ScienceUpdateJanuary2019Thisperiodice-newsletterfromtheMinn.Dept.ofEducation(MDE)issenttoafewemaillists,includingtheMinn.ScienceTeachersAssn.(MnSTA)anddistrict/organizationcontacts.Weencourageyoutoforwardthistootherteachersandscienceleaders.ArchivededitionsareatthisMnSTAsite.SeeMDEcontactsattheendofthisdocument.Note:MDEdoesnotendorseanyresourceoreventthatisnotconductedbyMDE.
*indicatesanitemthatwasnotinthepreviousedition
News*SecondDraftoftheMinnesotaScienceStandardsThefirstdraftofthe2019Sciencestandards,publishedinNovember,receivedarecordnumberofreviews.Theonlinefeedbacksurveyreceived230entrieswith30%ofthemfromgroups.73peopleattendedMDEtownhallmeetingsandtherewere156attendeeatfeedbackmeetingsattheMnSTAconferenceandregionalmeetings.Thankyoutoallwhocompletedthereview.TheScienceStandardsReviewCommitteeisanalyzingthisdataandmakingrevisionsinpreparationforseconddraftwhichwillbepublishedFeb.14.ItwillbeavailableforfeedbackuntilFeb.28.WatchforinformationaboutfeedbackmeetingsandtheonlinesurveyintheFebruaryupdateandontheMDESciencepage.AdditionalinformationaboutthefeedbackandtheplansfortheseconddraftareattheMnSTAScienceStandardspage.ThefinaldraftwillbepublishedinMaywithfullimplementationofthestandardsandanewversionoftheMCAexaminthreeorfouryears.
TeacherEventsandWorkshops*Code.orgAdmin,Jan.8,St.Paul
Isyourschoolordistrictlookingtoaddcomputersciencecoursesforyourstudentsingrades6-12?TPTishostingaCode.orginformationalworkshoptointroducedistrictcoachesandschooladministratorsofgrades6-12toCode.orgprograms.Applicationsforteacherstoparticipateinthisfreeprofessionaldevelopmentopportunityduringthe2019–2020schoolyeararenowopen(seebelow).Thegoalsfortheadministratorworkshopareto:
• Understandwhycomputerscienceeducationisimportant.• UnderstandwhattheCode.orgprogramsareabout.• Developagoalforexpandingcomputerscienceinschoolsanddistricts.• Developideasforraisingawarenessandencouragingstudentstotakecomputerscienceclasses.
Winter Science
TheworkshopwilltakeplaceTuesday,January8thfrom8am-11amattheTPTstudiosinSt.Paulandregistrationisnowopen!Pleasefollowthislinktoregisterformoredetails.Forquestions,[email protected].
MNEarthScienceTeachersConference,Feb.1,Plymouth
TheannualMinnesotaEarthScienceTeachersAssn.conferencefeatures:
Keynote:AnnetteLee,directoroftheNativeSkywatchersprogramandAstronomyProfessoratSt.CloudStateUniversity.Thepresentationwillfocusoncross-cultural,interdisciplinary,andSTEM/STEAMresourcesforauthenticastronomyeducationengagement.
Concurrentsessions:• SkywarnStormSpottingandSevereWeather• AuthenticLearningandAssessments• StoryMapswithFREEESRImappingproducts• BedrockGeologyandHydrologicalChallengesofSoutheastMinnesota
Anddon’tmissthefabulousdoorprizes.
TheThursdayeveningpre-conferencesessionfeaturestheComoPlanetariumanddinneratGabe’sbythePark.
*InspiringInvestigationsthroughCitizenScience
ThisnewonlinecoursethroughtheCornellLabBirdAcademywillhelpyouexploreinquiry-basedlearningandscientificinvestigation,especiallyasinspiredbyoutdoorobservationsandcitizen-science.Throughcase-studies,practiceactivities,standardsalignment,andreflection,thiscoursewillprepareyoutoweaveinquiry-basedlearningintoyourstudents’livesinwaysthatwillbuildtheirconfidenceandmotivationtoengageinscience.
You’llalsoparticipateindiscussionboardsandlearnfromothereducatorsaswellasyourCornellLabfacilitators.We’llencourageyoutogetoutsideandexplore,andtothinkaboutapplicationsforandimplementationinyourown
programorclassroom.Finally,quizzesandassignmentswillhelpyoutestyourknowledgeandunderstanding.Theenrollmentfeeis$59.95.
*GreenSchoolsConference&Expo,April8-9,St.PaulThisnationaleventbringstogetheralltheplayersinvolvedinmakinggreenschoolsareality.AnditiscomingtotheRiverCenterinSt.Paul.ThisyearGSCEisco-locatedwithIMPACT,theleadingeventforsustainabledevelopmentintheMidwest.Theconferenceoffersengagingeducationalsessions,casestudies,hands-onworkshopsandlecturesfromtoday'sgreenschoolexperts.GSCEprovidesanunmatchedopportunityforgreenschooladvocatesnationwidetocollaborateandlearnfromoneanother—allwithavestedinterestinmakingapositivedifferenceinourchildren’sfutures. Check out the conference website.
*2019NationalSTEMScholarProgram,June2–8,Kentucky
Applicationsarenowbeingacceptedforthe2019classoftheNationalSTEMScholarProgram,aprogramdesignedspecificallyformiddleschoolteachersinspiringthenextgenerationofSTEMpioneersnationwide.NationalSTEMScholarsreceiveadvancededucationinthedevelopmentofSTEMprojectsforclassroomimplementation,spendafulldaywithanationalthoughtleaderinSTEMeducationandbuildanationalnetworkofcolleaguesforinformationsharing.TheapplicationdeadlineinFeb.1.
*AmazonRainforestEducatorWorkshop,July1–11,PeruScholarshipsandGrantfundsareavailableforthe2019EducatorAcademyintheAmazonRainforestofPeru,across-curricularprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopforformalandinformalscienceeducators.Highlightsinclude:
• InquiryProtocols&Resources:VernierTechnologyandCelestronDigitalMicroscopes• GlobalandCulturalPerspectives:ServiceLearning~Sustainability~GlobalEducation• NEW!AspecializedtrackforHSbioandenvironmentalscienceeducatorswithafocuson
sustainability,conservation,andfieldworkwiththeMaijunaindigenouscommunity• Workside-by-sidewithscientistsandresearchersoncitizenscienceprojectsandfieldstudies.• Explorethe¼milelongACTSPeruRainforestCanopyWalkwayinoneoftheworld’smost
biologicallydiverseenvironments.
TheapplicationdeadlineisFebruary1.
*NativeSkywatchersWorkshop,July18-19,St.CloudThis two-day workshop is designed for all educators & persons interested in increasing their knowledge of Ojibwe and D(L)akota Star Knowledge. A new focus this year will include: Earth and Sky, and interdisciplinary STEM connections. The workshop includes multiple hands-on activities so participants will be able to experience the culture and the science in the most authentic and meaningful way possible. Learnmorehere.*Code.orgComputerScienceWorkshops,St.PaulDesignedtosupportmiddleandhighschoolteachersbeforeandduringtheirfirstyearteachingComputerScienceDiscoveriesorComputerSciencePrinciples,theCode.orgProfessionalLearningProgrambeginswithafive-day,in-personsummerworkshopfollowedbyfouradditionalsessionsthroughouttheyear.Bestofall?Nopreviousexperienceteachingcomputerscienceisneeded.
Wewelcomeelementaryschoolteacherstosignupyear-roundforourno-cost,high-qualityone-dayprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopsforComputerScienceFundamentalscoursesfromanexperiencedcomputersciencefacilitator.
FullscholarshipsareavailableforallMinnesotateachers.ContactHadiPartovifordetails.
TeacherandSchoolAwardsandOpportunitiesPresidentialAwardforMathematicsandScienceTeachingCelebrategreatteaching!NominateacolleagueoryourselfforthePresidentialAward,whichbringsstateandnationalleadershipopportunitiesand$10,000.TwoteachersfromeachstatereceivethisawardfromtheWhiteHouse.ThisyearapplicationsaresoughtfromsecondaryteacherswithadeadlineofMay1.Informationandnominationsite.
SchoolProgramsandInstruction
School Celebration for Jim Schrankler
PhysicForcedemonstrationshows,January,Minneapolis;May,Rochester
Scienceteachersofallages-didyouknowthattheUniversityofMinnesota’sPhysicsForceperformsforfree12timeseveryJanuaryatNorthropAuditoriumontheUofMNcampusandinRochesterinMay?DidyouknowthattheForcewillhelpsubsidizeyourtransportationfeesifyouareatahigh-povertyschool?Well,wedo.Thisyear'sshowsarebetterthanever,withlivefire,lightning,acrushingbarrel,andaperformerfallingfromatower.
Signyourclassesupforthefreetickets!Yourkidswillseelarge-scalephysicsdemonstrationsdonebytrainedprofessionalspairedwithcomedydonebytotalamateurs.Informationandregistration.
StudentPrograms,AwardsandCompetitions*YoungScientistsRoundtable,Jan.26,Plymouth
KeepingBeesontheirSixFeetisthepresentationbyDr.MarlaSpivik,ahoneybeeresearcherattheUniversityofMinnesota.Shewilltalkaboutresearchrelatedtodiseasesandremedies.Thispresentationandroundtablediscussionforstudentsisat7:00atCentralMiddleSchoolinPlymouth.Moreinformationhere.
*SkyNetScholars,startingJan.26
SkynetScholarsisaprogramoftheBellMuseumformiddleandhighschoolstudentsthatputstheminthedriver’sseattoconducttheirownscientificexplorationsoftheuniverse.Scholarslearnhowtoaccessaglobalnetworkofresearch-gradetelescopesthatserveprofessionalastronomersandstudentsalikeovertheinternet.Theywillgettoexperiencehands-onastronomyandSTEMbasedactivitiesincludingtheuseofrobotictelescopestotaketheirownastronomicalimages.
*NationalYouthScienceCamp,June27–July20,WestVirginia
Teachersofseniors,encourageyourstudentstoapply.WeoftengetveryfewMinnesotaapplicants!TwograduatingseniorsfromMinnesotawillbechosenforthisprestigiousFREEsciencecampinthemountainsofWestVirginia.TheNYSCampisaresidentialSTEMprogramdesignedtohonorandchallengesomeofthenation’srisingSTEMleaders.AttheNYSCamp,STEMprofessionalspresentlecturesandleadsmall-groupdirectedstudiesonabroadarrayofSTEMtopics;somedelegatesareabletoconductresearchatthenearbyGreenBankObservatory.TheNYSCampexperiencealsofeaturesexcursionsintotheMonongahelaNationalForestincludingbackpacking,rock-climbing,caving,kayakingandmountainbiking.DelegatesarerequiredtoparticipateintheNYSCampprogramforitsentirety;thefast-pacedactivitiesandremotelocationsimplymaketraveltoandfromtheNYSCampverydifficult.TheNYSCampisoffered
toselectedparticipantsatNOCOSTsothattalentedstudentsmayattendregardlessoftheirfinancialability–transportationincluded.MinnesotausestheNYSCamp’sonlineapplicationsystem.Formoreinformationcontactjohn.c.olson@state.mn.us,Minnesotacoordinator.TheapplicationdeadlineisFebruary28.
*LakeSuperiorYouthSymposiumMay16-19,Duluth
Youthingrades8-12willexperiencethescience,art,cultureandchallengesofprotectingoneofthegreatestbodiesoffreshwaterontheplanet-LakeSuperior.Activitieswillincludehands-onworkshops,research,fieldtripsintheDulutharea,dynamicspeakersandafinalnightpizzapartyanddanceattheGreatLakesAquarium!
Workwithscientists,engineersandartiststoexplorethemanywaysyoucanengagewiththeenvironmentandpursueyourpassions.Internationallyknownspeakerand2013CNNHeroChadPregrackeisslatedforthekeynoteaddresstotalkabouthiscareercleaningupriverswhichstartedwhenhewas17.
StartplanningnowforyourgrouptocometoUMDandbepartofthisamazingexperience.Theregistrationfeeis$200perparticipantandincludeshousingmealsandactivities.Scholarshipstolow-incomestudentswilllikelybeavailable.Visitthesymposiumwebsiteformoreinformation
ScienceandEngineeringCompetitions• MinnesotaScienceOlympiad• ScienceandEngineeringFairandScienceBowl• FIRSTLegoLeague,FIRSTTechChallenge,FIRSTRobotics• SupermileageChallenge• RealWorldDesignChallenge• Toshiba/NSTAExploraVision• NSTAAngelaAward–girlsgrades5–8• MNScholarsofDistinction–highschool• NationalYouthScienceCamp–twoMinnesotaDelegates
MinnesotaProgramsandCompetitionsManycompetitions,out-of-schoolprogramsandfieldtripopportunitiesarepostedattheMn-STEMwebsiteandlistedintheReachfortheStarsCatalogofProgramsandActivities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MDEScienceContacts:
JohnOlson,ScienceContentSpecialist,@JohnCasperOlsonJimWood,ScienceAssessmentSpecialistJudiIverson,ScienceAssessmentSpecialistSendsubmissionsfortheScienceUpdatetoJohnOlson
OtherMinnesotaLinks:
Minn.Dept.ofEducationSciencePageMinn.ScienceTeachersAssociationFrameworksforMNScienceandMathematicsStandardsGet–STEMConnectionsbetweenschoolsandbusinessesMn-STEMSTEMprogramsandresourcesforfamilies,schoolsandcommunitySharingEnvironmentalEducationKnowledgeenvironmentaleducationresources
MinnesotaAcademyofScience:ScienceFair,ScienceBowlandothercompetitionsMnDNREducationwebsite:Curriculum,professionaldevelopment,posters,etc.
