Workshop organized and sponsored by: Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Oklahoma Biological Station
More than 25 Years of Changing Lives – One Dream at a Time
Overview
Since 1984, more than $27 million have been awarded to organizations serving approximately 115 million people in virtually every state in the U.S.
AHF was established by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., to commemorate its 25th anniversary in the United States and to show its appreciation of America’s support through the years. It is Honda’s desire that in every community in which it does business society will want Honda to exist.
Mission Statement
Help meet the needs of American society in the areas of youth and scientific education by awarding grants to nonprofits, while strategically assisting communities in deriving long-term benefits.
Guidelines
The American Honda Foundation engages in grant making that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. We support youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. When considering the American Honda Foundation as a potential funding source, please note the following:
Eligible Organizations:
Nonprofit charitable organizations classified as a 501(c) (3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service, or a public school district, private/public elementary and secondary schools as listed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
To be considered for funding organizations MUST have two years of audited financial statements examined by an independent CPA for the purpose of expressing an opinion if gross revenue is $500,000 or more. If gross revenue is less than $500,000, and the organization does not have audits, it may submit two years of financial statements accompanied by an independent CPA’s review report instead.
Geographic Scope:
National
Funding Priority:
Youth education, specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, the environment, job training and literacy
Other Important Information:
Organizations may only submit one request in a 12-month period. This includes colleges and universities with several departments/outreach programs
The grant range is from $20,000 to $75,000 over a one-year period
Proposals should be submitted online. Click here to start the online process
No faxed applications will be accepted
Support materials such as annual reports, pamphlets/brochures, newsletters, articles, DVDs, etc. should be mailed to the following address: American Honda Foundation
Deadline for Submission Anticipated Board Review Anticipated Grants Awarded
February 1 April May 1
May 1 July August 1
August 1 October November 1
November 1 January February 1
Should the deadline for submission of applications fall on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), the deadline will be extended to the following Monday.
Apply Online
To determine if your program/project meets the qualifications for consideration, the online application process begins with an Eligibility Quiz. Click here to start the quiz.
Greetings Middle School and High School Science Teachers!
My name is Nicole Colston and I am a PhD student in Environmental Science at Oklahoma State University. I hope to solicit the participation of 5th-12th grade science teachers in Oklahoma for my on-line survey. This study is part of my dissertation research about science teaching and learning in Oklahoma, titled “Tracing the Flow: Climate Change Education Actor-Networks in Oklahoma Secondary School Science”.
The questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. You will be asked questions about your personal experiences as a science teacher in Oklahoma, including your access to resources, curriculum choices, and science education practices. I am particularly interested in your attitudes and opinions about climate change education in school science.
After you complete the survey, you will have the opportunity to enter to win one of five $20 VISA gift cards! This information will be collected via an independent link and will not be connected to your survey responses. However, if you wish to remain anonymous, simply decline to enter your contact information at the end of the survey and decline to participate in the prize drawing.
To participate in the survey, please click on the link below:
Please share this opportunity with other MS and HS Science Teachers in Oklahoma!
Your response will be very helpful for the success of this study. Information gathered from teachers across the state could be used to support efforts to improve the experiences of science teachers and learners in Oklahoma schools.
At the end of the survey, the researcher will request your permission to contact you about future research opportunities, including: 1) a potential follow-up interview by phone with the researcher 2) a potential focus group with other science teachers.
All respondents personal contact information, questionnaire responses, and name will remain confidential. The data reports will not identify the respondents or release personal information. Research records will be securely stored and only the principal investigator will have access to the records.
NSTA Student Competition Teams to Participate in April 22 (TODAY) White House Science Fair
Student teams from NSTA’s student competitions—Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision, the U.S. Army’s eCYBERMISSION and the DuPont Science Essay Competition—will join President Obama for the White House Science Fair on Monday, April 22, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET. The president will speak at 2:25 p.m. The event will be webcast live at www.whitehouse.gov/live.
Elementary students Evan Jackson, Alec Jackson, and Caleb Robinson (at right) from Flippen Elementary School in McDonough, Georgia, will present their 2012 National award-winning ExploraVision project “COOL Pads: Shoulder Pads that Keep Players Safe from Overheating.”
Hayden Hilst, Riya Kaul, and Rebecca (Becca) Mackey (at left) from Jenks East Intermediate School in Jenks, Oklahoma, will present their eCYBERMISSION winning project that explored the benefits of using technologically advanced energy and water efficiency devices in their school.
Representing the 2012 DuPont Science Essay Competition will be Mike Espy from Little Snake River Valley High School in Baggs, Wyoming, for his essay titled “Moo-ing Energy,” and Cecelia Poole, from Carvel Academy in Bear, Delaware, for her essay titled “Breathe Easy: Bronchial Thermoplasty.”
The President hosted the first-ever White House Science Fair in late 2010 to celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. As part of the Administration’s Educate to Innovate campaign, the President told students in 2010 that “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.” Congratulations to these teams for their achievements, and plan to watch the White House Science Fair live Monday at 2:25 p.m. ET.
Congratulations to the 2013 DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition Winners
This year’s winners of the DuPont Challenge researched and wrote about some of the world’s most pressing issues: Feeding the World, Building an Energy Secure Future, Protecting People and the Environment, and Innovative Science. Twenty-six NSTA members judged the nearly 10,000 thought-provoking essays, selecting eight winners. This is quite an honor for the students and the sponsoring science teacher. The winners will receive US Savings Bonds, reference materials from Britannica Digital Learning and NBC Learn, and much more. Grand prize and first runners-up winners along with a parent and sponsoring teacher are packing their bags for an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando, Florida, and the award ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Learn more about these amazing winners of the 2013 DuPont Challenge here.
National Environmental Education Week Resources
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan relates how environmental education can be a tool to improve student health and engagement in STEM fields in a public service announcement for National Environmental Education Week (EE Week). “We know so many of the jobs of the future are in the STEM fields, and there are so many great ties between STEM education and environmental education,” he said. View the PSA here.
To celebrate EE Week, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has released a variety of timely resources. Its video toolkit demonstrates lessons that use technology to connect students to the natural world. Its 10 Apps for Taking Tech Outdoors and Tech & Our Planet infographic illustrate the widespread use of technology among kids and adults and possibilities for environmental learning, career pathways, and implications for the economy. NEEF is also sponsoring an Environmental Educator Photo Contest running through May 31, 2013.
Secretary Duncan will also announce the second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and first-ever District Sustainability Awardees on April 22 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Honored schools and districts will have an important role to play modeling best practices for all schools who wish to provide an education geared toward the challenges and jobs of the future, which is why the Department of Education will release a report with summaries of each of the honorees.
As expected, President Obama’s FY2014 budget request includes a major reorganization of federal STEM education programs, and comprehensive immigration legislation introduced last week by the Gang of Eight contains funding for STEM education. Read all about it in this issue of the NSTA Legislative Update.
NGSS@NSTA
Register for April 30 Web Seminar on Crosscutting Concept; Energy and Matter—Flows, Cycles, and Conservation Prepare for NGSS in your classroom by learning more about the important crosscutting concept of Energy and Matter—Flows, Cycles, and Conservation. This web seminar will be held April 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET. Join Andy Anderson in this great professional development experience that will explore the role that energy and matter play in science, how student understanding of energy and matter might develop over the course of K–12 education, how learning about energy and matter can take place during the learning of disciplinary core ideas by engaging in scientific and engineering practices, and what studying energy and matter really looks like in the classroom. Visit the NSTA Learning Center to register.
Dive Into NGSS with the NSTA Reader’s Guide to the Next Generation Science Standards The e-book is available now and the print edition coming in May. Written by science education expert Harold Pratt, the publication gives readers a deep understanding of NGSS core ideas, scientific and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. To order, visit the NSTA Science Store. View the standards online at www.nextgenscience.org or www.nsta.org/ngss. Want your own print version of the entire NGSS (coming this fall)? Pre-order your print version now at the NSTA Science Store.
Three New Everyday Science Mysteries Books for K–8 Classrooms
Everyone loves a good mystery—and thousands of teachers love the way the Everyday Science Mysteries series gets K–8 students engaged in real experimentation about real science content. Our three new releases in this bestselling series each focus on a specific content area—Earth and space science, physical science, or biological science. The stories come with lists of science concepts to explore, grade-appropriate strategies for using them, and explanations of how the lessons align with national standards. They also relieve you of the tiring work of designing every one of your inquiry lessons from scratch.
Member Price: $20.76 | Nonmember Price: $25.95
Budget-Friendly PD
Scholarships for New Science Teachers—Apply by August 1
Special career-enhancing experiences for middle and high school science teachers in their second through fifth year can be found through the New Science Teachers Academy, a yearlong professional development and mentoring program that offers unique support and resources. Hundreds of teachers will be chosen to participate in the 2013–2014 Academy and take advantage of cost-free, consistent online professional development activities along with face-to-face educational experiences. Simply apply and take control of your career. Principals should consider making this a priority for their newest science teachers.
To find out more about the Academy and how to apply for a scholarship, visit www.nsta.org/academy. The application deadline is August 1.
Lab Out Loud Episode 95: Helping Students Imagine Mars
This week hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler talk with David Delgado, lead of the Imagine Mars project from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The Imagine Mars Project gives students a chance to work with scientists and engineers to build and design a future human community on Mars. Listen to Lab Out Loud to learn about the project and other educational outreach opportunities from JPL.
Focusing the Lens on STEM
Do you need help implementing engineering concepts in your early childhood classroom? Are skills development in math and science preparing students well enough for integration of technology and engineering into the curriculum? Get hands-on experience and practical knowledge for improving student performance in STEM subjects. Learn how to put an action plan into place. Participate in panel discussions and teacher workshops that include instructional models and activities. Attend NSTA’s second STEM Forum & Expo in St. Louis, Missouri, May 15–18.
Strands:
PreK–2 (Early Childhood)
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–9
Grades 10–12
Effective STEM Partnerships
Administrators
Panel Discussions:
Successful K–12 STEM Schools
Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
State STEM networks—How Are They Working to Change STEM Education?
STEM in Urban Science Education and Engaging—and Keeping—More Girls and Minorities in STEM
Public/Private Partnerships, Out-of-School and Informal Programs that Excite Students to the World of STEM
Putting the “T” and “E” in Your STEM Program
A Whole School Approach to STEM: What You Need to Know
Promising STEM Programs: Three to Watch
For more information, including a list of teacher workshops, visit www.nsta.org/2013stemforum. Register today.
Online Courses from the American Museum of Natural History
Are you interested in learning about evolution? Do you want to know more about Earth or the solar system? Are you looking for graduate or professional development credit? If so, check out the Seminars on Science program from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Online courses run from May 27 through July 7 and include Earth: Inside and Out; Climate Change; The Solar System; Evolution; Genetics, Genomics, Genethics, and more.
Each course is available for graduate credit and is co-taught by an experienced educator and a scientist. For more information, or to register, visit www.amnh.org/learn or contact AMNH directly.
Calling All Teachers! Know a student with a genius idea for a science project that could help make the world cleaner and greener? Here is a chance to share it with the world and win cash prizes! Popular Science magazine in partnership with Delta is hosting its 1st Annual Science Fair and is now accepting submissions for best original science projects in the category of sustainability.
This nationwide competition is open to elementary, middle school, high school, and college students. Judges will select one Grand Prize winner and runner-up winners in each of the four educational divisions. Prizes include cash awards and the chance to see your project in the pages of Popular Science magazine!
NBC Learn, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, looks at the Science of Innovation. More than just a single event or brilliant idea, innovation is a process that anyone from a garage tinkerer to a federally-funded scientist can take to discover new solutions. This 11-part series, narrated by NBC’s Ann Curry, highlights top innovators from across the country working on innovative projects in industries such as healthcare, energy, transportation, and agriculture. Free lesson plans are provided by NSTA.
NBC has a regular TODAY Show feature called Class of 2020 where they are following a class of students in a particular classroom through their 13 years of schooling. Now 5th graders, the class recently participated in their school district’s Division A Science Olympiad. (See the posting giving details about the Division A Tournament recently held in Putnam City that hosted over 270 participants from 15 teams)
TODAY Show cameras were there as students prepared for the Egg Drop and GUNK competitions in advance of the tournament which they also covered in the story. They picked up the story 2 weeks out from the Tournament that the students began preparing for two months in advance.
The report also gave a shout out to the Division B and C Science Olympiad.
Feel free to share this story with administrators and teachers (friends, family, school board members, students…). It gives a very quick look at the excitement for learning generated by a tournament as well as the student engagement in the practices of science that make Science Olympiad such a valuable part of any STEM Education program.
I hope you all enjoyed your time with friends and family over the holidays! With the start of a new year I have numerous exciting opportunities to share with you, including the kick off to our process for revising the Oklahoma C3 Science Standards.
We are now accepting applications for those that are interested in serving on the Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Revision Committee.
The Oklahoma C3 Science Standards Review Committee will consist of two teams:
(1) Writing Team: As a participant of the Writing Team, individuals will be required to attend on-site meetings and will participate in the writing of the revised Oklahoma C3 Science Standards.
(2) Draft Team: As a member of the Draft Team, participants will be asked to review drafts of the standards developed by the Writing Team and provide feedback. Reviews will be conducted electronically and will not require on-site meetings.
You will find a copy of the application HERE. You may complete the application digitally and submit it to me by e-mail by clicking on the submit button on page 4 of the application.
You will need to attach the application as a document to the e-mail as the submit button just provides a direct link to my e-mail.
The committee will be composed of science educators, scientists and engineers, and business, industry, and community members.
If you have any questions about the process or if you have issues with the pdf document, please feel free to contact me.
2nd Draft of the Next Generation Science Standards Just Released:
Last week Achieve released the second (and final) public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All science educators, administrators, and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback online to Achieve during the comment period, which ends January 29.Review the draft here.
NSTA has a vast collection of materials organized by topic and disciplinary core ideas to help you study the second public draft of NGSS. Find them here.
Take a look at the short video developed by Matt Krehbiel, Science Education Program Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, that will help you to navigate the Next Generation Science Standards website and the Achieve survey.
Learn more and sign up for one of these upcoming NSTA webinars on Engineering Practices in NGSS (1/15); Using the NGSS Practices in the Elementary Grades (1/29); or Making Connections Between NGSS and Common Core Math and ELA (2/12).
Watch Montana teacher of the year Paul Anderson’s comprehensive video series on NGSS.
Take a peek at one of the eight webinars presented earlier this fall that focused on the Scientific and Engineering Practices described in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.
Read and download NSTA’s growing collection of monthly journal articles exploring the Framework. Articles examine the practices, crosscutting concepts, connections to common core, and more. Watch for upcoming articles on the core ideas by Rodger Bybee, Joe Krajcik, and Michael Wysession.
Engage: If you increase the light intensity for elodea will the rate of photosynthesis increase? Let students answer this question on a sheet of paper and commit and toss their responses making sure they explain the reasoning behind their response. Explore: Then let students decide in small groups how they want to plan the investigation, collect data, and report out data. Explain: Lead a class discussion around the class findings and assist in explaining why they got the results they got. Evaluate: Return to the engagement question and let students redo their responses or back up their original response with evidence from data they collected or information gained from the lesson.
Elaborate: Have students predict which areas of the world would have the greatest plant biomass, and explain the impacts that destruction of those areas could have. (Thanks Brandi Parson Williams for the elaborate idea from the #OKSci Facebook page). There also might be some great articles for students to explore in this elaboration.
NAE, AFT Partner to Build Common Core Tools:
The two national teachers’ unions have won $11 million to build an online warehouse of instructional tools for the Common Core State Standards. Student Achievement Partners, whose founders led the writing of the standards, is also a grantee. It will work with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association and their teachers to build the tools and post them on Student Achievement Partners’ website. Read more about it!
Educator Opportunities:
Oklahoma State Department of Education Common Core Regional Meetings:
· Bartlesville for Elementary Teachers (January 18) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Bartlesville for Secondary Teachers (January 18) 8:00-11:30 am
· Hugo for Elementary Teachers (February 22) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Hugo for Secondary Teachers (February 22) 8:00-11:30 am
· Weatherford for Elementary Teachers (March 29) 12:30-4:00 pm
· Weatherford for Secondary Teachers (March 29) 8:00-11:30 am
Nominations period is open! Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2013.
Start considering great 7-12 science teachers now!
Geoscience Education Teachers’ Retreat: February 8th (evening – February 10th (morning)
The geosciences are the most underrepresented area of all science fields! Come work with geologist, Dr. Jim Puckette, and science educators Drs. Toni Ivey and Julie Thomas to learn more about geology and how it connects to your biology, chemistry, and physics classroom!
The retreat will take place at Roman Nose State Park. Participants will receive a $50 travel stipend, $150 participant stipend, and room and board while at Roman Nose State Park.
Earth and Space Science Education in Oklahoma Stakeholder’s Summit: February 15th
On February 15, 2013, I Toni Ivey will chair an Earth and Space Science Education Stakeholder’s Summit on the Oklahoma State University campus. This event will focus on three main questions with regard to Earth and space science education in Oklahoma: Where are we? Where do we need to be? and How do we get there? Please see below for more information on how to register.
Also, If you have colleagues that you fell would be interested in taking place in the conversation, please forward this message to them. The summit hopes to have representation from across business, industry, and education in Oklahoma.
High School teachers are eligible to bring up to 7 students(sophomores and/or juniors)to NLD. Teacher/student teams will visit labs of three OSU STEM Labs and engage in activities related to faculty research.
Space is limited so register today! Teachers can register at:
Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo: February 1st
The Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo is being held at Rosser Conservation Education Center, at the Oklahoma City Zoological Park from 8:00 am -4:00 pm. Register at http://oklahomaenvironmentaleducationexpo.com/
11th Annual Regional JSHA Competition: March 1st-2nd
Oklahoma State University is hosting the 11th Annual Regional JSHA Competition. High School students present original research and compete for cash scholarships (up to $200, regionally and $12,000 nationally).
OSU covers travel and lodging expenses and there is a $500 award for the teacher who brings the most high school (10th-12th grade) student presenters. See this Flier for details!
Fleming Scholar Program: Application Deadline February 1st
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fleming Scholar Program. If you know any scientifically passionate students, will you please encourage them to apply? This program grants selected students an opportunity to work side-by-side with real life, biomedical research scientists for eight weeks during the summer. Scholars also get paid and housing is provided for those who qualify. Applicants do NOT need to have any prior science or research experience. We seek students with passion, curiosity, diligence and enthusiasm.
Requirements:
Submit online application by February 1
Send (or have sent) up to three recommendation letters by (or postmarked by) February 1 deadline
Possess strong enthusiasm for science
Be a high school senior or college freshman, sophomore or junior
Be a graduate or soon-to-be graduate from an Oklahoma high school
The application deadline is February 1, and more information is available at http://omrf.org/fleming.
If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Stevens at 405-271-7434 or courtney-stevens@omrf.org
You can access Archived Science Messages I’ve sent out since March via the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) website. Scroll down to see previous posts.
Science Listserv:
Please encourage others to register for the science listserv and pass along the following registration link:
What are the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching?
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science (including computer science) teaching. Established by Congress in 1983, the PAEMST program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year.
Awards are given to mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
The award recognizes those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning. Since the program’s inception, more than 4,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.
Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science (including computer science) education. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Why Apply?
Recipients of the award receive the following:
A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
In addition to recognizing outstanding teaching in mathematics or science (including computer science), the program provides teachers with an opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation. This growing network of award-winning teachers serves as a vital resource for improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and keeping America globally competitive.
Who is Eligible?
Awards alternate between elementary and secondary teachers, as shown below.
Application
Opens
Nomination
Deadline
Application
Deadline
Secondary Teachers (7-12)
Fall of 2012
04/01/2013
05/01/2013
Elementary Teachers (K-6)
Fall of 2013
04/01/2014
05/01/2014
The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. They must:
Teach mathematics or science (including computer science) at the 7-12th grade level (2013 deadline) or K-6th grade level (2014 deadline) in a public or private school.
Hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Be a full-time employee of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, and teach K-12 students at least 50% of the time.
Have at least 5 years of full-time, K-12 mathematics or science (including computer science) teaching experience prior to the 2012-2013 academic school year (2013 deadline) or prior to the 2013-2014 academic school year (2014 deadline).
Teach in one of the 50 states or the four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category.
Nomination
Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate exceptional mathematics or science (including computer science) teachers teaching in grades 7-12 for the 2013 Award Year. To submit a nomination, the following information is required:
Teacher’s name
E-mail address
School contact information
Nominations may be submitted for more than one teacher. Additionally, teachers may also nominate themselves. Nominations for teachers teaching in grades K-6 will be accepted next year.
Once a teacher is nominated, the teacher will receive an email invitation to continue the application process.
Application
The application consists of three components: Administrative, Narrative, and Video. The components allow the applicant to provide evidence of deep content knowledge and exemplary pedagogical skills that result in improved student learning. After eligibility is confirmed and technical specifications are met, each application will be evaluated using the following five Dimensions of Outstanding Teaching:
Mastery of mathematics or science content appropriate for the grade level taught.
Use of instructional methods and strategies that are appropriate for students in the class and that support student learning.
Effective use of student assessments to evaluate, monitor, and improve student learning.
Reflective practice and life-long learning to improve teaching and student learning.
Leadership in education outside the classroom.
Selection
All applications will be subjected to the following review process:
At the State level, coordinators convene local selection committees, which include prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, district level personnel, and classroom teachers. These committees select up to five finalists from each discipline (mathematics or science) for recognition at the state level. To ensure consistency across the country, all state selection committees will score their applications using the review criteria and scoring information presented in the application packet.
At the national level, NSF convenes a national selection committee composed of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, district level personnel, and classroom teachers that reviews the applications of the state finalists and recommends to NSF up to two finalists in mathematics or science (including computer science) from each state or jurisdiction. The Director of NSF then submits the recommendations to the Director of OSTP. All finalists will be subject to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check.
Recognition
PAEMST winners are announced and honored the year following the receipt of the application.
Each awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States and a $10,000 award from NSF. Awardees and their guests are honored during events that take place in Washington, DC. These events include an award ceremony, celebratory receptions, professional development programs, and discussions with policy-makers on how to improve mathematics and science (including computer science) education.
eCYBERMISSION (eCM) is a free, web-based STEM competition for students in grades 6-9. eCM challenges students to think about real-world applications of STEM by working in teams to identify a problem in their community and use the scientific method, scientific inquiry or engineering design process to find a solution. Students compete for state, regional and national awards, with potential winnings of up to $8,000 (maturity value) in US Savings Bonds.
Sponsors/Partnerships
U.S. Army – part of the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP): Army-sponsored research, education competitions, internships and practical experiences designed to engage and guide students and teachers in STEM education
NSTA joins the consortium of the Youth Science Cooperative Outreach Agreement (YSCOA) under lead of Virginia Tech
Program Themes
Student teams must choose one of the following 7 Mission Challenges:
Alternative Sources of Energy
Environment
Food, Health and Fitness
Forces & Motion
National Security & Safety
Robotics
Technology
Participants
Students: Grades 6-9
Team Advisors: teachers, coaches, counselors or leaders in youth organizations
Ambassadors: civilian or military volunteers who promote eCM in their community
CyberGuides: civilian or military volunteers who provide online assistance to eCM teams and promote the program in their local community
Virtual Judges: independently score Mission Folders submitted by the student teams
In this year-long professional development fellowship, teachers nationwide
1) immerse themselves in cutting-edge biomedical research for 7-8 weeks;
2) enhance their teaching skills in Six Star Science principles (student-centered instruction, diversity/equity, technology, assessment, current scientific content, and reflecting on teaching and learning); and
3) build networks with scientists locally and nationally by attending a scientific conference.
EXPLORE Effective Teaching Strategies.The APS Six Star Science framework for supporting excellence in science education:
· student-centered instruction
· valuing diversity among students
· integrating technology
· developing authentic assessments
· utilizing accurate and current content
· reflecting on teaching and learning
EXPERIENCE the Research Process. Learn about:
· the scientific method
· generating valid hypotheses
· connecting basic to clinical research
· using animals and humans in research
· research careers in physiology
ENHANCE Your Classroom Materials. Use toolkits of strategies and Six Star Science to:
· transform cookbook labs into engaging student-centered, inquiry-based lessons
· align lessons to your state and national science education standards
PROGRAM INFORMATION AND APPLICATION:www.frontiersinphys.org. Look for the “HOW TO APPLY” GUIDE document at the Research Teacher Fellows program website. DEADLINE:January21, 2013.
TESTIMONIALS from past Teacher Fellows about the Frontiers in Physiology program:
On the fellowship experience:“Enjoy every minute of the fellowship experience because it goes by so fast. You are so absorbed in the material and assignments that it will take you a year just to compress and reflect on it all. So soak it up, relax, and enjoy the incredible journey that the APS will take you on!”
On the skills on transforming cookbook labs:“I have learned a lot through these transformations. Where I once thought my labs were student centered and inquiry based, I am beginning to see just how teacher directed they were. I think I will have a great deal of transforming to do this year.”
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Questions? Contact the K-12 Programs Coordinator: Margaret Shain:mshain@the-aps.org
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY is supported by the APS, a Science Education Partnership Award (R25RR025127) from the National Center for Research Resources.
Scarletta Whitsett
The American Physiological Society
Education Office
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-634-7228 301-634-7098 (fax)
