RI Science Professional Development and Student Opportunity Bulletin

November 22, 2013

This bulletin will be sent on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. If you would like to share an event, quality resource, or other opportunity, please follow the directions for doing so at the bottom of the newsletter. To SUBSCRIBE send an email to Peter.Mclaren@ride.ri.gov with SUBSCRIBE RISCI-MSHS in the Subject Line

Go To RIScienceTeachers - https://riscienceteachers.wikispaces.com/ for PDF copy of past issues

New In This Bulletin NGSS News News Web Sites Job Opportunities Prof. Development Student Opportunities

New In This Bulletin:

Register for Web Seminar on the NGSS Core Idea: Earth and Human Activity December 3rd Win a $20,000 Shell Science Lab Makeover for Your School Application Deadline December 20th NASAs REEL Science Video Communication Contest For Students Apply by February 21, 2014 (High School Students) Job Opportunities: None at this Time. Schools should send along any information for position openings to peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov

News:
FIRST LEGO League, the youth robotics program that reaches over 700 elementary and middle school
students on 70 teams across Rhode Island kicks off the first of four qualifying tournaments on Saturday. Teams have been meeting since September to design, build and program a robot to score points on a game table AND developing an innovative solution to the problem related to this year's theme, natural disasters. Teams apply STEM skills while learning valuable workforce skills such as working in teams, critical thinking, communication, and project management. Many of our tournaments are held on college campuses, encouraging students to realize college is within reach. The qualifying tournaments will be held: Saturday, November 23 @ St. Mary Academy Bay View (Wellness Center), 3070 Pawtucket Avenue, Riverside, RI 02915. The event is free and open to the public from Noon - 4 PM. Saturday, December 7 @ New England Institute of Technology (managed by Aquidneck Island Robotics 4-H), 1 New England Tech Blvd. East Greenwich, RI 02818. The event is free and open to the public from 11 AM - 2 PM Sunday, December 8 @ Salve Regina University (O'Hare Building), (managed by All Saints Academy), 100 Ochre Point, Newport, RI 02840. This event is free and open to the public from 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Of the 70 teams competing at these events, 40 will advance to the FIRST LEGO League Rhode Island State Championship on January 11, 2014, hosted by Roger Williams University, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol. The state championship is free and open to the public from 11 AM - 4 PM. Learn more about the FIRST LEGO League in Rhode Island here: http://www.risf.net/first-lego-league/. There was also an excellent piece about FLL RI on THE RHODE SHOW last year after our state championship: http://www.wpri.com/rhode-show/students-compete-with-robotics-to-help-senior-citizens If you have any questions or would like to visit a tournament, please contact Mary Johnson at mary.johnson@risf.net or by phone at 401-203-7473

RI Board Of Education To Hold Public Forums On Governance

The Rhode Island Board of Education has scheduled four forums to receive input from the public on a draft plan for a governance structure for the Board. Last year, the General Assembly passed The Rhode Island Board of Education Act (Rhode Island General Laws, Title 16, Chapter 97), which replaced the Board of Governors for Higher Education and the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education with the 11-member Board of Education. The act also abolished the Office of Higher Education, effective July 1 of next year, and called upon the Board to develop a plan for the permanent administrative structure for higher education and to provide greater articulation of the responsibilities of elementary, secondary, and higher education. Working with local and national experts, the Board has prepared a draft plan to meet this obligation. Following a series of reports on governance at recent public meetings of the Board, the Board has now scheduled public forums to receive input on the draft plan. Copies of the plan will be presented at each of the forums. The forums will be held on: Tuesday, November 26, at 6 p.m., at the Newport Public Library, 300 Spring Street; Monday, December 2, at 5 p.m., at the Community College of Rhode Island Flanagan Campus, Auditorium, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln; Tuesday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m., at Rhode Island College, Alger Hall Room 100, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence; and Wednesday, December 4, at 5 p.m., at the University of Rhode Island, Alumni Center, 73 Upper College Hill Road, Kingston (parking available in Lot #1, directly behind the Visitors Center). At each forum, there will be a brief presentation of the proposal followed by ample time for public comment. The Board intends to review all feedback and to endorse a final plan next month. The Board will then present the plan to Governor Chafee and to the General Assembly for consideration during the next legislative session.

NGSS News:
With the NSTA National Conference in Boston in April, 2014 this is an excellent opportunity to have input into NGSS PD. Please see the e-mail below and click on the link to participate in the survey. The survey will be open until 5:00 PM ET on November 22nd. The survey asks you to rank your preference of the following topics related to NGSS: Introduction to NGSS Science and Engineering Practices in NGSS Planning an NGSS Curriculum Selecting Curriculum Resources Aligned to NGSS Assessment of NGSS Engineering in NGSS

Connecting NGSS and Common Core ELA NSTA is dedicating the Saturday of the conference to focus on NGSS presentations to serve the NGSS adopted states and with Rhode Island virtually right around the corner this presents an excellent opportunity for RI Teachers to participate in quality aligned PD around the NGSS Please take a few seconds to submit the survey by clicking on the link below.
Congratulations! Rhode Island was the first state to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards and has taken a giant step toward better preparing students to enter college, join the workforce, and engage in a world in which advancements in science and technology are occurring at a rapid pace. The National Science Teachers Association is committed to helping you understand and implement the NGSS in your schools. Over the course of our National Conference in Boston, April 3-6, 2014, NSTA will offer numerous presentations, workshops, and professional development institutes devoted to various aspects of the NGSS. In addition, NSTA is planning a special series of NGSS presentations to be held on Saturday, April 4, 2014and we want YOU to choose the content! Perhaps you've spent some time learning the basics of the new standards and are ready to take your understanding to the next level. What would you like to learn more about? Or perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed and need to know where to begin. We can help. We need your input! Complete a one-question survey and select the four NGSS topics that most appeal to you. Surveys must be completed by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2013. We'll let you know which topics got the most votes in December. Click here to begin the survey. In the meantime, visit our website for information on how to register for the Boston National Conference for one day or the full experience, and visit the NGSS@NSTA website for information and resources to help you implement the new standards.

National Academy Launches Initiative to Boost K-12 Engineering Education (EdWeek November 8, 2013)
By Alyssa Morones on November 8, 2013 2:22 PM As engineering education gains a stronger foothold at the K-12 level, the National Academy of Engineering is launching an initiative to help guide educators into what is often unfamiliar terrain. With support from a $1.5 million grant provided by multi-national energy giant Chevron Corp., the project will create an online clearinghouse of resources for educators, and also connect teachers and school administrators with engineering education experts, according to a news release. As we've reported here at Education Week, there's ample evidence that engineeringthe "E" in STEMis getting increased attention at the K-12 level. One new development that is sure to help the cause is the inclusion of a concerted emphasis on engineering design in a new set of common standards for science. The Next Generation Science Standards were developed by 26 states and several national organizations, including Achieve, a Washingtonbased nonprofit organization that is also going to be collaborating on the new initiative with the National Academy of Engineering. (To date, eight states have adopted the science standards.) Other partners in the new enterprise include the National Science Teachers Association, the American Society of Engineering Education, and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.

A description of the plans indicates that the National Academy and its partners will collect, organize, and share best practices and research on the most effective ways to implement engineering education in K-12 classrooms. In addition to curricular support, though, the initiative will incorporate their findings on the best ways to help educators gain knowledge and confidence to teach engineering in their classrooms. Greg Pearson, a senior program officer at the NAE, said in an interview that, while the National Academy believes that the new emphasis on engineering in relation to other STEM subjects is important and good, "we're also aware that most of the intended audience is no prepared, and probably largely insecure about their abilities to teach engineering." To help alleviate this, the initiative will compile existing research that identifies the best approaches to teaching engineering and technology, to help students better understand the field and its interaction with other STEM subjects.

NGSS One Pagers

NSTA offers a tremendous collection of resources designed to help provide more information for the NGSS. Three Dimensions of NGSS (Color | B&W) This three page pdf document provides general information of each of the three dimensions of the NGSS specifically the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and the crosscutting concepts. A Look at the Next Generation Science Standards (Color | B&W) This two page pdf document provides a detailed look at the architecture of the NGSS standards. Venn Diagram of the Practices in Science, Math, and ELA (Color | B&W) This pdf shows how the practices of the NGSS, CCSS-Math, and CCSS ELA intersect and support each other. Matrix of Disciplinary Core Ideas in the NGSS Here you will find a complete matrix of the disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS by domain

RIDEs NGSS Page

Find easy access to the NGSS standards, information on RIs participation as a Lead State, the Framework, and other resources Recorded Link for RIDEs Webinar Next Generation Science Standards Rhode Islands Implementation th Plan originally webcast on September 17 can be found under the Resources section of the RIDE NGSS page along with a PDF of the PPT.

Web Sites Worth Exploring:

Common Core Resources for Literacy in Science Grades 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy
Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects Standards can be accessed by clicking on the pull down menu on the left hand side of the screen

Curriculum and Instruction Resources for Literacy in Science on the RIDE web Site
http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/Science/CurriculumInstructionResources.aspx
Here you will find CCSS aligned tasks and resources to go deeper into the understanding of the CCSS Standards for Literacy in Science.

Transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to PARCC http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/TransitiontotheCCSSandPARCC.aspx
This page contains recent updates, key information, and quality resources for educators and the public to support our state's education system in its transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the PARCC Assessment for ELA/literacy and mathematics.

Urban Ecology Curriculum - http://urbanecolabcurriculum.com/

The UrbanEcoLab Curriculum is a standards-based high school urban ecology curriculum. The curriculum emphasizes locallyrelevant field studies and is focused on engaging students in scientific study through the four ways of knowing science: understanding science, talking science, doing science, and acting on science.

Navigate A Nanobot Through A 3d Environment Of Blood Vessels And Connective Tissue http://immuneattack.org/
You must navigate a nanobot through a 3D environment of blood vessels and connective tissue in an attempt to save an ailing patient by retraining her non-functional immune cells. Along the way, you will learn about the biological processes that enable macrophages and neutrophils white blood cells to detect and fight infections.

Next Generation Science Standards App - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/next-generationscience-standards/id683491579?mt=8

View the Next Generation Science Standards in one convenient FREE app! A great reference for teachers, parents, and students to easily read and understand the standards. Quickly find standards by various topic arrangements or keyword search.

Games in PowerPoint you can use for Assessment http://facstaff.uww.edu/jonesd/games/index.html

The Parade of Games website was created to provide educators and trainers with easy-to- assemble educational games in a technology- enhanced environment to support key learning points. The site demonstrates the creative use of popular game shows and other familiar games to reinforce learning.

Lesson for Determining and Measuring Earths Layered Interior http://www.iris.edu/hq/resource/determining_internal_structure

In this lesson, students examine seismic evidence to determine a) Earth must have a layered internal structure and, b) estimate the size of Earths core. Using an inquiry approach, students are divided into two teams (theoreticians and seismologists) to tes t the simplest hypothesis for what is inside of Earth; the Earth is homogeneous throughout.

Super Volcano Film - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7as7Ej_U6yU

A million times more powerful than Hiroshima, a super volcano may exist beneath Yellowstone. If it erupts, would we survive?

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

An Invitation To Educators and Schools from the RI Nuclear Science Center

The Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC) is located on the University of Rhode Island (URI) Bay Campus. RINSC is a research and test reactor facility and their mission is focused on providing a resource for research, training and development to the state of Rhode Island. There are only 31 research and test reactors operating in the United States and they contribute to almost every field of science including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, geology, archeology, and environmental sciences. The professional RINSC staff can work individually with interested educators to develop labs and lectures that will fit the topic and age of the students. The staff has several pre-designed experiments that can be modified or can create entirely new experiments based on the needs of the teachers and students. We also have a classroom equipped with white boards, a Smartboard and a projector. An adjacent lab also allows for students to perform their own analysis on samples that they can see irradiated during their visit. Previous classes have ranged in age from elementary level students to adults, with groups from 5 to 50 students. We also welcome any students interested in using the facility for science fair projects to contact us. We can work with the students to develop a topic and plan to complete their experiments. All of our services that we provide to the school are free of charge. Upon examination of the Next Generation Science Standards, we find that we align well with several of them, such as (not all inclusive): MS-PS1-1, MS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-3, HS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-PS4-3, HS-PS45, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4, HS-ETS1-1 and HS-ETS1-3. Please contact us at any time: Dr. Cameron Goodwin, Director Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center 16 Reactor Rd Narragansett, RI 02882 P - (401) 789-9391 F - (401) 782-4201 cgoodwin@rinsc.ri.gov

Meet Me in the Middle at NSTA - Boston The NSTA's Middle Level Science Teaching Committee is pleased to announce a joint NSTA-NMLSTA venture called Meet Me in the Middle planned for Friday, April 4, 2014 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Boston Westin Waterfront hotel. Taking place during the NSTA's national convention this whole day is designed to offer information, ideas, and presentations geared specifically for science teachers of grades 5-8. There will be food, fun, and door prizes too! The committee is searching for middle school presenters for a Share-A-Thon event from 12:30 - 2:00. Information can be found at: http://nmlsta.wordpress.com/conferences/ for presenters or attendees. If additional information is needed please contact: Patty McGinnis, pattymcginnis1@gmail.com NSTA Division Director NSTA Committee on Middle Level Science Teaching Information Sessions: Next Generation Science Standards Moving Rhode Island Forward Multiple Dates
Presenters: Peter McLaren and Jennifer Solek RIDE Science and Technology Specialists

When/Where:

December 3rd Ponaganset High School Auditorium, 137 Anan Wade Rd, North Scituate, RI, 3:30 5:30 PM December 12th Lincoln High School, 135 Old River Road, Lincoln, RI, 4:00 6:00 PM
On May 23 Rhode Island became the first state in the country to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. All educators are invited to learn more about Rhode Islands plan for implementation of the NGSS. Questions to be addressed: How were the standards developed? Whats different about these standards? What would NGSS look like in the classroom? What is a standard? What is Rhode Islands plan for implementation? Where can I find NGSS resources? Each session will devote the last 30 minutes to provide an open forum where attendees can ask questions pertaining to the new science standards and their implementation. For more information contact Peter McLaren by email at peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov or by phone at 222-8454
rd

Interested in Bringing a Darwin Day Roadshow to Rhode Island? Application due November 27th
To celebrate Charles Darwins birthday each year, the scientists and educators ofNESCent (The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center) hit the road to bring evolutionary science to schools, museums and town halls in communities around the country. We are particularly interested in reaching out to small, often rural communities which would not otherwise have a Darwin Day celebration. Our teams talk to students, teachers and the general public about their research in evolutionary science, describe what it takes to become an evolutionary biologist (and what some of the rewards and challenges are), and convey why evolutionary science is relevant to everyone. The Darwin Day Roadshow is a way for scientists and educators from NESCent(The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center) to share their enthusiasm for evolutionary science with students, teachers and the general public across the United States each year, on the occasion of Charles Darwins birthday (February 12th). NESCent has stated that they will visit Rhode Island if more than one teacher applies. If you are interested in bringing a Darwin Day Roadshow to your school contact David Upegui, Science Teacher at Central Falls High School, at upeguid@cfschools.net

NEW!!! Register for Web Seminar on the NGSS Core Idea: Earth and Human Activity December 3rd
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) continues its fall series of free web seminars on the Next rd Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Join presenter Susan Buhr Sullivan, Director of Education Outreach at CIRES, as she discusses the NGSS Core Idea: Earth and Human Activity. This web seminar will address questions such as How do humans depend on Earths resources? and How do humans change the planet?This web seminar will also provide guidance on: which concepts are central to an understanding of Earth and human activity how students' understanding of Earth and human activity might progress over their K-12 education; and what students engaging in scientific and engineering practices to understand Earth and human activity looks like in the classroom

Register here

Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program now accepting applications for the 2014-15 fellowship year Apply by December 4th
Applications due December 4, 2013 The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the 2014-15 fellowship year. The Einstein Fellowship seeks experienced and distinguished K 12 educators in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve an 11-month fellowship appointment in a Federal agency or U.S. Congressional office. Applications are due December 4, 2013 and must be submitted through the online application system. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be a current a full-time elementary or secondary school teacher, and must have taught full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline. The Einstein Fellowship is managed by the Department of Energy / Office of Science, in partnership with other sponsoring agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and in collaboration with the Triangle Coalition for STEM Education and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements, and access to the online application system can be found at http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/.

New England Association of Chemistry Teachers (NEACT) Western Division Meeting - Dec. 7.
Saturday, December 7 is the NEACT Western Division Meeting Topic: Gas Laws Inquiry and Independent Research Projects Location: Greenwich High School 10 Hillside Road, Greenwich, CT 8:30 AM - Registration 9:00 AM - Aimee Farnum and Jerusha Vogel: An inquiry based approach to Gas Laws 10:30 AM - Andy Bramante: Independent Research Projects, preparing for competition 11:30 AM -12:00 PM- Discussion RSVP: Jerusha Vogel (jj@k2sw.com) or 203-761-8587 Conference Website: http://www.neact.org/event/western-division-meeting-0 Aimee Farnum has been a teacher at Greenwich High school for 5 years teaching ESL Chemistry and a course she codesigned called Integrated Science. Jerusha Vogel is past president of NEACT and an honors and practical Chemistry Teacher at GHS. They will present an introductory lesson on Gas Laws that Aimee developed for her students where they derive the relationships between volume, pressure and temperature through experiment and current data on tornados, hypoxia and the number of deaths vs. elevation on Mt Everest. Handouts and ready to use ideas will be supplied for you to take directly back to your classroom. Andy Bramante is the Independent Science Research teacher, mentor, and research program director for more than 50 participating students at Greenwich High School, in Greenwich, CT. Prior to arriving at the high school as a chemistry teacher 9 years ago, Andy enjoyed a 15-year career as an applications scientist and design specialist for various analytical instrumentation companies including PerkinElmer. He earned the Greenwich Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award in 2012. Andy's presentation will cover the basic ingredients for carrying out an independent science research program at the high school level including a discussion about the difficulties such as time, funding, equipment, and motivating students. He will give a brief overview of the competitions available and some specifics about these competitions. Directions to Greenwich High School 10 Hillside Rd, Greenwich CT:

From 95: Take 95 Exit 4 (Indian Field Rd). Turn right off exit if you were traveling south. In 0.7 miles turn left at lights onto Rt 1 (Putnam Ave). Take the second right (at lights) onto Hillside Rd. GHS will be on your left. Drive PAST the building and park in the far lot. Then walk back along the front of the building until you reach the first set of glass doors. Enter there. We will be in room 914 (first floor to your right as you enter) and also room 935 upstairs. From the Merritt (Rt 15): Take the Merritt to exit 31 (north st). Take right off exit if you were traveling south. After 3.2 miles bear left onto Fairfield Rd. After 0.6 miles turn right onto Hillside Rd. The high school will be on your right. Park in the large parking lot before you reach the high school building. Then walk back along the front of the building until you reach the first set of glass doors. Enter there. We will be in room 914 (first floor to your right as you enter) and also room 935 upstairs.

RI STEM Center@ RIC To Coordinate Hour of Code December 9th 15th

The RI STEM Center@ RIC invites all K-12 educators and community groups in Rhode Island to participate in the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code campaign organized by Code.org aims to demystify computer science for students worldwide. Hour of Code events which introduce students to computer programming will take place during Computer Science Education Week which runs from December 9-15, 2013. Code.org will be awarding prizes: see below. The RI STEM Center @ RIC is coordinating a statewide effort to encourage as many schools, clubs, afterschool programs, and other interested organizations in Rhode Island to participate and to contact the STEM Center so you can join our list of Rhode Island coders. Below is information from code.org (http://code.org/hourofcode). "Code.org will offer online tutorials authored by numerous educational groups and are challenging teachers, parents and even employers to encourage students of all ages to engage. Classrooms across the country will have a chance to win a variety of prizes for participating, including: 50 schools who organize an Hour of Code will win a full class-set of computers one winner in every state. 50 classrooms will win a group video conference call with a technology titan to kick off their Hour of Code. Participants include: Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, Square and Susan Wojcicki, Google." Next steps: 1. Go to http://csedweek.org 2. Register your class, school, or organization AND 3. Go to http://tinyurl.com/RI-STEM-Hour-of-Code to join RI STEM Center's list of participating sites. We are in the process of organizing college students and industry professionals to act as facilitators if needed. Please join us!

Apply for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program Applications Close December 15, 2013
Announcing the launch of the 2014-2015 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program Online Application for K-12 teachers!

Are you a U.S.: Primary and/or secondary classroom teacher? Guidance counselor? Curriculum specialist? Curriculum head? Talented and Gifted coordinator? Special Education coordinator? Media specialist/librarian? You may be eligible to participate in a unique international professional development opportunity for 3-4

months through the Fulbright Program! By conducting educational research abroad, U.S. teachers gain new skills, learn new instructional methods and assessment methodologies and share best practices with international colleagues and students. Teachers also have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures and international education systems that will enrich their U.S. schools and local communities with global perspectives. Teachers may travel to: Chile, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY: https://dafulbrightteachers.org/ Application deadline: December 15, 2013. Eligibility Requirements:www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org. Application Info:http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/application-tp2 . This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute of International Education.

NEW!!! Win a $20,000 Shell Science Lab Makeover for your School Application Deadline December 20th The deadline to submit applications for the 20132014 Shell Science Lab Challenge is fast approaching. Middle and high school science teachers (grades 612) who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources and are located in the United States and Canada are encouraged to apply. The deadline for entries is December 20, 2013. Through the competitionnow in its fourth yearscience teachers compete to win much needed laboratory resources for their schools. In addition to the lab equipment provided by Ward's Science, winners receive Shell cash grants, NSTA membership, and support to attend NSTA Conferences on Science Education. The grand-prize winner and four national finalists will be honored at a special banquet and ceremony at NSTA's National Conference on Science Education in Boston in April 2014. For more information about the Challenge or to download an application, visit the competition website SAVE THE DATE STEM to STEAM thru Synergy: Bridging Morphology, Biomimicry, Sustainability and Synergetics, Fourth Biennial Design Science Symposium - 31 January 2014 2 February 2014
31 January 2014 2 February 2014 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI Presenters: John Maeda, President, Rhode Island School of Design Dennis Bartels, Executive Director, San Francisco Exploratorium Donald E. Ingber, Founding Director, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University Chris Zelov, Filmmaker & Project Director, Knossus Project Thomas T. K. Zung, Architect, Buckminster Fuller, Sadao, and Zung Richard Bresnahan, Artist in Residence, St. Johns University Eric Goetz, CTO, Goetz Composites

STEAM: integrative, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary studies working together with the result being greater than individual parts (synergy) - The study of a structure's interconnected parts (morphology) leading to inspiration through nature (biomimicry) producing harmony, fulfilling the social, economic and environmental requirements of present and future generations (sustainability) results in cooperation for an enhanced effect (synergetics) and supports interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary study of multiple disciplines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics. Co-sponsors: Synergetics Collaborative Inc. (SNEC) Edna Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD Information contact: John Belt - designprobe@gmail.com, Peter Dean - pdean@risd.edu, or CJ Fearnley - cjf@synergeticscollaborative.org

Presidential Award For Excellence In Mathematics And Science Teaching (PAEMST) Nominations Now Open Nominations Due April 1, 2014 (Grades 7-12 Teachers)
Are you or do you know an outstanding secondary (grades K-6 ) mathematics and science teachers (including computer science) that you should be recognized for their talents? The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor that a kindergarten through 12 grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. What better way to acknowledge excellence of our colleagues than to nominate the teachers who exemplify their profession. The process to nominate teachers is a simple one. Simply go to the PAEMST website at www.paemst.org and fill in the on-line form. Once the nomination is submitted the nominated teacher will then be notified and provided information about the application process. The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. Candidates must: Teach mathematics or science at the K -6 grade level in a public or private school. Hold at least a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution. Be a full-time employee of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, and teach K-12 students at least 50% of the time. Have at least 5 years of full-time, K-12 mathematics or science teaching experience prior to the 2013-14 academic school year. Teach in one of the 50 states or the four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category. Rhode Island has many wonderful teachers, and those you nominate could be state or national Presidential Awardees for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science for 2014. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 222-8454 or by email at peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov. Thank you for your continued support for mathematics and science education.
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2014 AAAS Science Education Workshops on NGSS Various Dates

Two different professional development experiences and several dates to choose from make 2014 the year to attend an AAAS Science Education workshop! NEW for 2014! Understanding and Using Next Generation Science Learning Goals February 1011, July 1011, and October 2021, 2014 Are you responsible for implementing Next Generation Science Standards in your classroom, school, or district? Then join us for a professional development workshop that will give you the tools, strategies, and support you need to put NGSS into action. Drawing on Project 2061s expertise in standards-based teaching and learning, youll gain new insights into the science practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts that make up the NGSS performance expectations and how they can be used to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Developing and Using Assessments Aligned to Science Learning Goals May 2830 and October 810, 2014 This popular three-day workshop gives you access to Project 2061s science assessment experience and expertise based on more than a decade of research and development. Designed for teachers, researchers, and assessment specialists, youll take a hands-on approach to using Project 2061s criteria and procedures for developing effective assessment items that are carefully aligned to science learning goals, including those in the Next Generation Science Standards. Youll also explore the AAAS Science Assessment website and its online testing feature; data on students misconceptions; and AAASs bank of some 700 high-quality test items for middle and high school physical, life, and earth sciences. Here are just a few of the many positive comments weve received from past workshop participants: I liked the critiquing process. While I realize there are no perfect items, I hope that we can improve the items we have, and that we will write better items. The workshop helped me gain understanding and skills that will help me in my work. I would definitely recommend this workshop to my colleagues. The people were the best part of the workshop, and focusing on learning goals, misconceptions, analyzing good items and answers! The workshop leader did an excellent job. The experience of trying to work through the process of learning goals, misconceptions, boundaries, necessity, comprehensibility was invaluable. I think the free question repository is awesome! *** All workshops are held at AAAS Headquarters in Washington, DC. To find out more about the workshops, our discounted Early-Bird rates, and scholarships or to register, go to Project2061.org/workshops and click on one of the workshops. Attendance is limited, so please return your registration form as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Goldstein at bgoldste@aaas.org. UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE Apply by April 1st, 2014 (MS & HS)
Monday to Friday, July 7 - July 11, 2014 at UMass Amherst Funded by the National Science Foundation Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers $75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, some meals

Housing (new air conditioned dorms) for those outside the commuting radius 3 graduate physics credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's (Professional Development Points) Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of nanometers. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, or about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials can have surprising and useful behaviors and properties. Applications of this rapidly growing field include regenerative medicine, fabrics and construction materials of unprecedented strength, ultra-high performance computers and data storage, more efficient solar photovoltaic cells, and much more. Activity in this field cuts across the traditional disciplinary boundaries, and involves chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Framework. During the institute, participants will begin to develop curriculum units for their own classes. They will implement these in the fall and report on their progress and results online. Three graduate credits will be available for the institute and curriculum unit; the cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee. PDP's will be available at no cost. Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano. Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2014. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

Science Enrichment/Challenge Opportunities for Students

2014 ASPIRE Program Seeks Student Applicants Apply by December 1st
The 2014 ASPIRE program at the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is seeking high school participants. In order to qualify for admission, the student must be at least a sophomore in high school with an interest in science after having completed at least one half a school year of chemistry, physics, engineering and/or biology. ASPIRE (A Student-led Program In Research and Education) provides students with the opportunity of hands-on laboratory experiences in the synthesis, characterization and engineering of polymers using the world renowned facilities at the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research. This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation through the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Polymers. The high school students are mentored by our graduate students, who provide oversight and direction of each of the STEMTECH disciplines involved. High school students need not have previous experience with polymers. At the culmination of the 5-Saturday morning sessions, each student will receive a certificate of completion, which can be utilized in his/her resume. Further information, including dates and the application form can be found at the following website http://www.pse.umass.edu/mrsec/Education-Outreach/ASPIRE.html Please contact Greg Dabkowski at gdabkowski@research.umass.edu with any questions.

Verizon Foundation Challenges Middle and High School Students to Create a Mobile App

that Provides Powerful Answers Enter by December 3rd

The Verizon Foundation, in partnership with the Technology Student Association, today announced that it has opened the 2013-2014 Innovative App Challenge, giving middle and high school students across the country a chance to develop a concept for a mobile app and bring it to market. The mobile app design competition aims to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and empower them to create STEM-related app concepts that solve real-world problems in their community or school. Students have a chance to win Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets courtesy of Samsung Telecommunications America, cash grants of up to $20,000 for their school, and the opportunity to team up with app development experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab to build and bring their apps to life. Verizon will help winning teams bring their app to the Google Play store, available for download. Please share this exciting new competition with your school department. We would love to see Rhode Island students benefit from this exciting program. For more information, go to http://appchallenge.tsaweb.org/ or http://newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/news-articles/2013/09-09-app-challenge-for-students/

28th Annual DuPont Challenge Kicks Off Competition Year Apply by January 31, 2014 (Students Grades 7 12)
Year 28 of the DuPont Challengea national writing competition for middle and high school studentskicked off last week and will begin accepting entries November 15. The DuPont Challenge calls on students in grades 712 from the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories to research, think critically, and write an essay that provides innovative ideas on the world's most pressing challenges, or demonstrates the application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to our daily lives. This year, the Challenge encourages students to consider how science and innovation can be used to meet the needs of the 21st century for food, energy, and protection. Students should address one of the four following categories in a 700- to 1,000-word essay: Together, we can feed the world. Together, we can build a secure energy future. Together, we can protect people and the environment. Together, we can be innovative anywhere. Students and sponsoring teacher prizes include savings bonds, teaching grants, exciting trips, and much more. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2014. For more information, including official rules, entry forms, and details on awards, please visit the Challenge website.

NEW!!! NASAs REEL Science Video Communication Contest For Students Apply by February 21, 2014 (High School Students)
About the Contest NASA Earth Science missions are kicking off a new video contest engaging high school age students to produce a video communicating NASA Earth Science to younger students. Students are consuming over 10 hours of media a day and video is increasingly important to communicate and inform about science. NASA is looking for talented High School students to create videos that engage students in Earth Science. Winners will have their videos posted on NASA's website. They will also get the opportunity to be a NASA Producer working with NASA scientists and communication experts in July 2014 to produce an Earth Science feature video. Who can enter? The contest is open to residents of the United States ages 13 to 18 on or before October 14, 2013. Submissions can be by individuals or teams. What is the subject of the video? Produce a two-minute video for a middle school audience that communicates one of the following science concepts: 1. How Ice Impacts Climate and Climate Impacts Ice 2. Forest Fire Effects on Air Quality 3. Water of the Water Planet How do I submit?

1.

Create a video explaining one of the science topics. Be sure to use NASA components including audio clips, animations, visualizations, or satellite images. 2. Upload your video to YouTube and tag with "NASAREELscience2014"by 11:59pm EST on February 21, 2014. 3. Within 72 hours you will receive a comment on your video that your video has been submitted. 4. Finalists will be selected by March 31, 2014. Finalists will be required to send their video file to NASA along with a supplied contest Submission Release Form by 11:59pm EST on April 15, 2014. 5. Winners will be announced April 30, 2014 on our website. When is the deadline? Videos must be uploaded and tagged with "NASAREELscience2014" on YouTube by 11:59pm EST February 21, 2014. How will the videos be judged? NASA producers, communications experts, and scientists will be judging the videos for science accuracy, creativity, use of NASA data, and video quality. Videos that are inaudible, blurry, or contain resources (other than NASA imagery) that are not original will be immediately disqualified. (See contest guidelines for more details.) How will finalists be notified? Finalists will receive a comment on their YouTube video by March 31, 2014. Check YouTube after March 31st to see if you have been selected. Finalists will have 15 days to submit their video file and waiver via email to NASA. Videos with waivers not received by 11:59pm EST April 15th will be disqualified. What are the prizes? Winning videos will be announced on April 30, 2014 and posted on the NASA website. Winners will get the opportunity to work remotely with NASA producers and communications experts on a current NASA Earth Science Story in July 2014. Participation will include access to NASA personnel through webinars and online communication tools (e.g., Skype). Final produced stories will be posted on a NASA website and have the chance of being highlighted on www.nasa.gov. See contest guidelines for required release forms. For more information go to: http://reelscience.gsfc.nasa.gov/ * Check out the Winning Videos from 2012!
: Jennifer

2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest Deadline March 15th, 2014 (K-12)
This year is the 9th year of Endangered Species Day (May 16, 2014) and the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (signed on Dec. 28, 1973). The 2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest provides students with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. The contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the International Child Art Foundation. Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest March 15, 2014 submission deadline Art Contest guidelines, entry form and teacher instructions here Young people in grades K-12, as well as those in homeschools and youth programs, can submit their artwork of threatened and endangered species. Their submissions must be postmarked by March 15, 2014. The grand prize and grade category winners of the 2013 contest were chosen by a panel of artists, photographers and wildlife experts. View the 2013 winning entries here. DETAILS about Contest Background, Teacher/School Registration, Eligibility, Subject Matter, Resources, Judging and Prizes found here: http://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/saving-endangered-species-youth-art-contest/

National Academies of Engineering Engineering For You (E4U) Video Contest Opens November 1 Enter by March 31, 2014 (MS and HS Students)
In celebration of its upcoming 50th anniversary, the National Academy of Engineering launched Engineering for You (E4U), a video contest to highlight the impact that engineering has or will have on society. In the last 50 years, engineering achievements include helping to land astronauts on the moon, creating the Internet, and decoding the human genome. What will engineering create in the next 50 years? Rev up your creativity, pull out your camera or phone, and produce a one to two minute video showing the world how you see engineering enhancing quality of life and serving the needs of society. The video must highlight a period during the years 19642064. The main prize is

$25,000, and the contest runs through March 31, 2014.

Please note: attachments will not be sent. Most information will be posted online or included here to reduce the size of this message. Thank you.
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If you know of something that you feel is a quality resource, event, or opportunity (e.g., grant), please send a newsletter-ready blurb to peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov containing the following information by 3:00pm on Thursday to be included in the Friday newsletter (subject to RIDE review and approval): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Type (e.g., grant, event, resource) Name / Title of Event / Opportunity Source or Event Sponsor Web site, and/or contact name(s) and email address(es) Description Grade level(s) and/or intended audience Deadline (if applicable) for time-sensitive submissions or event RSVPs

THIS NOTICE IS DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. R.I Department of Education does not have any affiliation or responsibility to promote this information. Peter J. McLaren
Science-Technology Specialist Office of Instruction Rhode Island Department of Education 255 Westminster Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 401-222-8454

peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov @PeterJMcLaren