September 7th, 2010 Bob
The South West Association for Science Teacher Education (SWASTE) is holding a regional meeting on October 15-16 on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Anyone interested in the improvement of science teacher education programs is encouraged to register and attend the meeting. The conference web site is: http://educonf.wordpress.com/
Taking Collaborative Action to
Improve the Preparation of Science Teachers in the Southwest
The Southwest Association for Science Teacher Educators (SW-ASTE), a seven-state regional arm of the National Association for Science Teacher Educators, hosts an annual conference for a small group of science teacher educators who share their research and experiences in supporting the continuous professional growth of K-12 science teachers. Active members have traditionally included science faculty members and their graduate students from four-year colleges and universities serving science teachers in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.
In this conference year, the SW-ASTE Board hopes to extend regional members to include a broader range of colleagues who also contribute to the growth and development of science teachers. With this conference year, the SW-ASTE Board wishes (a) to begin to increase and expand the diversity of our membership and (b) to include a wider variety of institutions and educators – community colleges, historically black institutions, educational service centers, alternative certification providers, scientists, engineers, classroom teachers and administrators. Increased membership, expansion in diversity, and a wider distribution of expertise would strengthen the existing structure of the organization while encouraging new opportunities for collaboration and improving the quality of preparation and support of science teachers in the region.
Bring collaborative partners with you to SW-ASTE this year. Share your innovations in collaborative partnerships that serve to improve science teacher preparation or ongoing professional development. Learn about new, exciting possibilities for action team funding to address regional concerns related to science teacher preparation and ongoing professional development.
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August 27th, 2010 Bob
Slots are still available! Registration deadline extended to Sept. 3. The workshop has been highly rated by past participants. All costs are covered – the only cost to participants is the $25 registration fee and all will receive a check (for approx. $35) to cover travel or other expenses.
Teaching Evolution in the 21st Century
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE), the National Science Foundation (NSF-0845314), and the University of Oklahoma Biological Station UOBS) present a professional development workshop on Teaching Evolution in the 21st Century for Oklahoma high school science teachers and undergraduate and graduate students in science education. The workshop will be held Friday Sept. 17 (6:00 PM) through Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 (3:00 PM) at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma, OK.
Topics covered will include: The nature of science and latest developments in evolutionary biology, resources on teaching evolution and services available for teachers, curriculum development and state standards, and dealing with classroom and community controversy. Teachers will have the opportunity to present their favorite lesson plans and discuss any problems they have encountered in teaching evolution.
Instructors include Julie Angle (Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, OSU), Dr Richard Broughton (Zoology, OU), Dr. Ola Fincke (Zoology, OU), Dr. Victor Hutchison (Zoology, OU), Dr. Cecil Lewis (Anthropology, OU), Bob Melton (Science Curriculum Specialist, Putnam City Schools), Dr. Stanley Rice (Biological Sciences, Southeastern OSU), and Dr. Frank Sonleitner (Zoology, OU).
Participants will earn a certificate of participation for professional development credit. Attendees will receive two books on teaching evolution: Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, and The Virus and the Whale: Exploring Evolution in Creatures Large and Small. Accomodations and meals at the UOBS and a stipend to cover travel are included.
The only cost for participants is a $25 registration fee. Deadline for registration and payment of fee will be Sept. 3, 2010. Registrants will receive a confirmation letter with maps and additional information.
Further information, registration forms and payment information are on-line at: www.oklascience.org/teachers.pdf and at www.ou.edu /uobs/teachers.htm .
To sign up for the Oklahoma Evolution list serve and for many teaching resources, news, events, books, humor, petition on science only in science classes, and much, more see the OESE web site: http://www.oklascience.org
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August 25th, 2010 Bob
Do you want to try out new classroom materials before you introduce them to your students? Are you willing to get your hands dirty attempting a new teaching technique? The 2010 NABT Professional Development Conference is just the place to “test drive” new tools and techniques.
This year, the Conference will feature hand picked, hands-on workshops in a featured Practice What You Teach session strand. Highlighting activities in subjects like anatomy, biotechnology, and genetics, the Practice What You Teach sessions will let you experience the activity as your students would, going through the actual exercises from start to finish. Appropriate for all levels of educators, these fun and engaging workshops will help you get the most out of your time in Minneapolis. VisitProgram Updates for the latest information on special presentations and sessions.
Advance Registration ends on October 12th. Register today to take advantage of special savings and reserve your tickets for field trips, special workshops, and meal functions.
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August 18th, 2010 Bob
Last week we posted the information about The OSTA Fall Conference November 6th at UCO. First off, it’s time to register for the conference. Registration can be made today and payment can be made securely, online with your credit card. The link is found in last week’s blog posting or by clicking the Conference tab at the top of this page. SAVE MONEY and register early!
THINGS TO DO TODAY!
In addition to processing your registration, you need to download and send in a proposal to present to the conference. The big draw in an OSTA Conference is the staff development. And that comes about when you share your great ideas with the rest of the science teachers in Oklahoma at the Fall Conference. The deadline is coming up and NOW is the time when the conference committee is formulating the program.
This is also the time when you need to step up and exercise your responsibility as a member. Nominate someone or volunteer to run for an OSTA Board of Directors post. Any while you are at it, nominate someone for an OSTA award. Don’t leave this important task solely to the discretion of the Board of Directors. Suggest some folks who deserve recognition for the hard work they do for the children in Oklahoma!
Don’t delay! Act on these things today!
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August 3rd, 2010 Bob
The activity schedule for BioBlitz! 2010 at Kaw Lake is starting to shape up. So far we have biologists organizing and leading:
- Mammal tracking stations
- Setting up mammal traps
- Night-time insect collection
- Carrion beetle traps
- Plant identification walks
- Pond and Lake Seining for amphibians and fish
- Bird walks
- Snake walks and talks
- Oklahoma City Zoo education booth
- Junior Biologist activity
- Craft activities for little ones
Keep up to date on BioBlitz! developments, become a fan of our Facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-BioBlitz/265354110309
Online registration is now open—Sign up today!
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/bioblitz/BioBlitz.html
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July 21st, 2010 Bob
Teaching Evolution in the 21st Century
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE), the National Science Foundation (NSF-0845314), and the University of Oklahoma Biological Station (UOBS) present a professional development workshop on Teaching Evolution in the 21st Century for Oklahoma high school science teachers and undergraduate and graduate students in science education. The workshop will be held Friday Sept. 17 (6:00 PM) through Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 (3:00 PM) at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma, OK.
Topics covered will include: The nature of science and latest developments in evolutionary biology, resources on teaching evolution and services available for teachers, curriculum development and state standards, and dealing with classroom and community controversy. Teachers will have the opportunity to present their favorite lesson plans and discuss any problems they have encountered in teaching evolution.
Instructors include Julie Angle (Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, OSU), Dr Richard Broughton (Zoology, OU), Dr. Ola Fincke (Zoology, OU), Dr. Victor Hutchison (Zoology, OU), Dr. Cecil Lewis (Anthropology, OU), Bob Melton (Science Curriculum Specialist, Putnam City Schools), Dr. Stanley Rice (Biological Sciences, Southeastern OSU), and Dr. Frank Sonleitner (Zoology, OU).
Participants will earn a certificate of participation for professional development credit.
Attendees will receive two books on teaching evolution: Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, and The Virus and the Whale: Exploring Evolution in Creatures Large and Small. Accommodations and meals at the UOBS and a stipend to cover travel are included.
The only cost for participants is a $25 registration fee. Deadline for registration and payment of fee will be Sept. 1, 2010. Early registration is advised since places are limited to 30 registrants. Registrants will receive a confirmation letter with maps and additional information.
Further information, registration forms and payment information are on-line at: www.oklascience.org/teachers.pdf and at www.ou.edu /uobs/teachers.htm . To sign up for the Oklahoma Evolution list serve and for many teaching resources, news, events, books, humor, petition on science only in science classes, and much, more see the OESE web site: http://www.oklascience.org
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June 9th, 2010 Bob
A New U.S. National STEM Initiative for Grades 5-12 to inspire the next generation of spaceflight engineers and space scientists
June 7, 2010—The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) provides middle and high school classes across the U.S. the ability to propose experiments to fly in low Earth orbit, and to celebrate that accomplishment with their local community and with national and global audiences. Entire school districts can participate, with student teams proposing experiments like professional scientists and engineers.
Phase 1 of the program is a unique and historic opportunity to propose an experiment to fly aboard STS-134, the final scheduled flight of the Space Shuttle. Selected student experiments would fly for 10 days aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Launch is tentatively scheduled for November 2010, but a launch slip to mid-January is expected, enabling this student spaceflight experiments opportunity.
We want the final voyage of the Space Shuttle to also mark a new beginning for private sector sponsored student experiments in space, which organizations on the SSEP Team have pioneered. The flight of Endeavour will be used as a gateway to Phase 2 of the SSEP—sustainable, ongoing access to space for grade 5-12 students inspired to propose experiments for low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station (with transport via the Russian Progress and Soyuz vehicles), and on suborbital space flights.
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) will immerse students across a local community in an exciting, high profile scientific investigation that is designed and owned by the students—the Flight Experiment Opportunity—and leverage the excitement by wrapping powerful, community-wide science education programming around the experience—the Community Program. It is about engaging students, their teachers, and their families in science education, with a focus on the process of inquiry, and in a manner that is customized to a school district’s strategic needs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.
Visit the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program Website for full details about this time-critical program opportunity, and a call to action in your community.CLICK HERE
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June 7th, 2010 Bob
*NEW*
Project Learning Tree Early Childhood Experiences Activity Guide
Open to In-service and pre-service teachers, methods faculty, nonformal environmental educators, daycare instructors, head start teachers…
July 19th, OKC University, Time: 9:00 – 3:00
Cost: $15
The new state specific PLT based guide, the Oklahoma Children’s Garden, will also be featured. Participants will receive both guides. Interested? Simply email Christina at christina.stallings@oda.state.ok.us to register!
Specific workshop details will be forwarded once you are registered. Bring a friend
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June 4th, 2010 Bob
Oklahoma Project WILD is offering a Project WILD workshop on June 19 from 9 AM to 3 PM at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Center for Outdoor Adventure Recreation at Lake Arcadia near Edmond. The workshop is suitable for K-12 educators and costs $15.
Project WILD is one of the most widely used conservation education programs among educators. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.
Project WILD is concerned with providing information, as well as helping students to evaluate choices and to make responsible decisions. In short, Project WILD’s mission is to help students learn how to think, not what to think about wildlife and the environment.
Workshop participants who attend a Project WILD workshop receive both the Project WILD K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide which focuses on wildlife and habitat and the Project WILD Aquatic K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide which emphasizes aquatic wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. The guides are organized in topic units and are based on the Project WILD conceptual framework. Because these activities are designed for integration into existing courses of study, instructors may use one or many Project WILD activities or the entire set of activities may serve quite effectively as the basis for a course of study.
To register or for more information contact Lisa Anderson at okprojectwild@fullnet.net . For a schedule of other upcoming workshops, go to www.OKProjectWILD.org.
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May 20th, 2010 Bob
Life Along a Prairie River poster
This is the 4th poster in our series Biodiversity of Oklahoma. This FREE poster features a beautiful landscape photograph of the Canadian River by Kim Baker surrounded by portraits of species found in and along the prairie rivers of Oklahoma and other states of the Great Plains.
To view the poster and request your copy go to our web site –
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/posters/OBSposters.html
Also available online are profiles of the featured species and an extensive educator’s guide, which contains lessons and activities on ecological topics relevant to prairie rivers.
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