August 27th, 2008 Bob
The Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education (OKAEE) mission includes recognition of exemplary efforts in environmental education. You can help OKAEE accomplish this mission by nominating deserving individuals for an OKAEE award. OKAEE recognizes excellence in environmental education by presenting custom fine art trophies in each of the following categories during the annual Environmental Education Expo scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2009:
· Lifetime Achievement Award
· Presidents Achievement Award
· Classroom Teacher Award
· Outstanding High School or College Student Award
· Outstanding Organization Award
· Excellence in Media Award
Descriptions and nomination instructions are at: http://www.okaee.org/awards/
You probably know someone who deserves one of these awards, please take a few moments to review the descriptions and procedures and make a nomination today!
Deadline for nominations is January 2, 2009. Questions? Email Joe Rackley
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August 26th, 2008 Bob
The Weather Channel is sponsoring a contest to identify attendees to the 2008 Forecast Earth Summit in Washington, DC, December 5-7, 2008. The 20 summit participants will be selected based upon evaluation of 200 word essays submitted by each of them. The selection contest is for High School students aged 14-17 and ends October 19, 2008.
Each Contestant must submit an essay describing the entrant’s love for the Planet and what the entrant has done to keep it clean and green. Each entry must be a previously unpublished, original, first person account with ownership rights held solely by the contestant. The entry must not be previously committed to publication in any medium. Students must submit the typed essay, photograph and entry form electronically online. Essays must be submitted in English and are limited to 200 words.
To Enter Via the Internet: Log on to www.forecastearthsummit.org, complete the entry form in English and in its entirety (including the essay fill-in and photo attachment areas) and electronically submit the entry form by October 19th. Complete rules and eligibility requirements are found at the url posted above.
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August 25th, 2008 Bob
The Office of Accountability and Assessments is pleased to offer workshops for Oklahoma science educators concerning the End-of-Instruction (EOI) Biology and Grade 5 and 8 sciences assessments.
Primary objectives of the workshops include the following:
- To understand the use of PASS, Test Specifications and Item Specifications, and the testing format for the EOI and OCCT science assessments
- To provide an overview of test item development, including dual alignment of PASS content and process standards and DOK levels.
- To gain experience and knowledge creating own items and how to teach this testing process to students
- To build professional collegiality and networking among science teachers.
The training will be delivered by staff members from Pearson’s and Data Recognition Corporation’s (DRC) Science Content Support teams experienced in working with Oklahoma’s science assessments. Representatives from the State Department of Education will also be available during the workshop to respond to questions.
Biology I workshops will be held from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
¨ Lawton: Tuesday, October 7, Great Plains Technology Center
¨ Oklahoma City: Wednesday, October 8, Francis Tuttle Technology Center - Rockwell Campus
¨ Tulsa: Thursday, October 9, Tulsa Technology Center – Peoria Campus
Grades 5 and 8 Science workshops will be held from 9:00am – 3:30 pm
¨ Durant: Monday, September 29, Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant, OK
¨ Tulsa: Tuesday, September 30, Clarion Hotel, Broken Arrow, OK
¨ Chickasha: Wednesday, October 1, Canadian Valley Technology Center – Chickasha Campus
¨ Woodward: Thursday, October 2, High Plains Technology Center, Seminar A Main Building
¨ Oklahoma City: Friday, October 3, Francis Tuttle Technology Center – Reno Campus
Space is limited and registration is required.
For additional information contact Gaile Loving at 405-521-3341, or email Gaile_Loving@sde.state.ok.us
To register you must contact your local District Test Coordinator to obtain the proper url for the registration site.
Direct your questions to the following numbers and e-mail addresses:
Biology: Pearson at 1- 866-294-9970 or okeoionline@support.pearson.com
Grades 5 and 8 Science: DRC at 1-866-546-9404 or email OK@datarecogntioncorp.com.
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August 21st, 2008 Bob
Issac Newton is credited with saying “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Time has passed and many current science teachers in Oklahoma are not of sufficient age to remember, but we have had a giant in our profession who’s influence is still felt in how quality science education is understood. Dr. John W. “Jack” Renner taught science education at OU from 1962-1988, and his students continue to make phenomenal impacts on science education in Oklahoma, throughout the country, and around the world. His work on the Learning Cycle in the 1970′s was a part of the development of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) program supported by the National Science Foundation. The success of the learning cycle lead to it’s use as the origin and foundation for the Biological Science Curriculum Study (BSCS) and the Full Option Science System (FOSS). The Learning Cycle approach and it’s underlying teaching philosophy of constructivism shows itself today in the inquiry approach defined by the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the process skill development required by our own Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS). Jack was recognized for his contributions by NSTA with the Robert H. Carleton Award which annually recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to, and provided leadership in, science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular. It is NSTA’s highest honor. In like manner, the Jack Renner Award is OSTA’s highest honor given each year to a person who has made a significant contribution to science education in Oklahoma.
Friends and colleagues are working on a special campaign to raise $50,000 that will allow for the dedication of a laboratory as a memorial to Jack in the new wing of the University of Oklahoma College of Education that will house a state-of-the-art facility for science education. This new science education laboratory will be named the John W. “Jack” Renner Science Education Center and will symbolize to future science educators his tradition of academic excellence, love of science and the learning cycle.
This is your invitation to contribute to this campaign. Please take time to pledge a contribution. The OU College of Education will keep you apprised of the status of this important effort. If you have questions about the campaign or wish to make or pledge a contribution, contact John Cougher, Director of Development for the College of Education (jcougher@ou.edu or 405.325.1266). John can explain the specifics of the larger capital campaign or details of this particular endeavor. Questions about the campaign may also be directed to Dr. Ed Marek, Presidential Professor, Director of the Science Education Center at OU, eamarek@ou.edu.
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August 19th, 2008 Bob
The Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics (KATM) and the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science (KATS) are working together again to offer a statewide conference, SMARTT 2008, that focuses on the learning and teaching of mathematics and science using assessment, research and technology. If you’re interested in a TI-T3 conference, you will find that at SMARTT as well. There will be sessions each day focusing on TI technology – graphing calculators, Navigator, TI-Nspire in particular. Register for SMARTT 2008 and you can attend any of the T3 sessions, or register for T3 and attend any of the SMARTT sessions. There is only one registration fee and you can “mix and match” your sessions.
The Kauffman Foundation has joined us in this endeavor. The conference will be at the Overland Park Convention Center November 6-8, 2008. Visit www.kats.org or www.katm.org , or email Kay Neil, neillks@cableone.net or Connie Schrock, cschrock@emporia.edu for additional information and registration.
You won’t want to miss best-selling author (Rocket Boys) and retired NASA engineer Homer Hickam who will open the conference at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 6th.
Several outstanding math and science speakers will be presenting at SMARTT 2008. Among them are:
· Adam Weiner, author of the best-selling book, Don’t Try This at Home.
· Dr. Ken Wesson will present “Brain-compatible Approaches for Teaching”.
· Dr. Kathleen Fulson is the Director of Reinventing Schools for the 21st Century, National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF). Dr. Fulson will present “Teaching in the Digital Age: What it Means for Today’s Math, Science, and Technology Teachers” and “Retaining the Best and the Brightest: Holding on to Top Math/Science/Technology Teachers”.
· Cathy Seeley, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
· Liping Ma, author of Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics.
· Lee Stiff, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Teachers PK-16, parents, school administrators, and school board members are invited to attend. As its “name” implies, SMARTT 2008 is all about Science & Mathematics –Assessment, Research, and Technology Together.
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August 18th, 2008 Bob
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and NSTA are pleased to announce the 19th annual Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program. This year Toyota will award $550,000 in grants to K-12 teachers of science. A total of 50 large grants of up to $10,000 each, along with 20-30 mini-grants of up to $2,500 each will be awarded. Categories include environmental science, integrating literacy and science and physical science. Toyota has awarded 986 grants totaling over $8 million in this premiere nationwide grant program.
For further information and to begin the application process online, please visit http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry. The online applications are now available! The deadline for submission of online entries is January 21, 2009.
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August 15th, 2008 Bob
Do you teach or work with students in one of the grades k-12?
Are you concerned about declining achievement in science classes?
Would you like to see student interest in science increase?
Do you wish we could capture the kind of interest, enthusiasm, and commitment for science that we see exhibited for sports?
Would you like to participate in a program that is aligned with the national science standards?
Are you ready to learn how to increase student scores and student interest in science and improve community perception of science education?
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, then we invite you to become part of the renaissance in science education by starting a science olympiad team in your school or district. We would like to share the excitement and successes that have been experienced at science olympiad tournaments all across the country. Plan now to join the over 14,000 k-12 schools that participated in last year’s science olympiad tournaments.
138 schools participate in Science Olympiad in Texas, 65 participate in New Mexico, 23 in Arkansas, 120 in Colorado, 64 in Louisiana, 220 in Missouri, and 139 participate in Kansas. In Oklahoma we have grown to 8 schools.
To join the Oklahoma Science Olympiad contact: Bob Melton or call 405-495-5200 x 1284
Visit the National Science Olympiad web site Here for information about the upcoming national Coaches Clinics and this year’s events
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August 14th, 2008 Bob
Recognizing that there are challenges to encouraging student interest in biological concepts, the NABT BioClub has been formed to support teachers who are interested in starting biology clubs at their schools. The mission of the NABT BioClub is to “recruit, support, nurture, and promote students with an interest in biological sciences.” NABT will help teachers provide activities, resources, and guidance for their students.
There will also be a BioClub Reception during the NABT Professional Development Conference in Memphis (October 15-18, 2008. Go to NABT.org for more information). Sponsored by Carolina Biological Supply, this event is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the great opportunities available for BioClub Faculty Advisors and Teachers.
Twenty-one NABT BioClub chapters have already been formed, and NABT will be welcoming other chapters in the coming academic year. If you are interested in learning more about the NABT BioClubs, please visit NABT BioClub
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August 14th, 2008 Bob
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to release its latest edition of the Acid Rain Teacher’s Guide. With feedback and contributions from teachers across the nation, EPA has updated and enhanced this educational resource for the 2008 school year. Designed for middle school teachers, Learning About Acid Rain: A Teacher’s Guide for Grades 6 through 8 provides a basic overview of acid rain, its effects on ecosystems, and ecosystem recovery. The guide includes nine laboratory-based science experiments to enhance the students’ understanding of acid rain and the problems it causes, as well as create a greater interest in its resolution and in applied environmental science in general.
The guide includes:
· Key definitions of acidity, acid rain and air pollution
· Illustrations depicting how both natural and man-made pollutants contribute to the formation of acid rain
· Effects of acid rain on diverse ecosystems
· Effects of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution on humans
· Effects of acid rain on man-made materials
· EPA programs and monitoring systems that address acid rain
· What individuals can do to help prevent acid rain and address other environmental problems
· Nine science experiments investigating various aspects of acidity and acid rain
· Cross-disciplinary activities that explore other aspects of the acid rain issue
· Crossword puzzle and word search of key terms
Committed to keeping the nation informed about environmental issues, the EPA hopes that this guide will be an informative and interesting tool which teachers can use to educate students on the harmful effects of acid rain as well as provide information on current EPA programs created to address this important environmental problem. To obtain a copy of the Learning About Acid Rain: A Teacher’s Guide for Grades 6 through 8 visit Here or request a printed copy by calling the Acid Rain Hotline (202.343.9620).
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August 7th, 2008 Bob
The 5 museums and attractions that make up the Oklahoma City Adventure District are hosting a come and go Teachers’ Sneak Peek in Thursday, September 4th from 4 to 8 pm. If you live within and hour or two of OKC, here’s you opportunity to see what’s happening in the Adventure District and how you can involve students. The Adventure District is a pretty cool place with so many quality museums and attractions grouped within sight of one another, but I’m really intrigued about how the parent permission slip for the field trip to Remington Park is going to read (yes, I know, lots of practical and impractical application of mathematics not to mention animal husbanry, accounting, sociology, psychology,…).
To download the flier for this event click here teacher-sneak-peek-2008.
To register for this event on-line click here.
The museums and attractions participating in this event are: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Science Museum Oklahoma (formerly known as the Omniplex), Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum, and Remington Park
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