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RI Science Professional Development and Student
Opportunity Bulletin
November 1, 2013 This bulletin will be sent on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
If you would like to share an event, quality resource, or other opportunity, please follow the directions for doing so at
the bottom of the newsletter. To SUBSCRIBE send an email to [email protected] with SUBSCRIBE RISCI-MSHS in the Subject Line
Go To RIScienceTeachers - https://riscienceteachers.wikispaces.com/ for PDF copy of past
issues
New In This
Bulletin
NGSS News News Web Sites
Job
Opportunities
Prof.
Development
Student
Opportunities
New In This Bulletin:
Rodger W. Bybee to Present of Translating
NGSS into Classroom Instruction – November
5th (admission is Free)
Information Sessions: Next Generation Science
Standards – Moving Rhode Island Forward (4:00 –
6:00 PM) – Multiple Dates
FREE Teacher Workshop: “What Comets Can
Teach Us” – Museum of Nat. History at Roger
Williams Park, November 21st – RSVP by
November 18th
Presidential Award For Excellence In
Mathematics And Science Teaching (PAEMST)
Nominations Now Open – Nominations Due
April 1, 2014 (Grades 7-12 Teachers)
Job Opportunities:
None at this Time. Schools should send along any information for position openings to [email protected]
This Brilliant Kid Invented A Sand-Less Sandbag For The Next Hurricane Sandy (Fast
Co.Exist) As a Florida native, 11-year-old Peyton Robertson knows the havoc that hurricanes can wreak. After seeing the
extensive flooding that happened during Hurricane Sandy, he came up with a partial solution: a lightweight sand-less
sandbag that's purportedly more effective than traditional sandbags. His idea recently won the $25,000 Discovery
Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which crowned Robertson as “America’s Top Young Scientist."
NAEP-TIMSS Study: U.S. Eighth-Graders Perform Above International Average on
Mathematics and Science Assessment According to a new report released last week by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), American eighth-graders performed higher than the international mathematics and science averages
on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), a study that compares scores from 38
countries and 9 subnational education systems. The special 2011 NAEP-TIMSS Linking Study uses eighth-graders'
scores on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to draw comparisons and predict student
performance on the 2011 TIMSS. Full article
NGSS News:
NGSS Resources Available from ETS The K–12 Center at ETS recently collaborated with a dozen other organizations for an Invitational Research
Symposium on Science Assessment, which brought together many of the individuals at the forefront of K–12 science
education and reform. Resources, including commissioned papers by experts in science assessment; three dozen slide
presentations; and videos of the closing sessions are now available at The K–12 Center website.
How to help ELL students succeed under common core and NGSS
Under the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, all students, including those with
limited English proficiency, will be expected to master academic language practices and analyze complex texts.
Rebecca Greene, an educator and consultant, in this blog post shares five strategies -- videos, among them -- to
teach English-language learners, including increasing autonomy, providing heterogeneous classrooms and using
relevant background knowledge. Teaching Channel/Tchers' Voice blog
How technology can help usher in new K-12 science standards Education futurist David D. Thornburg in this commentary writes about five technology tools that can help teachers
integrate the Next Generation Science Standards. Among them are Celestia, software that allows users to explore the
solar system and more, as well as PhET, which allows students to simulate experiments and test their hypotheses.
Thornburg also suggests hardware that can help improve the transition. T.H.E. Journal magazine (exclusive preview for
SmartBrief subscribers)
NGSS One Pagers NSTA offers a tremendous collection of resources designed to help provide more information for the NGSS.
Three Dimensions of NGSS (Color | B&W)
This three page pdf document provides general information of each of the three dimensions of the NGSS specifically
the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and the crosscutting concepts.
A Look at the Next Generation Science Standards (Color | B&W)
This two page pdf document provides a detailed look at the architecture of the NGSS standards.
Venn Diagram of the Practices in Science, Math, and ELA (Color | B&W)
This pdf shows how the practices of the NGSS, CCSS-Math, and CCSS ELA intersect and support each other.
Matrix of Disciplinary Core Ideas in the NGSS
Here you will find a complete matrix of the disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS by domain
RIDE’s NGSS Page
Find easy access to the NGSS standards, information on RI’s participation as a Lead State, the Framework, and other
resources
Recorded Link for RIDE’s Webinar – Next Generation Science Standards – Rhode Island’s Implementation
Plan originally webcast on September 17th
can be found under the Resources section of the RIDE NGSS page
along with a PDF of the PPT.
Web Sites Worth Exploring:
NOAA Global Climate Change Indicators - http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/ Many lines of scientific evidence show the Earth's climate is changing. This page presents the latest information from several
independent measures of observed climate change that illustrate an overwhelmingly compelling story of a planet that is
undergoing global warming. It is worth noting that increasing global temperature is only one element of observed global
climate change. Precipitation patterns are also changing; storms and other extremes are changing as well.
Hands on Astronomy Activities - http://astrosociety.org/education/hands-on-astronomy-
activities/ For more than 100 years, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific – a 501c3 nonprofit astronomy organization headquartered
in San Francisco – has inspired professionals, researchers, educators, amateurs and “arm chair” astronomers to look up and
wonder about our place in the universe, and about what the universe can teach and tell us. We design and deliver innovative
astronomy toolkits, programs, publications and education guides in our mission to inspire youth and adults across the
economic spectrum – in support of their success as science, technology and academic leaders.
A Unique Interactive to Show you how far it is to Mars - http://www.distancetomars.com/ A unique set up to show how far Mars is from the Earth.
Demonstrating the Water Cycle - http://raisingsparks.com/kids-science/a-pint-pot-planet/ This is a super experiment that kids can do at home or in the classroom to demonstrate the water cycle.
Estuary Education - http://estuaries.noaa.gov/ Welcome to estuaries.noaa.gov where we aim to advance estuarine and coastal literacy. Explore these living classrooms and
laboratories - our estuaries -, discover their importance and beauty, and learn what you can do to protect them.
Perpetual Ocean: Visualization Shows Ocean Surface Currents in Unique Fashion -
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003800/a003827/ This visualization shows ocean surface currents around the world during the period from June 2005 through December 2007.
The visualization does not include a narration or annotations; the goal was to use ocean flow data to create a simple, visceral
experience.
Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
An Invitation To Educators and Schools from the RI Nuclear Science Center
The Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC) is located on the University of Rhode Island (URI) Bay Campus.
RINSC is a research and test reactor facility and their mission is focused on providing a resource for research, training
and development to the state of Rhode Island. There are only 31 research and test reactors operating in the United
States and they contribute to almost every field of science including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, geology,
archeology, and environmental sciences.
The professional RINSC staff can work individually with interested educators to develop labs and lectures that will fit
the topic and age of the students. The staff has several pre-designed experiments that can be modified or can create
entirely new experiments based on the needs of the teachers and students. We also have a classroom equipped with
white boards, a Smartboard and a projector. An adjacent lab also allows for students to perform their own analysis on
samples that they can see irradiated during their visit. Previous classes have ranged in age from elementary level
students to adults, with groups from 5 to 50 students.
We also welcome any students interested in using the facility for science fair projects to contact us. We can work with
the students to develop a topic and plan to complete their experiments. All of our services that we provide to the
school are free of charge.
Upon examination of the Next Generation Science Standards, we find that we align well with several of them, such as
(not all inclusive): MS-PS1-1, MS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-3, HS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-PS4-3, HS-PS4-
5, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4, HS-ETS1-1 and HS-ETS1-3.
Please contact us at any time:
Dr. Cameron Goodwin, Director
Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center
16 Reactor Rd
Narragansett, RI 02882
P - (401) 789-9391
F - (401) 782-4201
American Meteorological Society (AMS) DataStreme Project PD
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) DataStreme Project is a free professional development program for in-
service K-12 teachers, in which they gain considerable subject matter content and confidence in Earth and Space
Science instruction. The graduate-level DataStreme Atmosphere, Ocean, and Earth’s Climate System courses are
offered each fall and spring semester by Local Implementation Teams (LITs) across the country in coordination with
DataStreme Central, a team of AMS Education Program scientists and educators who develop instructional materials,
provide logistical support to the LITs, and administer the project. The 3-member LITs mentor about 8 teachers per
semester through a given DataStreme course, which is taken mostly online with 3 face-to-face meetings. Teachers
may receive 3 tuition-free graduate credits for each DataStreme course through State University of New York’s The
College at Brockport upon completion of the course assignments and construction of a Plan of Action for educational
peer-training.
DataStreme has traditionally followed the National Science Education Standards guidelines for teacher professional
development, with an emphasis on understanding the Earth’s environment. DataStreme is also in close alignment
with the recently published Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards.
DataStreme courses, which emphasize the use of real-world and current scientific data and the hands-on
construction of models to represent key concepts, strongly support teacher professional development in many
disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering skills and practices.
DataStreme has received financial and in-kind support from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1996, 18,500 teachers have completed DataStreme courses,
impacting more than 1 million students. For more information on the program, go to www.ametsoc.org/amsedu and
follow the links to course pages for the list of LIT leaders locally offering DataStreme.
Meet Me in the Middle at NSTA - Boston
The NSTA's Middle Level Science Teaching Committee is pleased to announce a joint NSTA-NMLSTA venture called Meet Me in the Middle planned for Friday, April 4, 2014 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Boston Westin Waterfront hotel. Taking place during the NSTA's national convention this whole day is designed to offer information, ideas, and presentations geared specifically for science teachers of grades 5-8. There will be food, fun, and door prizes too! The committee is searching for middle school presenters for a Share-A-Thon event from 12:30 - 2:00. Information can be found at: http://nmlsta.wordpress.com/conferences/ for presenters or attendees. If additional information is needed please contact: Patty McGinnis, [email protected] NSTA Division Director NSTA Committee on Middle Level Science Teaching
Register for Web Seminars on NGSS Core Ideas: Earth’s Place in the Universe – November
5th
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) continues its fall series of free web seminars on the Next
Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on Tuesday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Presenter Julia Plummer will discuss
NGSS Core Ideas: Earth’s Place in the Universe. The 90-minute program is designed to help K-12 science teachers
address questions such as “What goes on in stars?” and “What patterns are caused by Earth’s movements in the solar
system?” Learn more and register for this online event here.
Plan ahead for the entire web seminar series on disciplinary core ideas.
Nov. 5: Earth's Place in the Universe
Nov. 19: Earth's Systems
Dec. 3: Earth and Human Activity
Register here
Information Sessions: Next Generation Science Standards – Moving Rhode Island Forward
– Multiple Dates
Presenters: Peter McLaren and Jennifer Solek –RIDE Science and Technology Specialists
When/Where: November 4th – East Providence High School Auditorium, 2000 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, 4:00 – 6:00 PM November 7th –Claiborne Pell Elementary School, 35 Dexter Street, Newport, 4:00 – 6:00 PM November 21st –Jamestown Lawn Avenue School, 55 Lawn Avenue, Newport, 3:30 – 5:30 PM December 3rd – Ponaganset High School Auditorium, 137 Anan Wade Rd, North Scituate, RI, 3:30 – 5:30 PM December 12th – Lincoln High School, 135 Old River Road, Lincoln, RI, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
On May 23rd
Rhode Island became the first state in the country to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. All
educators are invited to learn more about Rhode Island’s plan for implementation of the NGSS.
Questions to be addressed:
How were the standards developed?
What’s different about these standards?
What would NGSS look like in the classroom?
What is a standard?
What is Rhode Island’s plan for implementation?
Where can I find NGSS resources?
Each session will devote the last 30 minutes to provide an open forum where attendees can ask questions pertaining to the new science standards and their implementation. For more information contact Peter McLaren by email at [email protected] or by phone at 222-8454
Register for the New England Environment Education Alliance Conference - November 1st
– 3rd
Join us for the New England Environmental Alliance Conference, Achieving Environmental Literacy: Health,
Environment, Curriculum,.
November 1-3
Salve Regina University, Newport Rhode Island.
The goals of the joint NEEEA conference and Sustainable Schools Summit are simple, but bold – to create connections
across environmental and educational fields that will increase the ability of students, citizens, and our environment to
sustain and thrive in the 21st century. Let us leverage the environmental education community’s expertise and expand
the conversation to build meaningful relationships across curriculum subjects, professional disciplines, and outside of
the classroom into our rich and diverse communities. Together we can find ways to promote greater participation
and stewardship in all the interconnected disciplines that impact school health and student success.
Click here to REGISTER ONLINE
Download the conference brochure
More information about the conference can be found here.
Microbes Down Below! Exploring Life Beneath The Ocean Floor.” - Free On-Line Workshop
– Begins November 1st
The Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) and the College of Exploration invite you to explore “life
on the dark side” in a free online workshop: “Microbes down below! Exploring life beneath the ocean floor.”
Participation is FREE and open to all! Materials and content will be especially designed for use in community
college classes, with additional materials for high school classes.
C-DEBI scientists have drilled deep into the ocean floor to study how microbial life survives and thrives in sediments
and rock below the bottom of the ocean, a dark world far below the sunlit photic zone. In the workshop, we will
investigate life in extreme environments, chemosynthesis, microbial evolution, marine technology and engineering,
and many other topics. During the workshop you will meet and interact personally with C-DEBI scientists and collect
resources and lessons to help you share this exciting research with your students.
Week One:
Keynote: “Studying Life Below the Sea Floor”
by Dr. John Kirkpatrick, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
Dr. Kirkpatrick will present on how life in the deep biosphere is studied; how microbes survive in the extreme
conditions found there; microbial evolution; and the value of these studies for broader applications. Interactive
discussions with Dr. Kirkpatrick will take place during week one.
Lecture available Fri Nov 1, 8pm Eastern
Interaction with Dr. Kirkpatrick and his grad students Nov 4 - 8
Week Two:
Keynote: “Biogeography of the Deep Biosphere”
by Dr. Brandi Reese, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Reese will present on extreme environments in the ocean; physical and chemical factors in extreme environments;
the sub-seafloor microbial community and how it interacts with the geochemical environment; chemosynthesis vs.
photosynthesis. Interactive discussions with Dr. Reese will occur during week two.
Lecture available Fri Nov 8, 8pm Eastern
Interaction with Dr. Reese and her grad students Nov 11 - 15
For more information go to C-DEBI Website
Rodger W. Bybee to Present of Translating NGSS into Classroom
Instruction – November 5th (admission is Free)
The Rhode Island Strategic Leadership Committee for the NGSS and the Rhode Island
Science Teachers Association
are pleased to host Rodger W. Bybee who will present on Translating Next Generation
Science Standards into Classroom Instruction
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
3:30 – 5:30 PM
University of Rhode Island
Corless Auditorium
Graduate School of Oceanography
Narragansett Bay Campus
South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI
Admission is FREE
With the April, 2013 release of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), educators have been asking many
pressing questions about how the standards fit within curriculum, instruction, and assessments. Please join award
winning educator and researcher Rodger W. Bybee as he shares from his latest book Translating the NGSS for
Classroom Instruction (NSTA Press).
Rodger Bybee was the Team Leader for the NGSS Life Science Writing Team and was also the Team Leader of the Life
Sciences Design Team for the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
Dr. Bybee has written widely, publishing in both education and psychology. He is co-author of a textbook titled Teaching
Secondary School Science: Strategies for Developing Scientific Literacy. His books include Achieving Scientific Literacy:
From Purposes to Practices, Learning Science and the Science of Learning, EVO Teachers Guide: Ten Questions Everyone
Should Ask About Evolution, The Teaching of Science: 21st Century Perspectives, and The Case for STEM Education:
Challenges and Opportunities.
More information on Dr. Bybee can be found here
Directions: www.gso.uri.edu/about-gso/directions
Admission is free but seating is limited. Please RSVP at www.RISTA.us
NSTA Shell Science Teaching Award – Apply by November 8th
The National Science Teachers Association administers the Shell Science Teaching Award for K-12 classroom science
teachers. The winner receives $10,000 and recognition at the national NSTA conference (Boston in 2014). We are
always seeking and encouraging quality science teachers to apply. Please consider applying for this award if you are
a K-12 classroom science teacher with at least 8 years of experience. Or, please encourage your qualified colleagues
to apply if you are not a science teacher.
The deadline for submitting the completed application is November 8, 2013. There will be a webinar on October 22
to assist candidates with their application and answer questions. I have attached the application and scoring guide
for your convenience. If you have question, please check the NSTA Awards website at:
http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx There may be other awards listed that may interest you or your science
colleagues!
For other questions, you may contact the NSTA Awards Manager, Amanda Upton, at: [email protected]
Geologic Walking Tour of Turner's Falls, MA - November 9, 2013
Join Steve Winters and Tarin Weiss of NAGT (National Association of Geology Teachers) for a Geologic Walking Tour
of Turner's Falls, MA in conjunction with the 17th Annual Jewelry, Gem, and Mineral and Fossil Show & Sale at
Greenfield Community College. (see information below).
The walking tour (about 2 miles) will explore the geological evidence for the rifting of Pangaea beginning about 245
million years ago and the resulting sedimentary and igneous rocks. We'll see fossil remains of ancient life and other
key sedimentary features that help us to interpret this rich geologic region! Participants receive a booklet that
accompanies the tour.
Everyone Welcome!
Walking Tour: Leaves at 2:30pm from information table outside mineral exhibits at GCC. Drivers needed.
Returns by 5:00pm to GCC (or leave from tour).
For more information email Steve Winters at [email protected] or Tarin Weiss at [email protected]
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program Accepting Applications for the 2014 Field Season –
Applications Accepted until November 18th.
Application Window: October 21 - November 18, 2013
Application Deadline Including Letters of Recommendation: Monday, November 18, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
To Apply: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/about/how_to_apply.html
For further information and to preview a sample application: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/
ARE YOU AN EDUCATOR INTERESTED IN DOING RESEARCH ON A SHIP?
If so, we encourage you to explore the opportunities offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program, accepting applications October 21 - November 18, 2013. For
further information and to preview a sample application visit: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/
ABOUT NOAA's TEACHER AT SEA PROGRAM
The mission of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program is to provide teachers a hands-on, research experience at sea, giving
them unique insight into oceanographic, hydrographic, and fisheries research by facilitating partnerships between
educators and world-renowned NOAA Scientists.
Since 1990, NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program has enabled over 600 teachers to gain first-hand experience of science
and life at sea by working on research ships. Teachers have enriched their classroom curricula with a depth of
understanding made possible by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with those who contribute to the
world's body of scientific knowledge. No matter which type of cruise our teachers embark on, they are bound to learn
an array of new things.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Monday, November 18, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
ELIGIBILITY
NOAA's Teacher at Sea program accepts applications from currently employed, full-time educators in these
categories: K-12 teachers and administrators; community college, college, and university teachers; museum and
aquarium educators; and adult education teachers. We regret that we cannot accept applications from part-time,
substitute, or pre-service teachers. Teachers will be selected to fill approximately 25-30 openings available per
appropriation.
TYPES OF CRUISES
Participants are assigned a cruise aboard one of NOAA's 17 ships (or a chartered partner ship). NOAA conducts three
main types of cruises. Fisheries research ships perform biological and physical science studies in support of fisheries
research. Oceanographic and atmospheric research ships perform physical science studies in support of scientific
studies to increase our understanding of the world's oceans and climate. Hydrographic survey ships scan the coastal
sea floor with side-scan sonar and sophisticated bottom sounding systems to locate submerged obstructions and
navigational hazards for the creation or update of the nation's nautical charts.
TIME COMMITMENT
Participants can expect to be at sea anywhere from one week to one month, with the average cruise lasting 12-14
days. Most of our participants try to sail on cruises offered during the summer vacation, but cruises take place
throughout most of the year on a space-available basis.
COSTS
All necessary travel costs associated with teacher participation in the program are covered by the program, including
transportation to and from the ship, lodging, and per diem allowance. While airfare is paid for up front by the
government, all other costs are reimbursed, including non-airfare transportation costs, lodging, and per diem
allowance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
More information about NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program including eligibility requirements, expectations, and
frequently asked questions, is available at http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
Environment Council of Rhode Island announces opening of applications for Loraine
Tisdale Environmental Education Awards – Apply by November 20 (MS and HS)
Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Award
Announcement of Application for Environmental Education Awards
Open to RI Middle School and High School Science Teachers, Science Club Supervisors, After School Programs and
environmental organizations working in schools.
The Environment Council of Rhode Island Education Fund (ECRI Ed Fund) is pleased to announce that we are opening
the application process for the Seventh Annual Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Fund awards. The Loraine
Tisdale awards honors a woman whose energy for a just and healthy environment are legendary. Mrs. Tisdale held an
undergraduate degree in chemistry and a degree in nursing. For many years she led an organization that addressed
safety and health issues concerning pesticides.
We are pleased to offer 3 grants of up to $250 to teachers or environmental organizations for support of school
based projects that
1. Have student participation
2. Lead to measurable improvement in an environmental condition
3. Involve the community beyond a school in some way
The application deadline is November 20, 2013 and awards will be made in January 2014 for projects to be
undertaken in the Spring of 2014. Application and further information is available on line at
http://environmentcouncilri.org/sites/default/files/2014%20Tisdale%20Application.pdf
Applicants should complete the application and attach a one page description of the project including the
cooperative components of the project, what the participants will gain, and how the success of the project will be
measured. Applicants should note that a final report with at least one photograph of the project in progress must be
produced at the end of the project and presented to the Environment Council by July 15, 2014..
Applications should be emailed to us at [email protected] in the body of an email, as a pdf or as a
word document.
The Environment Council is more than willing to answer any questions you have about the program and to discuss
potential projects with you. We can be contacted either by email at the address listed above or by phone at 621-8048.
Application for the Loraine Tisdale Fund Environmental Education Awards
1. Name of Applicant
2. Address
3. Phone/ email
4. Name of Project Leader/ Director/ Responsible Person
5. Name of group/ school sponsoring the project
6. Town in which project will occur
7. Number of persons carrying out project
8. Purpose of project
9. Budget for the project, including sources of funds and whether those funds are in hand
10. Completion date for project
In addition to the above information please include a one page description of the project including the cooperative
components of the project, what the participants will gain, and how the success of the project will be measured.
Applications should be emailed to [email protected]
NEW!!! FREE Teacher Workshop: What Comets Can Teach Us – Museum of Nat. History at
Roger Williams Park, November 21st – RSVP by November 18th
When: Thursday, November 21st , 4pm-6pm
Where: Museum of Natural History, Roger Williams Park
Facilitated by: Professor Ian Dell'Antonio, Department of Physics, Brown University
Please RSVP by Monday, November 18, 401.785.9457 x221 or [email protected]
Comets are spectacular visitors from the outer solar system, but in addition to being awe-inspiring to observe, comets
can tell us much about the structure and history of our solar system. We will introduce the structure and evolution of
a comet in its orbit, and how the information about the orbit and composition help us reconstruct the ancient history
of the solar system, and the link between the structure of the comets and the formation of planets including Earth.
We will emphasize the link between the structure of the solar system and what it teaches us about the development
of Earth, linking to Next Generation Science Standards ESS1 and ESS2 at both the middle and high school level.
Teacher workshop facilitated by Professor Ian Dell'Antonio, Department of Physics, Brown University. Workshop ties
to the Museum's Comet Tales: Wondrous Wanderers exhibit. Workshop sponsored by the NASA RI Space Grant
Consortium.
Each teacher participating in the workshop will receive a free field trip program, up to 50 students. Field Trip Program:
Two Small Pieces of Glass Full Dome Planetarium show or Cosmic Collisions Planetarium Show and Captivating
Comets Workshop. Field Trip must occur by March 31, 2014. It cannot be transferred to another teacher. Please RSVP
by Monday, November 18, 401.785.9457 x221 or [email protected]
Interested in Bringing a Darwin Day Roadshow to Rhode Island? – Application due
November 27th
To celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday each year, the scientists and educators ofNESCent (The National Evolutionary
Synthesis Center) hit the road to bring evolutionary science to schools, museums and town halls in communities
around the country. We are particularly interested in reaching out to small, often rural communities which would not
otherwise have a Darwin Day celebration.
Our teams talk to students, teachers and the general public about their research in evolutionary science, describe
what it takes to become an evolutionary biologist (and what some of the rewards and challenges are), and convey
why evolutionary science is relevant to everyone.
The Darwin Day Roadshow is a way for scientists and educators from NESCent(The National Evolutionary Synthesis
Center) to share their enthusiasm for evolutionary science with students, teachers and the general public across the
United States each year, on the occasion of Charles Darwin’s birthday (February 12th).
NESCent has stated that they will visit Rhode Island if more than one teacher applies. If you are interested in bringing
a Darwin Day Roadshow to your school contact David Upegui, Science Teacher at Central Falls High School, at
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program now accepting applications for
the 2014-15 fellowship year – Apply by December 4th
Applications due December 4, 2013
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the 2014-15
fellowship year. The Einstein Fellowship seeks experienced and distinguished K 12 educators in fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve an 11-month fellowship appointment in a Federal agency
or U.S. Congressional office. Applications are due December 4, 2013 and must be submitted through the online
application system.
To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be a current a full-time elementary or secondary school teacher, and
must have taught full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven
years in a STEM discipline.
The Einstein Fellowship is managed by the Department of Energy / Office of Science, in partnership with other
sponsoring agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and in collaboration with
the Triangle Coalition for STEM Education and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.
Information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, including eligibility requirements,
program benefits, application requirements, and access to the online application system can be found at
http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/.
Apply for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program – Applications Close
December 15, 2013
Announcing the launch of the 2014-2015 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program Online
Application for K-12 teachers!
Are you a U.S.:
Primary and/or secondary classroom teacher?
Guidance counselor?
Curriculum specialist?
Curriculum head?
Talented and Gifted coordinator?
Special Education coordinator?
Media specialist/librarian?
You may be eligible to participate in a unique international professional development opportunity for 3-4
months through the Fulbright Program!
By conducting educational research abroad, U.S. teachers gain new skills, learn new instructional methods
and assessment methodologies and share best practices with international colleagues and students.
Teachers also have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures and international
education systems that will enrich their U.S. schools and local communities with global perspectives.
Teachers may travel to: Chile, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Singapore,
and the United Kingdom.
START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY: https://dafulbrightteachers.org/
Application deadline: December 15, 2013.
Eligibility Requirements:www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org.
Application Info:http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/application-tp2 .
This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and
is administered by the Institute of International Education.
SAVE THE DATE – STEM to STEAM thru Synergy: Bridging Morphology, Biomimicry,
Sustainability and Synergetics, Fourth Biennial Design Science Symposium - 31 January
2014 – 2 February 2014
31 January 2014 – 2 February 2014
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Presenters:
John Maeda, President, Rhode Island School of Design
Dennis Bartels, Executive Director, San Francisco Exploratorium
Donald E. Ingber, Founding Director, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University
Chris Zelov, Filmmaker & Project Director, Knossus Project
Thomas T. K. Zung, Architect, Buckminster Fuller, Sadao, and Zung
Richard Bresnahan, Artist in Residence, St. Johns University
Eric Goetz, CTO, Goetz Composites
STEAM: integrative, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary studies working together with the result being greater than
individual parts (synergy) - The study of a structure's interconnected parts (morphology) leading to inspiration
through nature (biomimicry) producing harmony, fulfilling the social, economic and environmental requirements of
present and future generations (sustainability) results in cooperation for an enhanced effect (synergetics) and
supports interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary study of multiple disciplines — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
Mathematics.
Co-sponsors:
Synergetics Collaborative Inc. (SNEC)
Edna Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD
Information contact:
John Belt - [email protected],
Peter Dean - [email protected],
or CJ Fearnley - [email protected]
NEW!!! Presidential Award For Excellence In Mathematics And Science Teaching
(PAEMST) Nominations Now Open – Nominations Due April 1, 2014 (Grades 7-12
Teachers)
Are you or do you know an outstanding secondary (grades K-6th
) mathematics and science teachers (including
computer science) that you should be recognized for their talents? The Presidential Award for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor that a kindergarten through 12th-
grade
mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. What better way to
acknowledge excellence of our colleagues than to nominate the teachers who exemplify their profession.
The process to nominate teachers is a simple one. Simply go to the PAEMST website at www.paemst.org and fill in
the on-line form. Once the nomination is submitted the nominated teacher will then be notified and provided
information about the application process.
The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. Candidates must:
Teach mathematics or science at the K -6th
grade level in a public or private school.
Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Be a full-time employee of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, and
teach K-12 students at least 50% of the time.
Have at least 5 years of full-time, K-12 mathematics or science teaching experience prior to the 2013-14
academic school year.
Teach in one of the 50 states or the four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto
Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa,
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category.
Rhode Island has many wonderful teachers, and those you nominate could be state or national Presidential Awardees
for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science for 2014.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 222-8454 or by email at [email protected]. Thank
you for your continued support for mathematics and science education.
UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE Monday to Friday, July 7 - July 11, 2014 at UMass Amherst
Funded by the National Science Foundation
Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center forHierarchical Manufacturing
Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
$75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, some meals
Housing (new air conditioned dorms) for those outside the commuting radius
3 graduate physics credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's (Professional Development Points)
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.
During the institute, participants will begin to develop curriculum units for their own classes. They will implement
these in the fall and report on their progress and results online. Three graduate credits will be available for the
institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee. PDP's will be available at no cost.
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, 2013. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.
STEM Ed Institute: www.umassk12.net/stem,
413-545-0734, fax: 413-545-3697 Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing: www.umass.edu/chm
Subscribe to the STEM Ed. RSS feed at:
http://www.umassk12.net/feed.xml
Science Enrichment/Challenge Opportunities for
Students
2014 ASPIRE Program Seeks Student Applicants – Apply by December 1st
The 2014 ASPIRE program at the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, is seeking high school participants. In order to qualify for admission, the student must be at least a
sophomore in high school with an interest in science after having completed at least one half a school year of
chemistry, physics, engineering and/or biology.
ASPIRE (A Student-led Program In Research and Education) provides students with the opportunity of hands-on
laboratory experiences in the synthesis, characterization and engineering of polymers using the world renowned
facilities at the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research.
This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation through the Materials Research Science and
Engineering Center on Polymers. The high school students are mentored by our graduate students, who provide
oversight and direction of each of the STEMTECH disciplines involved. High school students need not have previous
experience with polymers.
At the culmination of the 5-Saturday morning sessions, each student will receive a certificate of completion, which can
be utilized in his/her resume. Further information, including dates and the application form can be found at the
following website http://www.pse.umass.edu/mrsec/Education-Outreach/ASPIRE.html
Please contact Greg Dabkowski at [email protected] with any questions.
Verizon Foundation Challenges Middle and High School Students to Create a Mobile App
that Provides Powerful Answers – Enter by December 3rd
The Verizon Foundation, in partnership with the Technology Student Association, today announced that it has opened
the 2013-2014 Innovative App Challenge, giving middle and high school students across the country a chance to
develop a concept for a mobile app and bring it to market.
The mobile app design competition aims to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
subjects and empower them to create STEM-related app concepts that solve real-world problems in their community
or school. Students have a chance to win Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets courtesy of Samsung
Telecommunications America, cash grants of up to $20,000 for their school, and the opportunity to team up with app
development experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab to build and bring their apps to life.
Verizon will help winning teams bring their app to the Google Play store, available for download.
Please share this exciting new competition with your school department. We would love to see Rhode Island
students benefit from this exciting program. For more information, go to http://appchallenge.tsaweb.org/ or
http://newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/news-articles/2013/09-09-app-challenge-for-students/
Please note: attachments will not be sent. Most information will be posted online or included
here to reduce the size of this message.
Thank you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you know of something that you feel is a quality resource, event, or opportunity (e.g., grant),
please send a newsletter-ready “blurb” to [email protected] containing the following
information by 3:00pm on Thursday to be included in the Friday newsletter (subject to RIDE
review and approval):
1. Type (e.g., grant, event, resource)
2. Name / Title of Event / Opportunity
3. Source or Event Sponsor
4. Web site, and/or contact name(s) and email address(es)
5. Description
6. Grade level(s) and/or intended audience
7. Deadline (if applicable) for time-sensitive submissions or event RSVPs
THIS NOTICE IS DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. R.I Department of
Education does not have any affiliation or responsibility to promote this information.
Peter J. McLaren
Science-Technology Specialist
Office of Instruction
Rhode Island Department of Education
255 Westminster Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-222-8454
@PeterJMcLaren
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