casting doubt on the veracity of science — to say it is just one view of the world, just another story, no better or more valid than fundamentalism.”
The article suggested that the linkage of evolution and global warming was in part due to legal considerations. NCSE’s Joshua Rosenau told the Times that he began to notice the linkage after the 2005 decision in Selman v. Cobb County. At issue was a disclaimer about evolution affixed to textbooks; although the text of the disclaimer was not religious, it was held to be unconstitutional because it endorsed the creationist view that evolution is a problematic theory lacking an adequate foundation. “By insisting that global warming also be debated, deniers of evolution can argue that they are simply championing academic freedom in general.”
Reporting the scientific consensus, the Times explained, “For mainstream scientists, there is no credible challenge to evolutionary theory. They oppose the teaching of alternative views like intelligent design, the proposition that life is so complex that it must be the design of an intelligent being. And there is wide agreement among scientists that global warming is occurring and that human activities are probably driving it.” Nevertheless, it seems clear that around the country, attempts to undermine the integrity of science education are increasingly likely to include global warming as well as evolution.
(Ed. Note: Those who live in the OKC area may recognize this linkage as the wife of a local member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives recently penned a letter to the Oklahoma Gazette, a weekly publication found on-line and in many area restaurants, in which she called Evolution and Global Climate Change as two hoaxes the teaching of which was illustrative of the failure of Oklahoma public schools. Needless to say, there were many responses in rebuttal to her letter from scientists and educators.)
For the story in The New York Times, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/science/earth/04climate.html
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March 4th, 2010 Bob
Just in time for Spring Break and springing forward for Daylight Savings Time- the March JanaGram from OSDE Science Director Jana Rowland.
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March 2nd, 2010 Bob
June 9 – June 25
Monday – Friday from 9:00—4:00
Visit 10 of the most popular educational institutions in and around Tulsa!
All lessons and activities are PASS aligned
Receive 3 Graduate Credits from University of Tulsa
Stipend upon completion of workshop for accepted applicants
Private Digital Camera for classroom use
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This is a workshop you’ll never forget…
Spend your summer getting paid to visit some of the most exciting attractions in and
around Tulsa. You will meet fellow teachers excited to learn new ways to engage students while meeting PASS standards.
You do not need to be a science teacher to attend; actually we invite teachers from all content areas to apply. During the workshop, you will learn about fine arts, science, history, ecology, physics, chemistry and mathematics just to name a few.
The cost is FREE! Actually, we pay you!
· The SENSE-sational Science teacher Workshop is funded through the “No Child Left Behind Grant” sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
· As long as you are a K-5th grade teacher serving students in Oklahoma you are welcome to apply!
· You will be asked to submit samples of a lesson plan you will complete during the workshop and required to participate in 2 Saturday follow up days during the school year.
· You will also be required to use the lesson plan you create as well as pre and post assessment from your students
· Each teacher will work towards a common goal of developing and distributing applications for their students that extend lessons and integrate science, math and reading.
· There will be outdoor sessions and moderate physical activity, including walking on uneven terrain.
· Be able to attend all classes at all institutions.
· Have private transportation to and from all workshop locations.
· You will receive part of your stipend upon successful completion of the summer workshop. You will receive the remainder of your stipend upon completion of the two follow up days during the school year.
· Complete teacher application and provide one letter of support from your school administrator (preferably your principal) by March 26.
Submission of application does not guarantee a spot in the workshop; you will be notified of acceptance by mail.
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February 26th, 2010 Bob
Spring is always a busy season for organizations like OSTA. You’d think it would be Fall, when the conferences and in-services are typically held, but nope, late-winter to early spring is when the decisions are made that will affect how the group will ultimately fare in the next year.
Dr. Christol at work...
OSTA President Pam Christol is in the process of appointing chairpersons to the OSTA Standing Committees. She’s knows a lot of folks, and that helps when it comes to matching good people with the tasks that must be accomplished. But she doesn’t know everybody and she doesn’t know that YOU are willing and able to donate a little time and effort to the cause of OSTA.
OSTA’s Nominations Committee is the standing committee charged with developing the pool of volunteers who will serve on committees and run for Board positions. Kathy Pursley is the Chair of the Nominations Committee and she need YOU to step up and let her know that you are willing to help OSTA advance the cause of science education in Oklahoma. You might want to consider serving on a committee and there are several standing committees that require population by members (not Board members). One of the largest is the Professional Development committee, which puts together the great staff development programs offered by OSTA, like the Science Safety Summit and the Fall Conference. But the other committees are places to serve as well. If you would like to be on the Membership, Constitution, Nomination, Communication, or Election committees, please email Pam and/or Kathy and they can get your name to the committee chairs. If you would like to be considered for a Board position at some point, let Kathy know so she can add your name to the pool of nominees.
There is a place for you to serve and be an active part of OSTA. Now is the time to step up and take your place.
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February 23rd, 2010 Bob
NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to produce
http://www.nbclearn.com/Olympics, Science of the Olympic Winter Games, a 16-part video series that explores the science behind individual Olympic events, including Downhill and Aerial Skiing, Speed and Figure Skating, Curling, Hockey, Ski Jumping, Bobsledding, and Snowboarding.
This groundbreaking project between the NSF and NBC Learn uses the global spotlight of the Olympics to make science more accessible and more interesting to students by showing how science helps athletes fulfill the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius — Swifter, Higher, Stronger. As part of the project, NBC Learn interviews athletes, coaches, and scientists in this original 16-part series, and unravels the physics, biology, chemistry, and materials engineering behind the Olympic Winter Games.
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February 23rd, 2010 Bob
“Encouraging young people to be makers of things, not just consumers of things.”– President Barack Obama
What is NLD?
National Lab Day is more than just a day. It’s a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and educators.
Volunteers, university students, scientists, engineers, other STEM professionals and, more broadly, members of the community are working together with educators and students to bring discovery-based science experiences to students in grades K-12. When an educator posts a project, our system will help them get the resources needed to bring that project to fruition.
NLD is already underway! There are projects throughout the country – Interactive Map.
In the first week of May, 2010 we will celebrate this collaboration with National Lab Day activities across the country.
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February 19th, 2010 Bob
Direct from her windowless cubicle deep within the bowels of the Oklahoma State Department of Education comes the February Science News from our favorite bureaucrat, State Science Director Jana Rowland! Can’t you just picture her hunched over her computer keyboard, bathed in the dim light from a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling and the green glow from her cathode-ray tube monitor? ah, budget cuts!
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February 12th, 2010 Bob
Here are several quick, up-to-date links to DNA Day resources designed to help you involve your classroom, school, group or community in this year’s DNA Day activities.
National DNA Day celebrates the promise of DNA and genetics for all and has been successfully included annually in K-16 classrooms since the national program started over five years ago.
Get Your Group or Classroom Up and Running for National DNA Day:
Overview of DNA Day: National DNA Day is a unique day when students, teachers and the public can learn more about genetics and genomics! The day commemorates the description of DNA’s double helix (April, 1953) and the completion of the Human Genome Project (April, 2003).
DNA Day Classroom Resources: A number of resources for those teaching and learning about genetics and genomics. A ready-made DNA Day slide show, animations, a Talking Glossary of Genetics, a “Guide to Your Genome,” an animated timeline of genetics from Mendel to the 21st century, podcasts, and much more!
Visit Our Online Chatroom With Your Class and Ask an Expert a Question:
Each year, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) sponsors a day-long DNA Day Chatroom where leading genetics researchers are online to answer student and teacher questions for 10 hours straight. This year, you and your students can join genomic researchers in our online chatroom on Friday, April 23 from 8:00 am EST until 6:00 pm EST.
Become Your State’s National DNA School for 2010:
This year one of our goals is to have our chatroom experts answer questions from at least one school in every state, plus Puerto Rico and Guam. Although the chatroom will be open public, questions from schools who pre-register for the chatroom will be given preferred treatment assuring your questions are answered in a timeframe that your students can see live on the Internet.
How do I sign up my class? Simply send an email to Carla Easter at the NHGRI (easterc@mail.nih.gov). Simple directions will be sent to you in a return email on how to sign-up.
DNA Day on Facebook: National DNA Day is on Facebook. Help us raise awareness of DNA Day, and keep abreast of new ideas and tips for DNA Day as the happen! Become a fan!
Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: If you haven’t seen it yet, here is our best new learning tool for understanding genetic terms. Over 250 terms explained by friendly, normal-talking researchers in short audio files. Plus color illustrations, 3D animations and a random 10-question quiz.
Join the Community of Genetic Educators: Free, run by NIH as a service to genetics educators at all levels, here you can download the latest slides and illustrations, meet and contact people like you who teach some aspect of genetics, and get the latest news and tools. Over 600 teachers are now members, join us. Contribute – collaborate – share- learn.
Don’t see it? Confused? Have something to share? Excited and want to do more? Contact Carla Easter at the NIH.
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February 11th, 2010 Bob
In light of the recent winter weather, OSDE announced today a new testing window for OCCT testing. The ”extended” testing window for CRT and EOI assessments are as follows:
Grades 3 – 8: the testing window will open on April 12th. Paper/Pencil testing will be extended to May 7th. Online testing will be extended to May 14th.
EOI: the testing window will open April 19th. Paper/Pencil Testing will be extended to May 14th. Online testing will be extended to May 21st.
The Updated Testing Schedule is
attached.
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