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E-Blast September 25, 2008
In this E-Blast
- Leadership
- Building a Presence
- MDE Science
- K-12 Science
- Job Opportunity at Mott Community College
- Mini Grants for Educators 2009 From DTE
- Speaker Deadline Approaching for MSTA Conference
- ExploraVision Makes 17th Call for Great Student Ideas
- Celebrate World Space Week October 4-10
- Celebrate Earth Science Week October 12-18
- Free Videoclips for Teachers from NASA
- Internet Science and Technology Fair
- High School Science
- Middle and High School Science
- Middle School Science
- Elementary School Science
- September Contest Winners
- Tools and Resources
- Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Here are your science education resources and announcements for September 25, 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 an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance.
J. Donald Walter, American Author, Lecturer, Playwright
Thank you to Herm Boatin, Science consultant and lecturer, University of Michigan-Dearborn, for contributing this leadership quote.
Building a Presence
Certificate of Appreciation
The mission of Building a Presence for Science is to end the isolation of classroom science teachers and to provide them with professional development opportunities and science teaching resources. The goals of the program are to encourage:
- Information exchange and dissemination
- Leadership development
- Collaboration
So don't forget, share this e-blast either verbally, electronically, or pass it on!!!
MDE Science
Vocabulary Helper Proving to be a Success
Science Builder, the vocabulary helper, provided by MDE is proving to be a great success. Teachers seem to be enjoying this resource. The only problem that exists at this point is that the test prep section does not seem to be working on the online version. This will be corrected. The CD's have still not hit the schools yet, but keep checking with your principal. The CD will provide science vocabulary help for students in grades 2-6 by providing the definition of various science words, oral presentation of the words, electronic review tests, and best of all it is aligned to the grade level expectations. Although some words are concepts not found in Michigan's GLCE and some words are not aligned to the MEAP assessable vocabulary, this resource should be a handy tool for all students and teachers.
If you would like to view this resource online, please visit:
http://www.sciencebuilder.com/michigan.php
username: michigan (case sensitive)
password: science (case sensitive)
Secondary Credit Assessment Test Update
The Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability (OEAA) has produced the Secondary Credit Assessment (SCA) test for Biology. It was placed onto OEAA's secure website last May. They are preparing the SCA Chemistry test and plan to post it to OEAA's secure website this coming May. Next summer they plan to begin preparation of the SCA Physics test and possibly the Earth Science test. It is possible that the Earth Science test preparation may not begin until the summer of 2010. As such, the Physics test will be ready May of 2010 and the Earth Science test will be ready May, 2011, or maybe as early as 2010.
K-12 Science
Job Opportunity at Mott Community College
Mott Community College located in Flint, Michigan is currently accepting applications for a full-time Support Specialist - Biology. Please refer to the link below or visit:
http://www.mott.jobs
to view the complete posting and the online application process. The direct link is:
http://www.mcc.edu/cgi-bin/jobs.cgi?jobid=1447&statpage=no
Mini Grants for Educators 2009 From DTE
The DTE Energy Foundation is accepting applications for its Energy & Our World Mini Grants for Educators program. The program has awarded nearly $800,000 since 1990 to teachers statewide to fund science projects that encourage students' curiosity and excitement about energy. The DTE Energy Foundation supports projects that help children maintain their curiosity and excitement about math and science, energy and the environment - so that they will succeed in an increasing technical and competitive business world.
For more information and to apply for an Energy & Our World Mini Grant, go to: http://www.dteenergy.com/minigrants or contact Carol Moore at (313) 235-7012 or moorec@dteenergy.com. All applications must be postmarked by Friday, November 28. Grants will be awarded first quarter 2009.
Speaker Deadline Approaching for MSTA Conference
The deadline for speaker proposals for the Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference is October 3, 2008. To download the PDF to mail or fax, go to:
http://www.msta-mich.org/conference/09MSTA_VendorSpeakerForm.pdf
To use the "NEW" writeable PDF to email back, go to:
http://www.msta-mich.org/conference/vendor_speaker_active.pdf
ExploraVision Makes 17th Call for Great Student Ideas
The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards program, one of the world's largest K-12 science and technology competitions, is now accepting entries for its 2009 competition. Now in its 17th year, ExploraVision has provided an opportunity for students to envision a better future while providing educators with a valuable tool for helping motivate their students to excel in science. Up to $240,000 in savings bonds will be awarded this year to students whose innovative ideas combine imagination with the tools of science. ExploraVision, sponsored by Toshiba and administered by NSTA, challenges teams of two to four students in the United States and Canada to research scientific principles and current technologies as the basis for designing innovative technologies that could exist in 20 years. The deadline for the competition is January 28, 2009. For more information or an application, visit:
http://www.exploravision.org
or e-mail
exploravision@nsta.org
Celebrate World Space Week October 4-10
Join educators and space enthusiasts around the world to celebrate World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2008. This international event commemorates the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957.
During World Space Week, teachers are encouraged to use space-themed activities in the classroom to promote student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This year, $500 teacher grants will be awarded for the most creative use of space in the classroom during World Space Week.
World Space Week is the largest public space event in the world, with celebrations in more than 50 nations. To learn more about World Space Week, search for events in your area and find educational materials related to the event visit:
http://www.worldspaceweek.org/index.html
Celebrate Earth Science Week October 12-18
Earth Science Week 2008 will be celebrated from Oct. 12-18. The theme for this year's celebration is "No Child Left Inside." This celebration encourages young people to learn about the geosciences by getting away from the television, off the computer and out of doors.
During Earth Science Week, educators are encouraged to bring some aspect of Earth science into their classrooms, and to take their classrooms outside! Each year, local groups, educators and interested individuals organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth.
The American Geological Society hosts Earth Science Week, in cooperation with sponsors, as a service to the public and the geoscience community. The event is supported by NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the AAPG Foundation and other geoscience groups.
For more information, visit:
http://www.earthsciweek.org
If you have any questions about this event, please e-mail info@earthsciweek.org.
Free Videoclips for Teachers from NASA
NASA announces a new Web-based educational project offered free to every student and educator in the country, from kindergarten level through lifelong learners.
Capitalizing on today's technology, NASA eClips are short, five- to 10-minute video segments available on-demand via the Internet for the 2008-2009 school year. Over 220 video segments are projected to be available. This project highlights NASA's commitment to providing important science, math and engineering educational materials in a useful video format that can be used in the classroom, at home, and by informal education institutions such as museums, Boys and Girls Clubs, and scouts.
With a goal of increasing science literacy, NASA eClips are designed to inspire students to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to understand the application of these subjects in the real world -- all in an accessible, on-demand way.
Additionally, the K-12 (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) NASA eClips project is separated into grade-appropriate topics that tie into standards-based instruction. Each level is designed as a resource for classroom teachers; downloadable video segments and teacher guides illustrating effective instruction in the 21st-century classroom provide valuable enhancements to teacher lesson plans.
Students, teachers and the public can look forward to new video and educational content highlighting current research and innovations throughout the school year. The video clips are available for streaming on the NASA Web site at:
http://www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclips
The NASA Web site permits educators and the public to download and save the video clips as well as stream them. In addition, the NASA Web provides lesson plans and instructions for educators on how to use these video clips in the classroom.
Internet Science and Technology Fair
The Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) is a web-based science and technology competition. Teams of students from across the U.S. compete for certificates awarded by the National Medal of Technology Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The yearly competition is for student teams in grades 3 through 12 using guidelines based on national science content standards form the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It challenges students to apply National Critical Technologies (vital to our country's economy and security) to real-world problems.
The goals of the ISTF are to:
heighten student interest in pursuing technical careers,
increase student awareness of the impact science and technology has on their lives, world, and economy, and provide teachers with a tool to incorporate examples of science and engineering into their curricula.
Students are challenged to use information and communication tools as they work as a team to complete a four-month research project; master e-mail to request technical information from scientists and engineers; search, analyze and synthesize electronic information sources from the Internet; and present their final research findings in a website format.
The key to successfully competing in the Internet Science and Technology Fair is the TEACHER. She/he will wear different hats once a decision is made to accept the ISTF challenge. The teacher is, in a very real sense, the team's manager, helping student team members to use their talents and time wisely. The teacher will be pointing out areas where the team needs to work harder or to clarify positions related to content guidelines and program requirements. The teacher may help students locate a team technical advisor for their project if their initial efforts are unsuccessful. On occasion, the teacher will be called upon to be a referee. Students who are not used to working together will need a teacher's guidance as they decide on a specific project, information to use, delegate responsibilities and build their final project web sites.
For additional information contact Bruce Furino, Director of the ISTF, at director@istf.ucf.edu. For specifics regarding the ISTF Program, please visit their website at:
http://istf.ucf.edu
High School Science
2009 Thacher Scholars Award Program
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) announces the 2009 Thacher Scholars Award, to be given to secondary school students (grades 9-12) demonstrating the best use of geospatial technologies or data to study Earth. Three cash awards will be given: 1st place -- $2,000; 2nd place -- $1,000; and 3rd place -- $500. Entries can be submitted by individuals or by teams. In the case of team entries, the cash award will be split equally among the winning team members. In addition to prizes for the winning students, the teachers of the first, second- and third-place students or teams will receive a $200 amazon.com gift card. If participation is part of an after-school club or other activity independent of school, the student or team can identify an adult "coach" who would be eligible for this award (e.g., a parent, club leader, etc.).
Entries must be postmarked April 6, 2009. IGES plans to announce the winning entries by May 12, 2009. Entries will be judged by IGES staff. Eligible geospatial tools and data include satellite remote sensing, aerial photography, geographic information systems (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS). The main focus of the project must be on the application of the geospatial tool(s) or data to study a problem related to Earth's environment.
The Thacher Scholars Award was founded in honor of former IGES board member Peter Thacher, who died in 1999. Peter Thacher was former deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, NASA advisor and, at the time of his death, president of the Earth Council Foundation/U.S. He was a leader in promoting the use of satellite remote sensing. For more information on the Thacher Scholars Award, please visit:
http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars
4th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) invites you to participate in the 4th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest! It is only open to 9th - 12th grade students this year.
DEADLINE MARCH 16, 2009 at 5:00 PM EST
Please visit:
http://www.ashg.org/education
for the rules and more information.
2009 Essay questions:
- Some traits come in two varieties (for example, Mendel's round and wrinkled peas with the green and yellow colors). Do all traits for all species come in only two varieties? Justify your answer by explaining the relationship between genes and traits.
- What is (are) the cause(s) of human health and disease? Explain your answer using one or more specific examples.
A 1st, 2nd, 3rd place will be chosen for each question. Winning students will receive:
1st Place Winners: $400.00 + Teacher receive a $2,000 grant for laboratory genetics equipment
2nd Place Winners: $250.00
3rd Place Winners: $150.00
Questions? Please email Angie Wong (awong@ashg.org).
Middle and High School Science
Toyota International Teacher Program Costa Rica 2009
You can now apply for the fully-funded international professional development opportunity, the International Teacher Program to Costa Rica 2009, for teachers and librarians of all subjects in grades 6-12.
April 18 - May 2, 2009
Interact with local Costa Ricans and their tropical environment. Connect with Costa Rican history and culture through visits to schools, research institutions and important cultural sites. Participate in projects on the forefront of sustainable resource use and biodiversity conservation.
Apply online now for this unique opportunity! The application deadline is October 20, 2008. Contact Information:
Institute of International Education
1400 K Street, NW Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005
1-877-832-2457
toyotateach@iie.org
http://www.iie.org/toyota
Middle School Science
Middle School Students Can Become Eco-Hero's
NSTA has partnered with the Siemens Foundation and Discovery Communications in an important initiative to educate, empower and engage students, teachers, and communities to become agents of change in improving the environment. Starting today, middle school students across the United States are being encouraged to "go green" and team up for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, the first and only national K-12 sustainability education initiative aligned to education standards and uniquely tailored to match students' growing comprehension abilities throughout their school-aged years.
Student teams of two to three students from sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, can register for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge at:
www.wecanchange.com
Participating teams will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education.
All student teams entering the Middle School Challenge will receive prizes for their participation; top-performing teams, as judged by a panel of environmental experts and science educators, will earn cash, teacher education materials, and unique Discovery Experience trips. The grand prize-winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package that includes an appearance on the Discovery Television Network Planet Green and a once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure Trip, accompanied by a Discovery TV personality. More information, including entry details, registration, and Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at:
http://www.wecanchange.com
Elementary School Science
Teachers Academy Opportunity
The 2009 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy offers a five-day program of camps in New Jersey, Texas, and Louisiana that is intended to provide selected elementary school teachers with information and skills needed to motivate students to pursue careers in science and math. Maximum award: an all-expense-paid five-day program in July 2009. Eligibility: 3rd - 5th grade teachers in the United States. Deadline: Oct. 31, 2008. To apply, please visit:
http://www.sendmyteacher.com/
September Contest Winners
This month we gave away some great flashdrives. Here is a list of the winners:
- Renee Gilson, Clinton High School
- Karyn McConachie, Heritage JHS, Utica Community Schools
- Chris Galicki, East Jackson Middle School, East Jackson Community Schools
- Karen Soper, Holden Elementary, Warren Consolidated Schools
- Gary Cieniuch, Livonia Public Schools
- Karen Pavlich, Fruitport Middle School, Fruitport Community Schools
Congratulations to all of the winners. If you did not win, keep trying. Next month may be your lucky month.
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
- September 29, 2008: Deadline for teachers to apply for PolarTREK. For more information, please visit: http://www.polartrek.com
- September 29, 2008: Genetics Update Presentation from Dr. Sam Rhine at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. For more information, please visit: http://www.samrhine.com/
- October 3, 2008: Deadline for speaker presentation proposals for this year's Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org
- October 3, 2008: Deadline for presentation proposals for the Michigan School Improvement Conference to be held November 24-25 in Lansing. For information, please contact Diane Dick at: ddick@gomasa.org
- October 4-10, 2008: World Space Week. For more information, please visit: http://worldspaceweek.org
- 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 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 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 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.