Oct31

Urban Science Educators Share Strategies

USEL Conference pageOctober 30-It is Friday but I must tell you about the Urban Science Education Leaders (USEL) event.  It was very exciting!  Why?  The participants were so engaging and really were looking for information and answers and just wanted to learn and see more.  They began with the chair of the Urban Science Education Leaders presentation.  Dr. Bobby Jean-Pierre has amassed research over the last 10 years on how to better engagement between administrators and teachers.  Her studies and survey showed that allowing teachers a stake in the process was the most effective approach.  She spoke passionately as an educator and as a parent who wanted to see all children succeed. 
 
Dr. Jean-Pierre also challenged the participants to look at this whole process of teaching inquiry.  What does inquiry look like in the classroom?  One teacher from a small area in Minnesota asked about the time it takes to teach inquiry, which is a technique that has been found to be most effective in teaching science to students.  Basically, the students are guided to ask questions, find evidence, and make deductions.  It is an engaging way to involve students and make science interesting because it allows the students natural curiosity to lead them in the process.  This sparked a lot of discussion and led to our tour of two schools that have some innovative approaches to teaching science. 
 
The first school Battle Creek Middle School uses the single gender approach and with great success.  They have common time for the boys and girls to mingle but the classes are all single gender.  The premise is that girls and boys process information differently, so their teachers prepare the lessons in science using inquiry and the natural strengths of the gender they are teaching.  The girls classes are more ‘chatty’ and the boys classes a bit calmer.  The USEL participants were able to talk with the students and watch the classes and make observations.  
 
The second school, Washington Technology Magnet Middle School, uses the BioSmart model and introduces the students to three strands, Bio Medical and Health Services, Bio Engineering and Technology, and Bio Communication (Business and Marketing).  It is a high-tech approach with practical applications and allows students to follow a path in one of those areas more intensely in high school if they so choose.  This gives them practical skills and promotes critical thinking and analysis. 
 
As an example, they have a shop class, but it is not like the wood shop class of old.  The students design their projects using AutoCAD, a design program used in industry.  They then take their design and build it in the wood shop studio and test it. 
 
When we returned from the tour the principals of the two schools came and answered questions.  The discussion was lively and interactive and the participants really grilled the principals on every aspect of their programs.  Then the science coordinator and the STEM coordinator presented an education overview of Minnesota, focusing on urban challenges.  It was insightful to see how they had and continue to make the adjustment to address the changing demographics and the new challenges that come from a diverse demographic.
 
For the first time in the history of the state, they are getting an influx of very diverse populations looking for a new life.  Language barriers as well as cultural and economic barriers are difficult, but the state of Minnesota educational system has implemented many steps and programs to assist their educators in handling the transition, so students are not lost in the system.  It was an inspiring, informative and instructional day.  This is a wonderful program; the participants appreciated the dialogue, the information and most of all the sharing with colleagues.  We had three teachers from Canada and their system is different but they saw a lot of informative approaches and shared with other teachers.  They were really excited.  We look forward to more from this program.
 
--Tanya Radford
Published: Oct-31-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct30

Dark Matter, Dark Socks

Seeing might be believing, but sometimes it’s what can’t be seen that’s most interesting. Since the 1930s, researchers have theorized that dark matter—which can’t be perceived by our eyes—is responsible for anomalies in the rotation of galaxies and other phenomena. Maybe it can account for socks vanishing from the dryer, or would that be a black hole? At the NSTA Conference on Thursday, conference attendees got a chance to see how they can make dark matter work in their high school classes when Nancy Bynum shared tips on Using Dark Matter to Teach Physics Concepts. “Dark Matter can be used to teach uniform circular motion, universal gravitation, two dimensional collisions, nature of science and technology as well as Newton's second law,” says Bynum. Although there isn’t any direct evidence that dark matter exists, many physicists think it does. Bynum didn't offer conclusive evidence of dark matter, but during the session, she shed light on a topic that leaves many students in the dark. Let me know if you find any stray socks. --Lynn Petrinjak
Published: Oct-30-09 | 1 Comment | 0 Links to this post

Oct28

Great Science in Urban Middle Schools

Minnesota Dept of EducationIf you’re an administrator in an urban middle school, come to the NSTA Conference in Minneapolis. You can spend a day with a group of dedicated urban science educators—the Urban Science Education Leaders (USEL)—who are working to change the way science is taught in urban schools. One neat thing about this workshop is it includes visits to Minneapolis/St. Paul middle schools where you can see best practices in action.
 
For example, Battle Creek Middle School has achieved success by organizing students into single-gender academies and using the latest research when developing lesson plans and activities. At Hazel Park Middle School Academy, the staff is implementing an innovative Professional Learning Community and grading system based on the work of author and educator Richard DuFour.
 
You have to preregister for this October 28 event, which will also feature presentations from the Minnesota Department of Education’s science and STEM directors.
 
—Debra Shapiro
Published: Oct-28-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct26

Why Bill Robertson Goes to Conferences: Only 60 Shopping Days Until Christmas

We asked NSTA author what he gets out of going to NSTA conferences (he's going to all three: Minneapolis, Ft Lauderdale, and Phoenix). Here's what he had to say:
 
NSTA Author Bill RobertsonI work at home, so the thought of wearing something other than sweats to work isn’t something that generally gets me excited. When it comes to attending NSTA conferences, though, it’s worth the wardrobe change.
 
The main reason I attend the conferences is to promote my books, but there’s a lot more than that to look forward to. I connect with friends and colleagues I haven’t seen in a while, and when there are no conflicts with my own sessions, I get to learn a few new things from other presentations. Most important to me, however, is the ability to talk with teachers who use my books.
 
Some are new to what I have to offer and are willing to try something to shore up their content knowledge. Some, such as teachers who got thrust into a new science teaching field, thank me for keeping them sane. Some let me know about things that are wrong with my books. Some just want to talk, sometimes about science in the classroom and sometimes just cause it’s fun to get together with like-minded science geeks.
 
The best thing about all these conversations is that we’re all in it together. It’s a conference full of regular people trying to improve their ability to do their job. Very few people I see at NSTA conferences are full of themselves and out to impress others, something I can’t necessarily say about other professional meetings I’ve attended.
 
And then there’s the real reason I go to these things—I can stock up on Christmas presents with one trip through the exhibit hall.
Published: Oct-26-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct23

Science is a Breeze

The average wind speed in Minneapolis is 10 miles per hour (mph), equal to the Windy City of Chicago, according to worldfactsandfigures.com. While that makes Minneapolis a less-than-ideal location for a wind turbine, it is still good setting for a wind turbine workshop!

Huge Wind Turbine BladeMichael Arquin of the KidWind Project will offer his insight into a "Wind Turbine Challenge: How to Hold One in Your State or Region" on Oct. 29. A former sixth grade science teacher, Arquin promises to share lesson plans and practical guides. The workshop is targeted to middle and high school teachers and informal educators. The KidWind website promises the workshop will provide “an introduction to wind energy science and technology.”

Wind energy is one possible way to reduce America's reliance on fossil fuels. Did you know the average turbine on a wind farm generates 1.5 - 2 MW (Megawatts) of electricity? That’s enough to power 450-600 homes in the United States. In Germany, where homes consume less energy, that turbine could power up to 1,500 homes.

In case you were wondering, Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix, with average wind speeds of 10 and 6 mph respectively, wouldn’t be good locations for wind farms, either. To be efficient, turbines need to be located in areas with an average annual wind speed of at least 13 mph.
 
—Lynn Petrinjak
Published: Oct-23-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct21

Richard Louv on Returning Nature to the Classroom

Richard LouvBy now many of you surely have heard of Richard Louv and his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
 
I looked at his blog, Field Notes From the Future, to see what he has to say lately. He reports the nonprofit Children & Nature Network, which he chairs, “has tracked and encouraged more than 50 regional campaigns that are helping reintroduce children to nature.” It’s been good for both students and teachers. “Canadian researchers found that teachers expressed renewed enthusiasm for teaching when they had time outdoors. In an era of increased teacher burnout, the impact of green schools and outdoor education on teachers should not be underestimated,” he says.
 
On October 29 at the NSTA Conference in Minneapolis, he’s going to give you some scientific evidence on the benefits of outdoor learning and practical tips for getting your students’ families and your colleagues and administrators in touch with the natural world. 
 
—Debra Shapiro
Published: Oct-21-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct20

Reading our DNA for Clues

One of the organizing strands for the NSTA Conference in Phoenix is “Rigor Without Mortis: Challenging and Accessible Content.” Challenging AND accessible? Genetics fits that bill. The science is in our cells, so it’s certainly accessible, and for those of us with only a rudimentary appreciation of genetics, it’s challenging as well.
 
DNA StrandFor instance, we can use a cheek swab to produce DNA to map our geneology. A number of databases are available for this. And we can do the same to support broader anthropological research. For example, National Geographic’s and IBM’s Genographic Project  is mapping historical human migration patterns by collecting and analyzing DNA samples from hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.
 
Using similar techniques, session presenter Matthew E. Kaplan (Associate Staff Scientist and Project Lead, Human Origins Genotyping Laboratory, Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Biotechnology, University of Arizona) is contributing to the DNA Shoah Project in order to analyze DNA data for a cause: to reunite families displaced by the Holocaust. His presentation is called DNA: The Strand That Connects Us All.

This fascinating session will take place on Friday, December 4 from 9:30–10:30 AM in the Phoenix Convention Center, Room 120B.

Do you have any questions you’d like Matt to cover?
Published: Oct-20-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct15

Phoenix Earlybird Deadline is October 23

NSTA Phoenix Conference Logo If you’re a science educator or administrator, NSTA’s Conference on Science Education in Phoenix, scheduled for Dec. 3–5, is an event you won’t want to miss. With a new interest in science education to better prepare our children to compete in the global market, educators will need to pursue the best professional development to bolster content knowledge, learn assessment and inquiry strategies, and test the newest classroom tools and techniques. Featuring more than 400 sessions, workshops, presentations, and symposia, the conference is for teachers in every grade band and from every discipline.

 

  • Daylong programs—Biology Day, Chemistry Day, Physical Science Day, and Physics Day.
  • Activities from Across the Earth System—Hands-on, inquiry-based activities spanning the five "spheres" of Earth system science. Handouts! (Elem–High School)
  • The School Water Audit Project: Authentic and Integrative Project-based Learning-engages learners in science, literacy, and mathematics to determine the amount of water used in their school and to implement conservation. (Elem–High School)
  • Facing the Future—Explore sustainability issues and the incorporation of literacy in the science classroom through hands-on, inquiry-based activities. CD-ROM provided.
  • Ice Core Records: From Volcanoes to Stars—Use absolute and relative dating techniques with high-resolution ice core data and historic volcanic eruptions to correlate and date supernova events from nitrate anomalies. (High–College, Informal Educators)
  • Ira Flatow (Host, NPR's Science Friday®): Talking Science in a Science-Challenged World—Mixing Flatow’s passion for science with a tendency toward being "a bit of a ham," Flatow describes his work as the challenge “to make science and technology a topic for discussion around the dinner table.”
  • Lost Dutchman State Park Moonlight Hike—Lost Dutchman State ParkLocated in the Sonoran Desert 40 miles east of Phoenix, the park derives its name from the fabled Lost Dutchman Mine. (Ticketed)
  • Networking with your peers and the experts
  • The Exhibition Hall—Bring a tote to carry home the many giveaways from top companies.

And there is much more to explore. Visit www.nsta.org/phoenix to get details or to register.

Published: Oct-15-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct13

Restaurants, Theaters, and Sights to See in Minneapolis

Jean Tushie offers a few tips on things to see, do, and eat in Minneapolis:
 
Each day of the NSTA conference, it’s over by 5:00 PM.  On Thursday night, as part of the conference, there is a social event featuring the Physics. But at 6-7:00 PM, the night is yet young!  This is so true, especially when you aren’t teaching the next day.  So be sure to check out the night life in Minneapolis.   There is a street in downtown Minneapolis called Farmer's market on Nicollet MallNicollet Avenue.  Locals call it the Nicollet Mall.

 There is no traffic except for buses on Nicollet Mall.  So it is a great place to stroll downtown.  There are several great places to eat on the Mall.  The Dakota Bar has some of the best jazz music and the food is great!  You will have to call ahead for tickets. There is also a restaurant called “Britt’s Pub”.  It has authentic British food (the Shepard Pie is great!)  It is very “quaint” as the British would say.
 
Other entertainment is just a taxi ride away.
We have some of the best theater in the country.  Two of our premier theaters are the  Guthrie and State theaters. The “Importance of Being Earnest” will be playing at the Guthrie while the conference is in town.  On October 29th, the Celtic Thunder will be performing at the State Theater.   They are five Celtic male vocalists from Ireland and Scotland.  
Guthrie Theater
State Theater, Minneapolis
The Guthrie Theater
The State Theater
   
                   
Timberwolves in ActionOur professional basketball team, the Minnesota Timberwolves” will be playing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at 7:00PM. 
 
Since its Halloween weekend, I’m sure the downtown will be alive with LOTS of activity if you just want to stroll and take in the sites.  But whatever you choose, I’m sure you will ENJOY DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS!
Published: Oct-13-09 | 0 Comments | 0 Links to this post

Oct07

NASA Schedules Shuttle Launch to Coincide with NSTA Conference

Shuttle Launch as seen from Ft Lauderdale... not really.
 
But if you attend the NSTA Conference in Ft Lauderdale on November 12th, and you happen look north shortly after 4 pm, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the shuttle Atlantis speeding from the launch pad.
 
The Kennedy Space Center may be 160 miles away, but the shuttle casts a pretty bright light. STS-129 is scheduled to deliver some equipment to the International Space Station. Be sure to add the hash tag "Ft Lauderdale-NSTA" to any pictures you take of the space plane (and upload to Flickr), so your images will appear in the NSTA Fall 2009 Conferences Flickr Group.
Published: Oct-07-09 | 1 Comment | 0 Links to this post

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