Opportunities for Teachers

December 2: Fall Section Meeting of NAGT-NE 2017 (National Association of Geology Teachers - New England).

A consortium of geoscience educators. 

K12 and higher education instructors as well as informal educators are welcome to attend.

The fall meeting for the New England Section of the NAGT will take place on December 2, 2017 at the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the Olney Science Center room 212. 

10:00-10:45 am: Business Meeting (News, Voting) All welcome.

11:00- 12:00 Dr. Daniel Obrist will present on his latest research: “Tundra uptake of atmospheric elemental mercury drives Arctic mercury pollution.” This research was described in July for the Journal Nature.

Dr. Obrist is the new Department Chair for the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 

12:00 Lunch: Bring your own.

12:30 - 2:00ish  Short Local Geology Field Trip

If the weather cooperates, we will go on a short field trip through the Nashoba and Merrimack Terranes. 

Contact/Questions?  Lori Weeden 

President New England Section National Association of Geoscience Teachers 

Senior Lecturer Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Massachusetts Lowell 

Lori_weeden@uml.edu

Opening on October 18 at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) in Lowell, Silent Sky is the incredible true story of boundary-shattering New England astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and her colleagues working at Harvard Observatory in the early 20th century. Astronomers and scientists get 25% off tickets using promocode: SKYPLAY. (4 tickets per order, offer may be rescinded at any time, cannot be combined with other offers.) Just call the Box Office at 978-654-4678 or go online at mrt.org to buy your tickets. Also, student tickets are always just $15.

The 2018 Energy Conference for Educators brings together educators from all over the country that are passionate about bringing energy education to their classrooms. Through five interactive days in Galveston, the conference will provide educators with the most up-to-date information on all aspects of energy including the science of energy, sources of energy, transportation, electricity, efficiency, and environmental and economic impacts.

Participants receive the training and materials to implement innovative hands-on energy units in their classrooms, multi-disciplinary teams, and after-school programs. NEED leaders at the conference help participants develop specialized units that meet state standards and can be utilized with students of all learning styles.

Who Should Attend

•             Educators interested in Energy!

•             Science and STEM Teachers

•             Informal Educators

•             Museum Education Staff

•             Utility Education and Outreach Staff

Registration Fee: $1,500

Includes:

•                      Conference materials

•                      Curriculum materials

•                      Double occupancy lodging

•                      Most meals

•                      Local transportation to and from the airport in the conference city

Scholarships for classroom teachers are available (On your application indicate scholarship is requested). Graduate credit is available.

Apply Today! need.org/summertraining

What past attendees have said:

“I would definitely recommend this conference! It’s a great way to network with other people and get to know more ways to implement science lessons and make them more fun!”

“This was a 100% ‘on’ workshop, no fluff or disorganized wasted time.”

“This has been, by far, the best professional development I have attended. The presenters modeled best practices.”

As you may know there is a 15 PDP course requirement in the field of English Learner Education in order for professional educators in Massachusetts to advance their licensure. MATSOL is offering a course specifically for educators of mathematics and science. The information about the course is found below:

Academic English for English Learners in Math and Science (EL-106)

·         EL-106-FA17-001: Oct 28 & Dec 16, 2017 (Burlington)

MATSOL also offers SEI endorsement courses for educators and administrators.  These offerings are listed below.

Massachusetts Sheltered English Immersion Teacher Endorsement Course (RE-600)

·         RE-600-FA17-001 - Starts Sep 5, 2017 - Tuesdays 4:00-7:00 PM (12 sessions), Fitchburg MA

·         RE-600-FA17-002 - Starts Sep 20, 2017 - Wednesdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM (12 sessions), Swansea MA

·         RE-600-FA17-003 - Starts Oct 3, 2017 - Tuesdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM (12 sessions), Lexington MA

·         RE-600-AY18-001 - Starts Jan 9, 2018  - Tuesdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM (12 sessions), Framingham MA

·         RE-600-AY18-002- Starts Jan 18, 2018 - Thursdays 4:30 - 7:30 PM (12 sessions), North Attleborough, MA

Massachusetts Sheltered English Immersion Administrator Endorsement Course (RE-601)

·         RE-601-FA17-001 - Starts Sep 27, 2017 - Wednesdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM (5 sessions), Lexington MA

·         RE-601-FA17-002 - Starts Sep 28, 2017 - Thursdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM (5 sessions), Framingham MA

·         RE-601-FA17-003 - Starts Oct 25, 2017 - Wednesdays 8:30-11:30 AM (5 sessions), Hingham MA

·         RE-601-AY18-001 - Starts Jan 9, 2018 - Tuesdays 4:30 - 7:30 PM (5 sessions), North Attleborough, MA

Arduino is an electronics platform (mini-computer). “Arduino boards are able to read inputs -

light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output -

activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something online.” They’ve been used for

engineering and robotics projects, science experiments, artwork, and more!

Hear about Arduino and want to learn more?

Want to use them in your classroom, but you’re not sure where to start?

Please join us for a FREE hands-on workshop at Smith College. This workshop is targeted to

middle- and high-school science and technology teachers who are interested in learning about the

Arduino platform. We will begin with an introduction to Arduino and circuits and conclude with

some time to play with an Arduino and test out introductory lab activities. If you are familiar

with Arduino already, more advanced labs will be available. Space is limited, so please RSVP.

More info/RSVP:

Kristen Dorsey

(413) 585-4058

KDorsey@smith.edu

The Laboratory Safety Institute will be offering 24-hour lab safety short courses at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, on July 24-27, 2017 and at LSI in Natick, MA on August 7-10, 2017 

This course provides an in-depth look at the fundamentals of lab safety and effective lab safety programs. You will learn to identify and manage common laboratory hazards; many of which you may never have considered. Using a "real world" approach to safety issues in the laboratory, our seasoned instructors will illustrate how to reduce the likelihood of injury, illness, accidents and lawsuits while providing you with simple, inexpensive (even free) things that you can do to have an even better safety program. Registrants are encouraged to bring their problem descriptions, accident accounts and safety program materials for review and discussion.

Topics will include:

• Accidents & Activities

• Biological & Animal Hazards

• Chemical Handling & Storage

• Compressed Gases

• Disposal of Chemicals

• Electrical Safety

• Eye & Face Protection

• Fire Control

• Handling Glassware

• Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Labeling

• Legal Aspects of Safety

• Needs Assessment

• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Std

• OSHA Lab Standard

• Planning for Emergencies

• Radiation

• Recordkeeping

• Safety Program Planning

• Scope of the Problem

• Student/ Employee Involvement

• Ventilation 

Registrants will receive 2.1 Continuing Education Units (CEU's).

The course duration is 24 hours spread over 4 days. Priced at $1095. Register at labsafetyinstitute.org.

Fitchburg State University-Summer Class

Course number ITEC 7002  
Updated Technology Engineering Standards

When Summer Session II – 2017
July 10,11,12, 13, 17,18,19, 20
Time 1:00 to 5:45

Please visit  http://www.masstec.org/ for complete details.

The Department and Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) seek educator teams from 10 districts to participate in the second year of a National Science Foundation-funded computer science and science, technology/engineering and mathematics (STEM) integration and collaboration (CS-STEM) grant program. The purpose of the program is to integrate computer science with science and mathematics education in grades 1-6. The program aims to create new models for teaching and learning through innovative curriculum and class materials. Please see the attached solicitation memo and application for more information. Applications are due June 30.

Project Accelerate is a National Science Foundation funded high school university partnership program bringing a no cost blended online AP Physics 1 course to schools that do not offer AP Physics. Schools throughout the New England states are eligible to participate in this partnership program. 

During the pilot year of Project Accelerate, although the sample size was too small to provide statistical significance, the raw data show Project Accelerate students outperforming their peer groups enrolled in traditional AP Physics 1 classrooms. 

Project Accelerate combines the supportive infrastructures from the students’ traditional school with a highly interactive private edX online course. The primary instructional tool is the private online program containing instructional scaffolding specific to the target population, multiple assessment tools, simulations, and a suite of virtual explorations emphasizing science process practices. We embrace a minds-on philosophy throughout the online course and virtual laboratories are woven throughout the course. Although not required for participation, the project team will support and work cooperatively with those schools wishing to complement the online instruction with hands-on laboratories conducted at the partner high school site.

 

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, kindly contact Mark D. Greenman.

 

Mark D. Greenman

Director Project Accelerate

Boston University

Physics Department

Office: 617-358-6729

Office: greenman@bu.edu

June 28-29, 2017

This interactive two-day workshop offers teachers of English Learners time to delve into combining English

Language Development Standards and Science Practices. In collaborative groups of educators, we will develop a common understanding of academic language in a science and engineering environment. After developing a common understanding of language expectations, we will explore strategies and supports that foster a language rich environment. Through hands-on experimentation and analysis of language embedded within the content and practices, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to engage language learners of a variety of proficiency levels. The workshop will conclude with participants applying the process to one of their lessons.  For more information please see attached flyer.