RI Science Professional Development and Student

Opportunity Bulletin

January 31, 2014 This bulletin will be sent on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

If you would like to share an event, quality resource, or other opportunity, please follow the directions for doing so at

the bottom of the newsletter. To SUBSCRIBE send an email to Peter.Mclaren@ride.ri.gov with SUBSCRIBE RISCI-MSHS in the Subject Line

Go To RIScienceTeachers - https://riscienceteachers.wikispaces.com/ for PDF copy of past

issues

New In This

Bulletin

NGSS News News Web Sites

Job

Opportunities

Prof.

Development

Student

Opportunities

New In This Bulletin:

- Practical Strategies for K–8 Engineering in

February 5 Web Seminar

- Work, Share and Collaborate in the Cloud

Using Google Docs and Drive – February

10th (Seats limited)

- Information Sessions: Next Generation

Science Standards – Moving Rhode Island

Forward – Multiple Dates

- Rhode Island Environmental Educators

Association Annual Meeting – Tuesday,

February 11

- WEBINAR: NGSS Core Ideas: Ecosystems:

Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – February 11th

, 6:30 PM EST

- Register for the 2014 Annual RI Science Teachers Association (RISTA) Conference:

Exploring the Dimensions of Science – March 1st, LaSalle Academy

- Become a American Meteorological Society Weather Education Resource Teacher!

- eCYBERMISSION – Submit by March 1, 2014 (Grades 6 - 9)

- Connect and Collect Using Google Forms – March 5th (Seats limited)

- NSTA's First-Ever Virtual Conference: NGSS Practices in Action – Saturday, March

8th

- National Association Biology Teacher: The Ron Mardigian Biotechnology Teaching

Award – Apply by March 15th

- National Association Biology Teacher: Outstanding New Biology Teacher

Achievement Award – Apply by March 15th

- Create Powerful Classroom Websites Using Google Sites – March 26th (Seats

limited)

Job Opportunities:

Maine School of Science and Mathematics [MMSA Science] Seeking Camp Instructors for

the 2014 MSSM Summer Camps The Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) Summer Camps is anticipating several camp instructor

openings for the 2014 season. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your passion and interests in science,

technology, engineering, and/or mathematics with campers ages 10-14. We run 6 week-long camps during the

summer. The first three (June 22-July 12) are for boys', and the last three (July 13-Aug. 2) are for girls. You can apply

for the boys' weeks, girls' week or all six weeks

Teachers propose 2 different self-designed courses. While the courses are academic in nature, they tend to be

creative as well. For example, you might incorporate epidemiology, psychology, and brain anatomy and physiology in

a course like "Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse." Many of the campers who attend the MSSM Summer Camp are

seeking challenging content that is fun and hands-on. I have several course outlines of highly successful courses in

the past, for anyone who might be interested in adapting a course.

We are especially looking for teachers who can teach robotics and computer programming, especially during the girls'

weeks. We are also looking for fun, hands-on math courses. In addition, chemistry and engineering courses tend to

be a great hit as well.

The stipend is $825 per week including free room and board. We order and supply all the equipment and supplies

you'll need for your course. If you would like more information about our camp programs please feel free to visit our

website. You can apply online by selecting "staff application" on our website. The application deadline is Feb. 15,

2014. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Smith at smithl@mssm.org

Instructors Needed for Marine Science, Sailing & Adventure Sports Summer Programs at

New England Science & Sailing New England Science & Sailing (NESS) is seeking instructors who have experience working with kids, a strong

knowledge base of marine sciences and a contagious teaching energy for the summer of 2014. Our marine science

curriculum has a strong STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math!) influence and we thrive at getting

kids on and in the water. Instructors are responsible for implementing an active, hands-on, experientially-

oriented program including physically demanding work, such as kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, stand-up paddle

boarding, body boarding, fishing, boat driving and some heavy lifting. This is a high energy program where

instructors spend long days working and teaching in a unique environment. Our summers are extremely busy

with ever-changing schedules due to weather, so we are looking for instructors that are adaptable to change. We

have high expectations in safety, curriculum development and of course FUN!

Qualifications: Strong communication, decision making, logistical and organizational skills; outgoing and

enthusiastic personality; willingness to work long hours during season; BS or BA in marine science, biology,

oceanography, or related science; teaching experience; in-water supervision experience. Preference will be given to

candidates with USCG 6-Pack license, ARC waterfront lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First

Aid.

To apply: Download the position description and application from http://www.nessf.org/Employment/index.html and

mail, fax or email to Mistral Dodson, Program Director. Important: You may attach a resume to the application but

resumes without applications will not be considered!

About NESS:

New England Science & Sailing is an inclusive 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to delivering marine

science, sailing, adventure sports, and outdoor education programs to all. The reputation of NESS is based on half a

decade of facilitating safe, education and exciting programs that fully immerse individuals of all ages into the world of

the marine environment, sailing and adventure sports. To accomplish our mission, we have developed a broad range

of year round experiential learning activities and programs both on and off the water that promote ocean safety,

educational fun learning and personal growth. For further information about NESS check us out at www.nessf.org.

For More Information contact:

Mistral Dodson

Program Director

New England Science & Sailing

860-535-9362

www.nessf.org

News:

President Obama Names Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science

Teaching Recipients Late last month President Obama named 102 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The educators will receive their

awards at a Washington, DC, event later this year.

PAEMST awards are presented annually to outstanding K–12 science and mathematics teachers nationwide. The 2012

awardees named last month teach kindergarten through sixth grade. They will receive a $10,000 award from the

National Science Foundation and visit Washington, DC, for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and

celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Obama Administration.

Read more and view a list of the most recent recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and

Science Teaching.

Chariho HS - Paper airplanes whet appetite for math (Westerly Sun) By ANNA MARIA LEMOINE Sun Staff Writer

WOOD RIVER JUNCTION — It stands to reason Max Leatham’s homemade paper airplane flew the longest distance —

96 feet across the length of Chariho High School’s cafeteria before the back wall stopped it.

After all, the 17-year-old senior will attend college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida to study

aerospace engineering.

“This is sort of my thing,” Leatham said Monday afternoon, holding his paper airplane, which looked and flew like a

dart. “Everybody who makes a paper airplane focuses on the gliding. I thought, why not make something as heavy as

possible on one end and throw it as hard as I could?”

His rationale worked at Chariho High’s Paper Airplane Flying Contest on Monday afternoon. The contest, which

Leatham and his team won for longest distance, drew about 100 students and dozens of paper airplanes that flew,

fluttered and sometimes flopped.

“Whenever you can make something applicable, practical and fun, when you do it in science and math it makes it

come to life,” John Wedlock, a high school physics and chemistry teacher said. “It gives students a good opportunity

to inquire about what went right, what went wrong and it’s a good way for them to learn.”

The contest served as a kick-off for the newly-formed da Vinci Club, a group created at the high school to foster

students’ love of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math.)

The club will meet every Monday after school through the rest of the year.

“I’m so excited this event drew this many students,” Chariho STEM Specialist Azadeh Noorbaloochi said. “I have goose

bumps.”

Across the cafeteria, students folded, threw and tested their airplanes. Across its schools, the district is looking to

provide more STEM opportunities for students.

“This is a fun way to introduce a whole new initiative,” Noorbaloochi said. “Even if students aren’t good in math or

science, they are going to have fun. Making paper airplanes is a very simple engineering assignment.”

Leatham has always been interested in STEM fields. When he was 6 years old, he drew designs of cars and other

contraptions in notebooks, including a design for a Tic Tac-sized flashlight. “(This contest) is a great way to show kids

what you can do if you have a background in engineering,” he said. “I started early drawing designs. I had notebooks

full of designs.

This is all I ever wanted to do.”Carly Campbell, a sophomore, enjoyed the exercise even though the plane she and

partner Katie Caparco made flew under a vending machine and couldn’t be retrieved.

“We’re going to have to start over,” Campbell, 15, said. “I’ve been thinking about getting into engineering. It’s

something I’ve been thinking about. I always made paper airplanes as a kid with my brother. This kind of activity

definitely makes me think about pursuing it.”

While Leatham and teammates Christopher Edgerley and Nate Guillemette won the contest for longest distance with

Leatham’s design, the group of Nicholas Mead, Trevor Grabelein and Regan Beaudreau won for hang-time with

Mead’s design. The plane’s hang time was 4.47 seconds. “This is the first time I made a paper airplane,” Edgerley, 16,

said as he held his airplane. “(Leatham) took care of distance; I was trying to come up with something that would take

care of hang time. I was going for the biggest wingspan.

“It’s all fun, right?”

New Professional-Development Tool for Afterschool STEM Staff (Education Week) Over the next year, a new website will be launching a series of video professional-development tools for staff working

in after-school [STEM] programs. Click2Science, developed by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Extension in

partnership with the Noyce Foundation, is an interactive site for staff, coaches, and trainers who work with out-of-

school STEM initiatives. The website says that its emphasis is on skills rather than content and that it aims to develop

instructors' knowledge in three core areas: planning STEM learning experiences, interacting with youth doing STEM,

and building STEM skills.

Science and Engineering of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games Bring the science and engineering of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games into your science classroom. Through a

partnership between NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation, a high-interest STEM video series can be

streamed into your classroom. Each video is about five minutes long and packed with science and engineering design

concepts, and will be accompanied by lesson plans designed by NSTA. The lessons focus on science and engineering

practices and provide mini-activities and ideas for research, teamwork, projects, and interdisciplinary connections.

Blogger Judy Elgin Jensen talks more about the videos in her latest post: Science of the Winter Olympics: Slopestyle

Skiing. The series is available cost-free on www.NBCLearn.com.

NGSS News:

Illinois State Board Votes in Favor of Common Science Standards By Liana Heitin on January 24, 2014 4:01 PM

Illinois looks poised to join eight other states and the District of Columbia in adopting the Next Generation Science

Standards.

On Thursday, Januarys 23rd

, the state board of education voted unanimously for adoption of the common science

standards, which emphasize deep, conceptual thinking, application, scientific inquiry, and engineering design. The

standards were developed by 26 "lead state partners"—including Illinois—in collaboration with several national

organizations. They were finalized in April.

The adoptions have been trickling in slowly, but proponents of the standards say this is no surprise given that there

are no federal incentives to adopt and that states are toiling with implementation of the Common Core State

Standards. The most recent adoption came from D.C. in December.

Adoption in Illinois is pending review by a legislative committee, but from what we understand that's as much a

formality as anything.

Which state will be next, you ask? Officials in Oregon say they're seeing strong support in the state. A panel from the

education department recently recommended adoption and, according to the state science supervisor Cheryl

Kleckner, the board of education will likely vote in March or April. We'll keep you up to date on that state and any

other that might sign on before the spring.

Achieve Releases List of Upcoming NGSS Resources

NGSS-Common Core Model Assessment Tasks are a vision of integrating science and engineering,

mathematics, and English language arts in classroom assessment. Teachers across disciplines are collaborating to

write example tasks that blend content, practices, and concepts from both sets of standards. January 2014

NGSS Accelerated Pathways are course models that provide example of how the NGSS can be tailored for

accelerated students. Created by Advanced Placement teachers, these models help schools and districts to

envision pathways for students intending to take AP science courses in their junior year. February 2014

The EQuIP NGSS Rubric will help educators and education leaders identify high quality, NGSS-aligned

instructional materials, and provide feedback to improve existing materials, through a criterion-based, peer-

review process. Early 2014

NGSS Evidence Statements are statements that will provide educators with additional detail on what students

should know and be able to do. Model content frameworks will build on these statements and offer further

clarity on implementing the NGSS in the classroom. Early 2014

The Science Standards Comparison Toolkit will help teachers and administrators consider the differences in

purpose and content between different sets of standards. Early 2014

The NGSS Data Portal will let users search and view the NGSS to meet their individual needs for display on

computers and mobile devices. This flexible resource will eventually allow users to tag and share resources.

Summer 2014

To be notified when NGSS resources become available, please sign up for the NGSS newsletter at

http://www.nextgenscience.org/newsletter-signup

NGSS One Pagers NSTA offers a tremendous collection of resources designed to help provide more information for the NGSS.

Three Dimensions of NGSS (Color | B&W) This three page pdf document provides general information of each of the three dimensions of the NGSS specifically

the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and the crosscutting concepts.

A Look at the Next Generation Science Standards (Color | B&W)

This two page pdf document provides a detailed look at the architecture of the NGSS standards.

Venn Diagram of the Practices in Science, Math, and ELA (Color | B&W)

This pdf shows how the practices of the NGSS, CCSS-Math, and CCSS ELA intersect and support each other.

Matrix of Disciplinary Core Ideas in the NGSS

Here you will find a complete matrix of the disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS by domain

RIDE’s NGSS Page

Find easy access to the NGSS standards, information on RI’s participation as a Lead State, the Framework, and other

resources

Recorded Link for RIDE’s Webinar – Next Generation Science Standards – Rhode Island’s Implementation

Plan originally webcast on September 17th

can be found under the Resources section of the RIDE NGSS page

along with a PDF of the PPT.

Science Web Sites Worth Exploring:

Common Core Resources for Literacy in Science

Grades 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects

http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects Standards can be accessed by clicking on the pull down menu on

the

left hand side of the screen

Curriculum and Instruction Resources for Literacy in Science on the RIDE

web Site

http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/Science/CurriculumInstructionResou

rces.aspx Here you will find CCSS aligned tasks and resources to go deeper into the understanding of the CCSS

Standards for Literacy in Science. Transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to PARCC -

http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/TransitiontotheCCSSandPARCC.aspx This page contains recent updates, key information, and quality resources for educators and the public to

support our state's education system in its transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the

PARCC Assessment for ELA/literacy and mathematics.

Top 10 Science Apps for Education Read all about 10 science apps for education that "range from visually stunning multimedia to great resources for

curious minds," (including NSTA's app for the Next Generation Science Standards) in this article from eSchool News.

Beyond Angry Birds: Five Apps That Test Your Physics Skills -

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/01/beyond-angry-birds-five-apps-that-test-your-

physics-skills/ Chances are, if you have a smartphone or tablet, you’ve played Angry Birds. While Candy Crush Saga might currently

top the charts, Angry Birds is the best selling app of all time. From an educator’s perspective, what’s exciting about

Angry Birds’ popularity versus something like Candy Crush is that getting good at Angry Birds means skillfully – and

often unconsciously – using conceptual physics knowledge. It’s something video games have been doing for years,

but Angry Birds brought it to a mass audience, sneaking a bit of science into many students’ digital diets. Here are

five other games for the Angry Birds fan that do an even better job of integrating physics and problem solving into

addictive, just-one-more-try experiences.

BLOSSOMS LESSON - “Soaring in the Wind: The Science of Kite Flying” Flying kites is a popular hobby in Malaysia and very much part of that culture. A team of six educators from the

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur campus, have worked together to create this new BLOSSOMS physics

lesson. The lesson looks at kite flying science to introduce basic ideas related to the dynamics of kite flying and can

be used as an extension of a physics lesson, especially after the students have learned about forces. It focuses on

some of the concepts such as weight, thrust, lift and drag. It is a fun way to introduce these forces acting upon a kite

and the scientific principles that allow a kite to fly. It will help students relate to the effect of forces and gives an

introduction to the science of flight. Watch the video lesson here.

BLOSSOMS LESSON - “Averages: Still Flawed” Is it possible that all children in Lake Wobegon are really above average? MIT BLOSSOMS video teachers, Dan

Livengood and Rhonda Jordan, have returned to answer this and other thorny questions related to the pitfalls that

could arise if one is not attentive to details when calculating and interpreting averages. Following up on their popular

first lesson, “Flaws of Averages”, this lesson examines several new and counter-intuitive problems involving

averages. These include regression towards the mean and “The Friendship Paradox, ” – that is, on average why is it

that my friends tend to have more friends than I do? Both recent Ph.D. graduates of MIT, Dan is now an entrepreneur

and an Adjunct Lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis, while Rhonda works as an Energy Specialist at the

World Bank. Watch their video lesson here.

Animated Map of Great Lakes Currents -

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/currents/glcfs-currents-surf.html Following the example of the famous wind.fm map, find an animated map of Great Lakes currents that can help lake-

goers interpret the speed and direction of currents in any location.

A Portal for all Things Polar - http://polarportal.dk/en/home/ Here's a data rich site that provides polar ice information.

Brief El Niño Video from National Geographic -

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-

disasters/landslides-and-more/el-nino/ Landslides and more! Find out how simple changes in ocean currents can lead to catastrophic weather conditions.

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

Flinn Scientific Offers FREE Scientific Laboratory Safety Course

The Flinn Scientific Laboratory Safety Course includes units on liability and the teacher’s duty of care; chemical safety

regulations; personal protective equipment; and safe laboratory practices. The laboratory safety course consists of 45

individual video chapters organized into ten major safety content areas. Each video chapter is 5–20 minutes long,

depending on content, and the entire viewing time is about 7-1/2 hours. The chapters may be viewed separately and

in any order. A special certification course sequence is available for teachers who wish to document their safety

training. The certification requires that teachers register, view all of the chapters in a unit, and complete a short,

multiple-choice assessment for each unit. Handouts may be downloaded with additional practical information and

tools to increase teachers’ safety awareness, improve school safety, and prevent accidents

STEM Lessons and Resources from NASA Explorer Schools

NSTA continues to partner with NASA Explorer Schools on a series of free web seminars for educators of grades 4–12.

This popular series provides access to a comprehensive set of teaching materials for dozens of STEM concepts. Log on

to learn about lessons that will inspire and engage students with real-world NASA problems and engineering design

challenges. Register for one of these web seminars coming up soon:

Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m. ET: Engineering Design Process: On the Moon

Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. ET: Engineering Design Challenge: Water Filtration

Visit the NSTA Learning Center to register for more web seminars and access more than 500 web seminar archives.

Mid-Year Education Evaluation Survey Now Open – Please Complete Survey by February

3rd

Dear Educator,

The mid-year educator-evaluation surveys for teachers, support professionals, building administrators, and central-

office administrators are now open. Feedback collected through the surveys will help RIDE identify the successes and

challenges of implementation and will help guide continued improvements. This is the last round of statewide surveys

that will have a direct impact on model refinements before the conclusion of the Race to the Top grant, so it is critical

that we hear from as many Rhode Island educators as possible.

Please help us by taking this survey yourself, if applicable, and by disseminating it to as many RI educators as

you can.

The surveys are differentiated by role and are intended for all Rhode Island educators, regardless of the specific

evaluation system that any LEA is implementing. Links to the surveys are below, and the deadline for completing the

surveys is Monday, February 3.

Teacher survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/13-14MYTE

Support-professional survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/13-14MYSP

Building-administrator survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/13-14MYBA

Central-office administrator survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/13-14MYCO

Thank you,

Jessica Delforge

RTTT Education Specialist

Office of Educator Quality

Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

255 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02903

(401) 222-8955

jessica.delforge@ride.ri.gov

NEW!!! Practical Strategies for K–8 Engineering in February 5 Web Seminar

If you're ready to incorporate more engineering into your classroom but need some guidance to get started, check

out a free web seminar on February 5: "E" is for "Enabling" STEM Learning. The interactive presentation will provide an

in-depth examination of an activity from the new NASA's BEST Next Generation Activity Guide to highlight strategies

and techniques for taking advantage of the STEM learning opportunities afforded by engineering education. Web

seminar participants will try out an activity in real time using easily accessible materials. Read more and register for

"E" is for "Enabling" STEM Learning

NEW!!! Information Sessions: Next Generation Science Standards – Moving Rhode Island

Forward – Multiple Dates

Presenters: Peter McLaren and Jennifer Solek –RIDE Science and Technology Specialists

When/Where: February 10th – Wm. M. Davies Career and Technical High School, 50 Jenckes Hill Road, Lincoln, RI 2:30 – 4:30 PM February 12th – Providence Career and Technical Academy, 41 Fricker Street, Providence, RI, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

On May 23rd

Rhode Island became the first state in the country to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. All

educators are invited to learn more about Rhode Island’s plan for implementation of the NGSS.

Questions to be addressed:

How were the standards developed?

What’s different about these standards?

What would NGSS look like in the classroom?

What is a standard?

What is Rhode Island’s plan for implementation?

Where can I find NGSS resources?

Each session will devote the last 30 minutes to provide an open forum where attendees can ask questions pertaining to the new science standards and their implementation.

For more information or to arrange a NGSS information at your school or district please contact Peter McLaren by email at peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov or by phone at 222-8454

NEW!!! Work, Share and Collaborate in the Cloud Using Google Docs and Drive – February

10th (Seats limited)

Monday, February 10, 2014

4:00 – 6:00 PM

New England Institute of Technology – 1 New England Blvd, East Greenwich, RI

Why are you still emailing attachments back and forth, using USB drives to move files, or worrying about which

version of Microsoft Office you have installed? This session is designed to get teachers and administrators started in

using Google Docs and to learn how to take advantage of the unique online sharing and collaboration features within

Google Drive. Strategies will also be presented on how to organize and manage your Google Drive.

Important Note: You will need to have a personal or school Google account to participate and the password for that

account.

Prerequisite: basic familiarity with Google Mail

Presenters: Paul Barrette and John Bilotta

RISTE Member fee $30

Non-member fee $40

To register go to www.ri-iste.org

NEW!!! Rhode Island Environmental Educators Association Annual Meeting – Tuesday,

February 11

You are invited to join RIEEA for our annual meeting on Tuesday, February 11 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo

Education Center

Keynote: NGSS & EE: How Environmental Education Can Help Schools Meet the Next Generation Science Standards

Peter McLaren, Science and Technology Specialist, RI Department of Education and NGSS Writing Team

Member. Discussion to follow.

In addition, there will be time to network, an overview of RIEEA's 2013 achievements, and some fundraising

activities to benefit our Professional Development Scholarship Fund.

Click here for more information and to register.

NEW!!! WEBINAR: NGSS Core Ideas: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics –

February 11th , 6:30 PM EST

NSTA continues to explore the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by presenting a web seminar series focusing

on the disciplinary core ideas. On Tuesday, February 11th the web seminars on the disciplinary core ideas continue

with a presentation on Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics which will address questions such as "How

do organisms interact with the living and nonliving environments to obtain matter and energy?" and "How do matter

and energy move through an ecosystem?"Specifically this web seminar will provide guidance on:

- which concepts are central to understanding ecosystems

- how students' understanding of ecosystems might progress over their K-12 education

- how students can engage in the scientific and engineering practices to gain an understanding of these ideas

- what instruction might look like in the classroom

Click here to Register today! Upon registering you will receive an e-mail confirmation including information about

the program and suggested links to visit in preparation of the event. Additional information about the web seminar

will be e-mailed to you days before the program.

Details

Title: NGSS Core Ideas: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Target audience: K–12 science teachers

Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. PT

Duration: 90 minutes

Note: New users should log in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for an introduction to NSTA web

seminars.

Presenters: Andy Anderson and Jennifer Doherty

Each web seminar is a unique, stand-alone, program. Archives of the web seminars and the presenters’ PowerPoint

presentations will be available through the links on this web page. Learn more about the features of the web seminar

and read answers to frequently asked questions from participants.

The popular NGSS@NSTA web seminar series will feature future presentations focused on the life science disciplinary

core ideas from the Next Generation Science Standards. For more information—or to register for a free web seminar—

click on the links below.

February 25, NGSS Core Ideas: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Presenter: Ravit Golan

March 11, NGSS Core Ideas: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Presenter: Cindy Passmore

Registration Open for STEM to STEAM thru Synergy: Bridging Morphology, Biomimicry,

Sustainability and Synergetics, Fourth Biennial Design Science Symposium - 31 January

2014 – 2 February 2014

REGISTER TODAY @ SynergeticsCollaborative.org

Fourth Biennial Design Science Symposium

31 January 2014 – 2 February 2014

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

Presenters:

Rosanne Somerson, Interim President, Rhode Island School of Design

Deborah A. Gist, PhD, Commissioner of Education, Rhode Island Department of Education

Dayna Baumeister, PhD, Biomimic & Co-founder Biomimicry 3.8

Dennis M. Bartels, PhD, Executive Director, San Francisco Exploratorium

Kavita Ramanan, PhD, Mathematician & Professor, Brown University

Lefteris Pavlides, Architect & Professor, Roger Williams University

Chris Zelov, Filmmaker & Project Director, Knossus Project

Richard Bresnahan, Master Ceramicist & Artist in Residence, St. Johns University

Eric Goetz, Marine Transportation Designer & CTO, Goetz Composites

Thomas T. K. Zung, Architect & Design Historian, Buckminster Fuller, Sadao, & Zung

Design Science Workshop Facilitators:

George Hart, Bob Sanderson, Leftheris Pavlides, Chris Kitrick, Joe Clinton, Ed Popko, Dick Esterle & Gary Doskas

STEAM: integrative, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary studies working together with the result being greater than

individual parts (synergy) - The study of a structure's interconnected parts (morphology) leading to inspiration

through nature (biomimicry) producing harmony, fulfilling the social, economic and environmental requirements of

present and future generations (sustainability) results in cooperation for an enhanced effect (synergetics) and

supports interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary study of multiple disciplines — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,

Mathematics.

Co-sponsors:

Synergetics Collaborative Inc. (SNEC)

Edna Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD

Information contact:

John Belt - designprobe@gmail.com,

Peter Dean - pdean@risd.edu,

or CJ Fearnley - cjf@synergeticscollaborative.org

International Student Carbon Footprint Challenge – Register your class by February 1st

(High School)

Educators and their class(es) are invited to be involved in the February 2014 International Student Carbon Footprint

Challenge (ISCFC). and to work with our partner program supporting student-to student communication, the Einztein

social learning network.

You and your class(es) will have the opportunity to use and explore our student-focused International Carbon

Footprint Calculator. Students can then discuss the results of this activity and their perspectives regarding climate

change and related environmental concerns on the Einztein social learning network with other ISCFC students around

the world. Since the inception of the ISCFC in April 2011 nine sessions of the program have included teachers and

students from Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Croatia,

Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Italy, the

Ivory Coast, Korea, Lithuania, Japan, the Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,

Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United States, and Venezuela, and we expect

additional countries this year.

The next session of the ISCFC will begin in February, and if this date (and the schedule outlined below) coordinates

well with your curriculum, we invite you and perhaps your entire school to join us, and ask you to please let us know

no later than February 1, 2014.

In summary, participation in the February 2014 ISCFC will include these steps:

- In December and January prospective partner teachers explore the ISCFC website at:

http://footprint.stanford.edu and test our student Carbon Footprint Calculator.

- By February 1 let us know that you would like to enroll your class(es) by completing the registration form

posted on the ISCFC site at: http://footprint.stanford.edu/participate.html

- Between February 3-7 (or before) students calculate their personal carbon footprint.

- Between February 3-14 classes join and participate in the international student collaboration/discussion on

the Einztein social learning network site. Discussions may also continue past this date if student participation

warrants. http://einztein.com/user/jason/the-international-carbon-footp-12645/

- After the session, teachers and students complete the required online SurveyMonkey survey in order to help

us evaluate and improve our ISCFC project. Certificates for ISCFC participation will be awarded.

On behalf of Professor David Epel and Dr. Sam Dupont, the co-directors of the I2I team, project manager Geraldine

Fauville and staff scientist Dr. Jason Hodin, we invite you and your class(es) to be a part of the ISCFC. We look forward

to your response (no later than February 1) and to meeting you and your students online!

For more information please contact:

Pam Miller

Hopkins Marine Station

Stanford University, USA

pam.miller@stanford.edu

+1 831-238-7555

EPA’s Environmental Education Model Grant Program Accepting Applications - Proposals

are due by February 4, 2014 Call for Proposals - EPA’s EE Grants Program

EPA’s EE Model Grant Program is currently accepting applications from eligible applicants to support environmental

education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible

students, teachers, and citizens.. The program works to engage communities across the country through educational

projects that have a lasting impact on local watersheds and air quality.

This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate

environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, and that will serve as models that can be replicated in a

variety of settings. This year’s competitive grants program will total $2.77 million. Grants will be awarded from each of

the ten EPA regional offices and EPA’s headquarters in Washington, DC for a total of 22 to 32 grants. Each award will

be an estimated $75,000 to $200,000.

For more information go to:

http://www2.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants

NEW!!! Become a American Meteorological Society Weather Education Resource Teacher!

DataStreme Atmosphere is a major precollege teacher enhancement initiative of the American Meteorological Society

with the main goal of training of Weather Education Resource Teachers who will promote the teaching of science,

mathematics and technology using weather as a vehicle, across the K-12 curriculum in their home school districts.

The initial step in the training of Resource Teachers is their participation in the DataStreme Atmosphere distance-

learning course.

The 13-week course is offered twice a year to selected participants.

It focuses on the study of the atmospheric environment through the use of electronically transmitted weather data

and learning materials combined with Study Guide readings and investigations. DataStreme Atmosphere is currently

funded via the AMS/NOAA Cooperative Program for Earth System Education (CPESE) with assistance from the U.S.

National Weather Service and the State University of New York College at Brockport.

Contact Ed Haley haleyej@comcast.net for more info or to register for course.

This is a 600 level graduate course FREE to teachers

EPA's Environmental Education Teacher Awards Application Period Now Open - Deadline:

February 28, 2014 (K-12)

The Environmental Protection Agency is welcoming applications from public school teachers (K-12) for the third

annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Education. The award recognizes outstanding K-12

teachers and their local education agencies nationwide for excellence in integrating environmental education into

their lessons and connecting students with their communities and the natural world. Winners will receive $2,000 to

support their professional development in environmental education and each winner's school will also receive a

$2,000 award to help fund environmental education activities and programs that support the teacher.

For more information, visit: http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-

educators[www2.epa.gov]

For questions, please contact: bowman.jennifer@epa.gov

NEW!!!! Register for the 2014 Annual RI Science Teachers Association (RISTA) Conference:

Exploring the Dimensions of Science – March 1st, LaSalle Academy

2014 Spring Conference:Exploring the Dimensions of Science

March 1st at LaSalle Academy from 8:00 am-2:00 pm

Amy Leidtke, Keynote Speaker - “Investigating Minds: Empowering Children and Teachers through Design”

RISD Faculty member and Principal of Leidtke Design Amy Leidtkeis an accomplished industrial designer, artist and

educator with a standing record of success combining the disciplines of research, strategic and master planning,

ideation and design development, participatory design workshops, in an inclusive professional design practice. Ms.

Leidtke has been directly responsible for the planning, management and coordination of projects reaching millions of

people. From studio to shop, she is experienced in all facets of the design process, including brainstorming,

programming, design and production.

For twenty-plus years, Leidtke has worked on projects such as immersive play and learning environments, traveling

exhibits and products for mass production, including children’s educational kits/activities, medical equipment, retail

displays and corporate identity systems. Leidtke is a master teaching artist, having served as a Designer-In-Residence

with public and private schools, working with children, youth and educators to create fun, interactive products and

experiences within the context of academically integrated curriculum. Programs focus on themes including but not

limited to brainstorming, collaboration, empathy, communication, drawing and design thinking.

Leidtke is author of RISD Design Connections: Curriculum Tools for Design Education, which includes a set of design

skill-building projects for middle and high school students. Leidtke is a faculty member of SmART Schools, which

provides K-12 educators with professional development opportunities, “… dedicated to creating arts-infused schools

and classrooms where students of all backgrounds are inspired to meet high academic standards.” Amy is also a

member of the RI Strategic Leadership Team for the Implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards

Breakfast & Lunch Provided

Breakout sessions for all levels and disciplines

Select Retail Vendors and Local Organizations will be available

Registration Cost - $55 (includes 2014-15 membership)

Register for Conference Only - $35

Register online at www.rista.us

2014 Southern Division meeting of NEACT – Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Dean College in

Franklin, MA

We are pleased to announce the 2014 Southern Division meeting of NEACT, the New England Association of

Chemistry Teachers. The meeting will take place Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at Dean College in Franklin, MA.

Please find details below.

Program:

We are delighted to have local high school teachers and a local college professor as our speakers for the March

meeting. We’ll hear proven ways to engage students in primary research even at the high school level--and even

though we teachers are busier than ever. Then we’ll lighten things up with a look at the poetry-driven chemistry

classroom.

Ann Lambert, winner of the 2013 Theodore W. Richards Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary School

Chemistry and a 2013 finalist for MA Teacher of the Year, will speak to us about how she runs a successful research

class and incorporates research opportunities into her other classes. Students performing original research? Sounds

overwhelming, right? Ann, will make this accessible to you. You’ll leave knowing how to get started. And how to

keep it going.

Martin Berryman, winner of a 2013 Mass Insight Partners in Excellence Award and Mala Radhakrishnan, author of

the acclaimed book of humorous, educational chemistry poetry, .Atomic Romances, Molecular Dances., will discuss

their collaboration, which incorporates poetry and guided inquiry learning into the high school chemistry curriculum.

The speakers will share how they.ve been able to blend these ideas into activities and lessons that make learning fun

and durable. Beware! This talk will be interrupted periodically for poetry readings.

Logistics:

The program begins at 9AM in Campus Center, Room 204, on the Dean College campus with registration at 8:30.

Your best parking is in the lot directly outside the Campus Center on West Central Street in Franklin. The program will

conclude at 11:45, and be followed by a brief NEACT board meeting.

For purposes of planning refreshments, we are asking that you RSVP to shawn5678@gmail.com by February 22.

NEW!!! Connect and Collect Using Google Forms – March 5th (Seats limited)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

4:00 – 6:00 PM

New England Institute of Technology – 1 New England Blvd, East Greenwich, RI

Looking for a way to track SLO and SOO data? Need a strategy to help connect with students and parents? Learn how

to use free Google Forms as a tool to collect and track student data. Create online forms that automatically collect

responses and generate simple charts based upon the data. Look like a data genius using this simple (and free) tool!

Important Note: You will need to have a personal or school Google account to participate and the password for that

account.

Prerequisite: Strongly recommended that you attend the "Work, Share and Collaborate in the Cloud Using Google

Docs and Google Drive" session prior to attending this session

Presenters: Paul Barrette and John Bilotta

RISTE Member fee $30

Non-member fee $40

To register go to www.ri-iste.org

NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission – (K-5 - MS)

Are you looking for ready-made materials for a STEM-related event with your school or other organization? Celebrate

the launch of NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission by hosting a GPM Rain EnGAUGE Event – a

family science night for your school, outdoor education center, library, or museum, or with your scout troop, summer

camp or extracurricular club. Visit the website below for a full electronic toolkit, including an activities menu, planning

schedules, sample advertising flier, and more. The activities menu has a variety of choices to teach about precipitation

and its importance to our lives, from hands-on labs to computer interactives, and for all age levels – select the ones

that best fit your needs. For the most up-to-date information and new materials as they are developed, check the

website or contact us for more details. The satellite launches in February 2014, so the celebrations can start as early as

March, but get a GPM Rain EnGAUGE Event on the calendar for your organization today! Make sure you contact us if

you plan to host an event so that we can send you a supply kit with GPM stickers, water droplet handouts,

lithographs, and other materials to help you run your activities. Go to http://gpm.nasa.gov/education/rain-engauge or

email kristen.l.weaver@nasa.gov for more information.

NEW!!! Create Powerful Classroom Websites Using Google Sites – March 26th (Seats

limited)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

4:00 – 6:00 PM

New England Institute of Technology – 1 New England Blvd, East Greenwich, RI

Move beyond "SchoolNotes" or a simple classroom blog! Learn how to use the tools within Google Sites to create a

powerful and flexible website for your classroom, media center, or school. Easily add information pages, a calendar,

share files and even post announcements.

Important Note: You will need to have a personal or school Google account to participate and the password for that

account. Prerequisite: working knowledge and competence with Google Docs/Drive

Presenters: Paul Barrette and John Bilotta

RISTE Member fee $30

Non-member fee $40

To register go to www.ri-iste.org

Presidential Award For Excellence In Mathematics And Science Teaching (PAEMST)

Nominations Now Open – Nominations Due April 1, 2014 (Grades K-6 Teachers)

Are you or do you know an outstanding elementary (grades K-6th

) mathematics and science teacher (including

computer science) that you should be recognized for their talents? The Presidential Award for Excellence in

Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor that a kindergarten through 12th-

grade

mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. What better way to

acknowledge excellence of our colleagues than to nominate the teachers who exemplify their profession.

The process to nominate teachers is a simple one. Simply go to the PAEMST website at www.paemst.org and fill in

the on-line form. Once the nomination is submitted the nominated teacher will then be notified and provided

information about the application process.

The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. Candidates must:

Teach mathematics or science at the K -6th

grade level in a public or private school.

Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Be a full-time employee of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, and

teach K-12 students at least 50% of the time.

Have at least 5 years of full-time, K-12 mathematics or science teaching experience prior to the 2013-14

academic school year.

Teach in one of the 50 states or the four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto

Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa,

Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category.

Rhode Island has many wonderful teachers, and those you nominate could be state or national Presidential Awardees

for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science for 2014.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 222-8454 or by email at peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov. Thank

you for your continued support for mathematics and science education.

2014 AAAS Science Education Workshops on NGSS – Various Dates

Two different professional development experiences and several dates to choose from make 2014 the year to attend

an AAAS Science Education workshop!

NEW for 2014!

Understanding and Using Next Generation Science Learning Goals

February 10–11, July 10–11, and October 20–21, 2014

Are you responsible for implementing Next Generation Science Standards in your classroom, school, or district?

Then join us for a professional development workshop that will give you the tools, strategies, and support you

need to put NGSS into action. Drawing on Project 2061’s expertise in standards-based teaching and learning, you’ll

gain new insights into the science practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts that make up the

NGSS performance expectations and how they can be used to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Developing and Using Assessments Aligned to Science Learning Goals

May 28–30 and October 8–10, 2014

This popular three-day workshop gives you access to Project 2061’s science assessment experience and expertise

based on more than a decade of research and development. Designed for teachers, researchers, and assessment

specialists, you’ll take a hands-on approach to using Project 2061’s criteria and procedures for developing effective

assessment items that are carefully aligned to science learning goals, including those in the Next Generation

Science Standards. You’ll also explore the AAAS Science Assessment website and its online testing feature; data on

students’ misconceptions; and AAAS’s bank of some 700 high-quality test items for middle and high school

physical, life, and earth sciences. Here are just a few of the many positive comments we’ve received from past

workshop participants:

“I liked the critiquing process. While I realize there are no perfect items, I hope that we can improve the items we

have, and that we will write better items. The workshop helped me gain understanding and skills that will help me in

my work. I would definitely recommend this workshop to my colleagues.”

“The people were the best part of the workshop, and focusing on learning goals, misconceptions, analyzing good

items and answers!”

“The workshop leader did an excellent job. The experience of trying to work through the process of learning goals,

misconceptions, boundaries, necessity, comprehensibility was invaluable.”

“I think the free question repository is awesome!”

* * *

All workshops are held at AAAS Headquarters in Washington, DC.

To find out more about the workshops, our discounted Early-Bird rates, and scholarships or to register, go to

Project2061.org/workshops and click on one of the workshops.

Attendance is limited, so please return your registration form as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Goldstein at bgoldste@aaas.org.

NEW!!! NSTA's First-Ever Virtual Conference: NGSS Practices in Action – Saturday, March

8th

Join NSTA for an intensive one-day virtual conference on Saturday, March 8 to learn how to integrate the Next

Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into your K–12 classroom. This web-based professional learning opportunity will

feature interactive sessions on modeling, explanation and argumentation, and engineering, plus breakouts by grade

level and discipline. You'll have the chance to ask questions of NGSS experts, engage in dialogue with science

educators from across the country, and discover instructional strategies to use in your classroom right away! Click

here for more information and to register for this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

NEW!!! National Association Biology Teacher: Outstanding New Biology Teacher

Achievement Award – Apply by March 15th

The National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding New Biology Teacher Achievement Award recognizes

outstanding by a "new" biology/life science instructor within his/her first three years of teaching (when nominated)

who has developed an original and outstanding program or technique and made a contribution to the profession at

the start of his/her career. Maximum award: a travel fellowship, microscope, recognition plaque to be presented at the

NABT Professional Development Conference, and one year of complimentary membership to NABT. Eligibility:

teachers grades 7-12. Deadline: March 15, 2014. Go To Online Nomination Form

NEW!!! National Association Biology Teacher: The Ron Mardigian Biotechnology

Teaching Award – Apply by March 15th

The National Association of Biology Teachers Ron Mardigian Biotechnology Teaching Award recognizes a teacher

who demonstrates outstanding and creative teaching of biotechnology in the classroom. The award may be given for

either a short-term series of activities or a long-term integration of biotechnology into the curriculum. The lessons

must include active laboratory work and encompass major principles as well as processes of biotechnology. Criteria

for selection include creativity, scientific accuracy and currency, quality of laboratory practice and safety, ease of

replication, benefit to students and potential significance beyond the classroom. Maximum award: a recognition

plaque to be presented at the NABT Professional Development Conference, one year of complimentary membership

to NABT, and $1500 (up to $500 toward travel to the NABT Professional Development Conference and $1000 in Bio-

Rad materials). Eligibility: secondary school teachers Deadline: March 15, 2014. Go To Online Nomination Form

UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE – Apply by April 1st, 2014 (MS &

HS)

Monday to Friday, July 7 - July 11, 2014 at UMass Amherst

Funded by the National Science Foundation

Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing

Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers

$75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, some meals

Housing (new air conditioned dorms) for those outside the commuting radius

3 graduate physics credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's (Professional Development Points)

Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty

Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of nanometers. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, or

about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials can have surprising and useful behaviors and properties. Applications of

this rapidly growing field include regenerative medicine, fabrics and construction materials of unprecedented

strength, ultra-high performance computers and data storage, more efficient solar photovoltaic cells, and much more.

Activity in this field cuts across the traditional disciplinary boundaries, and involves chemistry, physics, biology, and

engineering.

The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting

new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in

middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and

Technology/Engineering Framework.

During the institute, participants will begin to develop curriculum units for their own classes. They will implement

these in the fall and report on their progress and results online. Three graduate credits will be available for the

institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee. PDP's will be available at no cost.

Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano.

Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their

classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school

principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due

April 1, 2014. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

Science Enrichment/Challenge Opportunities for

Students

NEW!!! eCYBERMISSION – Submit by March 1, 2014 (Grades 6 - 9)

eCYBERMISSION is one of several science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives offered by the

Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). The U.S. Army is committed to answering the nation's need for increased

national STEM literacy and expanding STEM education opportunities across the country to open doors to new career

paths for America’s students that lead to a brighter tomorrow.

For more information go to: http://www.ecybermission.com/

NASA’s REEL Science Video Communication Contest For Students – Apply by February 21,

2014 (High School Students)

About the Contest

NASA Earth Science missions are kicking off a new video contest engaging high school age students to produce a

video communicating NASA Earth Science to younger students. Students are consuming over 10 hours of media a

day and video is increasingly important to communicate and inform about science. NASA is looking for talented High

School students to create videos that engage students in Earth Science. Winners will have their videos posted on

NASA's website. They will also get the opportunity to be a NASA Producer working with NASA scientists and

communication experts in July 2014 to produce an Earth Science feature video.

Who can enter?

The contest is open to residents of the United States ages 13 to 18 on or before October 14, 2013. Submissions can

be by individuals or teams.

What is the subject of the video?

Produce a two-minute video for a middle school audience that communicates one of the following science concepts:

1. How Ice Impacts Climate and Climate Impacts Ice

2. Forest Fire Effects on Air Quality

3. Water of the Water Planet

How do I submit?

1. Create a video explaining one of the science topics. Be sure to use NASA components including audio clips,

animations, visualizations, or satellite images.

2. Upload your video to YouTube and tag with "NASAREELscience2014"by 11:59pm EST on February 21, 2014.

3. Within 72 hours you will receive a comment on your video that your video has been submitted.

4. Finalists will be selected by March 31, 2014. Finalists will be required to send their video file to NASA along with

a supplied contest Submission Release Form by 11:59pm EST on April 15, 2014.

5. Winners will be announced April 30, 2014 on our website.

When is the deadline?

Videos must be uploaded and tagged with "NASAREELscience2014" on YouTube by 11:59pm EST February 21, 2014.

How will the videos be judged?

NASA producers, communications experts, and scientists will be judging the videos for science accuracy, creativity,

use of NASA data, and video quality. Videos that are inaudible, blurry, or contain resources (other than NASA

imagery) that are not original will be immediately disqualified. (See contest guidelines for more details.)

How will finalists be notified?

Finalists will receive a comment on their YouTube video by March 31, 2014. Check YouTube after March 31st to see if

you have been selected. Finalists will have 15 days to submit their video file and waiver via email to NASA. Videos

with waivers not received by 11:59pm EST April 15th will be disqualified.

What are the prizes?

Winning videos will be announced on April 30, 2014 and posted on the NASA website. Winners will get the

opportunity to work remotely with NASA producers and communications experts on a current NASA Earth Science

Story in July 2014. Participation will include access to NASA personnel through webinars and online communication

tools (e.g., Skype). Final produced stories will be posted on a NASA website and have the chance of being highlighted

on www.nasa.gov. See contest guidelines for required release forms.

For more information go to: http://reelscience.gsfc.nasa.gov/

* Check out the Winning Videos from 2012!

High School Seniors Sought For National Youth Science Camp® Honors – Apply by March

1, 2014

As part of the 2014 National Youth Science Foundation®

(NYSC) two Rhode Island high school seniors will receive a

full scholarship to exchange ideas with scientists and other professionals from the academic and corporate worlds.

The nearly month-long experience includes lectures and hands-on research projects presented by scientists from

across the nation; overnight camping trips into the Monogahela National Forest; and a visit to Washington D.C. The

selected delegates must not only demonstrate academic achievement in science, but also show potential for

thoughtful scientific leadership.

The NYSC experience is offered at no cost to its participants, so that selected delegates may attend regardless of their

financial status. Contributions to the NYSC allow delegates to participate in this “once in a lifetime” experience.

Educational and recreational programming, as well as meals, lodging, and round-trip air passage on scheduled

airlines are provided free of charge.

Delegates arrive in Charleston, West Virginia, on Friday, June 27, and depart on Sunday, July 20, 2014. The NYSC is

held near Bartow in the eastern mountains of West Virginia, within the Monongahela National Forest. Application

forms are available on the NYSC website at www.nysc.org and must be submitted directly to Rhode Island selection

coordinator at the following address:

Peter McLaren

Rhode Island Department of Education

255 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02903

(work) 401-222-8454

(fax) 401-222-3605

Peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov

Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2013.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Peter McLaren at 401-222-8454 or peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov nnifer

2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest – Deadline March 15th, 2014 (K-12)

This year is the 9th year of Endangered Species Day (May 16, 2014) and the 40th anniversary of the Endangered

Species Act (signed on Dec. 28, 1973). The 2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest provides students

with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork.

The contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of

Zoos and Aquariums, and the International Child Art Foundation.

Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest – March 15, 2014 submission deadline

Art Contest guidelines, entry form and teacher instructions here

Young people in grades K-12, as well as those in homeschools and youth programs, can submit their artwork of

threatened and endangered species. Their submissions must be postmarked by March 15, 2014.

The grand prize and grade category winners of the 2013 contest were chosen by a panel of artists, photographers and

wildlife experts. View the 2013 winning entries here.

DETAILS about Contest Background, Teacher/School Registration, Eligibility, Subject Matter, Resources, Judging and

Prizes found here:

http://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/saving-endangered-species-youth-art-contest/

Next Generation Learning with the Kavli “Science in Fiction” Video Contest – Apply by

March 21 (Grades 6-12)

Interplanetary travel, time travel, telepathy, teleportation, brain powered computers, recombinant DNA, bionic limbs,

cyborgs, cryonics. Just some of the far-fetched technologies that have been dreamed up over time, while today's

scientists might just be discovering ways to make them become real!

Investigate how science is portrayed in TV, films, and games. Find an example using a film, TV show, or video game,

then compare to what we can do today with current or emerging technologies. Or tell us what science needs to

discover to make it really happen.

The more you research, the more you will discover, and you might end up being surprised by what you find out.

Make a video (: 30 -: 90) that shares your discoveries and states your case.

ENTRY PERIOD: NOV. 1, 2013 - MARCH 21, 2014

Go to Contest Entry Form

Contest open to Grades 6-12, International Students and US

PRIZES:

1st- $2000

2nd- $750

3rd- $500

People's Choice $250

Additional Prizes include:

Software from Wolfram Mathematica

Free training at Steve Wolfe's Stunt Ranch in Austin, TX

Girls STEM Summit-East – April 26th (Grades 8 – 12)

A one-day summit for girls in grades 8 - 12 who love STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math.

Girls will:

- listen to an inspirational keynote female leader

- meet successful women working as experts in STEM fields during hands-on mini career tracks

- expand knowledge of STEM industries and emerging career paths

- be inspired to continue STEM high school courses in preparation for college

- learn about institutions offering STEM degrees in featured career tracks

- receive giveaway, enjoy lunch, and meet other girls with similar interests

When: Saturday, April 26, 2014

Where: MIT, Cambridge, MA

Times: 8am - 4pm

Fee: $45

Enroll at http://www.juniortech.org

For more information contact:

Phyllis Russell

774-994-2097

phyllis@juniortech.org

www.juniortech.org

National Academies of Engineering Engineering For You (E4U) Video Contest Opens

November 1 – Enter by March 31, 2014 (MS and HS Students)

In celebration of its upcoming 50th anniversary, the National Academy of Engineering launched Engineering for You

(E4U), a video contest to highlight the impact that engineering has or will have on society. In the last 50 years,

engineering achievements include helping to land astronauts on the moon, creating the Internet, and decoding the

human genome. What will engineering create in the next 50 years? Rev up your creativity, pull out your camera or

phone, and produce a one to two minute video showing the world how you see engineering enhancing quality of life

and serving the needs of society. The video must highlight a period during the years 1964–2064. The main prize is

$25,000, and the contest runs through March 31, 2014.

2014 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment Seeks Nominations Of Your Students

– Sophomores and Juniors (Class of 2015 & 16)

Please consider nominating your top students for the 2014 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment.

http://wsp.gmu.edu/nominations/

George Mason University, along with its partners, National Geographic and the Smithsonian National Zoological Park

(the National Zoo), are excited to welcome students attending the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

(WYSE) to Washington, D.C. The Summit is a hands-on, interactive program that provides America’s highest

achieving high school students with an interest in the environment, conservation and sustainability, and with the

desire to explore careers in the fields of environmental science, conservation, policy, law and engineering, with a

remarkable opportunity. Students take an active role in the curriculum through exclusive behind-the-scenes

explorations of facilities and laboratories of the Smithsonian and National Zoo, and through exclusive field visits,

special access to, and activities with, researches, scientists, directors and staff. Students are led in small groups by

faculty advisors who are local experts in these fields and have extensive experience in conservation and the

environment.

The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment is held on George Mason University’s state-of-the-art campus,

enabling attending students to experience life as a typical college student and reside in comfortable, modern, fully

air-conditioned dorm rooms with wireless internet connections. Students will receive one college credit for their

successful completion of the Summit, with transcripts from George Mason University that can be sent to any college

or university where the Delegate seeks admission.

Learn more about the program at http://www.wyse.gmu.edu or contact Richard Friesner at 703-993-5417 or by email

at rfriesne@gmu.edu with any questions.

Mass. Society for Medical Research 23rd Annual Student Competition: Student Essay,

Poster, or Webpage Competition – Enter by May 2 (Grades 7-8 and Grades 9-12)

A Biology Competition For All Middle and High School Students in New England Essay, Poster or Webpage

Level 1 Competition Level 2 Competition

Grades 7 – 8 Grades 9 - 12

Awards in Each Level

1st Place - $500

2nd Place - $250

3rd Place - $100

Honorable Mention - Certificate of Merit

Classroom Education Grants for the Teachers or Mentors/Advisors of the winning students

1st Place - $100

2nd Place - $50

3rd Place - $25

All winning and honorable mention students and their parents and teacher are invited to the MSMR Annual Meeting

in late June, where the winning entries will be highlighted.

This Year's Competition Challenge - "What's New?"

The competition reflects MSMR’s popular What A Year! science discovery website (www. whatayear.org), that turns

research advances into educational opportunities.

You will create and submit a Poster, Essay or Webpage exploring a recent research advance at a New England

research institution as if you were the What A Year!

Go to the What A Year! website (www.whatayear.org) and read some of the stories in order to understand the goal of

What A Year! to introduce breakthrough science to students.

To Enter

1. Find a research discovery/breakthrough from scientists at a New England research institution during 2012 or

2013.

2. Then tell the story of the discovery via an Essay, Poster or Webpage, using a balance of text and graphics,

being sure to include all the required elements (see details in the Student Packet, below). Your specific

audience is teenage science students, so your presentation should be appropriate to them.

There are ideas in the Student Packet on how to find a good story.

Topics should not be ones that are already reported the WHAT A YEAR! website: you should uncover a topic of

special interest to you-- an area of biology, a disease or condition, a specific researcher or research institution, for

example.

The Student Packet and Entry Form below will help you find discoveries, plan, create and submit your entry. Please

read them and follow their guidance carefully.

We accept entries only in electronic format. Essays and Posters are submitted as e-mail attachments in standalone (not

web-based) PDF format; Webpages will be submitted as links in your submission e-mail. Please read through the

entire Student Packet for detailed information. Essays and Posters must be individual work; Websites may be created

by individuals or teams of two.

Note: your entry itself must be completely anonymous ... all identifying information must be contained only in the

associated e-mail and Entry Form

2014 Student Packet

2014 Entry Form - MS Word version or 2014 Entry Form - PDF version

Please note: attachments will not be sent. Most information will be posted online or included

here to reduce the size of this message.

Thank you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you know of something that you feel is a quality resource, event, or opportunity (e.g., grant),

please send a newsletter-ready “blurb” to peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov containing the following

information by 3:00pm on Thursday to be included in the Friday newsletter (subject to RIDE

review and approval):

1. Type (e.g., grant, event, resource)

2. Name / Title of Event / Opportunity

3. Source or Event Sponsor

4. Web site, and/or contact name(s) and email address(es)

5. Description

6. Grade level(s) and/or intended audience

7. Deadline (if applicable) for time-sensitive submissions or event RSVPs

THIS NOTICE IS DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. R.I Department of

Education does not have any affiliation or responsibility to promote this information.

Peter J. McLaren

Science-Technology Specialist

Office of Instruction

Rhode Island Department of Education

255 Westminster Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

401-222-8454

peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov

@PeterJMcLaren