Secondary Science Newsletter
November 2, 2014
Interested in learning how to incorporate technology in science?
With support from the Google CS4HS program, Santa Fe Institute’s Project GUTS: Growing Up Thinking Scientifically is offering a free online course focused on teacher professional development in computer modeling and simulation.
For more information and to register, please go to: https://guts-cs4hs.appspot.com
Project GUTS CS4HS provides eight weeks of free online instruction to educators who are interested in embedding computer science within regular school day science classes through the integration of computer modeling and simulation. The course will begin the week of November 24, 2014 and run eight consecutive weeks, ending on January 16, 2015. Course materials will be posted online at the start of the course to enable teachers to progress through the coursework at their own pace.
This course was designed for middle and high school teachers interested in learning how to integrate computer science concepts and practices within the context of earth, life, and physical science classes. The Project GUTS modules infuse computational thinking into science classes by engaging students in using, modifying, and creating computer models and conducting scientific investigations using their computer models as experimental test beds.
There are no prerequisites for the course and no prior programming experience is required.
The course was designed as professional development for secondary science teachers and thus teaching approaches and best practices to increase student learning will be included. Additionally, university faculty, school administrators, and others may benefit from gaining an understanding of modern scientific practice using computer models and simulation in the context of scientific inquiry. (You will need a Google account to access the course. Visit https://accounts.google.com/SignUp to set up an account if you don’t already have one.)
This course parallels the Code.org Project GUTS “Computer Science in Science” professional development program piloted in Broward County, FL, Chicago, IL and Charles County, MD in 2014, and builds on the Project GUTS’ professional development program offered in New Mexico since 2007 (developed with funding by the National Science Foundation - NSF award #0639637). A certificate of completion from the Santa Fe Institute will be provided for those who complete the course.
For more information and to register, please go to: https://guts-cs4hs.appspot.com
Please forward this information to anyone you think might be interested!
For questions, please write to Irene Lee, lee@santafe.edu
Science Standards Framework Project- Applications being accepted
Announcing Science Standards Framework Project
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is seeking K-12 classroom educators to participate in the development of the Oklahoma Science Standards Framework. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will provide educators with information and resources to develop curriculum aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. The framework will not serve as curriculum itself. The Oklahoma Science Standards Framework will be modeled from a similar resource developed in Minnesota (the Minnesota Mathematics and Science Standards Framework see link http://www.scimathmn.org/stemtc/).
To find out more about this opportunity and how you can apply go to https://www.ok.gov/dcs/solicit/app/solicitationSearch.php?status=open-pending and download a copy of RFP 2650000297. Please follow all instructions and if you have any questions, please contact the Contracting Officer listed on the first page of RFP Kathy Hallum, email: Kathy.hallum@omes.ok.gov or phone: 405-521-3851
Cool Tech Tool of the Week: Digital timers
Projecting a timer on a screen is a great way to keep kids on task! A few timers can be found at:
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/
http://www.funsumer.com/apps/timer/
Instructional Strategy of the Week: Random pickers
Keep students on their toes with a random picker strategy. Use popsicle sticks with students' names on them to randomly select students to respond to questions or other tasks. Or, use a digital such as http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/.
Click here for more instructional strategies.
Need Resources?
And please send me awesome lessons or ideas so that I can share those across the district.
Safety Reminder
Please review the following documents before beginning any activity that may pose a risk to students (directions for locating these resources are in parentheses).
- Science Class Safety Information Sheet (R:\Safety Information\Internal Policies)
- Secondary Science Safety Notebook (R:\03 High School Resources\Science\Secondary Science Safety)
- Review all documents in R:\03 High School Resources\Science\Secondary Science Safety
If you have any questions at all regarding safety in the science classroom, please contact me.
Important Dates
- Sam Rhine Genetics Conference- Norman- November 13th
- Native American STEM Competition and Conference- November 24
- PASCO STEM Educator Award nominations (provides funding to travel to NSTA conferences)- November 30
- AP Grants- due December 15
- National Middle Level Science Teacher Association award application- due December 31
- Ag in the Classroom grants- due January 30
- High school benchmark dates: October 9, December 5, March 11, May 6 (except biology)
- Middle school benchmark dates: October 9, December 19, March 11, May 13 (except 8th grade)
6-8 Workshop with the foremost authority on interactive science notebooks
Do you wish you knew how to incorporate essential components of Science Notebooking with literacy writing skills?
Or do you currently use Science Notebooking but want to learn more?
Learn essential components for implementing science notebooks in K–8 classrooms. Through active investigations you’ll explore how notebooks impact achievement by providing a tool for building students’ conceptual understanding and for finding evidence of learning. Additionally, science notebooks can be utilized as a vehicle in which to develop students' abilities to read, write, speak, and listen.
Here are the details:
Cost: FREE (I LOVE THIS WORD)
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 4:00 – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang High School, Mustang OK
Building J, J Conference Room
Please park in the main parking lot as you enter the campus grounds.
Check in through the main office for directions to the J Conference Room
(parking will be crazy as this is right after students are released)
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 60 PARTICIPANTS – Register now using the link http://goo.gl/forms/69wCS4cga1 to hold your place at the workshop.
Additional information about the presenter:
Brian Campbell is a curriculum developer at the University of California, Berkeley where he focuses on creating instructional materials and professional development opportunities for science in elementary schools. He works with teachers and districts to refine the use of science notebooks in classrooms focusing on formative assessment and the connections to language arts. He enjoys learning especially from his two daughters.