ITEEA Continues Its "Green" Efforts

On February 1, ITEEA launched a new area of its website that will be completely devoted to “green” resources for teaching professionals.

Located at www.iteea.org/Green/green.htm, this new resource offers information pertaining to green topics such as food, biodiversity, environment, energy/power, health, green building, water resources, transportation, and green funding. The “green page” also includes green rss feeds, miscellaneous green resources, articles, presentations, activities, and more.

ITEEA’s “Green Page” was launched in conjunction with the theme of ITEEA’s 72nd Annual Conference, taking place this week in Charlotte, NC—Green Technology: STEM Solutions for 21st Century Citizens.

Additional resources are being actively solicited and should be sent to Andy Stephenson, DTE at andy.ste555@roadrunner.com.

ITEEA Minneapolis Conference Presenter Application Now Online

ITEEA’s 73rd Annual Conference, Preparing the STEM Workforce: The Next Generation,will be held March 24-26, 2011 in Minneapolis, MN. What better way to participate in an event addressing this timely subject than to offer a presentation to your fellow professionals in the field. Presentations should address one of the following strands:

• The 21st Century Workforce – Describe the major characteristics of our future workplace. What STEM teaching and learning concepts are key in such a workforce? What will an effective program feature for students in terms of knowledge learned and expected outcomes? What will the global workforce look like in the future?
• New Basics – What new content and concepts will be important in technology and engineering courses of the future? What will be the new technical skills and how will they be tied to all STEM subjects? What current basics will fade? Describe the new courses of the future. How will STEM teaching and learning change as a result of the new basics?
• Sustainable Workforce and Environment – How will the sustainable workforce and environment blend together in the future? What new technologies and concepts will join such areas of interest as energy, resource utilization, manufacturing, and more as a major focus of STEM education? What educational policies need to be adjusted to create strong STEM sustainable educators for all?

Visit www.iteea.org/Conference/apptopresent.htm for additional information and the online application. The presenter application deadline for ITEEA’s Minneapolis conference is June 15, 2010.

2014 NAEP Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment/Framework/Specifications

The title and year change for the NAEP framework/assessment/ specifications was recently approved by the Governing Board at their quarterly meeting. While the title change was expected based on the recommendations from the committees and the outreach feedback, the year change was, sadly, necessitated by the time that will be needed to develop computer-based items for this innovative assessment. The Board was not eager to push the probe back to 2014, but they want to make sure that the item development process is not compromised.

The Board also unanimously voted to approve the framework! You can download the most recent version of the framework at the project website (www.naeptech2012.org, which will gradually reflect the new title and year throughout, and eventually have a new url: www.naeptech.org). The Board is also reviewing an initial draft of the test specifications, which is also available to download. Final Board action on the specifications and background variables is expected at the May Governing Board meeting. The Board is also expected at that time to make a decision on the grade level for the 2014 probe.

From the Jason Project

Ask Janet Green and Constance Adams - April 12, 2010
Are your students curious about solar flares, renewable energy, and living in outer space? Now they have a chance to put their questions to renowned energy scientists during JASON's live event with Host Researchers Dr. Janet Green and Constance Adams!

NOAA's Janet Green uses her knowledge of physics and space weather to model and predict solar storms. These powerful and dangerous events threaten astronauts and satellites in space and power grids on Earth. NASA's Constance Adams uses her training as a space architect to design habitable modules for astronauts, while accounting for the unique challenges of providing power, water, and safety in a compact package that can be launched on a rocket. Both of these amazing scientists have inspiring stories to tell about the unique challenges they face as trailblazing female researchers in their fields.

Join Janet and Constance for a live Web-based chat on April 12, at 1 p.m. ET. They'll be answering questions sent in beforehand from students around the world. Your students can submit video or text questions until April 5. Students will get a real "spark" of inspiration when their questions become part of the event! For classrooms unable to participate in the live chat, JASON will archive the broadcast for viewing shortly afterwards.

To learn more or submit questions, please visit www.jason.org, log into the JASON Mission Center, and click Live Events on the left. If you have any questions, please email live@jason.org.

Tranform It!
Energy comes in many forms. From plants photosynthesizing millions of years ago to the planes, trains, and robots in our lives today, energy transfers and transformations are everywhere. JASON's newest Digital Lab, Transform It! invites players to harness energy in its various forms to put a farm, a city, or even a giant robot to work!

Transform It! is available free in the JASON Mission Center, and accompanies the Operation: Infinite Potential energy curriculum. Play Transform It! now.

Thrills and Spills with the Coaster Creator Game
Looking for a quick, fun way to experience more science behind Operation: Infinite Potential? Try your hand at Coaster Creator, one of JASON's online Digital Labs.

Rapid energy transfer is the key to roller coaster thrills but be careful—too much kinetic energy and you'll crash, too little and you'll stall. Use your knowledge of potential and kinetic energy to design your own coaster. With nearly 30,000 games played so far, only the most skilled Coaster Creators make it onto the competitive online leaderboard! Play Coaster Creator now.

Source: The Jason Project Electronic Newsletter, February 26, 2010

Take Part in a National Engineer Your Life Survey

Concord Evaluation Group (www.concordevaluation.com) (formerly Veridian inSight) and WGBH are conducting a short national survey. The study is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate the Engineer Your Life initiative (www.engineeryourlife.org), a program designed to help young women explore new and exciting career options.    

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. Your responses are completely anonymous and will be kept private. Each month we will randomly choose one person who completes the survey to win $100!

To respond to the survey, please visit the appropriate link below. And please share this survey with others!
If you are an engineer, click here:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/235089/engineer-survey-year-3
If you are a female high school student, click here:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/235087/student-survey-year-3
If you are a guidance counselor or teacher, click here:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/235088/counselor-survey-year-3

Thank you for your help!

eGFI Invitation to Teachers

The eGFI (Engineering, Go For It) website (http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/) offers a variety of tools to boost your students’ math and science skills, enliven the classroom with engineering projects, expand your own professional horizons, and keep up with the latest education news. Subscribe at www.egfi-k12.org/about/contact-us/, and a newsletter with updated features will arrive in your inbox every week.

Growing Greener Schools Plant Seeds...

... For Healthier, More Energy-Efficient School Environments Across the Country

PBS’ Educational Media Department Debuts New Program on DVD That Reveals Best Practices for Greening Schools

PBS Educational Media has announced the DVD premiere of Growing Greener Schools, a multimedia resource that engages viewers while illustrating best practices for creating sustainable schools and integrating environmental education into curriculum.

Drawing on firsthand experiences of educators and green experts, the program showcases projects undertaken by schools around the country in urban and suburban areas, both large and small. Along with hands-on examples of how these institutions are incorporating sustainable practices and environmental lessons into their schools, educators and students discuss the effects on student health, attendance, test scores, and preparedness for green jobs.

The program also includes a roadmap for administrators and school boards to examine how to build eco-friendly school buildings from the ground up, retrofit older classrooms to new green standards, and operate green campuses. Program participants also demonstrate how “going green” is helping schools save money.

 Resources beyond the video include:

• 132-page downloadable Handbook and Curriculum Guide with cross-curricula lessons for Grades 6-12
• Six interactive games related to lessons
• 46-page Appendix with step-by-step information on how to create a sustainable school; grant writing tips; a 21st Century Skills matrix, and more.

Produced by the Media & Policy Center (Going to Green and Eden’s Lost and Found) and endorsed by the Earth Day Network, the program is the result of an extensive survey of resources and standards including more than 40 local, state, and national programs and organizations pledged to greening America’s schools.

Growing Greener Schools is offered at a teacher-friendly price of $49.95 and is now available. For more information on this program visit shopPBS.org/education.

National WomenTech Educators Workshop – June 28-29, 2010

Join Donna Milgram, Executive Director of the Institute for Women in Technology, Trades & Science (IWITTS), for a two day National WomenTech Educators Train-the-Trainer Workshop in Emeryville, CA, just across the bay from San Francisco. Learn best practices for how to recruit and retain women and girls in the technology classroom, and how to teach these strategies to others. The workshop is suited for technology instructors, school administrators, counselors, school-to-career, tech-prep, and equity coordinators. 

Early Bird Discount: Sign-up before April 30th and save $100 on the registration fee.

Visit www.iwitts.com/workshop for details.

Bill to Watch: "Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act"

The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009 is a bill worth putting on your radar. Introduced by Rep. Edward, Rep. Carnahan, and Rep. Driehaus, the bill—H.R. 4202—would establish centers for excellence for green infrastructure. Since its introduction, support for the bill has grown with four additional cosponsors, Rep. Blumenauer, Rep. Kucinich, Rep. Norton, and Rep. Van Hollen, signing on to show their support. The bill makes specific mention of providing funds for STEM education through the establishment of collaborative centers that would involve (read more…)

Source: Triangle Coalition Legislative Update, Monday, January 25, 2010

Work Begins on Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind

Work Begins on Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind

House education leaders have announced that they will begin a "bipartisan, open, and transparent effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind." Read all about it, and more, in this issue of the NSTA Legislative Update.

Source: NSTA Legislative Update, Week of March 1, 2010

Duncan Testifies Before House Education and Labor Committee

On March 3, U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, appeared before the House Education and Labor Committee in a hearing entitled “Building a Stronger Economy: Spurring Reform and Innovation in American Education.” Originally the hearing was to take place February 10th, but was rescheduled due to the blizzard in Washington, D.C. However, with the announcement of the Race to the Top finalists and the ongoing hearings on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization, timing couldn’t have been better. Both the hearing room and the overflow room were packed with spectators, interested in what Secretary Duncan had to say.

The Department of Education has laid out the following priorities for the next two years:

• supporting reform of struggling schools
• improvements in the quality of teaching and learning
• implementation of comprehensive statewide data systems
• simplifying student aid

While Duncan did not make any new announcements, nor did he make specific reference to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, his testimony echoed the Department’s predefined goals and priorities.

Read the full story on the Triangle Coalition Legislative News site at  (read more…)

Source: Triangle Coalition Legislative Update, Monday, March 3, 2010

New Resources Provide Examples of How States Are Improving Education Leadership

Examples Can Help Planning Around Race to the Top Goals; Share Lessons from the Field

Several new resources on education leadership have been developed by the National Association of State Boards of Education as part of a collaborative effort in partnership with The Wallace Foundation to identify and share research-based strategies and practices to improve education leadership.

These resources, including the online leadership Website, highlight work in states to strengthen leadership systems and integrate performance-based features particularly through preparation, induction, and licensure. Through policy summaries and direct links to state policies, documents, and recent publications, the site can help states identify explicit connections between school leader policies and improved performance. Links to specific state examples: Georgia’s new program approval and tiered licensure regulations, Iowa’s new preparation program standards, New Jersey’s new preparation program standards, Delaware recently updated its relicensure policies, Alabama will launch a two-year induction program, Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts.

Recent Publications and Resource Updates: Improving School Leadership: The Promise of Cohesive Leadership Systems; Leadership for Learning Improvement in Urban Schools; How Leaders Invest Staffing Resources for Learning Improvement; Tenure and Retention of Newly Hired Principals in Texas; Strong Leaders, Strong Schools: 2008 State Laws; Research Findings to Support Effective Educational Policymaking: Evidence and Action Steps for State, District and Local Policymakers; The Principal Story.

From: National Association of State Boards of Education [National_Association_of_State_Boards_of_Education@xmr3.com]

40,000 Teachers Give Their Views on Education Reform...

...in "Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools"

Teachers Call for Engaging Curriculum, Supportive Leadership, Clear Standards Common Across States in Survey by Scholastic Inc. and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Scholastic Inc. and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have recently released Primary Sources: America’s Teachers on America’s Schools, a landmark report presenting the results of a national survey of more than 40,000 public school teachers in Grades pre-K to 12. The survey reveals that, while teachers have high expectations for their students, they overwhelmingly agree that too many students are leaving unprepared for success beyond high school. Primary Sources reveals teachers’ thoughtful, nuanced views on issues at the heart of education reform – from performance pay and standardized tests to academic standards and teacher evaluation.  Teacher responses reveal five powerful solutions to raise student achievement. 

Due to the size and scope of the study, Primary Sources, which was conducted by Harris Interactive, allows for analysis of teachers’ views by grade taught, urbanicity, income-level, years of experience, and more. The report also provides an in-depth look at state-by-state data, revealing significant differences in teacher views from one state to another.

The survey, which was conducted by phone and on the web from mid-March to mid-June 2009, identifies five solutions to address the challenges facing schools today and to help ensure that all students achieve at their highest levels: 

• Establish Clear Standards, Common Across States
• Use Multiple Measures to Evaluate Student Performance
• Innovate to Reach Today’s Students
• Accurately Measure Teacher Performance and Provide Non-Monetary Rewards
• Bridge School and Home to Raise Student Achievement

Primary Sources: America’s Teachers on America’s Schools is the beginning of an ongoing dialogue with America’s teachers. To download the full report and view a presentation of the findings, please visit www.scholastic.com/primarysources.

NASA Teams With USA TODAY to Create the No Boundaries Project...

...and Student Contest

NASA has teamed with USA TODAY Education to create the "No Boundaries" project and national student competition. This project is designed to help students explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The effort also offers students the opportunity to learn more about NASA.

Working at NASA is like exploring space. No boundaries define what professionals do; knowledge and skill sets are constantly expanding. Becoming a NASA professional is challenging, but it is also achievable. If an individual has the curiosity, creativity, determination, and problem-solving skills necessary, then the opportunities at NASA are limitless. The goal of this project is for students to work in small groups to develop a creative project (website, video, podcast, song, etc.) that markets careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to teens. These student groups will then present their projects to their classmates and a class of younger peers.

The No Boundaries website includes a Teacher Toolkit and step-by-step instructions for teachers to implement the project in the classroom. Background information and links to websites with career information are also provided. After presenting their projects, groups are encouraged to enter them in the No Boundaries National Competition. All contest entries must be submitted to USA TODAY Education no later than April 15, 2010.

To learn more about the project and contest, visit the No Boundaries website at www.usatoday.com/educate/nasa/index1.html. Please email any questions about the No Boundaries Competition to Maria Dubuc at mdubuc@usatoday.com.

Apply Now for 2010 NSTI Faculty Fellowship Program and...

...MESSENGER Educator Fellowships

Applications Available for 2010 NSTI Faculty Fellowship Program
The NASA Science and Technology Institute announces a new summer faculty fellowship program. This fellowship program targets full-time, early career, STEM faculty from minority institutions in the United States. Faculty Fellows will engage in a ten-week research experience with scientists and engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Additionally, the fellowship recipients will receive professional development training and a stipend to cover housing, travel, and living expenses. A primary goal of the fellowship program is to strengthen the relationship between NASA and the minority higher education community. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must return to their home institutions in a teaching/research capacity for at least one year after the fellowship. Applications are due April 1, 2010.
For more information, visit www.uncfsp.org/NSTI-FFP. Please direct any questions about this opportunity to program manager Natalie Gore at natalie.gore@uncfsp.org.
 
Become a MESSENGER Educator Fellow
The MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program seeks 30 educators to become the next MESSENGER Educator Fellows. The Fellows are volunteers who bring the excitement of the MESSENGER mission to classrooms nationwide by conducting teacher training workshops. These workshops introduce educators to materials related to the MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Fellows will attend an all-expense-paid, five-day workshop in Washington, D.C., in July 2010. Fellows will also receive materials needed to conduct workshops and an annual allowance to cover workshop expenses. Applications are due April 10, 2010. For more information about the MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program and how to apply, visit http://messenger-education.org/teachers/ao.php. Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Harri Vanhala at HarriVanhala@ncesse.org.

NASA JPL to Host Climate Day Event: March 26-27, 2010

The following education event is sponsored by the NASA JPL Earth Public Engagement Team.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California, is cosponsoring Climate Day 2010. This two-day event will feature lectures and demonstrations by scientists, a Climate Jeopardy competition, career information, and educator resources.

The event will take place March 26-27, 2010, at the Pasadena Convention Center. On Friday, March 26, educators and students in Grades 6-12 are invited to attend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event hours for the public will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 27. Preregistration is required to attend on Friday.

For more details about Climate Day and to preregister online, visit http://climate.nasa.gov/ClimateDay/.
Please direct any questions about the Climate Day event to Annie Richardson at Annie.Richardson@jpl.nasa.gov.

NASA Needs Your Ideas

NASA Education welcomes your ideas! For a limited time, visit opennasa.ideascale.com to provide feedback on any of the following questions, as well as general ideas you may have about the way NASA does business. The feedback that you provide will be used in important planning and development at NASA, and you may have a say in our next exciting breakthrough in education, technology, science, and exploration. Hurry—this unique opportunity ends March 19, 2010.

OpenNASA Education Questions:

• EDQ1: How can NASA innovate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education?
• EDQ2: How can NASA improve its services in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education?
• EDQ3: What innovative ideas do you have for the NASA Education website, www.nasa.gov/education?
  EDQ4: What innovative new education/mission products and materials would you like to see from NASA?
• EDQ5: What innovative ideas do you have for using NASA content and materials in your classroom?
• EDQ6: What types of online or massively multiplayer online (MMO) games would you like to see NASA create?
• EDQ7: If you could design a NASA prize competition, similar to the Centennial Challenges and the X Prize, for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, what would it be and how would you measure the success of the competitors?
• EDQ8: What can NASA do to connect you (student, educator, or parent) with our missions, discoveries, and education programs?

NOTE: Please enter your question code in the TAGS field of your submission at opennasa.ideascale.com. For example, “EDQ1” should be entered by those answering the first question.

Thank you for your input. Please visit www.nasa.gov/education for more information about NASA’s education programs and to provide feedback any time. In December 2009, the White House issued a new requirement for federal agencies to support transparency, participation, and collaboration. NASA has taken the next step to get involved in supporting this Open government Directive.

NASA's Electronic Professional Development Network Offers...

...Certificates for STEM Educators

Are you a K-12 teacher of STEM disciplines? Are you looking for a way to enhance your instructional skills, meet your professional development goals, or find new and exciting resources to use in your learning environments? Then NASA’s Electronic Professional Development Network is for you!

NASA’s Learning Environments and Research Network and the Georgia Institute of Technology have teamed up to create the ePDN, a new initiative dedicated to preparing teachers to engage their students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through the use of NASA-developed learning materials and resources.

Applications are now open for:

What is Project-Based Inquiry Learning? – Designed for science teachers in Grades 5-12 who are new to inquiry and project-based learning. In this course, participants will develop skill in using project-based inquiry learning, or PBIL, to enhance conceptual understanding, critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving. The application period for this course closes on April 1, 2010.

To apply for this course, visit http://nasaepdn.gatech.edu/nasa_epdn_application_process.php.
The ePDN offers:

• Free certificate programs (52 hours) in robotics, mathematics, Earth/space science, and technology integration
• Flexibility to take individual courses within a certificate or the entire certificate program, both for CEU credit
• Resources that teachers can use in the classroom or for personal development.

For more information on the ePDN, visit www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu.

Student Airborne Research Program Seeks College Students...

...for Summer 2010 Research Program
 
NASA seeks highly motivated, advanced undergraduate and early graduate students to participate in a summer 2010 research program in Earth system science using a DC-8 flying laboratory. The Student Airborne Research Program, or SARP, is managed by the National Suborbital Education and Research Center.

Selected students will acquire hands-on research experience in all aspects of a scientific campaign, using a major NASA resource for studying Earth system processes, calibration and validation of space-borne observations, and prototyping instruments for possible satellite missions. Students will operate instruments aboard the DC-8 aircraft to sample atmospheric gases and to image land and water surfaces in multiple spectral bands.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in disciplines relevant to the Earth system, including the physical, chemical, or biological sciences, or engineering. Applicants must have full-time student status at an accredited U.S. college or university. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be awarded a $2500 stipend for participation in the 6-week program in Southern California for classroom, laboratory, and aircraft experience. NSERC will provide travel to and from California and living expenses while in California.

Applications are due March 16, 2010. For more information about this competition, visit www.nserc.und.edu/learning/SARP2010.html. Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Rick Shetter at r.shetter@nserc.und.edu.

Sun-Earth Day Celebration on March 20, 2010

Join NASA in celebrating Sun-Earth Day on March 20, 2010. Sun-Earth Day is comprised of a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year culminating with a celebration on or near the spring equinox. For Sun-Earth Day 2010, take a journey into the heart of the electromagnetic force and learn how magnetism, an everyday force that makes motors work, sticks notes to our refrigerators, and keeps electricity flowing to our houses, plays a key role in understanding the sun and is responsible for the most violent explosions in the solar system—magnetic storms.

Over the past 10 years, the NASA Sun-Earth Day team has sponsored and coordinated education and public outreach events to highlight NASA Heliophysics research and discoveries. The SED team's strategy involves using celestial events, such as total solar eclipses and the transit of Venus, as well as Sun-Earth Day during the March equinox, to engage K-12 schools and the public in space science activities, demonstrations, and interactions with space scientists.

On March 20, 2010, join the Sun-Earth Day team for a live Sun-Earth Day webcast from the exhibit floor of the National Science Teachers Association conference in Philadelphia. For this webcast, the team will combine forces with the award winning NASA EDGE team known for their offbeat, funny, and informative look behind the NASA curtain. Webcast guests will include scientists, educators, and students who will demonstrate the power of magnetism and why we care about magnetic storms.

For more information and educational resources, including posters, fliers, postcards, and an educator kit, visit the Sun-Earth Day website at http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2010/about/index.php. Questions about Sun-Earth Day events should be emailed to Elaine Lewis at Elaine.M.Lewis@nasa.gov.