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E-Blast October 9, 2008
In this E-Blast
- Leadership
- Building a Presence
- MDE Science
- K-12 Science
- High School Science
- October Contest
- Tools and Resources
- Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Here are your science education resources and announcements for October 9, 2008 provided by Building a Presence for Science. These science education highlights are emailed to Key Leaders, Points of Contact and State Partners. Please forward them on to other science educators in your school. If you have questions or comments, please forward them to:
David Bydlowski
Michigan Coordinator - Building a Presence
bydlowd@resa.net
http://nsta.org/bap
http://www.msta-mich.org/bap
or
Sue Campbell
MSTA Representative
sue@ucia2.com
http://www.msta-mich.org
1. Leadership
Leadership is action, not position.
Donald McGannon
Thank you to Herm Boatin, Science consultant and lecturer, University of Michigan-Dearborn, for contributing this leadership quote.
Building a Presence
What is Building a Presence for Science?
Building a Presence for Science is a National Science Teachers Association initiative that has created and established a network of science educators who are connected electronically. It is a vehicle for information dissemination and communication. Through the electronic network, teachers of science become aware of professional development opportunities, science resource materials, and funding programs within their area, region, state, and/or at the national level. These communications are intended to help a teacher expand and develop their expertise in teaching science for learning. Within each state the BaP network has the flexibility to work with the supporting associations and agencies to develop and deliver professional development workshops along with the dissemination of information.
MDE Science
Help Review Future MEAP Items
To ensure the highest quality for MEAP assessments, all assessment items developed for grades 3 through 9, will be offered for review by teachers in the field. As a part of the quality assurance process, the OEAA and Pearson Assessment will conduct statewide field reviews in November 2008. Michigan educators will review new test items under strict conditions of security and confidentiality. The tentative locations and dates are:
- Escanaba (Nov. 10)
- Harrison (Nov. 11)
- Grand Rapids (Nov. 12)
- Lansing (Nov. 13)
- Livonia (Nov. 14)
- Alpena (Nov. 17)
- Kalamazoo (Nov. 18)
- Monroe (Nov. 19)
- Traverse City (Nov. 19)
- Muskegon (Nov. 20)
- Bay City (Nov. 21)
This year, they will be using a new technology to conduct the reviews. All test items will be displayed on a computer monitor. Participants will enter their comments directly into the system. Because this is a browser-intensive application, those wishing to attend MUST have extensive experience using Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Novice Internet users will find it difficult, if not impossible, to succeed in this field review.
Each district is limited to no more than four representatives per location of their choice (one for each of the four content areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies). Vacancies will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Space limitations will ultimately determine how many from each district will be selected. They favor one representative from each of two districts rather than two representatives from one district. There is no guarantee that all four applicants from the same district will be selected, nor that all districts will be represented.
Registrations are now being accepted at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XW_2fgLPbZw_2bUAE_2fZjDjwM2w_3d_3d
The registration deadline will be Friday, October 17. If your application is accepted, you will receive a confirmation email by Tuesday, October 21. Your confirmation email will be your "admission ticket." You must bring a print-out of your confirmation email with you to your session. If your application is accepted but you later determine that you will be unable to attend, you may send a replacement without notifying them. Just be sure to give your confirmation email to your replacement so he/she can bring it along. If you do not receive a confirmation email by Tuesday, October 21, you may assume you were not selected this year. They sincerely appreciate your interest, and hope a denial does not discourage you from trying again next year. Walk-ins will not be accepted at any site.
Science Instruction, Assessment and Depth of Knowledge
DOK is an abbreviation for Depth of Knowledge. DOK refers to the level of thinking, the level of thought processing a student uses to master a science content expectation, or to answer a MEAP/MME/SCA test item. Norm Webb, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin developed the DOK concept for alignment of standards and assessments. Dr. Webb's DOK curriculum standard alignment method has four levels. While Dr. Webb's text on DOK levels is available on the OEAA website (www.michigan.gov/oeaa), here is a brief summary:
- DOK 1: Recall and reproduction of concepts, facts, simple procedures
- DOK 2: Application of science concepts, facts, methods to recognize establish relationships, draw conclusions, etc.
- DOK 3: Engage in strategic or abstract scientific thinking, scientific model development, by complex association of multiple science concepts applicable to a situation.
- DOK 4: Extended scientific thinking such as selecting a scientifically-based approach among many alternatives to complete a project, solve a problem, conduct an investigation.
In August 2008, the science unit within the OEAA, with support from science staff in MDE's Office of School Improvement (OSI), completed a study to assign DOK ratings to each Science Content Expectation (SCE) among the K-7 and high school science curriculum standards. The DOK for each SCE informs Michigan science educators the highest DOK associated with a SCE to promote instruction that enables students to master the SCE at appropriate levels of thinking, and provides OEAA with a reference to prepare test items that measure student performance at the SCE's highest DOK.
The DOK for each expectation was determined by discussion and consensus among a group of four Michigan and four out-of-state science teacher-leaders. James Woodland from the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Inc. conducted the study, actively moderating teacher discussion for consensus. The group met in Lansing. Dr. Webb was a technical advisor to the study. The study, along with the DOK table for the K-7 and high school SCEs, is now available on the OEAA website at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/J7_Science_DOK_Levels_Defin_and_examples_06-22-05_249868_7.pdf
and
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Science_DoK_251398_7.pdf
Science Instruction - An important point regarding Michigan's new K-7 and high school science standards is its alignment to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards. As such, Michigan's new standards emphasize rigorous content and higher-order thinking. Science educators who teach and rehearse (e.g., labs, homework, etc.) students so that they master a SCE at its DOK level, enable students to attain a more rigorous science education. Note that a higher DOK level does not necessarily mean that a SCE at DOK 2 or 3 is harder or easier than a SCE with a DOK 1. Instead, the higher the DOK 2 indicates the student must use their science knowledge and skills with situations and tasks that require thinking beyond simple recall of information.
Science Assessment - The MEAP tests and MME require approval of the US Department of Education (DOE). DOE standards for test approval state that a test must align to the concepts, scope, and rigor (i.e., DOK level) of Michigan's science education standards.
The OEAA will continually improve test item development to meet the DOK alignment. Students are expected to demonstrate higher levels of scientific thinking when assessed by their MEAP tests and MME. For more information, contact Rodger H. Epp of the OEAA at 517-373-1931.
Science Builder Vocabulary CD Has Arrived
The Michigan Department of Education recently sent out mailing to all school principals that contained a computer CD of Science Builder, a computer-based science teaching resource, developed to support the teaching and learning of Michigan's new science grade level content expectations. Science Builder is free to all Michigan teachers and students. The CD comes with reproduction permission and the materials can be downloaded onto your school's local server. Please ask your principal to watch out for this mailing. To use the internet version of Science Builder, please go to:
http://www.sciencebuilder.com/michigan.php
username: michigan (case sensitive) password: science (case sensitive)
K-12 Science
Fall 2008 Cassini Scientist for a Day Contest
The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants are challenged to examine three target images taken by Cassini and choose the one that they think will yield the best scientific results. This choice must then be explained in a 500-word essay. The contest is open to all students in the United States from grades 5-12, working alone or in groups of up to four students. The essays will be divided into three groups: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. All submissions must be students' original work. Each student can submit only one entry.
Deadline for submission is Oct. 30, 2008. For more information, visit:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientist/
If you have questions about this contest, please e-mail your inquiries to scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov
Summer Research Opportunity for Science Teachers
Florida State University is now offering two Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) programs in/near Tallahassee, FL. Both programs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). These RETs are 6-week summer research experiences that match highly qualified Elementary, Middle and High School teachers with scientists at either the National High Magnetic Field Lab (NHMFL) or the FSU Coastal Marine Lab. The programs offer teachers a $3600 stipend, travel and housing support to non-local teachers.
For details and online application visit:
http://www.ret.magnet.fsu.edu/education/ret/
OR
http://bio.fsu.edu/osta/RET
2009 Teacher of the Year
Every year the Michigan Science Teachers Association recognizes outstanding science teachers at the elementary level (k-4th), middle level (5-8), high school level (8-12), and college level. In addition, the MSTA also acknowledges an administrator (k-16) who has contributed to the advancement of science education. The award recognizes just a few of the many dedicated and hard working science teachers who have influenced and guided students, inspired fellow teachers, and promoted science education.
Teachers and parents can nominate a teacher(s) by going to the MSTA website at:
http://www.msta-mich.org
and download the nomination form. All forms must be submitted to the MSTA by Nov.14th. MSTA, 3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 220, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. The awards are given out at the March conference, in Detroit, March 5-7, 2009.
Southwest Michigan Science Educators Symposium
November 4th, 8:30-2:30 is the Southwest Michigan Science Educators Symposium (SWMSES). This symposium is open to ALL K-12+ Science Educators throughout Michigan. It's CHEAP -- $20 if you can present or $30 if choose not to present. Continental Breakfast, Lunch and give-aways are INCLUDED. It's low-key and a great way for Michigan teachers to network and share. Vendors will be there. Break-out sessions are all science-related areas and include activities, lesson plans, demos and labs. It's FUN! Consider it a much smaller-scale MSTA . PORTAGE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL is the location and is right next to the city of Kalamazoo. To register:
http://www.swmses.org
Email contacts: Mike Huber at mhuber@portageps.org or Kathy Mirakovits at kmirakovits@portageps.org
New Hubble Web Site for Educators
In conjunction with the upcoming space shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA Education has launched a new Web site with resources for educators. The site celebrates Hubble as a unique tool of exploration and as a catalyst of inspiration to wonder -- to ponder new questions and to seek expressive responses to the magnificent visual imagery it enables people to "see." This site will continue to follow the Hubble journey into 2010, Hubble's 20th anniversary year. Join NASA as preparations progress toward a fall 2008 launch of the space shuttle Atlantis for the mission to service Hubble. When the mission concludes, Hubble will be like a new telescope. New gyroscopes and batteries will extend its operational lifetime. New, more powerful and sensitive scientific instruments will increase Hubble's capacity to "see" deeper into space than ever before.
The Hubble educational resource site offers activities and resources for three primary themes: Hubble Careers, From Galileo to the Great Observatories, and the Hubble Walk: Spacesuits and Spacewalks. Revisit this Web site often throughout the next year for updates and added activities, resources, links to complementary sites, and notices of special events. Please visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education/hubble
High School Science
FIRST Robotics Grants Available
NASA is pleased to announce the availability sponsorship for teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Two types of grants are available: Up to 70 Regional Challenge Grants and approximately 100 Program Growth Grants. These sponsorships are not tied to any particular competition event. The grants will provide $6,000 funding to cover the registration costs for a team to attend one Regional Competition event and part of the cost of constructing the robot for the competition. Applications for this grant opportunity are due Oct. 20, 2008.
To learn more about the NASA FIRST Robotics Regional Challenge Grants and Program Growth Grants, visit:
https://frc-grants.arc.nasa.gov/directions.php
Questions about this sponsorship should be directed to frc-grants@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AP Science Teachers Needed for MSU Summer Program
There are several openings for high school AP science teachers in the 2009 MST@MSU summer program. The program runs for two weeks, July 12 - 25 on the Michigan State University campus. Teachers will assist MSU professors in lecture and lab, covering ten lessons. Classes are comprised of academically-able middle school students from throughout the Midwest. Class size is approximately 15 students with two two-hour classes each day. The courses in need of instructors are Mechanical Engineering, Astronomy, and Zoology.
To learn more about MST@MSU, visit:
http://www.gifted.msu.edu
or contact Kathee McDonald at 517.432.2129, mcdon288@msu.edu
High School Bioethics Workshop at MSU
Mid-West Regional High School Bioethics Workshop
Michigan State University
Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences
East Lansing, Michigan
Saturday, November 15, 2008
9:30am- 4:00pm
Patenge Room (C102 East Fee Hall)
The term 'neuroethics' has been defined as "the examination of what is right and wrong, good and bad about the treatment of, perfection of, or unwelcome invasion of and worrisome manipulation of the human brain." Thus, neuroethics refers to the analysis of the intersection of advances in neuroscience with social values and ethics. Neuroethics is a subdiscipline of bioethics, with research and scholarship exploding in the past decade. Comprehensive textbooks, websites, and entire professional journals are now devoted to neuroethics.
Please join in on Saturday November 15, 2008 at the MSU Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences. You will explore ways to more fully integrate bioethics into secondary education. Center faculty will facilitate discussion around important bioethical issues, with a specific focus on cases in neuroethics. Featured facilitators will include Professors Tom Tomlinson and Len Fleck.
Workshop sessions will include:
The Foundations of Neuroethics: Cases and Concepts
Critical Thinking through Bioethics
The Case of Terri Schiavo and Other Clinical Neuroethics Cases
A Discussion about Justice and Neurotechnology
All high school teachers and administrators are welcome to attend. A registration fee of $30 includes workshop materials, lunch, and refreshments. An application for Michigan SB-CEUs is pending. Space is limited. To reserve your place and for further details, contact Dominic Sisti. sistidom@msu.edu or visit:
http://hsneuroethics.org/?q=node/81
This workshop is offered in partnership with the High School Bioethics Project at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics and is made possible with the support of The Dana Foundation.
October Contest
This month we have eleven wonderful gifts to give away. All of the prizes are new books. They include:
- Animal Tracks and Signs by Jinny Johnson
- A Tree for All Seasons by Robin Bernard
- Countdown to Extinction by David Burnie
You can find all of these books on Amazon.com.
To win one of these prizes, send an email to:
David Bydlowski
bydlowd@resa.net
State Coordinator for Building a Presence
You MUST INCLUDE your name AND mailing address AND your school name/district.
You may only enter once and only one entry per email address. Respondents 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, and 101 will receive a prize. We will post all of the winners in our next E-Blast. Good luck to you and thank you for being part of the Building a Presence Network.
Tools and Resources
Free ACT Prep:
http://www.mivhs.org/content.cfm?id=667
Archived Michigan BaP e-Blasts:
http://msta-mich.org/bap
Grants:
http://sciguides.nsta.org/internet/grants.aspx
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html
High School Companion Documents:
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-28753_38684_28760-171474--,00.html
High School Science Expectations:
http://mi.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-42814---,00.html
K-6 Inquiry PD Resources:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI
K-7 Science Content Expectations:
http://mi.gov/documents/mde/Complete_Science_GLCE_12-12-07_218314_7.pdf
K-12 Science Content Expectations Podcasts:
http://k12science.net
K-12 Online Science Assessment Tool:
http://www.macombschools.org/scienceassessment
Internet Resources Correlated to the MCF and the MMC:
http://www.svsu.edu/mathsci-center/uploads/science
Michigan Merit High School Graduation Requirements FAQ for Science:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/faq15_178607_7.pdf
NASA Educator Resources online:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html
Science Music 24/7 on the Internet:
http://live365.com/stations/trappedinlab
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- October 10-12, 2008: Michigan Alliance of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Annual Conference at Camp Rotary, near Clare, Michigan. For more information, please visit: http://michiganenvironmentaled.org
- October 10-12, 2008: Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show at the South Macomb Community College Expo Center, Building P. For more information, please visit: http://www.michmin.org/show/index.html
- October 12-18, 2008: Earth Science Week. For more information, please visit: http://www.earthsciweek.org
- October 18, 2008: MDSTA Fall Conference at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. For more information, please visit: http://mdsta.org
- October 20, 2008: Deadline to apply for the Toyota International Teacher Program in Costa Rica. For more information, please visit: http://www.iie.org/toyota
- October 23, 2008: Science MEAP Test for 5th and 8th Grade Students in Michigan.
- October 24, 2008: Deadline for Students in Grades 2-4 to enter the Art Contest: Trees Making a Difference. For entry information, please visit: http://www.strategies.org/ArtContest
- October 28, 2008: Science MEAP Test Make-Up for 5th and 8th Grade Students in Michigan.
- October 30, 2008: Deadline to submit an entry to the Cassini Scientist for a Day Contest. For more information, please visit: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientist/
- October 31, 2008: Deadline to nominate teachers for the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. This is for teachers of grades 3-5. For more information, please visit: http://www.sendmyteacher.com
- November 4, 2008: Southwest Michigan Science Educators Symposium at Portage Northern High School, close to Kalamazoo. For more information, please visit: http://www.swmses.org
- November 14, 2008: Deadline to nominate educators for the MSTA Teachers and Administrator of the Year. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org
- November 15, 2008: High School Bioethics Workshop at Michigan State University. For more information, please visit: http://hsneuroethics.org/?q=node/81
- November 20, 2008: MichBio Expo Career Day at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. For more information, please contact Jennifer Dickie at: 737-677-0503 or Jennifer@michbio.org
- November 28, 2008: Deadline to apply for the DTE Energy Foundation - Energy and Our World Mini-Grants for Educators. For more information, please visit: http://www.dteenergy.com/minigrants
- December 15, 2008: Deadline to apply for the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association's Outstanding Middle School Teacher Award. For more information, please visit: http://www.nmlsta.org/
- January 15, 2009: Deadline to enter the International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment. For more information, please visit: http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/inner.asp?ct=competitions&comp=int_comp&int_comp=18th
- January 21, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Toyota TAPESTY Grants. For more information, please visit: http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/
- January 28, 2009: Deadline to apply for the ExploraVision Awards Program. For more information, please visit: http://www.exploravision.org
- February 12, 2009: Charles Darwin Bicentennial Day. For more information, please visit: http://darwinday.org/englishL/assistevent/index.html
- March 5-7, 2009: Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Detroit. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org/conference
- March 13, 2009: Deadline to apply for the Research Experiences for K-12 Teachers (RET). For more information, please visit: http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/ret/
- March 16, 2009: Deadline for students to enter the 4th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. For more information, please visit: http://www.ashg.org/education
- March 19-22, 2009: National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. For more information please visit: http://www.nsta.org/conferences/2009new/
- April 6, 2009: Deadline to apply for the 2009 Thacher Scholars Awards for students in grades 9-12. For more information, please visit: http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars
To subscribe to the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please visit: http://nsta.org/bap
To unsubscribe from the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please contact your Key Leader or email David Bydlowski, Michigan Coordinator for the Building a Presence Science Network, at bydlowd@resa.net.