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E-Blast May 29, 2008
In this E-Blast
- Leadership
- Building a Presence
- MDE Science
- K-12 Science
- High School Science
- Middle and High School Science
- Middle School Science
- Elementary and Middle School Science
- May Contest Winners
- Tools and Resources
- Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Download this e-Blast as a podcast!
Here are your science education resources and announcements for May 29, 2008 provided by Building a Presence for Science. These science education highlights are emailed to Key Leaders, Points of Contact and State Partners. Please forward them on to other science educators in your school. If you have questions or comments, please forward them to:
David Bydlowski
Michigan Coordinator - Building a Presence
bydlowd@resa.net
http://nsta.org/bap
http://www.msta-mich.org/bap
or
Sue Campbell
MSTA Representative
sue@ucia2.com
http://www.msta-mich.org
1. Leadership
We must become the change we want to see.
Mahatma Gandhi
Thank you to Herm Boatin, Science Consultant and Adjunct Professor of Biology at University of Michigan-Dearborn, for contributing this leadership quote.
Building a Presence
Mission and Goals
The mission of Building a Presence for Science is to end the isolation of classroom science teachers and to provide them with professional development opportunities and science teaching resources. The goals of the program are to encourage: Information exchange and dissemination; Leadership development; and Collaboration.
Building a Presence for Science networks around a State Coordinator (SC), Key Leaders (KL) and Super Key Leaders (SKL), and Points of Contact (PoC) within each building have been implemented in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Podcast of e-Blast at k12science.net
Don't forget that you can now listen to a podcast of this e-Blast along with previous e-Blast's. To listen to the podcast, just visit: K12science.net and click on the podcast button.
MDE Science
Update on the Science MME
Rodger Epp, Assessment Consultant for the Michigan Department of Education, recently spoke at the Michigan Science Education Leadership Association Spring Dinner Meeting. He discussed the format of the new MME content test for science. The breakdown of questions will look like this:
- 65 Multiple Choice Questions
- 2 Constructed Response Questions
The 65 multiple-choice questions will include:
- 32 questions for all students. These will include 8 questions from physics, 2 questions from reflecting and social implications, 8 quest ions from earth science, 8 questions from biology, and 6 questions from chemistry. This means that there will be two multiple choice items from each of the standards.
- 17 field test questions that will not be scored.
- 16 items that will assess one item from each standard. There will be multiple forms of the set of 16 so that not all students will receive the same 16 items.
Michigan Secondary Credit Assessment for Biology Now Available
Recently, Sally Vaughn, Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer for the Michigan Department of Education sent this message to high school principals, IDS superintendents, and public school academies:
Staff of the Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability (OEAA) have been working on secondary credit assessments for the areas of Algebra I, Geometry, Biolog y and English 9. These assessments are now ready for use by local districts.
A copy of each assessment and answer key is available through the OEAA secure website, which can be accessed by your district's Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) Coordinator and the Test Supervisor in each high school. To access the OEAA Secure Site, go to www.michigan.gov/oeaa-secure. Enter your assigned User ID and Password and click "Log In." If you do not have an assigned User ID and Password, verify with your District MEAP Coordinator to find out the authorized users of the OEAA Secure Site within your district. The Secondary Credit Assessments are posted within the OEAA Secure Site on the Announcement Page. On the Announcement Page, select "SCAS" in the Assessment dropdown box, and the Secondary Credit Assessment links will appear at the bottom of the page.
Each assessment is provided in Adobe Acro bat PDF format, which will allow you to download a copy. As the copyright notice indicates, districts have permission from the Department to make copies of the assessment for non-profit use. These tests are owned by the Department of Education and are not to be loaded into item banks or otherwise distributed without written permission from OEAA.
These assessments were written by Michigan educators last summer and pilot-tested in January. While they cannot at this time be considered the official state end-of-course exams, they are being provided at the request of districts that want state-created instruments to verify the rigor of their classes and, in some cases, to use for student assessment.
No testing services (printing of test booklets and answer documents, assessment administration services, scoring and reporting) are currently available. Districts, however, may print, use and score the assessments for use with students who have taken these course/credit areas and/or to help gauge the extent to which current course content is aligned with the High School Content Expectations for Algebra I, Geometry, Biology and English 9. Because the pilot numbers were not sufficiently large to enable us to indicate a definitive cut score for passing or earning credit, we recommend schools use a 70% score as a passing score.
We also suggest that you use these assessments as only one part of students' grades in these courses, that they comprise no more than 25% of students' final course grades, and that the tests not be used alone to determine whether or not students receive credit for the course.
The assessments are on the secure website so they will be available for you to assess students' achievement at the end of Algebra I, Geometry, Biology and/or English 9 this spring. Therefore, we ask that you not post the assessments electronically or circulate them to staff, parents or students. Also, any printed copies of the booklets should be kept in secure storage except when being used with students. We appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact William Brown at brownb6@michigan.gov or at (517) 335-0568.
K-12 Science
Making Integrated Education Work for Everyone
EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE - June 6, 2008
For the first time in Michigan, MSTA (Michigan Science Teachers Association), MCTM ( Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics), MCSS (Michigan Council for the Social Studies), MAMSE (Michigan Association for Middle School Educators), and MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning) have joined together to feature a conference with sessions directed at teachers and administrators on integrated education, curriculum and instruction.
This conference will meet one of the 15 days of Professional Development new teachers need!
First Gentleman, Dan Mulhern will be the Keynote speaker!
SB-CEU's are available
This conference will provide an invaluable opportunity for educators who team teach, or those that teach several disciplines, to learn techniques that connect lesson plans, create integrated program scripts and increase personal and professional merit through continued education. There are over 60 sessions that will be presented by teams of educators from different backgrounds and will focus on integrating relevant instruction.
This very affordable conference will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at Holt High School in Holt Michigan. Registration is only $49 for members! If you are a member of MSTA, MCTM, MCSS, MAMSE, MACUL, MI Business Education Association, MI Mathematics and Science Network, you can come for ONLY $49 - this includes lunch too! If you are not a current member of one of these groups - registration is only $79! (If you wish to attend at the member rate, you must be a current member of one of these group BEFORE the conference.)
Just go to:
http://www.mijec.org
and download the form. Also, a list of the sessions and vendors that will be at the conference, are listed at this site.
Water Week 2008
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is working in partnership with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) to celebrate Water Week 2008. SEMCOG annually celebrates Water Week through organizing local activities and events that recognize Michigan's grea t natural resource of water. Last year Governor Jennifer Granholm proclaimed Water Week 2007, and she will again proclaim Water Week for 2008.
You are invited to participate in Water Week 2008. This year's celebration of Water Week runs from Saturday, June 7, 2008 through Saturday, June 14, 2008. For more information, please visit:
http://www.semcog.org/OursToProtect_Calendar.aspx
NASA Educator Website
NASA has recently reorganized its website for educators. If you have not visited it lately, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html
Michigan Entomological Conference
Don't miss the annual conference of the Michigan Entomological Society, to be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008. The all-day conference will be held at the Environmental Interpretive Center on the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. There are interesting talks on the latest insect problems in Michigan as well as many interesting studies of various types of insects. An insect identification lab will be open during the day, so bring your mystery insects. The keynote speaker is Dr. David L. Clark from Alma College who will speak on spider biology. This is a great opportunity to make contacts with entomologists who can be a great help to your school.
Part of the UM-D campus, more than 70 acres, is maintained as one of the largest natural areas in metropolitan Detroit, serving as a research and educational resource for the campus and the region. It is located on the Rouge River and is home to the Rouge River Bird Observatory. For more information or if you want to make a presentation, contact the meeting coordinator, Dr. Thomas Wallenmaier, (313) 845-6439, twallen@hfcc.edu, or see their website for details: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/MES/meeting.html
High School Science
Website Contest for High School Females
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation is excited to announce its 2008 MCWTF Web Design Contest open to girls who attend high school in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties. Their 3rd annual contest is a unique opportunity for female students to develop and display both their creative abilities and HTML programming skills while addressing this year's theme, "How can I plan for and reach my dream career?"
For contest guidelines, deadlines, an application or additional information go to:
http://www.mcwtf.org
For questions please contact us at (248) 654-3697 or send an email to info@mcwtf.org.
Environmental Science Opportunity
The National Science Foundation has been gracious enough to give Eastern Michigan University enough money to support 30 teachers teaching one class of 30 students using Units 1 and 2 of the Investigations in Environmental Science Curriculum (technology and materials included). This curriculum is inquiry based and uses GIS software. If you are an environmental science teacher who might be interested, please contact Beth Kubitskey at:
Mkubitske1@emich.edu
734-487-8798
She can provide information about how you can receive information on the FREE part. To learn more about the curriculum, please visit:
http://www.worldwatcher.northwestern.edu/investigations/index.html
Michigan Forest Foundation Scholarship
The Michigan Forest Foundation has scholarship money available for high school students who are potentially interested in careers in natural resources. The scholarships are for attendance at the Trees for Tomorrow camp in Eagle River Wisconsin; the careers workshop is scheduled for Oct 22 - 25, 2008 in Eagle River. Cost of the conference is $150. Michigan Forest Foundation will pay $100 for deserving students; students must pay $50 plus transportation to and from Eagle River. For further information, visit or contact Michigan Forest Foundation at 6120 S. Clinton Trail, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827, 517-663-3423, miforest@acd.net.
Free Invasive Species Research Program
Join the Inland Seas Education A ssociation for the Invasive Species Research Program on July 2-3, 2008 in Grand Traverse Bay! The Invasive Species Research Program has been developed to teach high school students about current research related to invasive species in the Great Lakes Region and ways to help reduce the introduction and spread of new invasive species.
The 2-day Invasive Species Research Program will provide the unique experience of hands-on sampling aboard ISEA's schooner Inland Seas. Participants will learn and practice sampling techniques, methods for analyzing scientific samples, and experimental design for invasive species research projects. Course participants will also have the opportunity to interact with scientists, mariners, and educators with a common interest in this critical issue.
Selected participants for the Invasive Species Research Program will participate free of charge and receive complimentary meals and lodging while aboard the schooner. For course information and application materials, please visit:
http://www.schoolship.org/schoolship/?id=673
High School Biology Teachers Needed for Survey
The Education Development Center's Center for Children & Technology is working in partnership with PBS TeacherLine New York and the Buffalo PBS affiliate WNED to conduct a National Science Foundation funded study to learn more about what teachers gain from online professional development and whether it impacts student learning. They are looking for high school biology teachers with knowledge of genetics and evolution to pilot an assessment.
Interested teachers will:
1. Receive the assessment electronically
2. Complete the 60-75 minute assessment which includes content and pedagogy items as well as questions about a lesson plan
3. Electronically submit the assessment along with the lesson plan
4. Receive $50 as compensation
If you are interested, please contact Kristen Griffiths at KGriffiths@edc.org or 212-807-4267.
Middle and High School Science
Invitation for New Science Teachers
Applications are now being accepted to participate in the online science-mentoring program, e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS). The deadline to apply is September 30, but space is limited. eMSS is becoming one of the nation's largest mentoring networks of secondary science teachers. Since its inception in 2002, the eMSS professional learning community has grown to over 300 mentees and mentors from 10 states. In 2008, eMSS will be available nationwide.
One-on-one, support in your discipline and grade level:
1. Immediate feedback from an experienced professional
2. Content-focused online support and resources for your classroom
3. Immediate access to a professional learning community of other mentor teachers, professional science educators, and beginning science teachers
4. Access to other new teachers with common challenges
5. 6 quarter units of professional credit (optional)
6. Up to 110 hours of professional development credit
Applications are currently being accepted from new science teachers in their first through third year of teaching in grades 6-12. In order to apply you must visit:
http://www.emss.nsta.org
Click on Beginning Science Teachers
and use the enrollment code: MI1S
Then you fill out the online application.
INSPIRE Counselors Needed
The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, also known as INSPIRE, is seeking educators to supervise high school students during eight-week summer internships. Positions are available at several locations across the U.S. One counselor will be selected for each of the ten NASA Field Centers. The position requires a professional educator to coordinate NASA INSPIRE activities within the NASA Center region. The INSPIRE Counselor will be the designated point of contact for INSPIRE participants at the assigned NASA Center. Training will be provided prior to the assignment.
The position requires a minimum of a four-year degree in science, mathematics and/or technology education, a valid teaching certificate, and a minimum of three years teaching experience in grades 6-12. A combination of teaching experience and NASA education experience is also acceptable. U.S. citizenship is required. Counselors who are chosen will receive lodging and meals during the eight-week event, travel to and from the NASA field center, and a stipend of $5,800. Oklahoma State University graduate credit is also available to those who are interested.
Applications are due May 30, 2008. To learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, visit https://opportunities.nasa.okstate.edu/index.cfm?liftoff=applications.PositionDetails&JobPostingID=20 If you have any questions about this opportunity, please e-mail them to Richard Adams at richard.adams@okstate.edu.
Middle School Science
Opportunity for American Indian Students
There will be an Indian Youth Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Program, June 20-28, 2008, at Lake Nesbit and at Northern Michigan University. This summer camp program for current seventh and eighth grade American Indian students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics is sponsored by the Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy and funded by a grant from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Co-sponsors for the camp are the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) as part of their youth development program and the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University. For information, or camper or staff applications, contact:
Richard Sgarlotti, Camp Director
Nah Tah Wahsh PSA
N14911 Hannahville B-1 Rd.
Wilson, MI 49896
906 466 2952 x 124
richs@hvl.bia.edu
Elementary and Middle School School Science
Great Lakes in My World Educators Workshop
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is hosting another teacher workshop this summer in the Tri-Cities area on June 19 and 20, 2008. Participants will receive the Great Lake in My World Curriculum set along with one SB CEU credit. The cost of the workshop is $50. Become trained to use the Great Lakes in My World curriculum set and experience hands-on Great Lakes activities with a focus on science, social studies and methods to integrate new activities and approaches into your curriculum. This year's focus will give participants insight into the Great Lakes fishery and build a bridge between Great Lakes history and regional environmental issues.
Participants will obtain the Great Lakes in My World curriculum set and training to use it. The set includes:
- 80 indoor and outdoor hands-on activities for classrooms and field trips
- Units on sand dunes, coastal wetlands, lakes, community, history and geology
- State learning standards and benchmarks
- Assessment rubric s for activities
- Set of 60 Great Lakes creature cards
- Resource CD to use with the curriculum
To register, contact Anna Lang at:
alang@greatlakes.org
616-850-0745 ext. 11
May Contest Winners
We had fourteen winners this month for our May contest. Each winner received a copy of the College Readiness Standards for the ACT PLAN. This month's winners are:
Monica Single, Washtenaw Christian Academy
John Bingamon, Thurston High School in Redford
Steve Po niewierski, Edmonson Elementary in Lamphere
Renee Gilson, Clinton High School
Doug Damery, Madison High School in Adrian
Mary Margaret Utess, St. Casimir School in Lansing
Stephen Larsen, Ashley Community High School
Megan Sklut, Plymouth High School
Tim Neason, Hastings Middle School
Jason Holstege, Heritage Christian School in Hudsonville
David Meyer, West Michigan Lutheran High School in Kentwood
Julie Parks, P.D. Graham Elementary in Westland
Jeff Bradley, Skyline High School in Ann Arbor
Gwen Windiate, Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Bay City
Tools and Resources
Free ACT Prep:
http://www.mivhs.org/content.cfm?id=667
Archived Michigan BaP e-Blasts:
http://msta-mich.org/bap
Grants:
http://sciguides.nsta.org/internet/grants.aspx
http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/grants/index.html
High School Companion Documents:
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-28753_38684_28760-171474--,00.html
High School Science Expectations:
http://mi.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-42814---,00.html
K-6 Inquiry PD Resources:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI
K-7 Science Content Expectations:
http://mi.gov/documents/mde/Complete_Science_GLCE_12-12-07_218314_7.pdf
K-12 Science Content Expectations Podcasts:
http://k12science.net
K-12 Online Science Assessment Tool:
http://www.macombschools.org/scienceassessment
Internet Resources Correlated to the MCF and the MMC:
http://www.svsu.edu/mathsci-center/uploads/science
Michigan Merit High School Graduation Requirements FAQ for Science:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/faq15_178607_7.pdf
Science Music 24/7 on the Internet:
http://live365.com/stations/trappedinlab
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- May 31, 2008: Deadline to apply for Chemistry teachers to apply for Grants and Scholarships from the Hach Chemical Foundation. For more information, please visit: http://www.hachscientificfoundation.org/outreach.shtml
- June 6, 2008: Deadline to register online for the Curriculum Integration Conference to be held at Holt High School. To register, please click on: http://macul.org/site/files/08jointreg.pdf
- June 7 - 14: Water Week 2008 sponsored by SEMCOG and DEQ. For more information, please visit: http://www.semcog.org/OursToProtect_Calend ar.aspx
- June 14, 2008: Michigan Entomological Society Annual Conference to be held at the Environmental Interpretive Center at the University of Michigan Dearborn Campus. For more information, please visit: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/MES/meeting.html
- June 19 - 20, 2008: Great Lakes in My World Educators Workshop, to be held in Spring Lake and Grand Haven, MI. To register, please contact Anna Lang at alang@greatlakes.org or 616-850-0745
- June 25, 2008: Curriculum Integration Conference to be held at Holt High School.
- July 1, 2008: Deadline to apply to become an astronaut. For more information, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/recruit.html
- July 14-18, 2008: CSI Lawrence Tech Forensics Workshop. For more information, please visit: http://www.ltu.edu/arts_sciences/master_science_ed/forensic.asp
- July 14-18, 2008: Free Materials Science Workshop for Middle School and High School teachers, to be held in Ann Arbor, MI. To register, please visit: http://www.asmfoundation.org/portal/site/asm/Foundation/MaterialsCamp/
- July 21-25, 2008: Summer Forensics Science Workshop to be held at Gull Lake High School in Richland, MI. For more information, please contact Kathy Mirakovits at: kmirakovits@portageps.org
- July 27 - August 1, 2008: Project Inspire Training for 2nd - 4th Teachers to be held at Purdue University. To apply, please visit: https://engineering.purdue.edu/INSPIRE
- October 12-18, 2008: Earth Science Week. For more information, please visit: http://www.earthsciweek.org
- October 18, 2008: MDSTA Fall Conference at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. For more information, please visit: http://mdsta.org
- October 23, 2008: Science MEAP Test for 5th and 8th Grade Students in Michigan.
- October 28, 2008: Science MEAP Test Make-Up for 5th and 8th Grade Students in Michigan.
- October 31, 2008: Deadline to nominate teachers for the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. This is for teachers of grades 3-5. For more information, please visit: http://www.sendmyteacher.com
- February 12, 2009: Charles Darwin Bicentennial Day. For more information, please visit: http://darwinday.org/englishL/assistevent/index.html
- March 5-7, 2009: Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Detroit. For more information, please visit: http://msta-mich.org/conference
- March 19-22, 2009: National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. For more information please visit: http://www.nsta.org/conferences/2009new/
To subscribe to the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please visit: http://nsta.org/bap
To unsubscribe from the Building a Presence Science e-blast, please contact your Key Leader or email David Bydlowski, Michigan Coordinator for the Building a Presence Science Network, at bydlowd@resa.net.