May 20th, 2013 Bob
May 20, 2013
Announcing the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Seventh Flight Opportunity – SSEP Mission 5 to the International Space Station for the 2013-2014 Academic Year Opportunity for a School District, Even an Individual School, to Engage a Few Hundred Grade 5-12 Students in Very Real Microgravity Experiment Design for Flight to the International Space Station (ISS)
Note: this program is not for an individual class.
From Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Director of the (501c3 non-profit) National Center for Earth and Space Science Education in the U.S, and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally, and creator of the SSEP initiative –
Dear STEM education colleague,
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program was designed as a model U.S. national STEM education initiative to inspire and engage the next generation. SSEP provides truly authentic STEM education experiences with seamless integration across STEM disciplines, and cross-disciplinary connections to reading, writing, communication, and art and design. And it is garnering very significant media attention at the local and national level. We are truly inviting YOUR students to be real researchers, and your community to be part of America’s Space Program – in fact we want you to have your OWN Space Program.
SSEP TOP-LEVEL STEM AND COMMUNITY-ENGAGMENT OBJECTIVES:
1. For school districts, even individual schools, SSEP provides an opportunity to implement a systemic, high caliber STEM education program tailored to local curricular need, which immerses a community of grade 5-12 students in every facet of authentic research. The program is designed to reflect the Next Generation Science Standards.
2. The program is designed to inspire and engage the next generation of scientists and engineers, and is accomplished by providing each participating community their own very real Space Program. This is not a simulation.
3. More broadly, SSEP is about a commitment to student ownership in exploration, to science as journey, to the joys of learning, and to science as an interdisciplinary tapestry that extends to vital written and oral communication skills, and design.
4. The program uses a Community Engagement Model for STEM Education, which can extend to all K-12 students, their teachers, and families, and generate significant excitement across the community.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
SSEP Mission 5 to ISS will provide each participating community a real microgravity research mini-laboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment, and all launch services to fly the mini-lab to ISS in Spring 2014. Mirroring how professional research is done, student teams across the community design their own microgravity research programs, and submit real but grade level appropriate research proposals. Proposals from across the community go through a formal review process, and the community’s flight experiment is selected by a Review Board meeting at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, a National Partner on SSEP. The design competition – from program start, to experiment design, to submission of proposals by student teams spans 9 weeks from September 9 to November 11, 2013.
Content resources for teachers and students support foundational instruction on science in microgravity and experiment design.
This is a true science immersion program where students are asked to be real scientists and go through the exact same process as professional researchers vying for research resources and research opportunities. SSEP addresses a wide range of biological and physical science disciplines, including: seed germination, crystal growth, physiology and life cycles of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria), cell biology and growth, food studies, and studies of micro-aquatic life. Students design experiments to the technology and engineering constraints imposed by a real research mini-lab and flight operations to and from Earth orbit.
MILESTONE DATES:
9-Week Experiment Design Phase in Your Community: September 9 to November 11, 2013
Selection of Your Community’s Flight Experiment: December 12, 2013
Ferry Flight to ISS: Spring 2014
Ferry Flight Return to Earth: expectation is Launch + 6 weeks
National Conference at Smithsonian in Washington, DC: early July 2014
TIME CRITICAL: ALL INTERESTED COMMUNITIES ARE ASKED TO READ THIS EMAIL CAREFULLY AND INQUIRE BY
JUNE 30, 2013: schools and districts need to assess interest with their staff and, if appropriate, move forward with an Implementation Plan.
DEADLINE FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABOARD (approved Plan and funded):
September 4, 2013. To meet this deadline, the Center needs to begin working with interested communities as soon as possible.
HERITAGE:
Since program inception in June 2010, there have been six SSEP flight opportunities: SSEP on STS-134 and STS-135, which were the final flights of Space Shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis; and SSEP Missions 1 through 4 to ISS. To date, 60 communities have participated in the program. Not yet counting Mission 4 to ISS, a total of 17,670 grade 5-14 students were fully immersed in microgravity experiment design and proposal writing, and 4,347 experiment proposals were submitted by student teams. To date, 14 communities have participated in 2, 3, or 4 flight opportunities, reflecting the sustainable nature of the program.
Latest news: the payloads containing the 28 Mission 3 and Mission 4 flight experiments, one experiment selected for each of 28 participating communities, are scheduled to launch this Fall on SpaceX-3 Dragon out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station adjoining Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and aboard the historic flight of Orbital Sciences D-1 Cygnus out of the nation’s new spaceport the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia. Community delegations will be in attendance. (YES THIS IS VERY REAL.)
The initiative was also highlighted last year at the 2nd Annual White House Science Fair event.
NEXT STEPS – WE ARE ON A FAST TRACK:
1. CAREFULLY read the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program home page (link
below), which includes links to all aspects of the program, including program operations, how to participate, profiles of the 60 communities participating to date, and summaries of all selected flight experiments. Also below are the links to the extensive media coverage, and program testimonials from community leadership.
2. Contact us via the SSEP home page, or call me directly at: 301-395-0770
SSEP HOMEPAGE: http://ssep.ncesse.org
TESTIMONIALS: http://ssep.ncesse.org/communities/in-our-own-words/
MEDIA COVERAGE: http://ssep.ncesse.org/communities/in-the-news/
Be part of history by making history
CONTACT:
Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Center Director
Cell: 301-395-0770 Email: ssep@ncesse.org
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)
http://ncesse.org
PO Box 2350
Ellicott CIty, Maryland 21041
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
May 20th, 2013 Bob
American Honda Foundation
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
- 1919 Torrance Blvd.
- Mailstop: 100-1W-5A
- Torrance, CA 90501-2746
- ahf@ahm.honda.com
Our grant-making schedule is as follows:
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grant Awards
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2012
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2011
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2010
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2009
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2008
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2007
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2006
List of Grant Awards — Fiscal Year 2005
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2013 Bob
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.
NSTA Legislative Update: President’s FY2014 Budget Consolidates Major STEM Education Programs
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.
The Academy provides each teacher with
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.
Registration deadline: May 13
Registration: www.amnh.org/learn/Register
Phone: 800-649-6715
E-mail: seminfo@amnh.org
Popular Science Magazine/Delta Science Fair
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!
To learn more and register, visit www.popsci.com/sciencefair.
Science of Innovation
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.
Posted in News | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2013 Bob
Science Olympiad is proud to announce that winners from the 2012 National Tournament will be honored at the Third Annual White House Science Fair in Washington, DC, today, April 22, at a ceremony beginning at 2:25pm EST. At approximately 11:30am, live streaming video of exhibits will begin at the site below (Science Olympiad does not have an exhibit). Solon High School and Solon Middle School are represented by Coaches Donna Ross and Drew Kirian, along with students Stephanie Zhu and Achuth Nair. Watch for them in the crowd wearing their Science Olympiad medals with the red, white and blue ribbons!
Find out more here, where we’ll be adding photos and video throughout the day.
http://www.soinc.org/gov_news_2013
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/20/watch-live-2013-white-house-science-fair
Posted in Events | No Comments »
March 30th, 2013 Bob
The legislative session continues and many education-related bills are making their way through the process. Below is a letter received from East Central University President John Hargrave explaining the tenuous position of funding for the Oklahoma State Science Fair.
Needless to say, public support (or the lack of it) for the Science Fair and other after-school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs sends a powerful message about Oklahoma’s commitment to STEM. As science educators, we may be the best source of information about how these programs inspire, nurture, and develop the children with whom we work. If you have a story to share, don’t keep it a secret. Remember, every education decision is a political decision.
LETTER FROM ECU PRESIDENT DR. HARGRAVE
East Central University has been proud to host the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair for many years. Unfortunately, the state funding for this important STEM initiative has been eliminated by the State of Oklahoma. We are trying to keep the Science Fair alive. We need your help. Would you please contact the State Senator and the State Representatives from your area and ask them to reinstate the funding necessary to keep the program alive. Ask your State Representative or State Senator to contact the Appropriation Chair in the House, the Honorable Representative Scott Martin or the Appropriations Chair in the Senate, the Honorable Clark Jolley. We have enclosed a brief sample letter/email you may want to consider sending.
Dear Representative/Senator _____________________,
STEM is important to Oklahoma. Please restore the funding for the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair. This year over 8,000 students participated in the state and regional fairs. Please contact Senator Clark Jolley and Representative Scott Martin and ask that the funding for the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair and the Oklahoma Regional Fairs be restored.
Thanks you so much for help keep STEM education and science fair competition viable in Oklahoma.
Very truly yours,
John R. Hargrave
President
East Central University
1100 East 14th Street
Ada, OK 74820
House Appropriations Committee
Rep. Armes, Don
Rep. Billy, Lisa J.
Rep. Brown, Mike
Rep. Christian, Mike
Rep. Coody, Ann
Rep. Cox, Doug
Rep. Denney, Lee
Rep. Dorman, Joe
Rep. Hickman, Jeffrey W.
Rep. Hoskin, Chuck
Rep. Kern, Sally
Rep. McCullough, Mark
Rep. McDaniel, Jeannie
Rep. McNiel, Skye
Rep. McPeak, Jerry
Rep. Morrissette, Richard
Rep. Nelson, Jason
Rep. Osborn, Leslie
Rep. Proctor, Eric
Rep. Roberts, Sean
Rep. Sanders, Mike
Rep. Schwartz, Colby
Rep. Sears, Earl
Rep. Watson, Weldon
Rep. Wesselhoft, Paul
Senate Appropriations Committee
Randy Bass
Cliff Branan
Rick Brinkley
Harry Coates
Brian Crain
Kim David
Jerry Ellis
Eddie Fields
John Ford
AJ Griffin
Jim Halligan
David Holt
Tom Ivester
Constance Johnson
Rob Johnson
Bryce Marlatt
Mike Mazzei
Dan Newberry
Susan Paddack
Rob Standridge
Gary Stanislawski
Anthony Sykes
Greg Treat
Charles Wyrick
Posted in News | No Comments »
March 29th, 2013 Bob
Registration Extended For BioQUEST
Summer Workshop
Looking for an exciting summer workshop? The BioQUEST Summer Workshop offers participants an opportunity to explore new tools, resources and pedagogies with peers and develop materials for the classroom. The 2013 summer workshop combines the best of the BioQUEST experience with an opportunity to attend the HHMI Quantitative Biology Conference.
The HHMI Quantitative Biology Conference offers a choice of ten working sessions from introductory statistics to gaming. Featured speakers include David Asai from HHMI, and Lou Gross from NIMBioS. BioQUEST participants will then have an opportunity to develop new materials for the classroom or to work on funding proposals using resources supporting quantitative reasoning, biological data, problem based approaches, and global STEM connections.
Ten Years After Using Data in the Classroom:
Problem Based Approaches with Data, Tools, Simulations, and Games
June 10-15, 2013
Emory University, Atlanta GA
Workshop Fees: The $475 fee covers registration, housing, and all meals during the workshop. On campus housing in a new dorm with individual rooms is provided for all participants from Sunday arrival through Saturday departure.
The deadline for application has been extended to April 12th. To apply, visit http://bioquest.org/bq2013-registration/.
Previous workshop participants have included biology, math, physics, and other STEM faculty, so bring a colleague!
Latest HHMI Holiday Lectures Available On DVD
Get ready to celebrate Earth Day with a new holiday lectures DVD from HHMI. Changing Planet: Past, Present, Future, HHMI’s 2012 Holiday Lectures on Science, featuring Andrew Knoll, Naomi Oreskes, and Daniel Schrag, discussing the history of life on Earth and present-day concerns about climate change, is now available for pre-order in the HHMI online catalog. Visit www.BioInteractive.org and click on the blue “Order” button to reserve your free DVD copy today. The lectures are also available by streaming, on-demand f rom the BioInteractive website.
Einstein Fellows Announced
The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education has announced the 27 STEM educators who have been selected for the 2013-2014 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. Selected educators will serve in Washington, D.C. for 11 months beginning September 1, 2013 at sponsoring federal agencies which include the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Einstein Fellows provide practical classroom insight in guiding education programs and policies, especially those related to STEM education.
Founded in 1990, the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators with demonstrated excellence in teaching. Fellowships aim to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of the government and the STEM education community.
The 2013-2014 Einstein Fellows were selected through a rigorous application and interview process from a competitive, nationwide pool of nearly 200 applicants. Of the 27 fellows in the 2013-2014 cohort, five are returning fellows invited to serve for a second year in their sponsoring agencies.
Congratulations to all of the 2013-2014 Fellows , and to NABT’s Kathy Hoppe, who will serve at the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG).
Participants Sought For STEM Attitudes Study
Kimberly Howard, Ph.D. and Amy Wendt, Ph.D., current faculty members at the Boston University and University of Wisconsin – Madison are seeking your participation in a research study focusing on teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about science, technology, engineering, and math. If you currently teach in the elementary, middle, or high school level(s), you are eligible to participate in this study.
They are asking you to be a part of a study that examines the relationship between math and science learning and interest in math, science, and engineering careers. This project may help identify strategies for increasing middle school students’ engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic courses and activities. This study will take no longer than 20 minutes to complete and will be comprised of a self-report survey. Participation is completely voluntary and all responses will remain confidential.
You may ask questions about the study at any time. If you have questions about the study you may contact Kimberly Howard, Ph.D. at (617) 353-3378 or Amy Wendt, Ph.D. at (608) 262-8407. If you have questions about your rights as research participants you may contact the Education Research IRB at (608) 262-9710, edirb@education.wisc.edu. Once again, your participation in this study is voluntary. If you do not want to be a part of or withdraw from the study it will not negatively affect you in any way.
If you wish to participate, please click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/UW-NATB
This research study has been approved by the University of Wisconsin – Madison Institutional Review Board. We appreciate your time and consideration. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the researchers.
2013 International Student Carbon Footprint Challenge
![ISCFC_invite_Feb2012[1]](http://www.oklahomascienceteachersassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ISCFC_invite_Feb20121.jpg)
You and your students are invited to participate in the April/May 2013 International Student Carbon Footprint Challenge (ISCFC). This innovative program [part of the Inquiry-to-Insight (I2I) climate education project of Stanford University and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden] fosters communication among students across the globe and can spark visionary solutions to global environmental problems using an innovative social learning network.
In the ISCFC, secondary school students first measure the impact of their transportation, home energy, food, and personal purchase choices using our student-oriented carbon footprint calculator, with results calibrated for every country in the world. ISCFC teachers then share class data with classes around the globe and use the social learning network to engage students in meaningful and in-depth international conversations about carbon footprints and possible solutions to shared environmental problems.
As students scrutinize their own carbon production they look for ways to minimize their impact. All of the tools in the ISCFC are always free to access on the web.
You can try out the footprint calculator at http://footprint.stanford.edu/calculate.html
More information about the Einztein social learning network and the ISCFC discussions there can be found at the ISCFC website: http://footprint.stanford.edu.
The next session of the ISCFC will begin the week of April 29, and if this date coordinates well with your curriculum, we invite you to join the ISCFC, and ask you to please let organizers know no later than April 15 by filling out the online ISCFC participation form.
This is just a sample of the news and information available to members of the National Association of Biology Teachers. Develop your professional expertise and expand the opportunities for yourself and your students. Join today at NABT.org
Posted in News | No Comments »
March 25th, 2013 Bob
Students from Kindergarten through 12th grade will have the opportunity to play a unique role in the future of human spaceflight through participation in NASA’s Exploration Design Challenge, or EDC. NASA EDC invites students around the world to think and act like scientists in order to overcome one of the major hurdles of deep space long-duration exploration — the dangers associated with space radiation. Students taking part in the challenge will discover how to plan and design improved radiation shielding aboard the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, currently being developed by NASA, Lockheed Martin and other partners to carry astronauts to space, venturing farther than humans have ever gone before.
Through a series of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, engagement activities, students in grades K-8 will analyze different materials that simulate space radiation shielding and recommend materials that best block radiation and protect astronauts. Students in grades 9-12 will think and act like engineers as they apply what they learn to design shielding to protect a sensor on the Orion crew module from space radiation. After a review of the design solutions submitted by teams in the grades 9-12 challenge, five finalist teams will be selected and matched with a mentor from NASA to test their designs in a virtual simulator. The winning team will build a prototype radiation shield that will be analyzed and submitted to Lockheed Martin for flight certification on the inaugural flight of the Orion Exploration Flight Test, or EFT-1.
The five U.S. finalist teams from the grades 9-12 challenge will be invited to attend the EFT-1 launch, currently scheduled for November 2014. The names of all students, grades K-12, participating in the NASA EDC will fly aboard the spacecraft as honorary virtual crewmembers for Orion’s first flight. The deadline to register students for the virtual crew is March 14, 2014.
For more information and to register online, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/edc.
For more information about Orion, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion.
Email any questions about this opportunity to nasaedc@nianet.org.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
March 17th, 2013 Bob
Cycle 2 AAA team applications are now being accepted through May 3, 2013.
This is a unique opportunity for formal and informal educators to be a part of astronomy research as partners with scientists on SOFIA Cycle 2 flights. Cycle 2 science flights are expected to take place January – December 2014. For further details, application requirements, and access to the application form please visit http://www.seti.org//SOFIA
About the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) mission is responsible to NASA for conducting an Education and Public Outreach program that exploits the unique attributes of airborne astronomy to contribute to national goals for the reform of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and to the elevation of public scientific and technical literacy.
SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) effort is a professional development program aspiring to improve teaching, inspire students, and inform the community. It builds upon the legacy of NASA’s highly successful FOSTER (Flight Opportunities for Science Teacher EnRicment) program that flew educators aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) from 1990 – 1995.
The Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors “Pilot” program for educator professional development successfully flew six teachers on the observatory during the summer of 2011, representing California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Virginia (Washington DC). Evaluation confirmed the program’s positive impact on the teacher participants, on their students, and in their communities. Teachers not only incorporated content knowledge and specific components of their experience into their curricula, they also have also given dozens of presentations and implemented teacher professional development workshops. Their efforts to date have impacted hundreds of students and teachers.
SOFIA’s AAA program now enters its Cycle 1 phase: 13 AAA educator teams, plus alternates, were selected in a highly competitive application process. Selected educators come from a variety of backgrounds, and their institutions include a school for the deaf, an alternative education site (developmentally challenged), highly underserved student populations, rural schools, and a Native American school site.
As part of preparation and training for their flight experience, AAA program participants will complete a graduate-level Astronomy for Teachers on-line course administered by Montana State University and National Teacher Enhancement Network. Teams will be paired with an astronomer with observatory time, and they will work with this astronomer throughout the research, from preparation to data analysis. AAAs will optimally fly aboard the observatory twice, will implement classroom lessons based on their experiences, and will complete an outreach plan.
Selection into this prestigious program is truly an honor for the educators and their school, planetarium or observatory.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
March 17th, 2013 Bob
A Science and Curriculum Institute for High School Science Teachers
ASSET 2013 Applications open March 15 – April 30, 2013
Would you like to learn more about the interdisciplinary field of Astrobiology? Are you looking for a contemporary thematic science curriculum that is standards based? Are you in search of an exciting professional development opportunity? Are you ready to share your enthusiasm for science teaching with others? If so, we invite you to become an ASSET teacher.
The ASSET experience will be intense and exciting, interactive and content rich, with presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA, and the California Academy of Sciences. Scientists will share the latest in astrobiology research on the origin of life on Earth, the extreme conditions in which life exists, Mars exploration, the formation of planetary systems around Sun-like stars, and the search for life in the universe. The workshop features a combination of cutting edge science, inquiry-based teaching and learning, and leadership skills development to support you as a teacher and teacher trainer. Participants receive the entire Voyages Through Time curriculum and complementary astrobiology materials, developed by NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, for use in their classrooms.
ASSET is funded by the SETI Institute, Educate America, NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Education and Public Outreach Program and NASA’s Kepler Mission Education and Public Outreach Program.
ASSET 2013 will be held July 29 – August 2, 2013
Applications due April 30, 2013
Your commitment to ASSET:
- Arrive on July 28, 2013 and attend the ASSET Institute, July 29 – August 3 2013 and participate in the ASSET electronic community throughout the academic year.
- Implement at least one module of VTT in your classroom.
- Participate in a pending NSF research investigation of professional development
- Conduct significant outreach activities involving VTT over the next two years, for example:
◦ Plan and lead a teacher professional development workshop or course for teachers based upon your ASSET training and the VTT materials.
◦ Mentor other teacher(s) using the VTT curriculum.
◦ Produce an outreach activity appropriate to your school or district.
ASSET’s commitment to you:
- Six days of science content, and hands-on experiences with VTT, at the SETI Institute and San Francisco State University in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- VTT curriculum package: six modules.
- Travel assistance within the U.S., room and board.
- Continuing support via on-line community, materials for outreach activities, and teleconferences.
- Interaction with other top-notch science teachers interested in astrobiology and evolution.
- Field trip.
- Inquiry Immersion Experience
Details
Applications from teams of two high school teachers, from a school or district, are encouraged. Both team members must each complete a separate application. Singleton applications are accepted. Due to federal funding of the program, only applications from teachers in U.S. schools are accepted.
3 graduate credits in education will be available through San Francisco State University for an additional $300 fee (subject to adjustment). Upper division undergraduate credit may be made available at a lesser fee.
For more information, contact Pamela Harman at pharman@seti.org or (650) 960-4523.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
March 17th, 2013 Bob
Northeastern State University has been awarded a statewide grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to increase the number of certified Chemistry and Physics teachers in the state of Oklahoma.
The NSU Chemistry and Physics Academy (NSU-CAPA) will provide research-based professional development for certified science teachers who want to become certified to teach Chemistry and Physics. The two-year program will focus on teacher knowledge, teacher practice, and student achievement in Chemistry and Physics. The program is recruiting 20 science teachers statewide and will include a one-week summer program on the Tahlequah campus of NSU June 17-21, 2013. Housing will be provided as needed. The program will use the Blackboard system to help develop a statewide Community of Practice.
Participants will conduct outreach activities at the Oklahoma Science Teacher Association annual meeting and at the Northeastern Oklahoma Mathematics and Science Teacher Association annual meeting at NSU. These meetings will provide opportunities for other science teachers to interact with program participants and will provide participants networking opportunities with experienced Chemistry and Physics teachers.
The benefits to teacher participants include a Venier LabQuest 2 and the following probes: temperature probe, motion detector, pH probe (Additional probes and Lab Pro Software will be supplied the second year.), a modest stipend, lodging for eight participants, working lunches, thirty-five hours of professional development during the summer, online follow-up activities and support during the academic year, and funds to take the OSAT in Chemistry and in Physics at the conclusion of the program.
If you are interested in this program or if you know a teacher who might be interested, please contact the Program Director, Dr. April Adams. We have a few spaces still available for the 2013 Summer Institute.
This program is funded through an Improving Teacher Quality Grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
