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Subcategory: Professional Development
SLJ Summit: Librarians as Leaders of 21st Century Learning
Oct 7 2009 - School Library Journal
With so much focus on 21st century skills, shouldn't school librarians be recognized as leaders in this new era of learning? More than 200 media specialists and influential education and government officials descended on Washington, DC, this weekend to help answer that question as part of School Library Journal's fifth annual Leadership Summit.
Biotech Boot Camp Gives Educators Hands-On Experience to Promote Science
Aug 6 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
A dozen Virginia science teachers gave up a precious summer day to attend a Biotech Boot Camp at Northern Virginia Community College. The community college offers the boot camp free to teachers as a way to promote the college's biotechnology program, which offers a two-year associate's degree in applied science.
How Students Can Teach Congress about Climate Change
Jun 19 2009 - Scientific American
Economics professor Eban Goodstein engages students and teachers with policymakers to present environmental solutions.
New Program Exposes Teachers to Modern Workplace
Jun 4 2009 - Arkansas News
Arkansas has instituted a new state program for teachers that will make them more aware of
employers’ needs in today’s work place.
We Want Open Access Free-for-All, Says MIT
Mar 24 2009 - ScienceInsider
The world of open access is widening. The faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology voted last week to make their published papers freely available on the internet. The move comes a year after Harvard University's arts and sciences faculty also adopted an open-access policy, and Harvard's law and government schools and Stanford University's education school have since followed suit.
Two Teachers to Blast Into Space
Mar 10 2009 - Discovery News
Two science teachers who have spent the past five years under NASA's tutelage are about to graduate with high-flying honors. The space shuttle flight Wednesday night of Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II will mark the first time two former teachers have rocketed into space together.
Biosphere 2 to Become Training Site for Teachers
Dec 4 2008 - The Arizona Republic
Biosphere 2, north of Tucson, Arizona, will become a training center for teachers who specialize in science, technology, engineering, and math, University of Arizona and Science Foundation Arizona officials announced. The new mission is to give teachers hands-on training and experience with research.
Finding the Language to Teach Science
Sep 30 2008 - Education Week (requires registration)
More than 400 educators in the Miami-Dade County, Florida school system are taking part in a professional-development and curriculum program that attempts to build students' science knowledge while helping them master English. The Promoting Science among English Language Learners program addresses a number of the crucial challenges facing elementary teachers in urban districts and other communities that have seen an influx of non-native English-speakers.
Ocean of Learning for Science Teachers
Jul 21 2008 - The Boston Globe
A group of 26 Boston-area teachers had barely finished the school year before their own intensive learning about marine science and the Boston waterfront started. The group of educators was part of a workshop about marine science, complete with a trip to the Harbor Islands and a visit to the New England Aquarium, as a way to bring science to life in their classrooms.
"Nature" Journals Will Archive Authors' Papers in Open-Access Databases
Jul 8 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
A leading subscription-based journal, "Nature," along with many of its offshoots, has announced that it will offer to deposit authors’ papers in open-access databases.
Microsoft Launches Online Teacher Network
Jan 23 2008 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
A new initiative by Microsoft will enable a million educators around the world to connect online. The Innovative Teachers Network (ITN) will allow teachers to exchange ideas and methods on how best to integrate technology into the classroom. Within the network, teachers can create their own communities, start discussions, and collaborate with other educators who have similar interests. Microsoft officials note the network program may also help educators save time on finding solutions for classroom practices or challenges.
Engaging Education: Yale Program Helps Teacher Develop Innovative Lessons
Dec 9 2007 - The New Mexican (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
A program at Yale University is helping teachers engage in professional development. The Yale National Initiative enables educators to take classes for two weeks with college professors and then establish lessons for their students based on what they have learned. For example, Danielle Gothie, an elementary educator from Santa Fe, New Mexico, took a course this summer and learned about global warming and environmental sustainability. Gothie then engaged her students in testing solar cars they designed and built. After completing the program, teachers must attend yearly meetings, research a seminar topic, and meet other requirements.
Program Gives Global Lessons to Educators
Oct 11 2007 - The Arizona Republic
Educators nationwide who want to explore the environment can participate in the Toyota International Teacher program. This program aims to expose teachers of all disciplines to the diversity of peoples and ecosystems worldwide in an effort to inspire the creative teaching of international, cultural, and environmental themes in U.S. schools and communities.
More Teachers Get a Lesson in Weightlessness
Sep 11 2007 - Space Travel News
Teachers from three states recently got a lesson in weightlessness, thanks to the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery program. Teachers in the program perform activities in Martian, lunar, and zero gravities. Before participating in the activities, many teachers worked with their students to form hypotheses about the effects of microgravity. Following the program, teachers bring videotaped copies of the activities into their classrooms and integrate them into lesson plans.
Yahoo Enables Teachers to Share Lesson Plans, Ideas, and More
Aug 27 2007 - San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Science educators will soon be able to access a free online service that will allow teachers to create, find, and share ideas and materials. The product, Yahoo for Teachers, resembles a social network that enables educators to collaborate on course work and store information they find online and want to showcase. Yahoo started work on the service in 2006 and gave a preview of the product at NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis. The service is expected to debut this fall.
Climate Change Focus of Teacher Workshop
Jul 19 2007 - Fairbanks Daily News (Alaska)
Teachers from across Alaska are working with scientists so they can effectively teach students about climate change. Hosted by the Geophysical Institute, the Science Teacher Education Program enables educators to spend several hours each day talking with scientists about the latest research on sea ice, coastal erosion, glaciers, permafrost, and hydrology. Participants then create their own lesson plans based on what they have learned.
NSTA Member Prepares for Space Travel
Jul 11 2007 - MSNBC.com
NSTA member Barbara Morgan will travel into space Aug. 7 with six STS-118 crewmates aboard the shuttle Endeavour on a construction mission to the international space station. “We are very thrilled that we have a mission specialist who is an experienced educator,” said Joyce Winterton, NASA’s associate administrator for the Office of Education. “Her mission will be an opportunity to engage many educators in their professions and their development, as well as students to understand what it requires to be an astronaut.”
British Royalty Helps Teachers Learn Science
Jul 2 2007 - The Telegraph (United Kingdom)
Summer school for teachers in Britain will include science for the first time this year, thanks to an effort by Prince Charles. Named the Prince’s Teaching Institute, many of the sessions at the summer school will cover how to make lessons more challenging for students of all abilities. “Rather than making everything relevant to students’ own experience, we want to draw them out of their own experience as much as possible,” explained Bernice McCabe, course director and headmistress of North London Collegiate School.
States Study Competitive Class Skills
Jun 5 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Educators nationwide are worried about the same thing: how will American students compete in the global economy? A two-day Partnership for 21st Century Skills conference launched in Charleston, West Virginia, on June 4 to help answer that question. Representatives from West Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Maine are participating in the educational practices forum. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills consists of 31 businesses, foundations, and educational associations across the country, working together to develop a work force that can support the American economy.
The Next No Child Left Behind Act
May 24 2007 - New America Foundation
Experts say the federal government should regard the upcoming reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as an opportunity to expand access to high-quality, early education programs. Stakeholders also said they would like to see higher standards in teacher quality, salaries for early childhood educators that align with what their K-12 colleagues receive, and more consistency across the country in the curricula of early education programs.
Teachers, Scientists Study Mojave Desert
Mar 21 2007 - Science Daily
NASA has announced a project for teachers to study Mars-like conditions in the Mojave Desert. As part of the agency’s Spaceward Bound program, 40 teachers will work with scientists the week of March 26 studying the similarities of the desert’s geologic formations to those of the moon and Mars, how microbes and chemical oxidants affect desert soil formation, and the desert’s hypolithic algae, cyanobacteria, and stromatolites.
'Real' Schools Train Teachers
Feb 14 2007 - Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Professional development schools, where student teachers engage in hands-on training inside classrooms, are growing in popularity in the United States.
Science Teaching Getting a Boost
Feb 12 2007 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Hamline University plans to announce today that is has received a grant to boost science teaching. The Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project will consist of 10 regionally focused summer institutes for up to 1,000 K–12 grade teachers throughout the state, offering courses in science and teaching methods. The grant will also pay for 100 teachers to become fully licensed to teach high school chemistry or physics.
Teachers Rise to the Top
Aug 30 2006 - USA Today
From studying evolution in the Galapagos to brainstorming with veteran peers, thousands of teachers across the country are taking summer courses to hone their classroom skills. The No Child Left Behind Act’s teacher quality mandates and businesses' demands that students be better trained are among the factors pressuring teachers to stay abreast of their fields.
NASA Program Creates Teacher Corps
Aug 2 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
NASA has created a hands-on professional development program for teachers in an effort to boost student interest in science. The Airspace Systems Education Cohort program uses a train-the-teacher model of professional development to engage educators in scientific inquiry. Teachers in the program take tours, attend lectures and workshops, and interact with scientists and engineers while learning about educational programs in airspace systems and aeronautics. Upon completing the program, educators return home and share their newly acquired knowledge with colleagues and students.
Teacher's Skills Earn Disney Trip
Jul 31 2006 - The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida)
More than 40 teachers will compete this week for the title of Disney Teacher of the Year. The educators were selected from a pool or more than 75,000 nominations to receive the Disney Teacher Award in celebration of the creativity, innovative teaching methods, and ability to inspire their students. All finalists received $10,000, a week at Disneyland, $5,000 for their schools, and nearly a week of professional development with their principals. The educator selected as teacher of the year will receive an additional $15,000 from Disney Worldwide Outreach, a charitable arm of the Disney company.
On Your Mark, Get Set: Science!
Jul 20 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
Middle and high school math and science teachers from across the nation are competing for the title of “Iron Science Teacher.” The competition, held at San Francisco’s Exploratorium, is modeled on the Japanese cooking show “Iron Chef.” On “Iron Chef,” culinary masters are given on ingredient that must be the centerpiece of an elaborate meal that is quickly prepared. On the “Iron Science Teacher,” competitors are told the ingredient in advance so they can develop an activity. But once they are on stage, they have 10 minutes to assemble and present their science lesson.
Teachers Sell Notes on Peer-to-Peer Network
Jun 28 2006 - MSNBC.com
A new website is allowing teachers to sell their original lectures, course outlines, study guides, and other lesson materials to their peers. Founded by New York entrepreneur Paul Edelman, teacherspayteachers.com is like an eBay for educators. For a $29.95 annual fee, sellers can post their work and set their own prices. Buyers rate the products. Unlike eBay, however, Edelman’s website specializes in teaching materials that focus on various subjects, such as science.
Zero Gravity Flights Kindle Science Spark
Jun 28 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Teachers who want to get their students interested in science are taking advantage of a unique program that enables them to design and conduct science activities in a zero gravity environment. The Weightless Flights of Discovery program, which has attracted 240 teachers from all 50 states and at least 15 countries, teaches educators how to relate zero gravity activities to science, engineering, technology, and mathematics curriculum development.
Some Science Teachers Using DNA, Blood
Jun 23 2006 - MSNBC.com
Although junior high and high school science classes have consisted of dissecting frogs and learning the periodic table, science educators want to engage their students in the study of forensic science. The popularity of crime scene television shows and high profile trials have helped to fuel an interest in forensic science programs and degrees offered at colleges and universities around the country. Teachers who recently attended a forensic science conference in Indianapolis noted the subject consists of more than one discipline and encourages critical thinking skills in students.
Teachers Take a Weightless Ride
Jun 15 2006 - Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
Three science teachers who won a trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to perform a science experiment hope to use their experience to inspire students. The educators took a ride on the Weightless Wonder, a C-9 aircraft that creates short spurts of weightlessness while in flight. Biology teacher Merle Craig noted the physical reaction to reaching zero gravity was a good way to experience the link between anatomy and physics. Craig hopes to better communicate that link to his students. Math and physics teacher Dan Mattern said the experience would make it easier for students to understand physics equations.
Teaching the Art of Math and Science
Apr 17 2006 - Los Angeles Daily News
A group of elementary educators will participate in a professional development program, thanks to a $900,000 federal grant. The Antelope Valley Mathematics and Science Partnership, part of the No Child Left Behind Act, will consist of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade teachers enhancing their knowledge to help boost students’ test scores. Participants in the program will learn about graphing calculators and math and science kits. They will also speak with a Mars exploration team from Arizona State University, whose members will discuss various science projects teachers can use in the classroom.
Can Pong Help Fill Tech Education Gap?
Apr 13 2006 - Information Week
The Computer Science Teachers Association and IBM have announced a new program to provide 36,000 teachers with free access to computer science curricula to help students acquire necessary skills in science and technology. Lesson plans, guides, and topic summaries will help teachers link the concepts of computer programming and Web design into math and science classes. The program is based on a six-week pilot involving six schools across the country.
New Course Teaches Instructional Gaming
Mar 29 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
A developer of educational video games for the classroom is offering what is believed to be the first comprehensive professional development course for educators who want to incorporate instructional computer gaming into their curricula. The course comes as interest in gaming as an instructional tool appears to be on the rise.
Update or Face Sack, Teachers Told
Mar 3 2006 - The Australian
Australian math and science teachers would be forced to learn the latest advances in their fields or risk losing their jobs under a tough new plan being proposed in Victoria. The reforms would also include a more consistent curriculum across the state and slashing the cost of math and science degrees in a bid to lure more students to those programs. Under the proposed professional development system, math and science teachers would risk deregistration unless they progressed through a points-based system to further their education.
Bringing Scientific Concepts to Life
Feb 15 2006 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Teachers in Houston, Texas, are gearing up for a physics challenge in an effort to boost students’ science test scores. The BP Physics Challenge will be held in May for 2,000 physics students. Students will launch model rockets at the Johnson Space Center, meet with mentors from aerospace companies, and engage in demonstrations. The activities will be webcast so that more students can benefit from the event. Industry leaders note that these types of programs are needed if the United States is going to remain competitive in the fields of math, science, and technology.
District Invests $4 Million to Beef Up Interest in a Subject Lagging for Years
Feb 7 2006 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Calling last year's lackluster science scores "a red flag," Houston Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra is launching a $4 million initiative to boost science education through new labs and improved elementary teacher training. Robert Rivera, head of a nonprofit group for at-risk students, says developing a strong program will require strengthening professional development and engaging the entire community.
Science Panel's Democrats Offer Math, Science Resources
Sep 21 2005 - Education Week (Requires free registration)
Science teachers and students can gain access to online math and science resources from several federal agencies, thanks to Democrats on the House Science Committee. The lawmakers have established a link from their website to a link called “Science Education and You.” That link takes visitors to a page with model lesson plans and other resources, divided by grade level. The resources come from the Department of Energy, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Other links enable students to ask scientists questions and offer activities.
Study Smart With These Sites
Aug 21 2005 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Science teachers looking for free online resources to help their students can check out this article. Author David Colker has compiled a list of several useful websites that cover various scientific disciplines such as astronomy, anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. The list also includes websites about math and conversions.
Web-Based Tool to Assist Teachers
Aug 4 2005 - Des Moines Register (Iowa)
A program implemented in New York, Virginia, and Washington schools to help teachers is coming to Iowa. The Teach First training program is a web-based tool that can help educators plan and present content designed to appeal to all learners in the classroom. The program also provides teachers with opportunities to discuss the latest research for teaching literacy. For more ideas related to the theme Summer: A Time for Reflection and Renewal, NSTA members can refer to the Summer 2005 edition of The Science Teacher.
Teachers Get to Know Butterflies
Aug 2 2005 - The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)
Science educators around the country are learning about butterflies, thanks to the Monarch Teacher Network, part of the Educational Information Resource Center in Sewell, New Jersey. The center provides workshops that enable teachers to view displays of monarch butterflies in various stages of development, visit a butterfly garden of milkweed, and write to pen pals in Mexico to compare notes about the butterflies. Teachers then share that information with their students to help them learn about the insects.
Hello Justice, Hello Fairness: Teachers Discover Ethics Camp
Jul 27 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Hundreds of teachers including science educators are spending this summer attending ethics camps. High school teachers who attend science ethics camp at Santa Clara University in California watch educational videos, learn classroom activities, review scientific organizations’ codes of conduct, and take field trips to explore ethical issues. Santa Clara’s science ethics camps are offered by the university’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. The center is one of a handful of applied ethics centers nationwide.
Deep Into the Caves
Jul 25 2005 - Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
Sixty teachers recently donned their hiking boots, coated themselves in bug spray and strapped on hats and snack packs for a two-week course on how to better use natural resources to teach math and science. Summer tends to be the time when teachers become students, stocking up on fresh ideas for their classrooms. As NSTA president Mike Padilla notes in this article, “schools today labor under so many pressures for students to perform that teachers sometimes forget how many learning experiences exist outside textbooks and classrooms.” For more ideas on Summer: A Time for Reflection and Renewal, NSTA members can refer to the Summer 2005 edition of The Science Teacher.
Guiding Minorities Into the Sciences
Jul 19 2005 - Mercury News (San Jose, California)
Science educators can learn about the Society for Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in Science through this article. This national organization encourages college minority students to pursue math and science careers, in addition to supplying them with a network of mentors to guide them through college science programs. The organization also provides high school teachers with resources to enhance the science curriculum.
Hands-on Program Focuses on Ways to Spark Inquiring Minds
Jun 24 2005 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Requires free registration)
Standing knee-deep in Bear Creek, two science educators sift through mud and water hunting for creatures. Before noon, the teachers unearth a collection of clams, a dragonfly shell, fly larvae of different types, and small crawfish. When the school year starts, they will bring the specimens back to their classrooms. The effort is part of the Oxford Institute for Environmental Education, a program that helps educators find new ways to interest their students in science. For more information on related programs, NSTA members can refer to the July 2005 issue of The Science Teacher.
U.S. Educators Eager for Lessons on Canadian System
May 12 2005 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN)
Educators from the United States are flying to Canada to learn new ideas on how they can improve their school. Edmonton Public Schools have won accolades for their school choice program and decentralized power structure. The district has provided a wide range of education options, offering families the freedom to select any school, and empowering principals to tailor spending to their school’s specific needs. Although Edmonton’s approach has been popular, its graduation rates have been unspectacular and its test scores mixed. School officials acknowledge their district does not live up to all the hype.
Helping Eighth Graders Discover a Wider World of Science
Dec 4 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Thousands of eighth graders will get a boost in science education, thanks to a new partnership between New York City schools and seven science-oriented organizations. The program, called Urban Advantage, aims to provide professional development for teachers, facilitate class and individual museum visits, and help eighth graders complete science projects required for graduation. “The whole idea to broaden kids’ horizons about the institutions and resources that exist,” noted Miles Gordon, vice president of education at the Museum of Natural History, which is leading this effort.
Nation's Educators Gather for LV Meeting
Oct 19 2004 - Las Vegas Sun
Educators nationwide will convene in Las Vegas this week to share strategies for teaching students in America’s largest urban school districts. The annual Council of Great City Schools conference will feature various workshops. Topics to be covered include overcoming achievement gaps, professional development, bilingual education, and school leadership. The conference will conclude on Sunday.
Science Comes to Life for 600 Teachers
Oct 12 2004 - The Statesman Journal (Oregon)
More than 600 teachers recently convened to learn new tips and techniques to make science exciting for students. This year’s Oregon Science Teachers Association conference consisted of dozens of exhibitors, a robotics demonstration, as well as a keynote speaker who described an 11-week adventure to Antarctica as part of a National Science Foundation program. Although most attendees were from Oregon, 13 science educators from Pakistan also attended the annual event.
$12.5 Million Grant Offers Teachers a Science Primer
Oct 1 2004 - Boston Globe
Although up to 75 percent of students nationwide are taught science by teachers who did not major or minor in the subject in college, Boston school officials want to change that. The National Science Foundation has awarded the city’s school system a $12.5 million grant to retrain its science educators. Teachers in grades 6–12 will take courses at two universities for five years as part of the program. Faculty from Harvard Medical School will show teachers and parents how to promote science and technology careers to teens. The grant will also pay for each teacher to have a mentor and take a summer course.
Teachers Go Back to Class for Training
Sep 29 2004 - The Arizona Republic
High school teachers will be returning to the classroom in an effort to boost student interest and test scores in math and science. The five-year, tuition-free program will consist of Arizona State University providing teacher training to more than 100 educators, thanks to a $12.5 million National Science Foundation grant. Teachers participating in the program will take graduate-level integrated math and science classes. Program organizers hope to learn how professional development of teachers affects student achievement in math and science
Beyond the Blackboard
Aug 4 2004 - Philadelphia Inquirer (Requires free registration)
Science teachers nationwide are engaging in hands-on activities with scientists, thanks to a program by Atofina Chemicals. Established in 1996, this summer program aims to boost teachers’ skills, improve science education in the elementary classroom, and promote student interest in science as a career.
Teachers to Cap Astronaut Course Phase 1
Jul 23 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Three science teachers selected to become part of the latest class of NASA astronaut candidates will complete the first phase of their training next week in Florida. During the past month, the teachers and eight other candidates, have each received basic flight and water survival training as mission specialists. The next phase of their work will consist of land survival training in Maine and advanced flight training in Texas.
Science Program Puts Teachers in the Field
Jul 20 2004 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Science teacher Rebecca Shope had never worked in a science lab. However, all that changed yesterday, thanks to a science education partnership program started by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The program enables middle level and high school teachers to learn the latest information about scientific technologies and topics by working with scientists. Teachers also learn how to make that information accessible to their students. For more ideas on Science in the Sun, NSTA members can refer to the July 2004 issue of Science Scope.
Teachers Have Hands-On Fun With Science
Jul 13 2004 - The Miami Herald (Requires free registration)
Teachers from across the nation have gathered in Fort Lauderdale this week to build a variety of science projects in an effort to learn about aerospace and aeronautics. The Passport to the Future Teacher Workshop enables educators to perform various hands-on activities and gain new tools they can take back to the classroom to excite students about math and science. Experts note that 25 percent of the aerospace workforce will retire in the next five years. They hope, however, that more students will become interested in the sciences and see a future for themselves in those fields by training teachers.
Science Teachers With an 'Iron' Will
Jul 13 2004 - San Francisco Chronicle
The contestants are teachers and the secret ingredient might be anything from a paper clip to a tin can. The goal: to develop projects that teachers everywhere could use to make science come alive in the classroom. All the fun is part of the Iron Science Teacher, a takeoff on the hit Japanese television program the “Iron Chef.” The show is the highlight of a four-week summer initiative that is part of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. This program gives math and science teachers the opportunity to learn hands-on projects while receiving a stipend. For more ideas on Science in the Sun, NSTA members can refer to the July 2004 issue of Science Scope.
Science Teacher Digs for Lessons in a Mine
Jun 21 2004 - Baltimore Sun
Science educators can learn about the Teachers’ Earth Science Institute in this article. A partnership between the National Science Foundation and Michigan Technical University, the program has educated teachers from 47 states about the importance and operation of the mining industry. Although funding for the institute will run out in 2006, two teachers plan to make a presentation at NSTA’s National Convention in Dallas next year in hopes of obtaining renewed funding for the program.
Math, Science Teachers Assess New Technology
Jun 20 2004 - Boston Globe
“First and foremost, this is known as the best conference in the nation,” math teacher Tobey Schoff explains. Schoff is referring to the annual Conference on Secondary School Mathematics, Science, and Technology set for June 27–July 2 at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. This conference will consist of workshops and lectures on math and science teaching, as well as how technology can influence both subjects. An international crowd of 300 high school teachers will attend the event. To learn more click on the link above or visit http://mathconf.exeter.edu.
New Federal Initiative Connects Educators
Apr 22 2004 - CNN.com
Federal education officials have launched a new program that will connect educators nationwide. The “Teacher to Teacher" program will consist of sending top educators across the nation to share teaching tips with their peers. Program participants will highlight real-world examples of how education research translates into practice that works in the classroom. Teachers in the program will also educate their peers on the No Child Left Behind Act. Approximately 200 teachers and principals are expected to attend each of the program’s seven workshops this summer.
Fresh From Evolution Flap, Georgia Hosts Science Conference
Mar 31 2004 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Although the controversy on how to teach evolution in Georgia schools has simmered down, Atlanta will be an interesting site for science educators this week. Teachers from across the globe will gather in Atlanta April 1–4 for NSTA’s national convention, which will include discussions on evolution in science standards. Gerry Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director, noted at least 10 U.S. cities are dealing with the evolution issue. Georgia science educators debated the issue after the state’s schools chief Kathy Cox proposed replacing the word “evolution” with the phrase “biological changes over time.” After a storm of criticism, Cox backed down.
An Early Look at Bioinformatics
Feb 6 2004 - Buffalo News (New York)
Science educators can learn about the Next Generation Scientists: Training for Students and Teachers program in this article. This project is designed to bring bioinformatics to high schools by developing a curriculum and training teachers. Organizers hope to expand the program to additional schools in the future. For more information on Professional Development, NSTA members can refer to the February 2004 issues of Science & Children and Science Scope.
Teachers Use Time Off...to Learn
Jul 23 2003 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri teachers are spending their time this summer in creative ways that could help them in the classroom this fall. Andrew Shaw, for example, has spent the past 11 years working on research projects at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. “Such efforts are a way for teachers to update their knowledge, improve skills, and even try a new area of interest,” observed Helene Sherman, associate dean for the College of Education at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Teachers Seize Chances to be Students Again
Jul 9 2003 - Education Week
Teachers across the nation are expected to take part in professional development programs more than ever this summer, according to this article. Paul Doherty, a co-director of the Exploratorium, a San Francisco science museum, notes such opportunities need to be fun for educators. Experts note the programs also have a “serious side” because they give teachers the experience of learning and acquiring knowledge they can pass on to their students.
Online Master's Program for Teachers Shows Promise
Jun 4 2003 - Education Week
A recent study of an online master’s program in science education offered by Lesley University in Massachusetts shows electronic courses have the edge over on-campus classes. According to the study, teachers in the online program spent two hours more a week on coursework compared to their on-campus counterparts. Students in the online class were also significantly more confident of their ability to teach science after completing the course.
Grant to Boost Math, Science Programs
Oct 7 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
The National Science Foundation has given the Cleveland School District one of 24 awards totaling $240 million as part of a new Math and Science Partnership program, borne out of President Bush's No Child Left Behind law. A spokesperson said it will be a key to strengthening the knowledge base of the district's math and science teachers. The Cleveland Mathematics and Science Partnership will create connections with three local universities, offering courses and workshops primarily to teachers in grades six through eight. Former NSTA board member Bill Badders will be director of the partnership.
Learn for Free Online
Sep 23 2002 - BBC News
While many universities and education entrepreneurs continue their quest to sell online courses, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says: leave your credit card in your wallet when you log on here. You won't be able to earn a degree online, but you will have access to thousands of pages of information, as well as hours of streaming video lectures, seminars, and experiments. The first group of courses, set to be published on the Internet on September 30, includes subjects like anthropology, biology, chemistry, and computer science. Is the free content merely a lure? The executive director of MIT's OpenCourseWare (OCW) project says "there is no revenue objective for OCW, ever. It will always be free."
Back to School: Teachers Explore Science at NSF Summer Programs
Aug 16 2002 - National Science Foundation
How have science teachers been spending their summers? Just like their students, many educators are spending a portion of their summer "in school," advancing their learning. Of course, it's hard to remember a time when school was this much fun. For example, at various NSF-supported programs this summer, teachers have turned school rooftops in Nebraska into cosmic ray research stations; worked with particle physicists at the Fermi Lab in Illinois; and conducted geological research in Michigan's copper mines. What else have they been up to? Click above to find out...
A Space Flight of Fancy in Science Class: NASA Summer Workshops Help Teachers Make Lessons Come Alive
Aug 15 2002 - LA Times (requires free registration)
Have you ever participated in a NASA Educational Workshop? As the above article reports, these one-to-two-week-long summer workshops are a great professional development opportunity, offering preK-12 teachers the chance to learn about the real-world applications of the subjects they teach: science, math, geography, and technology. They also equip teachers with easy-to-implement lessons and experiments that they can take back to their classrooms. "These are things anyone can do. Even for teachers who may only have $50 a year to spend," one participant said. Click above to read the LA Times article. Or to learn more about the workshops, which are run in cooperation with NSTA, visit www.nsta.org/new.
Science Teachers Dive Into JASON Project
Aug 14 2002 - Richmond Times-Dispatch
Talk about getting immersed in your work! Earlier this week, about 30 Richmond-area teachers took an introductory scuba class as part of their curriculum training for the JASON Project, an innovative program that links K-12 science students across the country with international researchers who are doing "real science." This year's curriculum theme is "From Shore to Sea," which Richmond educators say they'll use to teach laws of motion, marine science, biology, and life science. And best of all, in early 2003, pupils who have JASON-trained teachers will have the opportunity to talk live with scientists who are studying ecosystems around the Channel Islands region of California. Click above for the news article, or to learn more about the JASON Project, visit www.jasonproject.org.
"No Child Left Behind" Act Offers New Professional Development Opportunities for Science Educators
Aug 6 2002 - NSTA Legislative Affairs
How can science educators benefit from the professional development opportunities that are available through the new federal education law? Click above for the latest guidance from the NSTA Legislative Affairs Department.
Program Helps Teachers Share Lesson Plans
Jul 29 2002 - Boston Globe
The above article profiles the VideoPaper Builder, a software program that allows teachers to produce their own CD library of best practices using text, digital video, and other features. Boosters say the program could enhance professional development efforts, giving educators a chance to share their teaching strategies with colleagues. "This is a great way to see what's going on in a classroom," said one science teacher who recently produced her own VideoPaper (a lesson plan on the laws of energy). "I think it will create a feeling of community that a lot of teachers don't currently feel."
San Diego Invests Millions in Teacher Training; Makes Science a Priority
Jul 23 2002 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Over the last four years, San Diego’s annual teacher training budget has risen from $1 million to $60 million – an investment that Chancellor of Instruction Anthony Alvarado says is unmatched in the nation. The training features peer observation, expert mentoring, and as of last year, a strong emphasis on improving science content knowledge and teaching methods. “You’re not an island. You’re not alone. No one should have to feel like that,” said one sixth-grade teacher who recently participated in a science teaching conference. Click above to read more about what San Diego's teachers are doing – and what the district hopes to accomplish.
July Issue of "ENC Focus" Explores Ways to Increase Science Content Knowledge
Jul 12 2002 - NSTA
The July issue of ENC Focus, called "Increasing Your Mathematics and Science Content Knowledge," is now online. The issue features more than a dozen articles by teachers, who share their strategies for keeping current with their content specialties. ENC Focus is a free quarterly publication of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse, a federally funded organization dedicated to improving K-12 math and science teaching and learning. Click here for the July issue, here to browse past issues, or
here to go to the ENC home page.
NSTA Quick Poll: How Are You Going to Spend This Summer?
Jun 21 2002 - NSTA
Summer is finally here – a time for some rest and relaxation, right? Or maybe not. A recent article in USA Today
notes that as the push to improve student achievement heats up, free time for teachers during the summer is steadily evaporating, filled up instead by summer school teaching, workshops, conferences, curriculum planning, and other professional development activities. NSTA would like to know: How are you going to spend your summer? Take NSTA's Quick Poll, and let us know what you have planned.
Teachers Get a Science Lesson at NASA Workshop
Jun 6 2002 - Salt Lake Tribune
The above article profiles a NASA-organized educational program for science teachers, which recently took place at Utah State University. The goal of the four-day workshop was to give educators ideas for how to improve lesson plans, particularly by incorporating hands-on activities. "We try to fill our summers with things we can put in the classroom," one participant said, as she prepared to launch a model rocket. Click above for the article, or click here to learn more about NASA-sponsored educational programs in your region.
Education Forum Bemoans Gap Between Standards and Classroom
Apr 5 2002 - Education Week
Education experts who gathered at a two-day conference last month in New York had an important message for the nation: Unless states move quickly to fill the yawning gap between academic standards and their use in classrooms, current efforts to boost student achievement could suffer. "If you put demanding standards in place and then you provide absolutely no guidance in the way of curriculum,...then you really are on a downward slide," said Sandra Feldman, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Professional development efforts also need to be more closely aligned with state standards, many participants advised. Read more...
"E-Mentors" Offer Online Support, Information for Novice Instructors
Apr 4 2002 - Education Week
"E-mentoring," also called telementoring, is an emerging resource that allows novice teachers to turn to their computers and get advice and support from a community of new and master teachers. Today, only a few venues offer e-mentoring, the above article says, but experts predict that in a few years, new teachers across the country will be able to access local or regional teacher databases. "This is definitely an idea whose time has come, and something that's going to go everywhere soon," one booster said.
Science Teachers To Share Info Through NSTA's "Building a Presence" Program
Apr 3 2002 - SF Gate.com -- AP
As reported in a previous news item, NSTA launched its Building a Presence for Science program in California last week during the NSTA national convention in San Diego. The above AP article looks at how the program will work in the Golden State. "[The program] helps us cast a wide net to teachers in every school," said Nancy Taylor, San Diego County's science education coordinator who is helping build the information-sharing network. It "will change the way [teachers do] business in the Information Age." Read more...
Teachers Union Launches Unique Graduate School
Mar 29 2002 - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Teachers Union officials unveiled plans to create the nation's first union-run graduate program in teacher leadership, aimed at making the system's best teachers "agents of change" rather than the targets of it. The new Jacqueline B. Vaughn Graduate School for Teachers will open in January 2003 and offer 200 "superior" Chicago public school teachers with at least three years of experience a two-year graduate degree that will help them be leaders in their schools.
Teacher Quality Takes Center Stage at White House
Mar 6 2002 - Washington Post, the White House, NEA
First Lady Laura Bush hosted the "White House Conference on Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers" yesterday, an event that brought together education experts to discuss strategies for enhancing teacher preparation and quality. Click here to read a Washington Post article on the conference. President Bush also delivered remarks at the meeting. He stressed that while the new education law expects a lot from teachers, "teachers have a right to expect certain things from us," including "support for their professional development." Not all have been pleased with the president's recent education proposals, however. Bob Chase, the head of the 2.6 million-member National Education Association, said yesterday that while he welcomes President Bush's attention to teacher quality, he is disappointed that the Administration's proposed 2003 budget actually reduces funding for that purpose. "Real reforms require resources," he said. Read NEA's press release.
Tools of the Trade: Novel Program Provides On-the-Job Teacher Training
Feb 28 2002 - Education Week
The above article profiles Shady Hill School, a private school in Cambridge, MA, that offers a unique teacher training program. Compared to traditional schools of education and to accelerated programs that churn out new teachers in a matter of weeks, "Shady Hill represents something of a third way of thinking about teacher preparation," the article says of the program, which gives tuition-paying apprentices the chance to gain on-the-job training under the intense supervision of Shady Hill's experienced teachers. Advocates say the 74-year-old program, which has been approved by the state to license public school teachers, offers a national model. "Probably not all teachers could be trained [this] way, especially if we need 2.5 million of them. But we could be using pieces of what they're doing," said a Harvard University education professor.
New Report Examines Effective Professional Development for Math and Science Teachers
Feb 1 2002 - AERA News
Based on a national survey of math and science teachers, a team of educational researchers has identified six features of effective professional development. The team's findings are reported in the winter issue of the American Educational Research Journal. Click above to read a press release...
National Board Is Pressed To Prove Certified Teachers Make Difference
Jan 30 2002 - Education Week
Since 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has reaped more than $109 million in federal money, while a growing number of states and districts have invested in financial incentives to encourage teachers to seek the group's seal of approval. But now a consensus is emerging among policymakers and researchers that the time has come for the board to show its worth--particularly, the impact board-certified teachers have on student performance. The board itself says it relishes the challenge. "We're not just looking for feel-good research," an NBPTS spokesperson said. "We're ready for whatever the results are."
Math and Science Could Be Big Losers Under New Education Law
Jan 16 2002 - Education Week
The above article provides a good account of the implications of the newly reauthorized ESEA for science and math teachers. The law, signed by President Bush last week, effectively eliminates dedicated federal funding for K-12 math and science education, which last year totaled close to $400 million. As a result, math and science teachers will now have to compete for professional-development aid from a new $2.85 billion block grant, pitting them against teachers of other subjects and efforts to reduce class sizes. “From what we’ve seen, a lot of money is going to reading and math programs,” NSTA Legislative Affairs Director Jodi Peterson says in the article. “We’re seeing science squeezed out in elementary schools.”
Teachers Train in New Classroom: Cyberspace
Jan 3 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
Web-based videos that allow teachers to watch and analyze "best practices" are gaining momentum as a practical way for districts and schools to overcome a host of hurdles (e.g., shortages of time, staff, money, coordination) that have long hindered teacher training efforts. Nevertheless, while many observers are optimistic about the potential web-based video training holds for disseminating effective instructional approaches, they caution that it is not necessarily the ability of the gadgetry that makes for success, but how such technology is used.
Teachers Fear Funding Cut for Training in Sciences
Dec 26 2001 - Arizona Republic
As reported last week, the recently approved federal education reform bill slashed dedicated funding for math and science education to $12.5 million. (Click here to read a recent NSTA legislative alert on this matter.) Although it is too early to predict exactly what this cut will mean for individual schools and classrooms, the above article reports that some science teachers in Arizona are worried that the bill will leave them without sufficient funds for professional development. While the state and local school boards could still put federal block grant money toward science training, the article says, it is feared that funding once set aside for science will now go to "higher priority" areas (such as reading, writing, and math) that are addressed in state tests (science is not currently tested).
Denver Teacher Pay Plan Offers Lessons, Review Says
Dec 17 2001 - Education Week
A new report shows that while Denver's closely watched experiment in performance-related pay for teachers has produced some positive results, more evidence is needed to determine whether and how schools' participation in the program may be affecting student achievement. "I don't think we are at the point where we can say that pay for performance is the way to go or that it's not the way to go," said the executive director of the consulting group that wrote the report.
Opinion: We Need a Revolution in Science Teaching and Learning
Nov 7 2001 - Education Week
Given the fact that most American students are not excited about science, the sad truth is that the future will likely lack an adequate supply of scientists, the author of this op-ed writes. What is America to do? "We don't just need more science education in this country; we need a revolution in the way we teach science. Specifically, science educators must help students make the connections between science and the world in which they live--science for real life," she advises.
Opinion: Science Museums Should Be Bigger Part of Education Reform
Sep 20 2001 - Education Week
As training grounds for teachers and places of learning for students, informal science institutions have increasingly positioned themselves as significant support systems to K-12 schools. Now, according to the author of this piece, it's time to give these institutions the support and resources they need to play an even large role in reform efforts.
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