News

Call attention to accomplishments, events, news items or "resources of interest" right now by contributing news and information to NSDL. Items submitted will go through a review by the NSDL Resource Center before being published to this website.

  • Duraspace Launches 2011 Community Sponsorship Program
    May 05, 2011
    News

    Ithaca, NY The challenges of preserving and providing access to researcher data continue to grow and the stakes remain high. DuraSpace, an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has launched its 2011 Community Sponsorship Program to engage leaders from university and library communities in supporting the common goal of ensuring that our scholarly record of digital content and data is saved and accessible for future generations.

    Community sponsors contribute at three levels of giving (http://DuraSpace.org/sponsors) as an investment in community-driven approaches to preserving our digital heritage. DuraSpace (http://DuraSpace.org) is the home of the DSpace (http://DSpace.org/), Fedora (http://Fedora-commons.org/) open source software for digital repositories and DuraCloud (http://DuraCloud.org), a hosted service for managing your content in the cloud. 

    Providing leadership and community support

    DuraSpace (http://DuraSpace.org/) is committed to providing leadership and innovation in the development and deployment of open technologies that promote durable, persistent access to digital data. Collaborators include highly respected academic institutions, government agencies, and scientific and cultural organizations.  In addition to its work in open source software and services, DuraSpace advocates for open access to scholarly publications and for interoperability of the supporting technologies. DuraSpace has helped to establish open standards and protocols by working with other open source software projects and working closely with commercial partners on integration strategies.

    Ann J. Wolpert, Director of Libraries, Massachusettes Institute of Technology, offers this rationale for financial support of the DuraSpace organization: “DuraSpace offers immediate solutions for university libraries grappling with growing amounts of digital content and data. By supporting their work, we are not only investing in the future of our own digital repositories, but in the integrity of the larger scholarly record as well.”

    About DuraSpace

    DuraSpace is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. DuraSpace software and services are used worldwide as solutions for open access, institutional repositories, digital libraries, digital archives, data curation, virtual research environments, and more.  DuraSpace provides leadership and innovation in the use of open source and cloud-based technologies to serve libraries, universities, research centers, cultural heritage institutions, and other knowledge stewards.  The organization’s open source technology portfolio includes the DSpace open access repository application and the Fedora open repository platform. DuraSpace is the home of DuraCloud (http://DuraCloud.org), an emerging cloud-based service that leverages existing cloud infrastructure to enable durability and access to digital content.  The DuraSpace team includes recognized leaders and experts in the management of digital information.  The team works with an active and diverse international community committed to the durability of digital resources.

    The DuraSpace technology portfolio inherently addresses the issue of durability of digital content.  Our values are expressed in our organizational byline, “open technologies for durable digital content.”

  • News from Achievement Standards Network (ASN)...
    Apr 14, 2011
    News

    ASN header

     

    Catch up on the latest news and services from the Achievement Standards Network (ASN): see our latest update, New Site, New Services, at  http://asn.jesandco.org/sites/default/files/ASN-New-Site-New-Services.pdf 

    We at JES & Co and ASN understand that these may be challenging times for NSDL projects, and there may be concerns for projects that utilize and rely on the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) as a crucial component of NSDL infrastructure for correlating resources to learning outcomes. We wish to assure the community of ASN users and NSDL projects that ASN tools and services are alive, well, and growing in global reach and utility. Explore our new site and latest information on services! 

    Diny Golder

    JES & Co

    Achievement Standards Network

  • Approaching deadlines for 2012 national conferences
    Apr 11, 2011
    News

    Heads-up to those wishing to submit proposals for sessions and/or symposiums at these 2012 and 2011 national conferences:

    AAAS 2012: American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual conference: Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society. Vancouver, B.C., 16-20 February, 2012.  

     

    ASTE 2012:  Association for Science Teacher Education  - Clearwater Beach, FL, January 4-7, 2012

     

    NSTA 2012: National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference: At the Crossroads for Science Education. Indianapolis, IN, March 29 - April 1, 2012.

    Conference strands:

    - Mapping Our Way to Success through the New Core Standards
    - Pathways to a Sustainable Planet
    - Merging Inquiry, Creativity, and Innovation through STEM
    - Traveling New Instructional Roads through Technology


     

    2011 Conferences update: 

    OR 2011: Open Repositories 2011 - June 7-11, 2011, Austin, TX (Submission deadline for papers was March 7, 2011)

     

    ISTE 2011: International Society for Technology in Education - June 26-29, Philadelphia, PA

    • Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - Housing cancellation deadline, no fee
    • May 1, 2011 - Early bird registration closes
    • June 10, 2011 - Mail registration closes
    • June 17, 2011 - Web, phone, and fax registration closes
    • June 20, 2011 - Deadline for cancellations

    NMSA 2011 - National Middle School Association - 38th Annual Conference & Exhibit - Nov. 10-12, 2011, Louisville, KY

    • Registation deadline:  October 14 (postmarked by)
    • Exhibitor registration deadline: May 2, 2011
  • NSDL releases new Search functionality
    Apr 07, 2011
    News

    NSDL Search image

    NSDL is pleased to announce the release today of new Search functionality on nsdl.org, providing a new user interface and features of interest to all users, as well as to developers and collection builders.

    The new interface makes it much easier to find education level, collection information, to share resources via Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking options, and improves the user experience for all. 

    For all users:

    • A simplified search and navigation. The prior tabbed search that was segmented into General Search, K-12, Higher Ed & Research, Specialized Search has been replaced by a single Search page that offers all options for searching in one display.
    • Improved Advanced Search options for Grade Level, Resource Type, Subject, and search by NSDl Pathway collection.
    • Filtering options: the ability to click on Education Level, Subject, Resource Type, or Pathway in search results to further filter by the selected category.
    • User comments, tips, and reviews (annotations) are displayed for resources.
    • Histogram Browse provides a summary of resources by Education Level, Audience, Resource Type, and Subject (follow the Resources link under the Browse menu on nsdl.org)

    Developers and collection builders will be interested in these additional features: 

    • Submit annotation collections for inclusion in the library.  

    • Submit paradata (use data) collections for inclusion in the library. Paradata UI views are under development. 

    • Digital Discovery System (DDS)-based Search API, which underpins the new user interface, is replacing the current Search API. See http://wiki.nsdl.org/index.php/Community:Search. The new API offers a number of new features including resource-centric search, search over resources, annotations, and collections, and more. 

    For questions or more information, send inquiry to NSDL via the NSDL Contact form. And, help us trouble-shoot—let us know of any difficulties you notice in the Search functionality or display. Thanks!

  • Newsletters from NSDL partners...
    Apr 06, 2011
    News

    Check out these newsletters and/or news sites from NSDL Pathway partners for recent updates on their resources, activities, and services: 

    • Middle School Portal (MSP2): Blogs.   If you haven't already seen the new SMARTR collection from MSP2, go visit it! This collection of Virtual Learning Experiences for Youth (designed by and for young people) is a series of interactive math/science virtual learning experiences. A broad range of topics is covered, including plate tectonics/earthquakes, solar system, energy, probability, and 3D geometry:  http://smartr.edc.org

    • Teach the Earth:  SERC News

    • Teacher's Domain: April 2011 Newsletter
  • NSDL at NSTA - San Francisco, Mar. 10 - 13
    Mar 03, 2011
    News

    NSDL will be well-represented at the National Science Teachers Association 2011 conference in San Francisco, next week, from March 10 -13. Events take place in the Moscone Convention Center and nearby convention hotels. See the NSTA conference site for more information and program browser. 

    Come visit the NSDL Exhibit booth #800, in the Exhibit Hall. 

    Sessions by NSDL-related projects: 

    Concord Consortium:

    • Thursday, 3/10, 9:30 - 10:30 AM. Featured Presentation: Deeply Digital Science Teaching: Looking into the Future of Educational Technology; Presenter: Chad Dorsey, The Concord Consortium. Location: Moscone Center 135

    Teacher's Domain  - also visit Exhibit Booth #500 - Public broadcasting stations: WGBH, KQEDl, TPT, and WNET:

    • Thursday, 3/10,  2:00 - 3:00 PM - Teachers as Learners: Cognitive Benefits of Online Professional Development; Presenter: Howard Lurie, Teacher's Domain.Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Union Square 25
    • Thursday, 3/10, 2:00 - 3:00 PM - Where Have All the Salmon Gone? Presenter: Carolyn Jacobs, Teacher's Domain. Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Golden Gate 2
    • Saturday, 3/12, 9:30 - 10:30 AM - Teaching the Essential Principles of Climate Literacy, Presenter: Christina DeYoung, KQED and Teacher's Domain. Location:Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Yosemite C 

    Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI):

    • Friday, 3/11 - 8:00 - 9:00 AM - Stellar Classification as Citizen Science; Presenters: Christi J. Whitworth and Michael Castelaz (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute). Location: Marriott San Francisco Marquis, Walnut
       
    • Saturday, 3/12, - 12:30-1:30 PM - Real Time Observations in Radio Astronomy; Presenters: Christi J. Whitworth and Michael Castelaz (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute); Location: Marriott San Francisco Marquis, Yerba Buena Salon 14

    Content Clips: 

    • Friday, 3/11  -  11: 00 - 12:00 PM - Online, Onboard, and On Target: Teaching Tips for Content Clips; Presenter: Tracey Allen and Clarissa Reeson (REAL Educators, Biggs, CA), Lois McLean and Rick Tessman (McLean Media, Grass Valley, CA). Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Golden Gate 2

    HowtoSmile.org:

    • Friday, 3/11, 2:00 - 5:00 PM - Informal Science Education Share-A-Thon:  Howtosmile.org - All the Best Science and Math Activities: Create, Search, Collect, Share. Presenters: Margaret Glass, Lauren Lindskog, Ken Bell, Darrell Porcello.  Location: Marriott Marquis Buena Vista 
       
    • Sunday, 3/13, 8:00–9:00 AM  Informal Activities in Formal Settings; Presenter(s): Lauren Lindskog (Exploratorium: San Francisco, CA) , Ken Bell (Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley CA). Location: Moscone Center, 310  

    AAAS Project 2061: 

    • Saturday, 3/12, 12:00 - 3:00 PM - Using the NSDL Science Literacy Maps; Presenters: Ted Willard, Francis Molina (Project 2061); Location: Moscone Center West Mezzanine, Rooms 258 and 260.  SESSION IS FULL

    Denver Public Schools / Digital Learning Sciences: 

    • Sunday, 3/13, 8:00 - 9:00 AM - Customizing Science Instruction with Educational Digital Libraries; Presenter(s): Patty A. Kincaid (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO); Tamara Sumner (University of Colorado: Boulder, CO). Location: Moscone Center, 307

    ChemEd DL: 

    • Sunday, 3/13, 9:30- 10:30 AM - Explore the Chemistry Education Digital Library; Presenter: Lynn M. Diener (Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI). Location:Moscone Center, 236 and 238

    See you there! 

  • Transitioning NSDL
    Feb 24, 2011
    News

    In mid-February 2011, the National Science Foundation confirmed that it will no longer continue to support the National STEM Distributed Learning funding program (as of September 30, 2011), within the Division of Undergraduate Education, Directorate for Education and Human Resources. 

    NSDL, however, continues to move forward! We are vastly appreciative of NSF's generous support over the past 10 years, and look forward to NSDL's next iteration. The NSDL Resource Center, NSDL Technical Network Services, Pathways, Services, Targeted Research, and small grant project PIs are engaging in community discussion of existing additional opportunities within and beyond NSF. NSDL has the opportunity to leverage its expertise as a distributed collaborative for digital library development, and technology-enabled delivery of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resources, collections, tools and services. 

    You can follow and participate in these discussions via the Future Directions Forum: Transitioning NSDL.  NSDL continues all normal operations: technological infrastructure and support, search, collections harvest, partnership activities, outreach, and professional development. We'll see you at the upcoming CyTSE conference, March 8-9, and at the National Science Teachers Association annual meeting, March 10-13, 2011 - both in San Francisco. Stay tuned! 

  • JCDL 2011 Deadline for short papers, posters, demos extended to Thursday, February 10...
    Feb 07, 2011
    News

    Ok. You've missed the deadline for full papers, workshops, tutorials, and panels (closed 1/30/2011), but you still have a few days to pull together a submission for a short paper, poster, or demonstration to the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries 2011, in Ottowa, Canada, June 13-17, 2011. 

    The deadline for these submissions has been extended to midnight, Thursday, February 10, 2011. 

  • DuraSpace Announces new CEO and Chief Strategy Officer
    Feb 04, 2011
    News

    Ithaca, NY  DuraSpace, a not-for-profit organization providing open source software and services, announced on February 3, 2011 that Michele Kimpton will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2011.  Kimpton is currently the Chief Business Officer of DuraSpace, and formerly the Executive Director of the DSpace Foundation. 

    Kimpton will succeed current CEO, Sandy Payette, who will be entering a doctoral program at Cornell University to pursue a PhD and research focused on the intersection of technology, society, and policy.  Payette will continue to work with DuraSpace as Strategic Advisor to the Executive Team through June 2011.  Brad McLean will continue in his current role on the Executive Team as Chief Technology Officer.

    Payette says, “DuraSpace is in a very exciting position, with vibrant open source communities, new technologies, and strong leadership.   We have planned ahead to ensure a seamless transition and to maintain our strategic focus on communities and new services.   Michele is the perfect person to lead DuraSpace in next phase of our mission-focused work.“

    Also effective March 1, 2011, Jonathan Markow will assume the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer for DuraSpace.   Markow brings years of experience in open source software strategy and community leadership.   Most recently, Markow was the Executive Director of JASIG, a not-for-profit organization devoted to sponsoring and supporting open source software for higher education.

    Kimpton was recently featured by the Library of Congress as a “Digital Preservation Pioneer” for her work in developing entrepreneurial, community-driven and culturally sensitive approaches to creating tools and strategies in support of digital archiving (http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/partners/pioneers/detail_kimpton.html). Kimpton’s ability to create nimble technologies and solutions that are “out of the gate” quickly were especially noted.  Kimpton says, “Get a version out into the world as soon as possible and refine it as you go along.” Her strong background in technology development in Asia and Europe will bring innovative open source business practices and technologies to DuraSpace global communities.

    About DuraSpace

    DuraSpace (http://duraspace.org) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. DuraSpace software and services are used worldwide as solutions for open access, institutional repositories, digital libraries, digital archives, data curation, virtual research environments, and more.  DuraSpace provides leadership and innovation in the use of open source and cloud-based technologies to serve libraries, universities, research centers, cultural heritage institutions, and other knowledge stewards.  The organization’s open source technology portfolio includes the DSpace open access repository application and the Fedora open repository platform. DuraSpace is also the home of DuraCloud, an emerging cloud-based service that leverages existing cloud infrastructure to enable durability and access to digital content. The DuraSpace team includes recognized leaders and experts in the management of digital information who work with an active and diverse international community committed to the durability of digital resources.

    The DuraSpace technology portfolio inherently addresses the issue of durability of digital content.  Our values are expressed in our organizational byline, “open technologies for durable digital content.

    This information is online at: http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/duraspace/2010/09/09/now-available-duracloud-open-source-06/.

    Carol Minton Morris
    DuraSpace
    Director of Marketing and Communications
    cmmorris@DuraSpace.org
    Skype: carolmmorris
    607 592-3135
    Twitter@DuraSpace
    Twitter@DuraCloud
    http://DuraSpace.org

  • Beyond Penguins wins January 2011 SPORE
    Jan 31, 2011
    News

    BPPB logoThe Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears project at Ohio State University has begun the new year well (and well-deserved!) by being named the January 2011 recipient of Science magazine's Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE).  

     Combining elementary science concepts with real-world polar science experiences and research, BPPB creatively links the teaching and learning of science with the fostering of critical literacy skills. In the process of producing their 20-issue online e-zine, the project's evaluation practices have revealed a critical outcome: the third grade seems to be a touchstone for fostering appreciation, interest in, and positive attitude-building towards science. See the full essay about BPPB at http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6016/413.full