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Career Opportunities in Marine Sectors (COMS)
Friday, October 1, 2021
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Vets Hall (in person or Zoom Webinar)
Sponsors: Boston Sea Rovers, Salem State University Biology
Fee: Free with registration
Description:
The Career Opportunities in Marine Sectors (COMS) Symposium offers a series of dynamic
presentations about the world’s oceans as well as discussion of Career Opportunities in the Marine
Sector including Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and the Arts. This will be a
Hybrid format with in-person attendance or via Zoom to your classroom. It is free to area students and
teachers with confirmed reservations. In Person Symposium will be held in Vets Hall at Salem State
University
This year’s Presentations Include:
0830 – 0845 – Welcome and Introduction – Ted Maney
0845- 0930 Rick Simon – Commercial and Technical Diving, Equipment Manufacturer
0930 – 1015 Holly Bourbon – National Aquarium – Aquarium Diving, Exhibits Curator
1015 – 1100 Paul Cater Deaton – Writer, Producer, Director, and Cinematographer
1100 – 1145 Bruce Strickrott | DSV ALVIN Manager & Chief Submersible Pilot
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
1145 – 1230 Faith Ortins – Ecotourism – BlueGreen Expeditions
Reservations are required
Webinar Registration: https://salemstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_axZJi027T2qRfT01MaJH4Q
In-person Registration Teachers may apply to bring up to 50 students and one chaperone per 25
students. Upon acceptance, admission is free to school groups and their teachers.
send a request to:
Ted Maney ted@bostonsearovers.com or tmaney@salemstate.edu
Please include the following:
The school you represent
Your contact information
The number of seats requested for students in-person.
Which teachers are attending (Please note: We do require one adult chaperone per 25 students.
Please confirm both field trip approval and transportation approvals with your Administration.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is seeking educators to serve as members of the MCAS Assessment Development Committees (ADC) in the following content areas: English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, Civics and of the Bias and Sensitivity Committee (BSC). This is a rewarding professional development opportunity for educators who are interested in learning about large-scale, standards-based assessment. Committee members are directly involved in assisting the Department with the process of developing MCAS test items.
Committee Requirements
DESE is looking to select from a diverse pool of candidates that have experience working with racially, ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse students. We are especially interested in recruiting educators of color to serve on our committees.
For the content Assessment Development Committees, candidates should have content expertise, familiarity with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, and teaching experience in the grade and subject matter indicated on the application.
For the Bias and Sensitivity Committee, candidates should have experience and understanding of bias and sensitivity issues, especially as they relate to K-12 education, familiarity with the Massachusetts curriculum framework, and experience in the K-12 education environment.
Educators who previously served or who currently serve as ADC members may reapply. Committee Members’ Roles and Responsibilities ADC members assist the Department in the review of MCAS passages (ELA only), test questions, and scoring materials. Members review all test questions in their content area and grade level prior to field testing and make suggestions for refinements based on content accuracy, alignment to the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, cognitive complexity, grade-level appropriateness, and instructional worthiness. After field testing, committee members review the questions again with their field-test performance data.
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BSC members assist the Department with the review of all MCAS test questions, scoring notes and rubrics, and ELA passages. All test questions are reviewed before they are field tested, and again with their field-test performance data. Members will review items for bias and sensitivity concerns based on considerations of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, geography, languages spoken, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Members identify and make recommendations for passages and test questions with potential bias or sensitivity issues.
Membership Structure and Number of Meeting Days
Each committee consists of approximately 12 educators. The membership term will run for 2 years, from January 2022 through December 2023. Committee members are required to attend all scheduled meetings, which run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., during late winter/spring, summer, and fall. DESE expects all meetings in 2022 and 2023 to be in-person. Any necessary safety protocols regarding COVID (such as social distancing and mask wearing) will be taken. The approximate number of meeting days per committee is listed below.
Content Area Grade Approximate
Number of Meetings per Year
English Language Arts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 6 days
English Language Arts 10 10 days
Mathematics 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 5 days
Mathematics 10 10 days
Science and Technology/Engineering 5 and 8 6 days
Biology High School 5 days in 2022 8 days in 2023
Introductory Physics High School 5 days in 2022 8 days in 2023
Civics 8 9
Bias and Sensitivity all 7 days/member*
*There are typically 15-20 days of Bias and Sensitivity meetings. Each BSC member will be required to attend 7 meeting days per calendar year.
Reimbursement/Honorariums
The Department will reimburse districts for substitute teacher costs up to $150/day. Committee members are reimbursed for mileage and tolls, and overnight accommodations are provided to members who live 55 or more miles away from the meeting site. In addition, committee members receive professional development points for their service. For summer meetings, committee members are provided an honorarium, and are not required to live more than 55 miles from the meeting site to be provided with overnight accommodations.
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Application Procedure
1. Request permission from your supervisor to apply to and serve on a committee. (If selected as a member, you will be expected to attend all meetings.)
2. Send a short statement of interest and a current résumé to adc@doe.mass.edu.
When sending the email, include in the subject line your last name, first name and first choice committee. For example: Last name, First name, Grade 6 ELA.
The statement of interest should be a brief summary of why the applicant wishes to serve on a committee and how the applicant may bring a diverse perspective to the committee, including the applicant's background, experience working with racially, ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities, or any other relevant experiences.
The résumé should include
o the applicant's current position (including roles and responsibilities),
o any degrees in relevant content areas and/or other content expertise training and experience,
and
o any experience working with special populations, including English learners and special needs students.
3. Complete the online application here.
Please apply by Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 5:00 PM. We expect notifications to be sent in November.
After applicants are selected for the committees, they will be sent additional meeting information, including dates and locations.
If applicants have any questions, please contact the appropriate staff below:
ELA: Amy Carithers, Amy.E.Carithers@mass.gov
Mathematics: Simone Johnson, Simone.Johnson@mass.gov
Science: Isadel Eddy, Isadel.Eddy@mass.gov
Civics: Ann Marie Gleeson, AnnMarie.Gleeson@mass.gov
Bias and Sensitivity: Katie Bowler, Catherine.Bowler@mass.gov
General Questions: ADC@doe.mass.edu
Thank you for your commitment to Massachusetts students and your interest in serving on these committees.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is seeking educators to serve as members of the Innovative Science Assessment Committee (ISAC) and the Bias and Sensitivity Committee (BSC) as part of the development of a new, innovative assessment pilot for Science and Technology/Engineering.
Application instructions are at the end of this memo, and applications are due on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 by 5pm.
This is an exciting opportunity to have a voice in the creation of a new model for statewide assessment. To prepare for a second pilot administration in May 2022, DESE will refine the new innovative science assessment in Grades 5 and 8 intended to measure students’ deeper learning and promote equitable practices. A small number of districts have been selected for the 2022 pilot while the rest of the state continues to use the existing MCAS for science and technology/engineering (STE). The innovative assessment includes a new type of performance task for students, in which they engage with interactive computer-based science activities or simulations based on real-life science phenomena or laboratory activities.
Committee members are directly involved in assisting the Department with the process of developing and refining the new, innovative performance tasks over the next two years. DESE is looking to select from a diverse pool of candidates.
For the content-focused Innovative Science Assessment Committees (ISACs), we are looking for candidates with content expertise, familiarity with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, and science teaching experience in grades 3-8. We strongly encourage science educators who have diverse backgrounds and who teach groups of diverse students to apply. There are 8 scheduled task review meetings and one data review meeting in SY21-22, and SY22-23 will follow a similar schedule. ISAC members are expected to receive a $870 honorarium per year for fulfilling their commitments.
For the Bias and Sensitivity Committee (BSC), we are looking for candidates with experience and understanding of bias and sensitivity issues, especially as they relate to K-12 education, familiarity with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, and experience in a diverse K-12 education environment. Science teaching experience is useful but not required. There are 4 scheduled meetings in SY21-22, and SY22-23 will follow a similar schedule. BSC members are expected to receive a $480 honorarium per year for fulfilling their commitments.
Committee Members’ Roles and Responsibilities
Committee members for the innovative assessment will be involved more frequently and at earlier stages of development than the standard MCAS committees. ISAC and BSC members will review and provide input on initial drafts to inform the design and content of tasks and will provide a final round of review prior to pilot administration.
ISAC members assist the Department in the review of the new performance tasks, simulations, scoring notes and rubrics. Members will help shape early concept descriptions, review prototypes and functional performance tasks, and make suggestions for refinements. After test administration, committee members will review data on student performance and engagement. The charge is to review items for:
BSC members assist the Department with the review of the new performance tasks for cultural sensitivity, relevance and appropriateness. Committee members will review early concept descriptions to identify which are most suitable for development into performance tasks, and will later review the near-final versions of the performance tasks. Members will review items for bias and sensitivity concerns based on considerations of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, geography, languages spoken, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Due to the COVID-19 situation, we expect to hold all meetings virtually for the start of SY21-22.
Therefore, committee members will not incur travel costs. Meetings will be held on weekdays after 3pm, and participants will be paid an honorarium (stipend) for their time. The Department will reimburse districts for substitute teacher costs up to $150/day if there are meetings that require a committee member to miss a school day. If the COVID-19 situation allows for in-person meetings later in the year, members will be reimbursed for travel expenses including mileage.
Meeting Schedule and Commitments
Each Committee consists of approximately 10-12 educators. The membership term will run for two school years, from October 2021 through September 2023. ISAC members are required to attend the first meeting and all but one of the 9 scheduled meetings (see schedule below, one absence is allowed) and BSC members must attend all four meetings.
List of Proposed Dates for Committee Meetings
Bias & Sensitivity Grades 5 and 8 Time Date
Bias & Sensitivity Training and Review #1 3-7pm 11/3
Bias & Sensitivity Review #2 3-7pm 11/17
Bias & Sensitivity Review #3 3-7pm Feb. ‘22
Bias & Sensitivity Review #4 3-7pm Feb. ‘22
ISAC Grade 5 Science
G5: Training and initial task review #1 3-7pm 10/19
G5: Initial task review #2 3-7pm 10/26
G5: Initial task review #3 3-7pm 11/2
G5: Initial task review #4 3-7pm 11/9
G5: Initial task review #5 3-7pm 11/16
G5: Final Review #1 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G5: Final Review #2 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G5: Final Review #3 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G5: Data Review 9-4pm Sept ‘22
ISAC Grade 8 Science
G8: Training and initial task review #1 3-7pm 10/28
G8: Initial task review #2 3-7pm 11/4
G8: Initial task review #3 3-7pm 11/10
G8: Initial task review #4 3-7pm 11/18
G8: Initial task review #5 3-7pm 12/2
G8: Final Review #1 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G8: Final Review #2 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G8: Final Review #3 3-6pm Jan/Feb ‘22
G8: Data Review 9-4pm Sept 2022
1. Send a notice of intent to apply to iada_DESE@mass.gov. This can be a simple 1-2 line email stating that you intend to apply, and is intended solely to help us anticipate the number of applicants. No need to write a statement of interest in this email. The subject line should have your preferred committee, last name, first name. For example: ISAC Grade 5, Johnson, Janelle.
AND
2. Complete the online application through which you will provide more information about your background, a statement of interest, and your résumé:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6462725/Innovative-Assessment-Committee-SY21-22-
Application-copy
All applicants must gain approval from their supervisor for participating on these committees prior to completing the online application.
The deadline for completion of the online application and the submission of all materials is Thursday, September 30, 2021. Notifications will be sent in the following week. Upon selection, successful applicants will be sent invitations for the meeting dates and be asked to confirm attendance.
Join us for the upcoming 3-D Thursdays for Rural Educators on Thursday, May 6th at 7pm CT for a freestyle conversation with NASA scientists Dr. Caitlin Ahrens and Dr. James Green to learn about their journeys from rural America to NASA. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and chat with these scientists to learn about their research, leadership, and advice to students who wish to take a similar path. Invite your K-12 students and any educator who wishes to support rural students in their STEM journeys to NASA!
This webinar is suitable for all grades K-12.
The Brookline Bird Club, the largest bird club in Massachusetts, has established a School Book Fund through which it will donate up to $500 for books or other educational materials used to support bird and nature study in K-12 schools or programs for K-12 students anywhere in Massachusetts. The application process is simple. To apply for a donation, an educator should send an itemized list of the desired books/materials, with approximate cost, and an explanation--no more than a page--of how the books/materials will be used in a class or program of bird and nature study. If the application is approved, the club will purchase the books/materials and ship them to an address provided by the applicant. The club asks that donation recipients agree to put BBC book plates in the books and, if possible, provide photos at some point so that the BBC can publicize the donation. There is no deadline for applications. To apply for a donation or for further information, contact the Book Fund chair John Nelson at jnelson@northshore.edu
Brookline Adult & Community Education (BA&CE), established in 1832, is proud to share the news that in addition to its regularly scheduled spring term of classes for the general public, it is launching a brand new program, called a "Festival of Learning." The festival will take place over the week of March 22 - 27, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. We are pleased to deliver a variety of engaging and thought-provoking classes and lectures each day of the festival.
We thought as science educators, you and your students would be interested in hearing one of our keynote speakers - - former Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenberger! Dottie will be streaming live over Zoom on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. for about 45 - 50 minutes.
If you are interested in purchasing a link to this virtual event with Astronaut Metcalf-Lindenberger for your science classes, please contact us at 617-730-2700 Ext 0. We are offering a school access pass (for up to 5 classrooms) for $150 per school. Registration would be under each classroom teacher's name and email address. Suggestion: Contact your local PTO's to have them sponsor this access pass.
NASEF Farmcraft™ 2021 is a student challenge to successfully create farms and grow foods in Minecraft! Apply and adapt agricultural production techniques in different unique environmental biomes. Participation is free and open to individuals of all ages, especially grades 3-12 (ages 8-18). Learn more here.
Build a digital Rube Goldberg Machine in Minecraft Education that completes a simple task in the most fun and overly complicated way possible. Watch tutorials to learn how to create working simple machines, then string them together to create a wacky chain-reaction contraption. Learn more here.
Catalyst Information Sessions
Date: March 3 & March 10
Time: 4pm EST
Title: Catalyst Information Session
Description: Are you and your students in need of an end of year academic boost? Are you seeking an innovative way to ‘rev up’ your classroom next Fall? Join our Catalyst Information session! Catalyst is Citizen Schools’ experiential learning program that makes learning fun with high-quality engaging projects! Catalyst is teacher centered and volunteer supported; offering extensive professional development, coaching, and volunteer career mentors to help strengthen teacher capacity and encourage social emotional learning. Students will be immersed in challenging projects that are designed for a virtual or blended learning environment.
Register here and we will send you the Zoom link
Elevating Voices for Equity
Date: March 11, 2021
Time: 9:00 - 10:00am PT/12:00 - 1:00pm ET
Title: Pathways to Post-Secondary Education Discussion
Description: The second in a virtual three-part speaker series, Elevating Voices for Equity, where we bring together members of our community to uplift voices of those who have been working in and alongside our communities. Pathways to Postsecondary Education will be moderated by Tarlin Ray, Vice President, College Connections at The College Board. This discussion will highlight the role of nontraditional pathways and how to support students in post-secondary education as well as the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Community Colleges, STEM education.
To register, please visit CitizenSchools.org/elevatingvoices.
Meaningful Student Engagement through Hands-on Learning and Mentorship
Date: March 18, 2021
Time: 10:00 - 11:00am PT/1:00 - 2:00pm ET
Title: Developing Meaningful Student Work During Remote Learning Webinar
Description: The third in a four-part series titled Meaningful Student Engagement through Hands-on Learning and Mentorship, we’ll discuss examples of meaningful student products created from hands-on experiential and maker-centered learning. Led by Sebastian Byers, a Citizen Schools Program Experience Manager with Makers + Mentors Network, several Maker Fellow’s from various sites will also share suggestions for incorporating design thinking and video production as techniques to support student learning. While the series will have practical applications for multiple grade levels, our primary focus will be on 5th - 8th grade educators.
To register, please visit Pathfinders Online Institute
Virtual Coffee Hour
Date: March 24, 2021
Time: 4:00pm EST/1:00pm PST
Title: Maker-Centered Remote Learning: What, How, & Why
Description: As tech inequalities continue to amplify the impacts of COVID-19 on our educational system, students struggle with motivation and skill development. Join us for a solution-oriented Virtual Coffee Hour discussion on how to harness Making to strengthen deep learning experiences for youth as this digital divide grows. We will explore the benefits of Maker-Centered Learning as an interdisciplinary and accessible tool for addressing educational gaps. These benefits include increasing student engagement, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating environments that truly support creativity and skill development.
To register, please visit https://citizenschools.tfaforms.net/326556
I am reaching out to provide the flyer and website link for the upcoming 3D Thursday Webinar for K-12 Rural Educators. Many thanks to those who distributed last month’s flyer, as it was both well-attended, and well-received. Using feedback from that discussion, we designed January’s webinar (Thursday, Jan. 7th at 7pm Central Time) to highlight NASA data resources, and we are excited to bring NASA experts from My NASA Data. You will gain access to free NASA resources while also learning how to use NASA data to incorporate student-driven/research design into your classrooms. Subsequent webinars will be held the first Thursday of each month. Please see the attached flyer for the registration link and forward to your members. You may also access the flyer by using this link to NASA’s webpage. We hope to see you all on Jan. 7th!
Best,
Rachael Arens
Albert Einstein Fellow at NASA Headquarters
AFA/Rolls Royce 2020 National Teacher of the Year
UNL Doctoral Candidate in STEM Education
We are seeking faculty at local community colleges, middle and high schools in the Northeast, Metro West, Metro North, Boston, Southeast, and Cape Cod STEM NEXUS areas to spend 6 weeks of summer conducting research alongside undergraduate students in an NSF funded Research Experiences for Teachers program focused in engineering. The program starts on Monday, July 6 through Friday, August 13, 2021.
Teachers are not expected to be proficient in engineering disciplines as the program is interdisciplinary with a focus on training and providing resources for incorporating engineering concepts in your curriculum. Teachers will gain experience working in a cleanroom as well as in faculty labs and through our program, we will work with the teachers and the schools to assist in integration into STEM curriculum. Something unique about our RET site is that we intend to continue to work with your school and teachers even after the summer program is over. We intend to help initiate a community of STEM engineering within the STEM networks where teachers and administrators can continuously support each other with new lessons and integration plans.
The deadline for applications is April 6, 2021 so that we can let teachers know prior to spring break if they have a position in our site. Our website has a lot of information: http://www.bu.edu/photonics-ret including the application process: https://www.bu.edu/photonics-ret/apply-today/
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email.
Thanks,
Prof. Helen Fawcett, Co-Director
Prof. Xin Zhang, Director
National Science Foundation Research Experiences
for Teachers (RET) in Integrated Nanomanufacturing
Boston University Photonics Center
8 Saint Mary’s St., PHO936
Boston, MA 02215
Tel: 857-753-1719 (Helen)
email: phoret@bu.edu
http://www.bu.edu/photonics-ret
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