What's New For Teachers

Updated February 2nd, 2010

  • PBS Teachers Innovation Awards
    Where, oh where is innovation in education?   Let's uncover and reward cutting-edge educators.    Please help us spread the word...we're looking for innovative teachers. TEN winners will travel to Austin, TX for the PBS annual showcase event - a coveted invitation in the PBS universe!   Please see below for details.Show us how you inspire your students and you could win a behind-the-scenes trip to the Premier Annual PBS Event:  PBS Showcase in Austin, TX, May 17-20! 
    How to enter:
    Go to http://www.pbs.org/teachers/innovators/
    Tell us why you are an innovative educator in 200 words or less.
    Submit a video clip or a photograph showing us how you inspire your students. (*Use of Teachers' Domain and other PBS content is a
    plus!)
    Entry due between January 25 - March 12.
    Fifty winners announced April 5, 2010, and winning entries will
    be featured on the PBS Teachers site.
  • Teaching Biotechnology: New Tools and Resources for the STEM Career Pipeline
    Need a way to refresh your lessons in genetics through multimedia resources? Help students understand how gene cloning, DNA sequencing, and
    bio-engineering touch their every day lives. From the food we eat, to the drugs we take, and the jobs that we train for, biotechnology is a science
    for the new millennium.
    Join WGBH Teachers' Domain and Dr. Lisa Rapp for a FREE web seminar that will discuss ways to deepen the teaching and learning of biotechnology in
    your classroom. Learn about some extra-ordinary free resources developed and organized by Teachers' Domain that cover biotechnology applications, concepts, tools and techniques, and feature career profiles in this
    promising field. Register today at: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NSDL4/webseminar5.aspx
    Teaching Biotechnology: New Tools and Resources for the STEM Career Pipeline
    Date: Wednesday, February 17
    Time: 6:30-8:00p.m. Eastern
    Topic: Biotechnology
    Grade Level: Middle School, High School or Higher Ed
    Daniella Quiñones
    Marketing Coordinator, Teachers' Domain
    WGBH - Boston's PBS Station
    http://www.teachersdomain.org
    daniella.quinones@wgbh.org
    We always have a link to teachersdomain on the classroom resources page, click here to see the link
  • 15th Annual Symposium on Biotechnology Education
    Monday, March 29, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
    $25 registration fee
    For grade 6 - 12 educators
    Register
    Join us for a full-day symposium on current approaches to biotechnology education. Learn from leading researchers, biotechnology practitioners, and experienced teachers as they conduct workshops on a variety of current and advanced topics.
    Directions for non-Teacher Partners:
    To register, you must first sign up for our free Teacher Partner Program. Visit mos.org/teachers to create an online log-in and then register for the program. Once you complete the Teacher Partner sign-up, you will see a link to "Register for the Biotech Symposium."
    Directions for Teacher Partners:
    To register, sign in to your Teacher Partner account at mos.org/teachers. Click on the "Register for the Biotech Symposium" link.
    Learn More: Teacher Partner Program | Biotech Symposium

.Dear Educator,
The Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) invites you to the 4th annual LEGO Engineering Symposium June 8-10, 2010 at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, USA.
http://www.legoengineering.com/component/content/article/144.html
The 2010 LEGO Engineering Symposium features two themes: Climate Change and Tipping Points. These themes will guide the selection of presentations and provide focus for discussions and activities during development lab work sessions.
Climate Change: During the symposium, participants and presenters will explore how climate change can be a real-world context for LEGO learning activities. Whether exploring the science behind global warming or the technology behind renewable energy there are many rich opportunities for teaching and learning STEM concepts through LEGO activities.
Tipping Points: The Symposium is introducing a pedagogical theme—Tipping Points—for 2010. In the context of Climate Change, Tipping Points are defined as the points at which the global climate irreversibly changes from one state to a distinct new state. Similarly for education, a Tipping Point could be that moment when a student reaches an “aha” moment when they organize what they know in such a way that they really get it. Throughout the Symposium, participants will explore how educators can facilitate these Tipping Points through investigating how activities are designed and presented, the kinds of questions students are asked, and how students are asked to represent their knowledge.  
Registration: Registration will open February 1st! Registration will be done online this year.
Call for presentations: The Symposium is seeking presenters to give talks that address one or both of the symposium themes. The talks are generally 15 minutes in length and given in front of the entire Symposium. Please contact Robert Rasmussen to inquire about presenting at the Symposium: robert.rasmussen@tufts.edu
The CEEO hopes you will be able to attend and share your experiences with the community of LEGO Engineering Educators!
Sincerely,
CEEO Staff and Students

  • The Museum of Science, Boston recently launched a new website making its National Center for Technological Literacy® (NCTL®) and its corresponding resources accessible nationwide: www.mos.org/nctl.  The NCTL was established in 2004 to advance technological literacy by helping state governments modify their educational standards and assessments, designing standards-based, teacher-tested K-12 engineering materials, offering pre-service, in-service, and online professional development for educators, and creating museum exhibits and programs.
    The new website offers educators information about NCTL curricula and professional development materials and provides individuals and organizations across the country with tools to advocate for technological literacy within their education systems.
    The country's only science museum with a comprehensive strategy and infrastructure designed to foster technological literacy in both science museums and schools nationwide, the Museum of Science now provides access on one easily navigable site to all NCTL activities and offerings. They include low-cost K-12 engineering curricula and professional development opportunities, design challenges, contact information, and news updates with relevant data and research from organizations such as the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), National Research Council (NRC), International Technology and Education Association, and U.S. National Science Board.
    The NCTL's national efforts are greatly enhanced by our strong partnerships with state departments of education, universities, and collaboratives.  Our partners expand opportunities for teachers and students to experience a rich and engaging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.
    I am excited to make the NCTL's resources available to the broadest possible audience.
    Sincerely,
    Ioannis N. Miaoulis
    Founding Director of National Center for Technological Literacy
    President and Director, Museum of Science, Boston
    Museum of Science, Boston | Science Park | Boston, MA 02114 | 617-723-2500 | mos.org
    Click here for a permanent link to the National Center for Technological Literacy located at the Museum of Science Boston
  • Do you want to hitch a ride on NASA's next climate-monitoring satellite? Join the Glory mission, which will launch no earlier than October 1, 2010, by surfing over to the Send Your Name Around the Earth Web page. Names will be recorded on a microchip built into the satellite, and you will get a printable certificate from NASA acknowledging your participation. There are already 226,323 names on the chip, but there's still plenty of room. You may not submit your name more than once.
    To add your name to the microchip, visit http://polls.nasa.gov/utilities/sendtospace/jsp/sendName.jsp.
    Glory carries two scientific sensors dedicated to understanding the effects of aerosols and the sun's variability on Earth's climate. The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor will collect information about tiny liquid and solid particles suspended in the atmosphere that absorb or reflect sunlight. The Total Irradiance Monitor will measure the intensity of incoming sunlight that can vary over time.
    To learn more about the Glory mission, visit http://glory.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Become a Friend to the Glory Mission on Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1368706679&ref=profile.
  • 2010 NASA Postdoctoral Program Accepting Applications
    The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers qualified postdoctoral scientists and engineers the opportunity to engage in ongoing NASA research and serves as a source of talent to ensure the continued quality of the NASA research workforce. These competitive one- to three-year fellowship appointments advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the dissertation.
    Applications for the NASA Postdoctoral Program are due on March 1, 2010. For further information about this opportunity and to apply online, visit http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm. Questions regarding this opportunity may be submitted by email to nasapostdoc@orau.org.
  • NASA's Digital Learning Network presents a series of video conferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products. During each event, product producers, authors, and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. Instructional objectives, accessing the materials, and primary contacts for the materials will also be discussed. During the video conferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation. In the coming months, the following topics will be covered:
    STS-131 Robotics: January 27, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
    NASA Fit Explorers February 24, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
    NASA eProfessional Development Network—Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
    MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
    On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
    For more information about these video conferences and to sign up online, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/ . Questions about these events should be directed to Caryn Long at caryn.long@nasa.gov .
  • The Centre for Sustainability Leadership is looking for people with the passion and potential to create the change the world so desperately needs. The Fellowship Program equips emerging leaders with an unparalleled network of like-minded people, skills such as creative thinking and problem solving, effective influencing, relationship building, and media advocacy as well as in-depth knowledge of behavioral and social change. Participants graduate with the ability to make a real difference.
    The course comprises weekly evening workshops, one-to-one coaching, intensive retreats, a mentoring program, and project work. The Centre is currently looking for participants to apply for the 2010 Fellowship Program run in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Only 25 places are available in each city. Applicants from all over the world are welcome. The program runs from April to November, and scholarship places are available.
    Further information can be found at www.csl.org.au. International applications close February 3, 2010, and Australian applications February 28, 2010.
  • Science and Technology/Engineering in Massachusetts:  Using Learning Progressions to Support STE Learning, and Development and Scoring STE MCAS Items
    Sponsored by the Salem State Collaborative
    Workshop: Science and Technology/Engineering in Massachusetts: Using Learning Progressions to Support STE Learning, and Development and Scoring STE MCAS Items
    Presenters:     Katie Bowler, Student Assessment Services, ES    E, Jake Foster, Office of Science, Technology/Engineering, and Mathematics, ESE
    Location:       SEEM Collaborative, 92 Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA
    Audience:      Grades K-12 Curriculum Directors, Teachers and Department Heads (Science Content)
    Time:             8:15-2:15 PM (lunch included)
    Date:              26 February 2010 (Friday)
    Fee:               Free
    Description: 
    This workshop is designed for K-12 teachers teaching any science subject or grade.  Katie Bowler and Jake Foster from the Massachusetts DESE will engage participants in considering the implications of the current standards revision process and MCAS development and scoring processes.
    Jake Foster will share how the Science and Technology/Engineering Framework Review process is developing, focusing on possible implications of revised standards for STE programs. In particular, participants will explore strand maps of state standards and learning progressions in science to systematically support student learning. Participants will examine different instructional practices and assessment strategies that take advantage of learning progressions.
    Katie Bowler will present multiple facets of both the test creation and scoring process.  The process of developing items for the Massachusetts MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering tests will be described. It is a complex process, taking at least two years for an item to be considered "common eligible." In addition, participants will examine student work on science open-response items and discuss how this work was assessed. Participants will be able to assess student work given scoring criteria for specific items. We will discuss the use of open-response data and its limitations. 
    This workshop is sure to provide you with insights to the standards revision and MCAS testing process that will help your students achieve in Science and Technology/Engineering.
    Registration Information:
    Please register at our website www.salemcollaborative.org, or email the following information to Jim Kearns at registration@salemcollaborative.org.  If you have registration questions, please either email (preferred) or call Jim at 781-771-4860.
  • Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Resource Center www.massbioed.org
    This interactive site offers: Educators
    Pathways to  BioTeach Grants
    Searchable professional development programs
    Listings for teacher externship or student internship programs
    Connections to corporate site visit or speakers

    Students
    Explore biotech learning resources
    Search for jobs and internships
    Learn about careers in biotech
    Search  biotech college programs
    For more information contact: Suzanne Grillo, Manager of Outreach Programs at suzanne.grillo@massbio.org  (617) 674-5141
    There will be a permanent link to this site on the classroom resource page, click here for the link
  • DOE Opens Lab Equipment Acquisition Program to High Schools and Middle Schools
    U.S. high schools and middle schools are now eligible to participate in the Department of Energy Energy-Related Laboratory Equipment (ERLE) program. For 32 years this program has enabled institutions of higher education to acquire hundreds of millions of dollars in high quality surplus laboratory equipment from the Department's National Laboratories. Schools may acquire equipment by reviewing the available equipment list at the DOE ERLE website, http://erle.osti.gov/erle/,  and completing an electronic application form. The ERLE website is hosted by the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI).
    There will be a     permanent link to this resource on the classroom resources page, click here for the link
  • Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars Spring, 2010
    Designed for science teachers; new teachers are especially welcome 
    Five Saturdays each term; 8:30-1 at UMass Amherst, Lederle Grad
    Towers 1033 (except as noted)
    Educational materials, refreshments, parking, PDP's included
    Advance registration is required; capacity is limited
    Cost $30 per session, $120 for all five sessions
    4 PDP's per half day session; option for 3 grad credits at reduced  cost with extra work
    January 23. What Electrical Engineering Can Do for You. Marinos N. Vouvakis, Electrical and Computer Engineering. When asking the average high-school student what Electrical Engineering is all about, the most probable answer is: it deals with the electrical wiring and outlets, or in the best case, it helps build TV sets. Although this would have been the case for the Electrical Engineering of the 30s or 50s, modern electrical engineering is been considerably more exciting. We will give an overview of Electrical Engineering, and outline the basic principles behind some of the most ubiquitous electrical engineering technologies such as the iPhone, the laptop computer, the internet, radar, etc. 
    January 30. Weather cancellation makeup date if needed
    February 6. Ice, glaciers, and oceans. Julie Brigham-Grette ,
    Geosciences.
    Hands on explorations of remote sensing, the effects of rising ocean levels, and changes in the forces driving ocean circulation. Melting ice and snow exposes water and land, increasing the energy absorbed from sunlight. We will explore ways to measure this change in the "albedo," and will do an experiment that models remote sensing by satellites.
    March 6.  DNA & Protein 3D Structure. Frieda Reichsman and Eric Martz, Microbiology. Ready-to-use software, tutorials, and lesson plans offer interactive, rotating, zooming 3D models of high-impact macromolecules such as influenza neuraminidase and Tamiflu, DNA, antibody, hemoglobin, HIV-protease and inhibitor drug, lipid bilayers and channels. BioMolecular Explorer 3D features molecules that dovetail into high school curricula.
    Proteopedia.Org, a new wiki with Jmol, makes it easy to author new 3D structure tutorials which are immediately online. All software is free, works in web browsers on Windows or Macs, and is available from http://HighSchool.MolviZ.Org <http://highschool.molviz.org/> .
    March 27. Antibiotics in the Environment.  Erik Rosenfeldt, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Discharges of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into aquatic ecosystems are an emerging environmental issue.
    Antibiotics are of particular concern since they may lead to the evolution of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.  A simple assay that detects activity associated with antibiotics is known as the AntiBiotic Challenge [ABC], and is based upon a commercially available test for finding antibiotics in meat, urine, and dairy products. The assay has been adapted so that students will have no contact with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and only simple equipment is required.
    April 3. Science of the Eye.  Ishara Mills-Henry, Biology, MIT. In the retina, photoreceptor cells translate light into electrical and chemical signals that are processed through several downstream neurons.  We will discuss photoreceptor function as it relates to color vision, the proteins involved in phototransduction (signaling pathways and ion channels leading to changes in membrane potential), the evolution of color vision, and the genetics of color blindness.  In the second part of the workshop, we will focus on how the processing of visual stimuli in the brain plays a critical role in vision. Many optical or visual illusions are a result of how the brain perceives what we see and studying them has provided further understanding of the mechanisms of visual perception.  Hands-on activities will include aligning opsin gene and protein sequences and how optical illusions are interpreted.
    April 10.  Weather cancellation makeup date if needed.
    May 1. Recall for those registered for graduate credit. Hasbrouck Lab.
    Graduate credit option: There is a charge of $300 for 3 Continuing Education credits plus a $45 registration fee.  This is in addition to the $120 STEM Education Institute fee. Teachers may obtain credit for the seminar as many terms as they wish, but only 3 credits may be applied to UMass Amherst degrees. A lesson plan and a book report will be required for those enrolled for graduate credit. Register with Continuing Education or the UMass Graduate School for CNS 697S, ST-Contemporary Science and Engineering II. We will have registration forms at the first seminar.
    Questions: Mort Sternheim, mort@umassk12.net, 413-545-1908, www.umassk12.net/sess
    Online seminar registration and payment: www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html
    Required for everyone whether or not they are registering for graduate
    credit. 
  • Application for the 16th Annual Secretary's Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education
    The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2010 Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education. Deadline for submitting your application is March 30, 2010 at the close of business.
    Applicants can type directly into the online form and submit it; or download the "fillable" pdf application, fill it out, save it and then email their application to meg.colclough@state.ma.us.
    Fill out the Excellence in Energy and Environmental
    Education Form Online <http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/exedu/> 
    If you are unable to fill out the form online please contact Meg Colclough by phone: (617) 626-1110, or email meg.colclough@state.ma.us for alternate instructions.
    The Secretary's Advisory Group on Energy and Environmental Education (SAGEE) will review nominations through the beginning of April.  Winners will be notified in April along with an invitation to attend a formal award ceremony at the State House.  Award winners will be recognized by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian A. Bowles.
    Winners will receive certificates of excellence, honor and merit. We encourage you to nominate a school program, teacher and students who are participating in energy and environmental education projects.
    Ian A. Bowles, Secretary
    Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
    100 Cambridge, 9th Floor
    Boston, Massachusetts
  • Information about the April 2010 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering Test Administration for Students in the Class of 2010
    A December 14 memo regarding the April 2010 STE MCAS Test Administrationcan be found at www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=5198
  • New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, RI continues to offer group tours of the college for all high school and adult education groups daily.
    If you are interested in touring with a group of students please schedule a time with Amanda Metzger, Special Events Coordinator. NEIT provides a campus tour and a pizza lunch. Assistance with transportation is available.
    For more information contact Amanda at 800-736-7744 ext. 3377 or by e-mail at ametzger@neit.edu
    Erin Flynn
    Manager of Admissions Outreach and Events
    New England Institute of Technology
    RI FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner
    2500 Post Road
    Warwick, RI 02886
    800-736-7744 x3462
    eflynn@neit.edu
    www.neit.edu
  • Tools Explained
    DRILL  PRESS:
    A  tall upright machine useful for  suddenly  snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands  so that it  smacks you in the chest and  flings your beer across the room, denting the  freshly-painted project which you had carefully  set in the  corner where nothing could get  to it.
    WIRE  WHEEL:
    Cleans paint off bolts and  then throws them somewhere under the workbench  with the speed of light. Also removes  fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from  fingers
    SKILL  SAW:
    A portable cutting tool used to  make studs too  short.
    PLIERS:
    Used to  round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the  creation of blood-blisters.
    BELT  SANDER:
    An electric sanding tool  commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs  into  major refinishing  jobs.
    HACKSAW:
    One of a  family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board  principle.. It transforms human energy into a  crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you  attempt to influence its course, the  more  dismal your future  becomes.
    VISE-GRIPS:
    Generally  used after pliers to completely round off bolt  heads. If nothing else is available, they can  also be used to transfer intense welding heat to  the palm of your hand.
    OXYACETYLENE  TORCH:
    Used almost entirely for  lighting various flammable objects in your shop  on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease  inside the wheel hub out of which you want to  remove a bearing race..
    TABLE  SAW:
    A large stationary power tool  commonly used to launch wood projectiles for  testing wall integrity.
    HYDRAULIC  FLOOR JACK:
    Used for lowering an  automobile to the ground after you have  installed  your new brake shoes, trapping  the jack handle firmly under the   bumper.
    BAND SAW:
    A  large stationary power saw primarily used by  most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into  smaller pieces that more easily  fit into  the trash can after you cut on the inside of the  line instead  of the outside  edge.
    TWO-TON ENGINE  HOIST:
    A tool for testing the maximum  tensile strength of everything you forgot  to  disconnect.
    PHILLIPS  SCREWDRIVER:
    Normally used to stab  the vacuum seals under lids or for opening  old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing  oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the  name implies, to strip  out Phillips  screw heads.
    STRAIGHT  SCREWDRIVER:
    A tool for opening paint  cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted  screws into non-removable screws and butchering  your palms.
    PRY BAR:
    A  tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that  clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to  replace a 50 cent part.
    HOSE  CUTTER:
    A tool used to make hoses too  short.
    HAMMER    :
    Originally  employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays  is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the  most expensive parts adjacent the object we are  trying to hit.
    UTILITY  KNIFE    :
    Used to open and slice through  the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to  your  front door; works particularly well  on contents such as seats, vinyl records,   liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines,  refund checks, and rubber or  plastic  parts. Especially useful for slicing work  clothes, but only while in use..
  • Students became toy-making elves
    CLINTON —     For a week in December, the technology engineering wood shop at Clinton Middle School was turned into a toy factory. 
    Operation Rocking Squirrel had the grade 8 students making a toy for the Toys for Tots program. The Toys for Tots program is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The program, founded in 1947, has collected and distributed almost five million toys. 
    The wooden rocking squirrels filled a large bin at the drop off collection site, Massachusetts State Police Barracks E, located on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The students used furniture-grade pine wood in the shop to manufacture the toys. To build and assemble them, they used saws, drill presses, templates, adhesives, sandpaper, and lots of elbow grease. 
    Technology and Engineering teacher Scott Karpuk developed this project for his students. It addresses part of the curriculum framework for middle school technology engineering that students have hands-on learning experience with the tools and materials, while they also learned the importance of community service. Several students dedicated personal time, staying after school during the week to work on the project. 
    Clinton Middle School eighth-grader David Dias cuts out the rocker for the Toys for Tots program.

Article buy Scott Karpuk MassTEC Member
  • UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2010 SUMMER INSTITUTE
    Monday to Friday, June 28 - July 2 at UMass Amherst
    Funded by the National Science Foundation
    Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing
    Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
    $75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, lunches
    Housing (new air conditioned dorms) and meals for those outside the commuting radius
    3 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's

Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty
Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of nanometers. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, or about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials can have surprising and useful behaviors and properties. Applications of this rapidly growing field include regenerative medicine, fabrics and construction materials of unprecedented strength, ultra-high performance computers and data storage, more efficient solar photovoltaic cells, and much more. Activity in this field cuts across the traditional disciplinary boundaries, and involves chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering.
The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Framework.
Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano. Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2010. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

  • NASA's Ares Project is developing America's next generation of launch vehicles to replace the space shuttle and send people to explore the moon and beyond. Are you looking for the latest information on the Ares rockets that will return humans to the moon? Do you want to find videos of the successful Ares I-X test flight to show in your classroom? Find all of this and more on the Ares social media sites. Stay up to date on developments with the Ares rockets by checking the following sites:
    Ares on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NASA.Ares
    Ares TV on YouTube: www.youtube.com/AresTV
    Ares on TeacherTube: www.teachertube.com/videoList.php?pg=videonew&cid=38
    We will have a permanent link to these resources on our classroom resources page, click here for the links

  • The State Implementation Guides – also from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills – offer best practices on building standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and learning environments – to help integrate skills (such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication) more purposefully into core academic subjects (such as mathematics, reading, science, history and others). A full set of recommendations is available at www.21stcenturyskills.org or on P21’s tools and resources page
  • NASA Invites Schools to Apply for Free Space Shuttle Artifacts
    NASA invites eligible educational institutions, museums, and other organizations to register, screen, and request potential space shuttle artifacts. Included are small items such as astronaut helmets, gloves, and boots, and large items such as shuttle Motion Based Simulators and Crew Compartment Trainers.
    NASA will retire the Space Shuttle Program at the end of 2010 and is eager to share the wonders of space exploration through donations to museum and library exhibitions. This is your opportunity to own and display Space Shuttle artifacts. In order to receive an ID and password to access the website, schools and universities must register using their IPED or NCES number. Information on registering and links to find the IPED and NCES numbers are available on the U.S. General Services Administration website. The artifacts are free, but recipients must cover shipping and special handling fees.
    For the latest information about NASA shuttle transition and artifacts, visit www.nasa.gov/transition. For more about NASA and agency programs, visit www.nasa.gov.
  • SUMMER 2010 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR TEACHERS
    The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is soliciting applications from middle and high school teachers for the summer RET program.
    Up to ten teachers will be selected to participate in team research at the Silvio O. Conte Center for Polymer Research. Participants will perform research as a team and develop teaching modules to transfer their experience to their classroom. The teachers will be selected to research a topic from a broad spectrum of topics in chemistry, physics or engineering of polymers.
    Examples of projects under consideration are: nanomembranes, crystallization in confined geometries, sensors, and polymer deformation.
    You must be a US citizen to be able to participate.
    The program has a flexible duration as teachers can participate from 6-8 weeks. Benefits include a salary of $1,000 per week, up to $1,000 to defray relocation expenses, six graduate credits, and at least 135 PDPs.
    Please send a one-page resume along with a paragraph describing how a research experience could benefit your teaching. In addition send a copy of either your passport or your birth certificate AND social security card.
    Electronic or hard copy applications are acceptable. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 7th.
    Jennifer Green, MRSEC Educational Outreach Manager Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Polymer Science and Engineering Department University of Massachusetts 120 Governors Drive Amherst, MA 01003
    email: jgreen@mail.pse.umass.ed

  • What's New on UMassK12.net, STEM Ed Newsletter: http://www.umassk12.net/stem/newsletter/, Materials from our Saturday Seminars, Nanotech Summer Institute, and STEM, Polar Connections programs:   http://www.umassk12.net/stem/materials.html, 2010 Nanotechnology Summer Institute information:  www.umassk12.net/nano 2010 STEM Polar Connections Summer Institute information:  www.umassk12.net/ipy

  • 2009-2010 NASA Education Resource Showcase Series
    NASA's Digital Learning Network presents a series of video conferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products. During each event, product producers, authors, and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. Instructional objectives, accessing the materials, and primary contacts for the materials will also be discussed. During the video conferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation. In the coming months, the following topics will be covered:
  • NASAimages.org and eClips: November 18, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
  • Exploring Space Through Math: December 16, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
  • STS-131 Robotics: January 27, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
  • NASA Fit Explorers: February 24, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
  • NASA eProfessional Development Network—Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  • MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  • On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  • For more information about these video conferences and to sign up online, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/. Questions about these events should be directed to Caryn Long at caryn.long@nasa.gov.
  • NASA Undergraduate Student Research Project Summer 2010 Sessions
    NASA’s Undergraduate Student Research Project is currently accepting applications for 10-week summer 2010 internships. These internships offer students the opportunity to work alongside NASA scientists and engineers at NASA's field centers, laboratories, and test facilities.
    Applicants must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors with a 3.0 GPA. They must have an academic major or course work concentration in engineering, math, computer science, or physical or life sciences. Participants work on practical problems that will be applied in aerospace or on future NASA missions. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The application deadline for the summer 2010 session is January 22, 2010. For more information and to apply online, visit http://usrp.usra.edu.
  • Additional MCAS High School Science and Technology/Engineering Test Administration Opportunity for Grade 12 Students in the Class of 2010
    To: Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools , Educational Collaboratives, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Alternative Adult/External Diploma Programs
    From:Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
    Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
    Date:October 26, 2009
    As you know, the class of 2010 is the first graduating class to be required to earn a CD in science and technology/engineering in addition to ELA and mathematics. Given this new requirement and my concern that some seniors of this year's senior class have not yet participated in an MCAS STE test prior to their scheduled graduation date in June, the Department will offer an additional testing opportunity for students in the class of 2010 who have not yet taken or passed an MCAS STE test. Students will be provided with an additional opportunity to be tested in Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, and Technology/ Engineering. The tests (both sessions 1 and 2) will be administered on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
    Principals will have access to the February 2010 Biology test results prior to the deadline for ordering materials for the April 2010 STE tests. Principals will have access to the April test results in time to inform students of their eligibility for high school graduation in June and, if necessary, order materials for the June 2010 STE tests.
    Further details about the April 2010 STE administration will be provided later this fall. Please contact the Office of Student Assessment Services at 781-338-3625 if you have any questions.
    Thank you.
    http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=5112
.
  • ESE and WGBH/WGBY Link Online Resources for Educators
    Teachers Will Have Access to Free Digital Resources Linked to State Standards
    MALDEN - The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has partnered with the WGBH Educational Foundation and WGBY in Springfield to launch a new online resource for teachers to provide free access to more than 2,200 classroom-ready media tools.
    Massachusetts Teachers' Domain (MTD) is a localized edition of Teachers' Domain, a nationally used database of digital resources for educators, and contains lesson plans and media clips that have been developed to align with the state's curriculum frameworks. MTD is linked directly to MassONE, the state's existing online portal for educators, which offers web-based tools and resources to support and connect teachers across the Commonwealth.
    The MTD content is pulled from a variety of public television programming including Nova, Frontline, Design Squad, American Experience as well as government agencies, museums, libraries and academic institutions. Most segments contain a multi-media resource, such as a video clip, animated chart or PowerPoint slides, as well as classroom instructions and student assignments.
    "Public television has produced some extraordinary content, and bringing those multi-media components into the classroom will help bring much of the content to life for our students," said Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester. "We are fortunate to have a media giant like WGBH in our backyard, and I am pleased to be able to partner with them to offer these valuable resources to our educators.
    "We are delighted to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to extend the services of public broadcasting into all Massachusetts classrooms.  This collaboration allows us to better serve our constituents and gives teachers access to award-winning media resources from Teachers' Domain to meet diverse learning styles and educational needs,"  said Jon Abbott, WGBH's President and Chief Executive Officer.  (TBC)
    This week's launch is the first step in a multi-year plan to expand MTD into a service that can be used by Massachusetts educators, students and parents. Over the next two years MTD will expand its collection to include history, social science and arts resources, all aligned with the state's curriculum frameworks. Educators can now move from MassONE to MTD through links, and will eventually be able to move seamlessly from one to the other using a single sign-on.
    There are currently more than 400,000 registered users in 187 countries signed up to utilize the Teachers' Domain resources, but only Massachusetts users will have access to the state's special content. Users will also have access to professional development courses and training workshops offered by WGBH, WGBY, and PBS TeacherLine. 
    The development of MTD is the first in a series of projects that ESE and WGBH/WGBY are working on together. Other efforts include the development of the Mass Academic Challenge, a quiz show for high school students that will go into production later this year.
    For a link to     this resource on our classroom resource page click here
  • ALBERT EINSTEIN DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SEEKS APPLICANTS
    Applications are currently being accepted for the 2010-2011 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The program seeks teachers who have a strong background of teaching success coupled with a strong interest in education policy. Fellows will receive living, moving and traveling stipends while spending a school year in Washington, DC. The Program was enacted by Congress and is funded by the Department of Energy Office of Science, with participation from federal agencies which have included: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It provides current public or private elementary and secondary science, mathematics, and technology classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in teaching an opportunity to serve in the national public policy arena. Albert Einstein Fellows bring to Congress and appropriate branches of the federal government the extensive knowledge and experience of classroom teachers. They provide practical insights and "real world" perspectives to policy makers and program managers developing or managing education programs. The Triangle Coalition administers the program under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy. Visit the Triangle Coalition www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm for more information about the Einstein Fellowship Program. The program application can only be accessed online; the deadline for application submission is January 13, 2010.
  • Nickelodeon's Big GREEN Grant program
    This program teams up kids and adults to~bring resources to their community. Each Green Grant will provide up to $5,000 to support environmentally friendly projects that educate and inspire kids to (1) take care of the environment; (2) be active and live healthier; and/or (3) engage in community service.
    For application information, visit - http://bghevent.com/grant/index.htm
    Application Deadline: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. (December 31st 2009)
  • ITEA will again partner with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for Engineers Week - February 14-20, 2010. National Engineers Week, founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is a formal coalition of more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies and more than 50 corporations and government agencies. Dedicated to raising public awareness of engineers' positive contributions to quality of life, Engineers Week promotes recognition among parents, teachers, and students of the importance of a technical education and high level of math, science, and technological literacy, and motivates youth to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse and vigorous engineering workforce.
    Engineers Week headquarters prepares and distributes a variety of support materials for local Engineers Week programs. Products include student guidance materials, "how-to" instructions, promotional materials such as buttons and caps, a variety of DVDs and video products, and each year, a new graphic/poster to inspire excitement and pride in the engineering profession. Free kits and other products are available at www.eweek.org.
  • From the ITEA, Foundations that give to Educational Projects:
    Check the individual foundation website's for their guidelines. 
  • EPA Releases New K-12 Responsible School Chemical Management Video EPA has teamed up with schools and community partners in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Wyoming to bring models of responsible chemical management programs to schools across the country. For more information on responsible chemical management in schools and to watch the new video, Safe Chemical Management in Your School please visit: www.epa.gov/SC3.  In addition to identifying steps to build a responsible chemical management program, the video features real life examples of schools and their community partners that are working towards permanent chemical management solutions.
  • New England's Only Air and Space Science Center Opens
    McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
    Be inspired, have fun, and learn something new in the spirit of Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard. A new full-service science center, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, opened on March 6, 2009. With a Mercury-Redstone rocket at the front entry and a prominent observatory dome, New England's first air and space science center will make its home in Concord, New Hampshire, housing 45,000-square-feet of new interactive science exhibits. The new Discovery Center is a major transformation of the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium.
    The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a lively educational science center featuring twenty-first century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, and Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and a variety of science and engineering programs.
    The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors the legacies of two New Hampshire heroes and is a place for visitors to explore, discover, and be inspired.  As the only air and space science center in New England, it welcomes visitors of all ages to have fun while learning about the universe in which we live. More information is online at http://www.starhop.com.

  • Partnership for 21st Century Skills
    Groundbreaking Program Will Increase the Capacity of Practitioners to Embed 21st Century Skills into Classroom Practices
    The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has launched a groundbreaking new program to establish a network of experts who are specialists in helping states and districts design and implement 21st century skills via targeted professional development programs. Nearly 30 people from 11 organizations were the inaugural participants in the P21 Professional Development Affiliate program.  
    As affiliates, participants now form a specialized cadre armed with the resources required to align their already robust professional development programs with the Partnership's Framework for 21st Learning-which makes clear the skills, knowledge, and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life. Program participants are also able to assist others seeking to align the Framework into existing models. The unique design of the program allows for differentiation within states to ensure 21st century skills fit seamlessly into existing state standards and policies. 
    As more and more states and districts embrace 21st century skills, there is an exponentially growing need for assistance in embedding these skills into schools and classrooms. The affiliate program fills this void by creating a national network of providers proficient in helping teachers and administrators implement the Framework. 
    The affiliate program is designed for national, state, and regional organizations that provide training and professional development programs to school administrators and instructional leaders. Upon completion of the program, participants become part of a national community committed to infusing 21st century skills into K-12 instructional practices and sharing their work with colleagues. http://21stcenturyskills.org
    The Partnership Releases a 21st Century Learning Environments White Paper
    Successful learning environments break through the barriers that separate schools from the real world, educators from each other, and policymakers from the communities they serve. Yet, many schools continue to reflect their Industrial Age origins with rigid schedules, inflexible facilities, and fixed boundaries between grades, disciplines, and classrooms, according to a new paper released by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and sponsored by Cisco Systems.
    The paper, 21st Century Learning Environments, finds that learning environments-the structures, tools, and communities that inspire students and educators to attain the knowledge and skills that are required of them-must embrace a diverse and complex world of people, places, and ideas. While a tremendous amount of attention has been paid to standards, assessments, professional development, and curriculum and instruction, the paper finds that learning environments are an essential component to supporting positive 21st century outcomes for students.Read the full report at http://21stcenturyskills.org/documents/le_white_paper-1.pdf.

  • NAEP Seeks Examples for Assessment of Technological Literacy
    The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which generates the Nation's Report Card,is planning to administer an assessment of technological literacy in 2012. This assessment is planned for the national level only and at one grade level only. The first step in the development of this assessment is the creation of a framework document that will guide the development of actual test items. WestEd, the organization charged with developing the framework, is seeking examples of assessment items and tasks that illustrate different approaches to probing students' technological literacy. These items and tasks may be multiple-choice, constructed-response, or involve or require demonstration of design and problem-solving capability. The 2012 assessment of technological literacy will be delivered entirely via computer, which offers the potential to use approaches not possible with traditional paper-and-pencil tests, such as the use of audio, video, and simulation. Items and tasks should be sent to Mark Loveland at WestEd, mlovela@wested.org. If WestEd decides it wants to use your submission, you will be contacted for permission.
  • New From the National Energy Education Development Project. EIA Renewable Energy Slide show
    Looking for a multimedia way for students to learn more about renewable energy? Check out the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy in Brief audio slide show about renewable energy. Visit http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/slideshows/renewable_energy.html.
    Source: Energy  Exchange (from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, November 2008)
  • Nuclear Engineering
    In the most recent issue of JETS' Pre-Engineering Times, you'll find the tools to help your students explore.assess.and experience engineering! From a look into the world of Ross Radel and his work to find cost-effective options for nuclear power on the Moon and on Mars to enjoying a hands-on activity where students will control energy production in a nuclear reactor, students will learn firsthand how nuclear engineering is all around them. Enjoy!
    Source: JETS Pre-Engineering Times, November 2008
    JETS e-newsletter is a unique and free publication distributed monthly from September to May. Each issue introduces a different type of engineering career, highlights an "Extreme Engineer," and offers activities to truly help students Explore, Assess, and Experience engineering. www.jets.org/newsletter/index.cfm
  • From the Science, Mathematics, And Research For Transformation Defense Scholarship for Service Program (SMART)
    The Department of Defense (DoD) is proud to offer scholarships to undergraduate, master's and doctoral students who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for training in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) fields. The DoD also offers them career opportunities to continue their research as civilian employees of a DoD laboratory after graduation. 
    The Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship for Service Program offers our nation's research leaders of tomorrow not only an education but rewarding career opportunities. Click here for a link to there web page https://www.asee.org/smart/

  • The NASA Undergraduate Student Research Project The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking undergraduate students from diverse communities across the United States interested in unique hands-on experiences with NASA scientists and engineers. USRP internships are available year-round at all NASA facilities. Selected students receive a stipend and round-trip travel allowance. Students may apply for 15 week spring session, 10-week summer session, or 15-week fall session. USRP seeks applications from undergraduates who are U.S. citizens enrolled full-time in accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Applicants must be classified as sophomores, juniors, or seniors by the start of their internship. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with academic majors or course concentration in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or physical and life sciences. NASA-USRP provides students with hands-on, real-life, career-related internships that challenge, inspire, and provide practical application that complements students' academic education. Click here for more information

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