June 25th, 2009 Bob
MyScience: Connecting With
21st Century Students
OSTA 2009 Fall Staff Development Conference
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Howell Hall, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond
Make plans to attend the premier event for Oklahoma Science teachers!
Call For Presentations!
The OSTA Fall Conference is a time to share what you know about teaching and learning science as well as learn new things and grow as a professional. Feel free to share a new technique, a novel use of technology, or findings from your latest summer workshop. Have and upcoming inservice program for science teachers? The OSTA Fall conference is an ideal way to promote your program. Download the Call for Proposal to submit a proposal to present at the fall conference.
Call for Nominations!
The OSTA Fall conference includes the annual OSTA business meeting. OSTA members are able to vote to elect new members to the OSTA Board of Directors. The OSTA Nominations Committee is now accepting Nominations for the odd numbered OSTA regions (1,3, and 5) as well as Secretary, Vice-President, High School Division Director, and Elementary Division Director. That’s a lot of opportunity to serve and help make a difference in Science Education in Oklahoma. Self Nominations are encouraged! Download the Nominations form here.
OSTA Awards!
OSTA presents annual awards to recognize those among us who have made significant contributions to science education in the state. The Jack Renner Distinguished Service Award is the top award given by OSTA, but other recognition is given annually to Oklahoma Science teachers at the Elementary, Middle Level, High School, and College levels. The OSTA Awards Committee is now accepting award nominations. Download a nomination form here.
Invitation to Exhibitors…
Have a product of interest to science teachers? Have a program that needs advertisement? Does you company or organization offer service of interest to Oklahoma science teachers and schools? Exhibit space is available at reasonable rates. Download the Exhibitors proposal here.
It’s Not Too Early to Register!
Register now and avoid the rush. Pre-conference registration is only $35 and includes the OSTA Awards Luncheon and membership renewal for the next year. Pre-service science teachers can attend for $20 (lunch and membership included). Download the OSTA Fall Conference Registration form.
Introducing the OSTA Carpool Special…
Primary Registrants who register three (3) additional Full Conference or Pre-service participants on the second page of the conference registration form will receive a waiver of their registration fee. Think about it! Sign up three more paid registrations on this form and you can attend the OSTA Fall Conference, plus enjoy lunch and renew your 2010 membership at no cost!
So round up three colleagues and fill up your car and save with the OSTA Carpool Special.
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June 10th, 2009 Bob
2 Locations!
July 29, 2009
Northeastern State University – Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
OR
July 31, 2009
Howell Hall, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma
PRE-REGISTRATION (Due July 22, 2009)
Full Conference Registration – includes complementary OSTA membership (for new members), continental breakfast, an OSTA coffee mug, Safety Tool Kit media and lunch - $50.00
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association, the Oklahoma Science Safety Summit is designed to focus on the topic of safety in science classrooms and will bring sharp focus to needs, practices, and responsibilities of teachers and schools. This is designed as a Trainer of Trainers workshop and will provide the tools and knowledge to enable participants to lead the yearly training required in every school district in Oklahoma.
The primary presenter for the summit is Jim Collins of the Charles Dana Center at the University of Texas.
Jim’s extensive research in safety practices and procedures in Texas resulted in a recent strengthening on the Texas state laws regulating school safety and safety practice in Texas. His work includes theTexas Safety Standards for Kindergarten–Grade 12 and An Analysis of Laboratory Safety in Texas.
Go to the Dana Center (http://www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit/safety/) for more information about the science safety toolkit.
Summit At-A-Glance
Locations:
July 29 – NSU campus map at http://www.nsuba.edu/about/campus.html
July 31 – Howell Hall (science building) on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond.
Campus map at http://administration.uco.edu/documents/tps_parkingmap200809.pdf
Dates: Wednesday July 29 (NSU) or Friday July 31, (UCO)
Time: 8 am until 4:30 pm (8-8:30 Registration and continental breakfast)
Cost: $50 per person. Purchase orders to OSTA are accepted. Space is limited to a maximum of 60 participants. All participants receive a copy of a CD of Safety Kit resources, continental breakfast, lunch, and a 1 year complimentary new membership in OSTA (not good toward OSTA membership renewals).
Registration Deadline: July 22, 2009
All registrations and/ or questions should be directed to: Jeff Patterson, OSTA President, Norman Public Schools, 131 S. Flood, Norman, OK 73069.jefferyp@norman.k12.ok.us
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June 8th, 2009 Bob
We welcome your application to participate in a professional development program that
is focused on the Teacher-Friendly Guide to the South Central Region and Virtual Fieldwork Experiences. Spend time in the field and learn ways to incorporate inquiry in your classroom! The workshop will be held at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, OK on July 28-31, 2009. Application deadline is June 26, 2009. For more information and to apply visit:http://virtualfieldwork.org/SC_PD_Appication,_Summer_2009.html
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June 2nd, 2009 Bob
A reminder to all folks currently serving on the OSTA Board of Directors: We will be meeting this Saturday, June 6th at 9:00 A.M.. This meeting will be held at the Norman Curriculum Office, 131 S. Flood in Norman. If you are planning to “attend” via SKYPE please send Jeff Patterson your contact information and set up a trial run to make sure you can connect. Click this link for a map.
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June 2nd, 2009 Bob
Wow! Another year flew by! I hope you are starting a relaxing summer
vacation. The Oklahoma Museum Network really appreciates all of the
support you have given us in our first full year of programming! We want
it to be even bigger and better next year, so we are asking for a few
minutes of your time to help us determine the programs that will best fit
your needs.
This survey will only take a few minutes, and as a thank you for your time
your name will be entered into a drawing for a FREE ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP to
Science Museum Oklahoma, Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, Leonardo’s
Discovery Warehouse, Museum of the Great Plains, or Tulsa Air and Space
Museum! Whichever one the winner chooses will include the OMN upgrade
that allows up to five people into any of these OMN partner museums!
Several winners will be chosen, click on link below to go to the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2f8mhCdRljgwQnIodoJKWMw_3d_3d
We look forward to tons of fun in the future!
Sincerely,
Sherry Marshall
Director, Oklahoma Museum Network
at Science Museum Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomamuseumnetwork.org
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May 22nd, 2009 Bob
Ag in the Classroom is rounding up all Pre-K through 8th grade teachers. You are invited to attend Ag in the Classroom’s “BACK AT THE RANCH” Conference on July 31, 2009 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center, S. Penn Campus. From 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., the day includes grade level/content specific/PASS correlated breakout sessions, current event round table discussion, lunch from 2 Olives Café and a magnificent “make and take mania”. There is no registration fee.
WHAT: BACK AT THE RANCH WITH AG IN THE CLASSROOM
WHEN: JULY 31ST 8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. (LUNCH PROVIDED)
WHERE: MOORE NORMAN TECHNOLOGY CENTER – SOUTH PENN CAMPUS
REGISTRATION: ONLINE and by registration form
HOW MUCH: NO CHARGE TO YOU
WHY: SUSTAINABLE, AUTHENTIC, PASS SPECIFIC, USABLE AND FUN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WHO: PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE TEACHERS (ALL SUBJECTS)
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May 22nd, 2009 Bob
Friday’s scheduled end to the ‘09 Oklahoma Legislative session has been delayed until after Memorial Day, and the education-related dealings are certainly continuing. After giving a veto to a measure to move Assessment and Accountability out of the OSDE, the Legislature has apparently managed a deal with Governor Henry to allow passage into law of another measure that accomplishes the same end… and then some. Find the latest version of the bill here, and while it downloads you can work on how much it will cost to fund the two standard setting committees of not less than 24 people that will meet each year for each of Oklahoma’s 44 tests.
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May 19th, 2009 Bob
Straight from her beautiful third floor office overlooking the State Capitol grounds at the Oklahoma State Department of Education is your May Janagram from OSDE Science Director Jana Rowland.
And to keep your collection complete, here is the April Janagram, (which somebody forgot to post…)
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May 18th, 2009 Bob
Have you considered getting your masters degree? Oklahoma State University’s College of Education mathematics and science faculty would like to invite you to join a special cohort for new and current mathematics and science teachers. You would be completing a master’s degree in Teaching, Learning and Leadership with an option in mathematics/science education. The cost of this masters degree will be $8000 which will include books and instructional materials (with the exception of field trips); however, it is free to students who apply for and are eligible for the federal TEACH grant money. In order to be eligible for the TEACH grant you must be certified to teach either mathematics or science and complete a four-year teaching service obligation in mathematics or science in a low-income school upon the completion of the degree. During your four years of service, you must be teaching mathematics and/or science for more than 50% of the school day.
Please contact Juliana Utley with any additional questions or to request an information packet. In order for you to be fully admitted before summer school starts all application materials need to be submitted by May 22 otherwise you may have to enroll as a special student and this would require both a fee for special student enrollment and an application fee for applying to graduate school.
(Editor’s note: Apparently this program has admitted it’s maximum number of mathematics teachers but there are still several science teacher opening available)
Juliana Utley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Mathematics Education
233 Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University
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May 14th, 2009 Bob
The program guides for PASS it on!, the State Superintendent’s Master Teacher Project Regional Conferences are now available on the OSDE website. Click here to download the guides and to register.
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