Community 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. 
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May 02, 2012Call for Participation
The Library of Congress (LOC) will conduct an Orientation Webinar introducing LOC online resources on Wednesday, May 9, from 11 am to noon, EDT.
Learn to access the Library's online photographs, maps, sound recordings, films, documents, and other resources through the Digital Reference Section's free one-hour orientation via webinar. Confirmation, log on instructions, and handout will be sent via email. This orientation will provide an overview of what's available, provide strategies for accessing the materials, and introduce you to the resources created by staff to further your research into the Library's collections.
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May 01, 2012Call for Participation
Be sure to join the NSDL Middle School Portal for their fourth web seminar in the Next Generation Science Standards series, Getting Ready for the Next Generation Science Standards Part 4: Integrating the Three Dimensions, on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDST.
Web seminar Link: http://bit.ly/ThreeDimensions - click on this link up to 30 minutes before the presentation startsWhat can science educators do now to prepare for the new science standards coming in the Fall of 2012? Understanding the Framework for K-12 Science Education will help tremendously! Join this series of webinars with focus on the middle level that delves into each section of the Framework for K–12 Science Education using the NSTA Reader's Guide to the Framework as a guide. Both of these documents are free to download.
In this web seminar, MSP will focus on the Integrating the Three Dimensions (Chapter 9) of the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the corresponding chapter in the Reader's Guide.
Archives of prior web seminars:
- Getting Ready for the Next Generation Science Standards Part 3: Crosscutting Concepts
- Getting Ready for the Next Generation Science Standards Part 1: Core Concepts
- Getting Ready for the Next Generation Science Standards Part 2: Scientific and Engineering Practices
- Common Core and Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12
- Common Core and Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12
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Apr 17, 2012Call for Participation
A new feature of the AAAS Science Assessment website lets users create and administer online tests to their students and then compare their students’ performance to national norms. You can assemble tests by selecting questions from more than 700 items that have been developed by AAAS Project 2061 to measure what students know in 16 key science topics. Read more about the new feature or go directly to the AAAS Science Assessment website and begin using it by clicking on the “Create & Take Tests” tab to sign in.
Also of interest…upcoming assessment workshops
You are invited to join AAAS Project 2061 for an essential three-day professional development experience focused exclusively on assessment—from high-stakes testing to classroom diagnostics—and its role in helping all students achieve important science learning goals. Register now for May or October and take advantage of discounted Early Bird rates. Team discounts are also available.
When: May 30–June 1, 2012
and
October 17–19, 2012Who should attend: Educators involved in the assessment of student learning in science, including middle school science teachers, science specialists, assessment directors and coordinators in states and school districts, assessment and curriculum developers, university science education faculty, education researchers, and informal science educators. Where: AAAS Headquarters, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC How to apply: Go to http://www.project2061.org/events/workshops/assessment-overview.htm for a description of the workshop, sample agenda, and details on workshop fees and registration. -
Apr 13, 2012Call for Participation
From the CLEAN project:
Teaching Climate ComplexityAn online workshop to be held May 7 - 16, 2012
Earth's climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system. As such, teaching about climate science involves an understanding of many different facets of the Earth system. This workshop is designed to help faculty expand their knowledge of the climate system and gain pedagogic strategies for effective teaching complex
topics. The workshop is held entirely online so no travel is necessary. There is no registration fee, but participants need to pre-register.Registration closes today, April 13, but there are still 10 spots available, so we will continue to accept qualified applicants.
For details see http://cleanet.org/clean/community/workshops/climate2012/index.html
From On the Cutting Edge:
Teaching Climate Change: Insights from Large LakesJune 19 -20 at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
In this workshop, we will introduce participants to an array of data that can be gathered from large lakes and used to study past climates and predict future climate changes. We will review how these data are are collected, analyzed, and interpreted. The workshop will provide hands-on opportunities to examine cores and historic images and use public-domain databases to develop classroom teaching exercises. It will also include an optional field trip that combines a tour of working core and research labs with a cruise on Lake Superior on the research vessel Blue Heron.
The application deadline is April 18. The fee to attend this workshop is $120, which includes the cruise on the research ship.
Details are at http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/climatechange12/overview.html
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Apr 13, 2012News
From the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE):
National Environmental Education Week is April 15-21, with a goal of enhancing the educational impact of Earth Day, creating a full week of learning and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquaria. The 2012 theme is Greening STEM: The Environment as Inspiration for 21st Century Learning. EE Week is partnering with National Geographic Education and Project Noah to bring educators the information and tools they need to take technology outside, engaging students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning in their own schoolyard or local public land.More Earth Day 2012 info
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Apr 12, 2012Call for ParticipationJuly 24-26, 2012
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Sustainability is a powerful theme for teaching about the environment and requires the integration of perspectives from science, economics, and society. This workshop will bring together undergraduate faculty from all disciplines who teach sustainability. Our goal is to share successful strategies and materials and to identify areas in which new materials will strengthen students' understanding of the underpinning geoscience. We seek applicants from the sciences (including geosciences), social sciences, humanities, and engineering.
This workshop is open to 30 people (by application). Housing and meals during the workshop will be provided by the NSF funded InTeGrate STEP Center for the Geoscience. There is no registration fee. The application deadline is April 20, 2012 and details can be found at http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/workshops/sustainability2012/index.html.
Please forward this announcement to interested colleagues.
Contact David Gosselin (ddgosselin2@unl.edu) or Cathy Manduca (cmanduca@carleton.edu) with questions. -
Apr 11, 2012Call for Participation
Date: April 11, 2012 Time: 6:30-7:30pm EST
Click on http://bit.ly/writingandscience up to 30 minutes before the scheduled start time
Part II of our series on the impact the Common Core State Standards will have on science instruction in the middle grades. In this session, we’ll explore the writing standards for grades 6-8.
Learn about the standards themselves, discover resources that can help you modify your instruction to meet them, and join the emerging conversation with other educators.
You’ll get the most out of the seminar if you’ve browsed these standards ahead of time. Go to http://corestandards.org/, click on English Language Arts, and scroll to the Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-12.
Hope you'll join us!
Visit Middle School Portal at: http://www.msteacher2.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
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Apr 11, 2012Call for Participation
Students with an affinity for science, technology, engineering, and math are in high demand.
Join CollegeWeekLive for STEM Day on April 24, 2012 from 2:00-10:00pm EDT to learn what top STEM programs have to offer.
It's your chance to:- Chat live with 50+ leading schools in STEM-Including Texas Tech, Cal State Polytech, Oregon Institute of Technology, Emory University, and Florida A&M University
- Video chat with current college students majoring in STEM
- Gain expert advice on making the most of your STEM education
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Apr 05, 2012Call for Participation
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program is accepting nominations through June 6, 2012. The program seeks nominations for recipients of the PAESMEM for outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance participation and retention of individuals who might not othersie have considered or had access to opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the nation's human resources in STEM.
An individual nominee must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. Nominees may be federal government employees, with certain exceptions, as outlined in sections 4508 and 4509 of Chapter 45 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
An organizational nominee must be affiliated with a formal or informal U.S. educational institution, U.S. corporation or not-for-profit organization.
Individual and organizational nominees must have demonstrated outstanding mentoring and effective guidance to a significant number of persons who might not otherwise have considered or had access to opportunities in STEM (including persons with disabilities, women and minorities) and who are:
Students at the K-12, undergraduate, or graduate education level, or
Early career scientists, mathematicians or engineers who have completed their degree in the past three years (this includes post-doctoral fellows, assistant professors and individuals in the private sector).
Individual and organizational nominees must have demonstrated a sustained mentoring effort for a minimum of five years. Nominations for the individual award must clearly delineate the achievements of the individual as separate from those of the institution or organization.
Individuals and organizations may self-nominate.
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Apr 05, 2012Call for Participation
Shodor (Durham, NC) home of the Computational Science Education Reference Desk, offers great workshops for youth in grades 6-8, and 9-12. These are great opportunities for students to have fun, learn about science and math, sharpen computer skills, and more:
- Explorations in Engineering (6th-8th and 9th-12th): Want to be an engineer or find out what an engineer does? Take this workshop. Students will learn what it takes to be an engineer and learn concepts like circuitry and the principles of structural engineering, including how computer models aid in design.
- Intro to Programming Concepts (6th-8th and 9th-12th): In this workshop students focus on the basic essentials of algorithms and computer programming. Throughout this course students will be creating and running a model from a unix command line.
- Intro to Web Design (6th-8th and 9th-12th): This workshop gives students the opportunity to be able to create their own websites from scratch. Participants will use skills such as HTML and CSS to add text and create backgrounds as well logos for their website.
- Math Explorations (6th-8th): This workshop covers topics like probability, graphs, patterns, correlation, variables, measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode), etc. Students have the opportunity to play games and create their own graphs, patterns or ratios to help explain each topic.
- Forensics (6th-8th): Like to solve mysteries? This is the perfect workshop for you. Students in this workshop investigate a "crime scene" at Shodor and then have to use their wits and computer skills to find the culprit. Many times, it's whom you least expect! Students hold interrogations and receive help from a virtual police dog that they create.
- Modeling Your World (6th-8th): This workshop has students demonstrate various ways to display data or a model. Students will use Agentsheets, Vensim and Netlogo to study such topics as the spread of diseases and the ecosystem.
- Graphics and Visualization (9th-12th): Like video and computer games? In this workshop students will create their own basic graphics. By the end of the week students will be able to to create your own game that can be played online.
- Modeling Your Universe (9th-12th): Students in this workshop
will explore real-world math and science problems on a large scale.
Students will use interactive tools as well varying scales of cluster
computing resources to study such topics as the galaxies, disease
spread, and other complex problems in math and science
- Shodor's Scholars Program (9th-12th): This two-week program incorporates elements of all the SUCCEED workshops into one. Not only will students learn about different topics from different workshops but they can combine all of them together to make their own website with various models on them. This workshop helps prepare students for the SUCCEED Apprenticeship program at Shodor.
For more information, please visit www.shodor.org/calendar