NSTA Online Professional Development Resources and Tools for California teachers Collaborating for Excellence in Middle School Science

Flavio Mendez, NSTA

Deborah Tucker, NSTA

May 20, 2009

1. NSTA LC Overview

2. Getting Started

3. Hands-on

4. PD Plan & Portfolio Overview

5. NSTA LC Help Desk

6. Evaluation/Next Steps

Agenda:

NSTA’s Mission:To promote excellence and innovation in Science Teaching and Learning for All

The NationalScience Teachers Association

http://learningcenter.nsta.org

• Web site

• ALL teachers

• Resources, Tools, & Opportunities

• Free vs. fee-based

• Document growth

• Science Objects: 2 hour online interactive content modules using inquiry and simulations

• SciPacks: 10 hour online interactive mini-course that include objects, pedagogical implications, email content support and final assessment opportunity

• SciGuides: Thematic, vetted web-based resources, lesson plans with samples of student work and simulations from objects

• Web Seminars: Live interactive seminars featuring science and education experts, archived afterwards

e-PD Resources

Also available: Journal articles, e-Books, e-Chapters, Online Short Courses, Conference symposia and PDIs

SciPack Topics and Production StatusEarth & Space

9 TopicsPhysical 7 Topics

Life 12 Topics

Completed • Earth, Sun & Moon• Gravity & Orbits• The Solar System• The Universe• Weather & Climate• Rock Cycle• Plate Tectonics• Earth’s Changing

Surface• Resources and Human

Impact

• Force & Motion• Energy• Nature of Light

• Cell Structure & Function

• Coral Reef Ecosystems• Science of Food Safety

In Production • Magnetic & Electric Forces

• Chemical Reactions• Elements, Atoms &

Molecules

• Nutrition

Coming Soon• Atomic Structure

• Cell Division & Differentiation

• Cells & Chemical Reactions

• Regulation & Behavior of Organisms

• Heredity & Variation• Biological Evolution• Natural Selection• Interdependence of Life• Flow of Matter &

Energy in Ecosystems

Learning Center Tools

NSTA Learning Center Tools

End of Learning Center Overview session

• Let’s take two questions from the audience

Login to your Learning Center

account…

Login to the Learning Center

• Two ways– Last name and ID numberOR – E-mail address and password

(1) If you have an ID number, follow option A (2) If not, create a new account, following

option B

Your Learning Center Web Pagehttp://learningcenter.nsta.org/CEMSS-7

Creating a Learning Center Account

Click “Register now” to Create a New Account

Creating a Learning Center Account

Before you access your Learning Center resources…

You need to do your assigned Pre-Assessment

After completing the Pre-Assessment you’ll be able to enter your promo code and access all your Learning Center resources

(1) Do your pre-assessment(2) Enter promo code(3) Wait for everyone

Pre-Assessment link

Enter promo code

Navigating through…

…is simple to do.

Find resources by:

• Subject

• Learning Resources & Opportunities

• All Free Resources

• Advanced Search

• Grade Level

• State Standards

• Learning Preference

Adding resources to My Library

Region One Home

Choose SciPacks, for example

Adding Resources to My Library via your Group Subscription

Fee based products will show a price. Ignore that and click the Add to Library via subscription button

Accessing a Resource in My Library

You can access your resource as soon as you enter it in My Library

From your Home Page, access all your e-PD resources by clicking on the My Library tab

Accessing a Resource in My Library

Viewing e-PD Resources in My Library

Activity

• Log out of the Learning Center• Log in to the Learning Center using your e-mail

address and password• Navigate through the Learning Center• Add at least two resources to your “My Library”

space• Go to “My Library”• Open at least one of your resources• Browse your resource

End of Getting Started and Hands-on sessions

• Let’s take two questions from the audience

My PD Plan & Portfolio

• Create multiyear plan outlining goals, evidences, and justifications for growth

• Upload files to demonstrate completion of goals with reflections

• Generate automatic PDF report with embedded URL links and images

End of PD Plan & Portfolio Tool session

• Let’s take two questions from the audience

Help Desk

Help link and system check

Help resources:

• Click on Help link

• Run the “system check”

• Turn “pop-up” blocker off

• For assistance, send an e-mail message to:

learningcenterhelp@nsta.org

Please identify yourself as a teacher of the CEMSS-7 group

This session’s Evaluation

Click on the appropriate link located on your

group’s homepage

The NSTA Learning Center

Scalable, Sustainable, Individualized, and

On-Demand e-Professional

Development

http://learningcenter.nsta.org

Flavio MendezSenior Director

NSTA Learning Center

PH: 703-312-9250Email:

fmendez@nsta.org