DNA & Protein 3D Structure for High School Teachers
Oct. 27, 2009; 4pm; UMASS, Amherst
Emeritus Professor Eric Martz of Microbiology will we teaching about new visual software and programs that can be incorporated into high school curricula. Computer programs include models of rotating, 3-d high impact, macromolecules like influenza, Tamiflu, DNA, antibody, hemoglobin HIV-protease and inhibitor drug, and lipid bilayers/channels.
Other programs or learning sites that will be introduced are the BioMolecular Explorer 3D, Proteopedia.Org, Molecular Workbench and SMART Teams. All software is free and works in web browsers for Windows or Macs. Refreshments will be served at 3:45 PM. For more information, contact STEM Ed Institute at 545-0453.
History of Winter: An Immersive Cryosphere Science Traing Camp
February 14-20, 2010; Lake Placid, NY
The NASA GSFC Education Office invites science teachers to participate in the upcoming 2010 History of Winter (HOW) training. This week of training, held annually in February in Lake Placid, NY, places teachers in the role of scientists, working side-by-side with professional scientists and technologists. Learning by doing, teachers gain a better understanding of scientific inquiry through experience and gain first-hand understanding of the study of snow and ice as indicators of climate change. Participants are responsible for getting to Lake Placid, while NASA pays for all room/board and program expenses.
Information about the program can be seen at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lsUSpm4WVU
For more information, contact Katherine Bender, Office of Education Programs at Katherine.J.Bender@nasa.gov, 301-286-2050.
The Northeastern Girls Collaborative (NEGC) Western MA Fall Forum
Thurs. November 19, 2009, 4 – 6pm; Ford Hall, Smith College
Held at the brand new Engineering and Nanotechnology at Smith College, The fall NEGC forum will feature a number of successful Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs serving K-12 girls in Western Massachusetts. This day allows the NGCP to provide information on the goals and objectives of the National Girls Collaborative Project and to encourage collaborative efforts among individuals, schools, non-profit organizations, government agencies
and corporations, and to increase STEM outreach to serve girls.
Registration will begin in early October through the National Girls Collaborative Project Website, http://neosec.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/stem-programs-for-girls-fall-forum/. For additional information, please contact Kim Edgar at KimberlyEdgar@aol.com or call 603-448-3708.
Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars
Fall 2009 - Five Saturdays; 8:30am-1pm; Umass
Umass is offering once again the Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars for science teachers. UMass Amherst Educational materials, refreshments, parking, and PDP's are all included under the session fee. Capacity is limited, so advanced registration is required. 4 PDP's per half day session and/or an option for 3 grad credits at reduced cost with extra work is offered.
To register, contact the Continuing Education Dept. or the UMass Graduate School. For more information contact Mort Sternheim, mort@umassk12.net, 413-545-1908, or log onto http://k12s.phast.umass.edu/sess/, where online registration is also available.
Sept. 12. Nanotechnology Lederle 1033; Mark Tuominen, Physics Department and Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing. Another in a series on nanotechnology; previous attendance is not required. Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of 1 to 100 nanometers; a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, or about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials have many important and novel properties. Topics will include going down the powers of ten scale, creating nanofilms, why size matters and nanofilters for clean water.
Oct. 3. Illuminating Life: What's New and Noteworthy in Luminescence Spectroscopy and Imaging? Lederle 1033; Pat O'Hara, Chemistry, Amherst College.
This workshop aims to explore the modern breakthroughs of biotechnology and medical imaging founded by clever molecular biologists and to use this knowledge to understand the foundational physical and chemical behind them.
Oct. 17. Using Ecology: Making Science Real Location to be announced.
Steve Brewer, Biology. Ecology, the science of organisms interacting with each other and their environment, can offer an opportunity for students to practice hands-on science in their local environment. Workshop participants will explore a variety of ecological problems and generate ideas for making observations, posing problems, collecting data, and developing persuasive presentations of their findings with a renewed focus on climate change limitations on the environment.
Oct. 31. Global Climate Change Julie Brigham-Grette and Ray Bradley, Geosciences. Lederle 1033. Global temperatures have been steadily rising as we burn fossil fuels, with the biggest effects in the polar regions. Participants will be allowed to explore the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and temperature, modeling the effects of climate change on ocean currents, and more.
Nov. 14. Supporting Statistical Reasoning for Mathematics & Science Students Location to be announced; Sandra Madden, Math Education.
This workshop explores the characteristics of carefully designed experiments, investigates an innovative curriculum unit for supporting statistical reasoning, and introduces several tools (including one free and widely available internet-based software tool) for supporting statistical investigations that is broadly accessible to students and teachers.
Nov. 21. Weather cancellation makeup date if needed.
Dec. 5. Recall for those registered for graduate credit.
Renewable Energy Learning for Youth
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is expanding their popular Clean Energy for a Clean Environment program (CECE) in western Massachusetts to include renewable energy learning experiences for students, teachers of K-12 and youth-group leaders. The CECE offers two curricular units Clean Green Power and Wind Wisdom that are aligned to fit the Massachusetts State Frameworks in science and technology/engineering. Through current grant funding, units are free to participating schools while supplies last.
Teachers or organizations who are interested and scheduling a workshop or information session in their area, can contact NESEA through Arianna Alexsandra Collins (Education Director) at 413-774-6051 x 21 or acollins@nesea.org. Or log on to the web page at www.nesea.org
WPI: Use Data to Drive your Instruction with the ASSISTment System
January 2009 -- Fall 2010; Teacher's school and WPI
This program is for teachers who are new to the ASSISTment system as well as those who have been using the ASSISTment system for years. Teachers will participate in a graduate level class (MME 562) for which 90% of the tuition will be paid by WPI. Teachers will also have a computer science graduate fellow to assist in their classroom once a week. Finally, participating teachers will be paid a stipend for any meetings or workshops outside of school hours.
Click here for more information.
