May 4th, 2012 Bob
From NCSE’s Evolution and climate education update: May 4, 2012
A last-ditch legislative attempt to attack the teaching of evolution and of climate change in Oklahoma failed when a legislative deadline passed. After two antiscience bills, House Bill 1551 and Senate Bill 1742, died in committee, Steve Russell (R-District 45) proposed to amend House Bill 2341 — a bill that would have extended by two years a deadline by which local school districts are required to meet certain standards for media, equipment, and textbooks—by adding the language from HB 1551, encouraging teachers to present “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses” of “controversial” topics such as “biological evolution” and “global warming.” The amended version of the bill would have been considered when the bill came to a floor vote in the Senate, but April 26, 2012 was the deadline for bills to receive their third reading in the opposite house, so presumably no floor vote will occur.
The legislative session is not over until May 25, 2012, however, so the possibility of similar amendments to unrelated bills remains. Resistance to the amendment to HB 2341, as well as HB 1551 and SB 1742, was coordinated by the grassroots organization Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.
For Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, visit:
http://www.oklascience.org/
And for NCSE’s previous coverage of events in Oklahoma, visit:
http://ncse.com/news/oklahoma
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May 4th, 2012 Bob
The team at Seminars on Science at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has been working hard to keep our courses up-to-date and rigorous, while still being fun and engaging. They are a great way to fulfill requirements for graduate credit, PD hours, or just help teachers learn more about a subject they’re interested in!
For those of you looking for professional development and graduate credit, registration is open for Seminars on Science from the American Museum of Natural History. Each six-week course is fully online and can be taken for up to 4 graduate credits each. You can sign up now at learn.amnh.org.
Courses include: Evolution; Climate Change; Earth: Inside and Out; The Solar System, Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; The Diversity of Fishes; Water: Environmental Science and more. Since the courses are web-based, there is no need to come to the museum in New York City at any time and all courses are led by both an experienced classroom teacher and a PhD research scientist.
2012 Summer Sessions run May 28 – July 8 AND July 2 – August 12.
Sign up today and get $50 off your registration cost!”
For more information about the program, check out Seminars on Science at our website: learn.amnh.org
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May 4th, 2012 Bob
Dear K-12 Science Educator,
We need your help! We are conducting a research study (eIRB#7242) entitled, “Teaching Science to Students with Disabilities: A Survey of Teacher Preparedness and Attitudes.” This voluntary, anonymous survey will help provide insights into science teachers’ preparation, needs, and views regarding teaching students with disabilities. By conducting this study, we hope to better understand how well-prepared science teachers are in assisting students with disabilities and to determine strategies that may support teachers in engaging and educating these students.
Your expertise as a science educator is invaluable to this study. The anonymous online survey will take between 15-20 minutes to complete. We know you are very busy but hope you will consider lending your time and expertise to this important endeavor. We invite all K-12 science teachers to participate by clicking here: (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScienceAndDisabilities). Once you begin the survey you may exit it at any time. If you wish to continue where you left off you may click the link provided to complete the survey.
Your participation is important for helping educators, administrators, government agencies, and your science teaching organization to determine needs in this area and to develop strategies to assist teachers in providing meaningful science education to all students.
For more information regarding any facet of this research please contact:
Sami Kahn samikahn@mail.usf.edu or Dr. Anna Lewis arlewis@usf.edu.
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May 4th, 2012 Bob
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC) is organized to provide activities, experiments, projects, and field experiences for students entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the fall of 2012. The camp promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and supports historically underserved and underrepresented students with limited opportunities. Students attend the camp free of charge. Students currently in grade 5, 6, or 7 who have an interest in science and mathematics, at least a B average in science and mathematics courses and a passing score on the state’s standardized science and mathematics tests are eligible to apply. Immediate family members of the university faculty and staff, EMBHSSC camp staff and ExxonMobil employees are not eligible. The EMBHSSC is a two-week, academic, residential camp that emphasizes increasing students’ mathematics and science knowledge and skills while introducing them to college life and stimulating their interest in science and engineering as a potential career path. Each day, campers will attend classes that include problem solving, research, critical thinking and communication skills incorporated with biology, chemistry, physics, environmental sciences, earth sciences, engineering, technology, design concepts, and field excursions. Certified secondary teachers and university faculty will teach the classes. The camp will be held on the campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Students will be housed in a dorm on the university’s campus. Camp participants will be selected from the state of Oklahoma. Download the student application here.
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May 4th, 2012 Bob
The Oklahoma Writing Project hosts:
Common Core Conference
Come Learn How Common Core Will Impact You and Your Classroom
For Grades K-12th
- Presentations will include practical, developmentally appropriate ideas to build writing skills and literacy while transitioning to Common Core Standards.
- Participants will learn the writing process and other helpful classroom strategies.
- Participants will be actively involved and leave with lessons that can be immediately implemented.
June 22, 2012
USAO Campus
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Cost: $50.00 per person
Tentative Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-10:30 Session 1
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:15 Session 2
12:15-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-3:00 Session 3
June 29, 2012
Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Cost: $50.00 per person
Tentative Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-10:30 Session 1
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:15 Session 2
12:15-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-3:00 Session 3
Register online on the OWP Website:
As schools prepare for Common Core Assessments, come learn about writing activities to integrate into your current curriculum and school day. All sessions will provide packets of resources, current research and active learning. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity! Register online today!
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