July 31st, 2009 Bob
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 Presentation Proposals!
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.
We are especially interested in program offerings that fit into the following strands:
Assessment
Instructional Strategies
Technology
Content Knowledge
Informal Science
Have an upcoming inservice program for science teachers? The OSTA Fall conference is an ideal way to promote your program. Download the Call for Proposals to submit a proposal to present at the fall conference.
Posted in Events | No Comments »
July 29th, 2009 Bob
The Earth Science Week 2009 (October 11-17) Toolkit enables students, educators, and the public to fully explore this year’s theme “Understanding Climate.” The latest edition of this resource is now available through the American Geological Institute (AGI). It contains a 12-month school-activity calendar and classroom poster provided by AGI, its Member Societies, and other organizations. Along with these traditional Earth Science Week publications, this year’s Toolkit features a variety of educational climate resources from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A report on the “Ecological Impacts of Climate Change” and a new brochure outlining principles for Earth Science literacy are also included. Multimedia features this year include NASA’s “Dynamic EARTH” DVD-ROM and a CD-ROM on GIS technology from ESRI. Additional informational materials within the kits include a National Park Service poster highlighting the nation’s glaciers and literature on the National Wildlife Refuge System. Like years past, the 2009 Toolkit contains a genuine field notebook from Rite in the Rain. These items and much more make the Earth Science Week Toolkit ideal for engaging students and general public to explore the geosciences. The Toolkits are available for the cost of shipping and handling and bulk pricing is available. Find out more at www.earthsciweek.org/materials.
Earth Science Week is an annual event held the second week of October to promote an understanding and appreciation of the earth sciences. It is organized annually by Triangle Coalition member, the American Geological Institute (AGI), with support from a number of other geoscience organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, National Park Service, and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation. AGI is a nonprofit federation of 45 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
July 28th, 2009 Bob
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE), in conjunction with the University of Oklahoma Biological Station (OUBS) and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH), is organizing 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 on Saturday September 5, 2009 from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, OK.
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. Participants will also earn a certificate of participation for professional development credit. Morning coffee, a light lunch, and museum admission are included in the registration fee. Teachers will have time for a brief tour of the museum including the exhibit “Explore Evolution.” This exhibit was created as a companion experience for your activity book, The Virus and the Whale.
Topics covered will include: The latest developments in evolutionary biology, internet resources on teaching evolution, museum resources and services available for teachers, and dealing with classroom and community controversy. Teachers will have the opportunity to present their favorite lesson plans and discuss any problems they encountered in teaching evolution.
Instructors include Dr. Richard Broughton (Zoology, OU), Dr. Ola Fincke (Zoology, OU), Bob Melton (Science Curriculum Specialist, Putnam City Schools), Roberta Pailes (Education officer, SNOMNH), Dr. Frank Sonleitner (Zoology, OU) and Dr Victor Hutchison (Zoology, OU).
Cost per person (to cover text materials) will be $25. Deadline for registration and payment of fee will be August 15, 2009. Early registration is advised since places are limited to 30 registrants. Registrants will receive a confirmation letter with maps and additional information by August 15, 2009.
Registration forms and payment information is found here and at www.snomnh.ou.edu. Follow the links to Programs, School Programs, Resources for Teachers, Professional Development Workshops.
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
Posted in Events, Opportunities | No Comments »
July 28th, 2009 Bob
Start the school year off right at this special Educator Only Preview of Science Museum Oklahoma. No matter the grade or subject you teach, it’s time to discover the new exhibits, shows and programs waiting for you and your students to explore at the museum. This special opportunity lets Oklahoma Educators see the different ways the museum complements the curriculum being taught in classrooms throughout the state.
Please accept our invitation for you and one guest to our Educator Only Preview of Science Museum Oklahoma. Choose the date that best fits your schedule.
Friday August 14, 2009
1:30 2:00: Registration
2:00 2:30: Welcome and Science Live preview
3:00 3:45: Planetarium Show
4:00 4:45: IMAX film, Wild Ocean
4:45 7:00: Museum Exhibits, Refreshments, Meet-and-Greet with museum
staff members
OR
Tuesday August 25, 2009
3:30 4:00: Registration
4:00 4:45: Planetarium Show
5:00 5:45: Science Live preview
6:00 6:45: IMAX film, Wild Ocean
6:45 8:00: Museum Exhibits, Refreshments, Meet-and-Greet with museum
staff members
RSVP to communications@sciencemuseumok.org. Be sure to include your first and last name, school name and address, and grade and subject you teach in your reservation.
*Additional tickets are available for purchase for attendees who would like to bring more than one guest. Tickets are $10.95 for adults, and $8.95 for children and seniors. Children 3 and under are admitted free.
Posted in Events, Opportunities | No Comments »
July 25th, 2009 Bob
A reminder to all folks currently serving on the OSTA Board of Directors: We will be meeting Saturday, August 1st 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.
Posted in Events | No Comments »
July 17th, 2009 Bob
First, the good news: OSTA and the OSDE are finishing preparations for this year’s Oklahoma Science Safety Summit. The bad news? A lack of response to the NSU-BA workshop has forced the cancellation of the July 29th workshop. But the workshop will still take place July 31st on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma.
This workshop provides vital information that each and every school district (and school site) in Oklahoma needs to maintain a safe science laboratory and workplace. School personnel need to know that they are doing all they can to protect students from injury and themselves from liability. So far, most of the registrations to the workshop are from school districts that sent participants to last year’s summit. Does that say anything about the value of the workshop?
Highly competent science programs place emphasis on knowledge of and compliance with workplace safety guidelines. Don’t be left untrained!
Location:
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
Date: Friday, July 31
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
Posted in Events, News, Opportunities | No Comments »
July 12th, 2009 Bob
Hello BioBlitzers!
Just a few more days to take advantage of the discounted early online registration for BioBlitz! 2009 at Robbers Cave - if you register before July 15th, registration fee is only $5! The registration fee includes the Friday night meal, light breakfast on Saturday, one t-shirt, camping in designated Bioblitz! group campsite for both Friday and Saturday nights, and 24-hours of counting Oklahoma’s Biodiversity! Registration will continue online until September 4, but the fee will increase.
To register (and get other important information) go to the BioBlitz! website:
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/bioblitz/BioBlitz.html
BioBlitz! 2009 – Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton, Oklahoma 3:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 18th until 3:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 19th.
Educators who plan to bring a group of students – you may take advantage of the reduced registration fee even if you don’t know the exact number of students attending – contact me now if you haven’t already.
Also another opportunity for BioBlitz! volunteers –
The educational activities were a big hit last year and we plan to have another schedule of events. Already we have planned: night time insect trapping, reptile and snake talks, ferns of Robbers Cave walk, and fish seining. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge with others during BioBlitz! I would love to add you to the program. You can do a demonstration, give a short talk, lead a “nature” walk, or lead another type of educational activity. I am still looking for a knowledgeable birder to lead a early walk on Saturday morning. Please email me if you are interested in being an educator at Robbers Cave.
I am excited about this year’s BioBlitz! and looking forward to seeing you at Robbers Cave in September!
Priscilla
***
Priscilla Crawford
BioBlitz! Coordinator
Oklahoma Biological Survey
University of Oklahoma
111 E. Chesapeake St.
Norman, OK 73019
405-325-7658
prill@ou.edu
Posted in Events | No Comments »
