Original post from http://www.districtadministration.com
STEM Education Can Help Prevent the Next Disaster
It is within the academic realm of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that the foundations for future disaster-aversion could be built.
By Eric A. Clayton
June 2010
With oil continuing to spill into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon drilling explosion and experts scrambling to discover the elusive solution that will halt the unceasing flow of pollutants, it’s time to begin grappling with the necessary question that legislators, bureaucrats and everyday citizens must now address: How do we prevent this kind of disaster from happening again?
There are strategies and proposals being presented by engineers, technicians and other experts throughout the world, but the most sustainable and forward-thinking answer may lie elsewhere—in education. It is within the academic realm of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), often touted as the Achilles’ heel of the U.S. educational system, that the foundations for future disaster-aversion could be built. Educating students through strong STEM programming at an early age would set the stage for providing the next generation of engineers, scientists and mathematicians with the necessary resources and skill sets to address future disasters, but only if students are shown the connections between potentially abstract concepts in the classroom and real-life issues.
“The main thing that needs to be done is to connect the dots for students between learning math and science now, and using it later on to solve real-world problems,” says Amy Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and associate director of the Rice University Energy Program.
The oil spill is providing just such an opportunity, and educators have only to stretch out their hands and seize this potential gold mine of “real-world problems.” “Students may be hearing their families talk about the oil spill … and they’ll have some awareness of it, so the opportunities in the classroom are pretty extensive,” says Francis Eberle, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). Eberle notes the numerous issues to tackle in the classroom: the biological life affected, both plant and animal; the chemical components involved with cleaning up the mess; and the scientific vocabulary associated with this particular type of disaster. And most importantly, this is a chance to make science relevant, to show students why fields like engineering are so important. “Science doesn’t always have all the answers,” Eberle admits, “and part of the reason to pursue science is to answer questions and solve problems.”
Allowing students the opportunity to engage with the oil spill issue can demonstrate exactly this.
Moreover, a disaster like the oil spill presents educators not only with real-world problems, but problems that are real and pertinent to the students themselves. “I’ve had opportunities to see kids get engaged in problem solving in ways that are a little out of the ordinary. We need more opportunities like this for kids,” says J. Michael Shaughnessy, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). “Why can’t this oil spill problem be pitched to kids all over the country?” he asks.
This is one of those critical thinking opportunities where teachers can describe to students the situation, give the available information, and then say, “What would you do?” It’s about “putting them in a situation that’s more real for them,” Shaughnessy says. Even the most naive of solutions can provide teachers with a springboard to further discussion, pursue deeper questioning, and engage in more critical thinking. “We should give kids the opportunities to wrestle with this stuff themselves.”
Strategies like this can go far in bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world.
Shifting the Culture
Yet bridging the gap cannot be the ultimate goal; getting students to walk across that bridge must be the aim of STEM programs. Unfortunately, this is often where STEM programs fail, where high school graduates get sidetracked and take an alternate route, one that perhaps engages their mathematical minds in finance and accounting rather than engineering and technology.
“We need a shift in our national culture, in our attitude toward math and science,” Shaughnessy says. “It just should be something that’s exciting and joyful to go into.” He describes how a shift like this can only succeed if it starts from the top. Shaughnessy points to President Kennedy’s efforts in this area and how math and science were made exciting because of the prospect of space travel and the national enthusiasm that went with it.
Nowadays, “it shouldn’t be okay to say, ‘Well, I’m not good at math, and no one in my family’s good at math,’ and have that be socially acceptable in our culture.”
In this regard, parents have as much responsibility as students. Without parental support and encouragement, how can students be expected to commit to and pursue studies in one of the STEM disciplines?
Indeed, it is within the home and through extracurricular opportunities that STEM ideas must be cultivated if they are to firmly take root. “When you compare the U.S. to other countries and what they actually teach, the science curriculum isn’t different,” Eberle says. “It’s the way they teach it and the cultural support for it.”
The top students in other countries are the ones who are involved in scientific activities outside of school, from browsing scientific Web sites, to watching educational television, to reading books on science and technology. “We need to celebrate the science in our world and not see it as a ‘subject.’ We don’t see art as a ‘subject.’” The key lies in making science a part of what we do and, again, connecting it to those real-world experiences.
“STEM education needs to start young,” says Daylene Long, a member of the National Science Education Leadership Association and an affiliate member of the Council of State Science Supervisors. “We should be introducing kids to scientific processes, probeware, computer data collection, and robotics in elementary school.” For Long, a successfully implemented STEM program is one that trains students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers by teaching them not just the scientific facts, but more importantly, “the practices scientists and engineers use to understand the world and to draw conclusions based on evidence.” By encouraging this kind of thinking, STEM not only develops future scientists and engineers, but also responsible citizens. “These disciplines of mind are needed to manage our own health care, understand global climate change, and address world disasters like the oil spill.”
An International Program Spreads
The Eco-School program, created in 1994 by the Foundation for Environmental Education and supported by the European Commission, is an example of how to move scientific studies and critical thinking beyond the classroom and make them a part of everyday life. As of 2008, the National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) has been charged with bringing the internationally acclaimed program to the United States. “There’s the science of it and the application of the science,” says Laura Hickey, senior director of the NWF Eco-Schools USA.
The Eco-Schools give students the opportunity to make environmentally responsible decisions in all aspects of their academic lives. It’s a holistic program that involves ‘greening’ everything from the grounds of the school to the school building to the curriculum. “By helping green their school by conducting a water audit [for example,] … students are given a context to the problem and play a part in its solution,” Hickey says.
Eco-Schools are on every continent, and, as of November 2009, 270 K12 schools signed up in 38 states. Hickey says, “We hope it becomes a part of life for the [participating] school.” She goes on to say that only when STEM “doesn’t become extracurricular but routine” will it truly begin to tap into its life-altering potential.
The oil spill is a disaster. But the educational opportunities that such a tragic event offers are nearly limitless, and it would only compound the tragedy to ignore them. Incidents like this provide that real-world context so often sought by educators and students alike, and continuing to find ways to incorporate the lessons learned into everyday life will only serve to propel STEM programs toward further success.
“At 7 or 12 years old, not too many children are sitting around thinking they’d like to make a killing on Wall Street,” Jaffe says, “but they do have an honest and sincere interest in earth science, environmentalism, animals. … The trick is to show [the] connection between learning [math and science] and being a person that can save the world.”
Posted on June 24, 2010 by Patti Duncan
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Original post from NSTA Sclence Class
June 2010: Free For All!
As another school year comes to an end, there's no better time to sit back, relax, and start planning for the year ahead. With this annual Free for All issue of Science Class—the online companion to The Science Teacher (TST), NSTA's journal for high school teachers—we provide you with an array of free resources to help you do just that. Enjoy your summer!
Free for All From NSTA
NSTA offers many resources and services at no charge; some are available only to NSTA members, but many are available to all.
Blick on Flicks
We all love watching movies. But we also love science. And sometimes the two do not mix! To help us sort the good science from the bad in movies and other visual media, Jacob Clark Blickenstaff provides expert commentary, pointing out where the physics is twisted, the chemistry fudged, or the biology stretched on behalf of the story—without losing sight of the fact that movies are meant to entertain. Blickenstaff helps turn "bad science" into teachable science for middle level and high school students. Evolution Resources
Looking for books and articles on evolution? NSTA has compiled a wealth of print and online resources on this very subject. There is even a Q&A section on teaching evolution in the classroom!
Freebies for Science Teachers
Need a classroom resource—at little or no cost? Freebies features online resources that are—you guessed it!—free of charge for science teachers. From lesson plans to online activities to videos, teachers can find an array of resources for their classrooms. These resources can be searched by keyword, cost, or type, and are listed in the order they are posted. Short descriptions and website links accompany each listing. Lab Out Loud
In this biweekly podcast, hosts and science teachers Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss science news and science education with leading scientists, researchers, science writers, and other important figures in the field. A selection of links and notes accompanies each episode, enabling the listener to dig deeper into the topics discussed.
Ms. Mentor
Do you have a question you would like to ask a veteran science teacher? Ask Ms. Mentor! Ms. Mentor was a middle school life and physical science teacher for 16 years and a high school computer science teacher for 11 years. She had a brief stint in higher education before retiring as a regional administrator. "Retired" is a misnomer, however—Ms. Mentor continues blogging, reviewing technology, and birding wherever and whenever her fancy takes flight. Blog topics have included science kits, writing in science classes, and formative assessments.
NSTA Calendar
The NSTA Calendar lists the science education events and programs for science teachers. Browse hundreds of events, searchable by date range.
NSTA Communities
Want to enhance your professional development and growth as a science educator this summer? Check out this online professional networking and learning system! NSTA Communities connects NSTA members, conference attendees, and presenters with others who share similar interests, values, and professional needs. Users can create a group on virtually any topic of their choosing and invite others with an expressed interest in that topic to exchange ideas and resources. NSTA Communities also offer an internal messaging system, threaded forums similar to discussion boards, calendar events, and a place to post resources for collaboration.
NSTA List Server
We want to help you keep in touch with your colleagues. NSTA's lists are group e-mail discussions that allow members to exchange information in a peer-to-peer forum. NSTA members who subscribe (at no extra cost) can now select from 12 topic areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, Earth science, elementary, environmental science, general science, physical science, physics, technology education, new teacher, and retired teacher. The lists remove geographical boundaries from member communication and are available to NSTA members—right now.
Colleagues on the list server can share ideas, get information, and ask questions on important issues. The list server is quick and simple to use, so you can easily stay current on trends in science education. The lists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so information from your peers is available when you need it.
NSTA News Digest
Looking for the top stories in science and education? NSTA News Digest has the day's leading news at the click of your mouse! Search by News Categories (i.e., Top Stories, Science, Education, or Legislative News) or Science and Education Topics. Click on a story's link, and it will take you straight to the source for easy printing and class distribution.
NSTA Press Books
Did you know that you can access a chapter of many new NSTA Press books online for free? Simply click on the book of your choice, and scroll down to the "Read a sample chapter" link.
NSTA Press Books Blog
New in January 2010, the NSTA Press Books blog offers behind-the-scenes information and tips.
Think you may have missed a lesson idea or teacher resource? Visit this blog to find out what the folks at NSTA press are up to, check out upcoming book releases, and read book excerpts.
NSTA Recommends
Read reviews of the latest science-teaching materials, and take the guesswork out of purchasing. NSTA's online review service, NSTA Recommends, helps you find the best supplemental books, videos, DVDs, and computer software on the market. Our reviewers evaluate each product on the basis of classroom applicability, standards connections, and overall value. Search more than 4,000 reviews by grade level, subject, or keywords.
NSTA Reports
NSTA Reports, NSTA's newspaper, is published nine times a year as a free member service. It is NSTA's timely source of news and information for and about science educators of all levels. It includes national news on science education and education in general; information on teaching materials; announcements of teacher programs; advance notice about all NSTA programs, conferences, and publications; and even a crossword puzzle!
Science Objects
You are teaching a subject for the first time, or for the first time in a long time. You need a content refresher now. Where can you find help that is engaging, high-quality, easy to access—and affordable, too? From NSTA's latest ready resource: Science Objects! Science Objects provide all teachers of science open access to these valuable new resources—at no cost. Resources can be filtered by subject and grade level.
SciGuides
NSTA's online resource, SciGuides, will transform the way you use the internet to plan and provide science instruction to your K–12 students. SciGuides enable you to quickly and easily locate targeted science content information and teaching resources from NSTA-approved websites and provide instructional tools and strategies to put them into practice.
SciLinks
SciLinks is an exciting partnership between progressive U.S. textbook publishers and NSTA. If your textbook has SciLinks, you and your students will have the best internet science sources at your fingertips, including
- websites to extend and expand students' understanding;
- science news to add context to classroom learning;
- activities to bring science alive; and
- experts to answer questions and satisfy curiosity.
SciLinks is a free service to those with SciLinks-enabled textbooks and to NSTA members. And SciLinks is easy to use—just log on to the SciLinks site and enter a SciLinks number from the margin of your textbook. You will be offered a smorgasbord of teacher-approved internet resources tied to that specific point in your book. SciPacks
SciPacks are 10-hour online learning experiences that you can use to help better understand the content you teach. SciPacks are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Each SciPack contains:
- Up to five self-paced interactive online learning experiences called Science Objects that use an inquiry-based approach with engaging simulations and embedded questions.
- An e-mail content wizard to address your individual questions; knowledgeable content experts respond via e-mail within 48 hours.
- A pedagogical component to assist you in translating the content for your classroom.
- The opportunity to pass a final assessment and print a certificate from NSTA demonstrating your understanding of the content addressed within the SciPack.
Teachers are encouraged to seek advance approval from their district for continuing education credits that may be ascribed for passing the final assessment. NSTA is establishing relationships with the department of education in states across the United States to formalize the recertification value for completing a SciPack, or series of SciPacks. Select SciPacks are available for free! Free for All From the U.S. Government
Kepler's Star Field Lithograph
Kepler's Star Field Lithograph was created by NASA's Kepler Mission, which is looking for planets the size of Earth in the galaxy's habitable zone. The lithograph shows where the spacecraft is looking and includes a description of the mission, the location of the star field in the sky, and an explanation of why this field was chosen. An image illustrates the distance this star field lies from the galactic center and the size of the field of view. The website also contains a poster, fact sheets, and a bookmark.
Science Nation
Science Nation is a series of video programs offered by the National Science Foundation. The videos examine breakthroughs and the possibilities for new discoveries about our planet, our universe, and ourselves. Download the free videos from the website!
Education and Outreach
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service offers Education and Outreach programs. K–12 lesson plans that incorporate agriculture are available in English, math, geography, science, and social studies.
LifeWorks
Targeted to middle and high school students, LifeWorks—from the National Institutes of Health's Office of Science Education—profiles individuals currently working in the medical sciences. Search more than 100 medical science and health careers by title, education required, interest area, or median salary. The varied responses show how careers in medical sciences are diverse and appeal to a wide range of people.
Environmental Education Games
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers more than 20 online games focused on environmental education. Topics addressed include nautical charts (boat safety), humpback whale migration, correct disposal of marine debris, ocean literacy, recycling, pollution and invasive species, and a virtual ocean expedition to track gray whales.
The Water Sourcebooks
The Water Sourcebooks is a comprehensive environmental education program created by the Environmental Protection Agency for grades K–12. The program explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach, showing how it affects all aspects of the environment. Activities are categorized by grade level (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12), and each grade level offers age-appropriate lessons on an introduction to water, drinking and wastewater treatment, surface water, groundwater, and wetlands and coastal waters.
Moon Math
Moon Math offers two ninth-grade math units that center on the theme of lunar habitat design. Unit I contains three case studies that can be used together or as stand-alone modules. These case studies focus on area, volume, and proportion and are provided at three levels of difficulty: whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Unit II goes a step beyond lunar habitat design with three lessons addressing the calculation of human weight on the Moon, the optimization of cargo hold volume, and the optimization of cargo weight for a lunar mission.
ChemHealthWeb
ChemHealthWeb is the online companion to the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of General Medical Sciences' publication The Chemistry of Health. It includes six downloadable chapters: "Actions and Reactions," "You Are What You Eat," "Cool Tool," "Nature's Products," "Chemistry for a Healthier World," and "Chemistry Meets Medicine." It also offers information about chemistry careers, chemistry images (Molecule Gallery), chemistry-related puzzles and games, and a glossary of chemistry terms.
Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide was published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and outlines the steps for creating a wildlife habitat on school grounds. It begins with a comprehensive "Getting Started" section with organization and planning steps required for students and teachers. Succeeding sections provide teacher and student instructions for creating forest, wetland, and meadow schoolyard habitats.
Scientists in Action
Scientists in Action is a publication created by the U.S. Geological Survey that is filled with stories and photographs of scientists in the field. Meet geologists, seismologists, micropaleontologists, cartographers, wildlife biologists, and a preparator—a scientist who handles museum specimens, in this case at the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Vertebrate Paleontology in New York.
Free for All Teachers of Science
Ho'ailona's Journal
Ho'ailona's Journal is a Hawaiian monk seal education resource for students from the University of California, Santa Cruz. It provides information about a young seal named Ho'ailona, ongoing research about him, conservation observations, and student projects. A Facebook page, "Ho'ailona Monk Seal," offers short updates and "conversations" with the seal. Students and teachers can help in the important conservation work of this monk seal project by getting involved in the Call for Action through class or school projects all over the United States.
Project Atmosphere Canada Teacher's Guide
Project Atmosphere Canada is a collaborative initiative of Environment Canada and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. The project's goal is to foster the teaching of atmospheric sciences and related topics in Canada across grades K–12. The teacher's guide covers topics such as acid rain, jet stream, and hazardous weather and the accompanying activities can be used in science classrooms globally.
2010 Morrison Planetarium Pocket Almanac
2010 Morrison Planetarium Pocket Almanac is published by California's Morrison Planetarium. It includes timelines for tracking the phases of the Moon, the planets in the night sky, and lunar and solar eclipses.
Continuously Changing Plant Growth
Continuously Changing Plant Growth is an activity on the Public Broadcasting Service website that demonstrates how the growth rate of a plant depends on many factors, including the amount of water and light it receives. Students in grades 10–12 use graphing to determine an equation that represents a plant's growth.
Safe Food Lessons
These safe food lessons were developed by the Food Safety Project at Iowa State University to provide future consumers with the tools they need to avoid harmful pathogens in the food supply. These lessons will help middle and high school students understand how knowledge about pathogen reduction, time and temperature abuse, and cleanliness will help decrease their incidence of foodborne illness.
Archeology's Interactive Digs
Archeology's Interactive Digs, produced by Archaeology Magazine, takes middle and high school students on virtual excavations to Pompeii; Waka,' a Maya site; and Mount Vernon, where George Washington distilled whiskey. Each dig site offers facts, field notes, interviews with archaeologists, and a panoramic view.
The Butterfly Lab
Designed for students in grades 7–12, The Butterfly Lab offers online activities and materials covering butterfly anatomy, life cycle, behavior, and related topics. Detailed information is accompanied by colorful diagrams and photographs. Teachers will also find three activities involving butterfly anatomy, movement, identification, handling, and more.
Geotechnical, Rock, and Water Resources Library
The Geotechnical, Rock, and Water Resources Library Project from the University of Arizona won the 2003 MAX Award in Education Experiences for applications created by educational institutions in K–12. The project's website contains links to lesson plans and activities for all grade levels.
CREATE for Mississippi
CREATE for Mississippi provides lots of great resources for integrating technology into core subjects. It was developed to support Mississippi teachers as they "advance technology in education." The site features a virtual community where teachers can share ideas, resources, and best practices.
Sustainable Footprint
Sustainable Footprint is a Netherlands-based project aimed at making students aware of the consequences of their lifestyles. The website has teacher programs for "problem-oriented learning" and a series of thematic lessons and guidelines for internationalizing the project and relevant links. The site also offers a footprint quiz for younger students (ages 12–15) and a "design for the future" assignment.
The Discovery of Pluto
The Discovery of Pluto is a part of Astronomy Beat, a series of articles written by noted scientists, amateur astronomers, and educators that gives behind-the-scenes looks at how astronomy is actually done. The Discovery of Pluto tells the story of how the author, Clyde Tombaugh, discovered Pluto. Tombaugh passed away in 1997 and his ashes are en route to Pluto inside the New Horizons spacecraft.
Discovery of Sound in the Sea
Discovery of Sound in the Sea introduces the science and uses of underwater sound to K–12 teachers and students. It provides easy, efficient access to timely, peer-reviewed content on the effects of underwater sound on marine animals. This newly redesigned website uses interactives that allow visitors to quickly immerse themselves in content—from the songs of humpback whales, to interviews with cutting-edge scientists, to the use of acoustics to measure waves.
Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin's On the Origin of Species
Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin's On the Origin of Species is an interactive multimedia report from the National Science Foundation. The report presents resources on evolution and Charles Darwin, including interviews and essays by a team of international evolutionary experts and a clickable timeline summarizing intellectual and technological achievements that advanced our understanding of evolution. Appropriate for teachers and students at a range of grade levels, the report shows how On the Origin of Species drew attention to anthropology, biology, geosciences, polar sciences, and even astronomy, and why it likely will continue to serve as the organizing framework for the sciences.
Lasers: Transforming Life
Lasers: Transforming Life is a video that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser. The video demonstrates laser applications in a compelling yet easy-to-understand manner and shows laser research that may lead to future clean energy sources or understanding of such mysteries as black holes. Download the video or request a DVD for your classroom.
Not Exactly Rocket Science
Not Exactly Rocket Science is a blog written by Ed Yong, an award-winning British science writer. The blog seeks to make the latest scientific discoveries interesting to everyone and is a great place to catch up on the latest science news. Visit the website for in-depth analysis of interesting scientific reports and explorations of science news.
What You Need to Know About Energy
What You Need to Know About Energy is a new website that communicates essential information about America's energy situation based on the vast holdings of reports from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. The website provides an overview of our current energy system and covers four main topics: energy uses, sources of energy, the cost of energy (in terms of the environment, national security, and sustainability), and energy efficiency. The site's producers are also developing curriculum-based materials for high school and middle school classrooms.
Reading the Landscape
Reading the Landscape is a workshop being held July 26–31, 2010, in Maine. Participants, led by ecology professor Tom Wessels, can investigate Acadia National Park, hike the historic property of Medomak Camp, and explore the forests outside Camden in the Coastal Mountains' Land Trust-Fernald's Neck Preserve. Join like-minded individuals seeking knowledge and a chance to recharge.
SETIcon
SETIcon is a conference being held August 13–15, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Santa Clara, California, for the SETI Institute. This year's theme is "Our Search for Life in the Universe in Science Fact and Science Fiction." The conference features noted scientists explaining new developments in everyday language; stars of science fiction TV series and movies; and panels to air controversial issues and share perspectives.
P–12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit
Join researchers, policy makers, and engineers for the P–12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit taking place August 11–13, 2010, in Seaside, Oregon. The theme is "P–12 Capacity Building Through Community of Practice" and the summit is designed to be a "catalyst for combining scientific argumentation and collaboration that would enhance research in P–12 engineering education." The interdisciplinary approach will link research, teaching, policy, and engineering practice.
21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education
Taking place August 1–5, 2010, at the University of North Texas in Denton, the 21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education is a national meeting sponsored by the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Education. The conference is designed for secondary school chemistry teachers, graduate students, and chemistry professors. Both new and experienced chemistry teachers will find this conference to be an excellent source of materials, techniques, and content.
Coming next month... Summer Sampler: Ideas for the New School Year
- Kick Off Summer With Reading
- Frontloading Classroom Management
- From Generation to Generation: Oral Histories of Scientific Innovations from the 20th Century
- Robotics on Water
- A Virtual Circuits Lab
- Generate an Argument: An Instructional Model
Posted on June 3, 2010 by Patti Duncan
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