Resources 1.0 « IKZ Advisors, LLC

Resources 1.0

This document looks promising:

Demco_How_to_Start_a_Makerspace since everyone is interested in the topic.

____________________

AmplifyScience_Phenomena is a report worth reading.

____________________

Check out sciencematters@massscienceteach.org for some interesting information about global education.

___________________

During the recent LearnLaunch celebration of the new headquarters near the Children’s Museum in Boston, a friend told me about http://www.cashtivity.com/ when I mentioned that financial literacy is currently popular.

___________________

There is some financial support available through DESE: Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2016Title II-B: Massachusetts Mathematics and Science Partnership Program (MMSP) Fund Code: 150-B…please go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2016/150B/default.html

___________________

David Pierce of Tabor Academy regularly sends out emails with opportunities for people to explore. This one caught my eye because the Army is experiencing the same phenomenon that businesses report: the inability to find technically proficient workers:

This website has the details of a local to Boston opportunity: http://www.ten80education.com/event/stem-experience-boston-2016/

____________________

It is the holiday season 2015 and so this “instrument” which arrived in my email appears to be appropriate: Midyear STEM Checkup.

____________________

A colleague from Lesley University days, Mary Hopper, whom I ran into at a Smithsonian event at the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Cambridge, has been developing a couple of sites which have educational potential as well as inherent interest. Enjoy:

https://cosma3d.wordpress.com/about/ Education Week is at it again (in a good way!). Please review this Spotlight on STEM in the Classroom.

___________________

I found this article extremely helpful and reflective of what we are teaching through the Global STEM Education Center work: Measures of Quality in STEM Programs.

And for students in higher education or about to enter:5 Tips for Studying STEM Subjects at University.

___________________

Since so many students at HGSE are professionals already, this is a good idea:Harvard School of Ed Launches Free Online Library of Student Work.

___________________

This manual looks useful: Developer-Toolkit for educational technology.

And this advisory, from a colleague in Iowa,does also: 3 ?s to ask tech vendors

___________________

A digital communication which arrives every day by email is the STEM Connector, worth having access to is http://www.stemconnector.org.

___________________

This website was mentioned at an Askwith Forum at HGSE in April 2015. It is important to enable students to see themselves in their leaders and role models: http://www.thehistorymakers.com/makers/sciencemakers.

___________________

This is a helpful look, funded by the NSF, of the value and contribution of STEM schools: STEM Schools Study

___________________

I have known and admired Chris Dede since I drove him to an EDCO meeting years ago and had a chance not only to hear him speak to the group, but also to have a conversation in the car on the way. He has been wonderfully supportive over the years in many circumstances. So this publication is a pleasure to share: Computing in the Classroom.

___________________

Science Matters in MA is a public awareness campaign sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the MA Association of Science Teachers (MAST). If you are interested in receiving their messages, please contact betsey.clifford@gmail.com.

__________________________

National Geographic (ngs@e.nationalgeographic.com) offers a number of videos which are useful to illustrate what you might be teaching.

________________________

Engineering is Elementary News is a monthly publication from the National Center for Technological Literacy (NCTL) at the Museum of Science, Boston. If you wish to receive it, contact eie@mos.org.The December 2014 issue is available.

_________________________

A blog entitled Engineer a Great MS STEM Curriculum was recently published and it captures most of the elements one should be thinking about. I would have liked more explicit support for hands-on approaches but these are good questions.

______________________

ASCD has finally gotten the message that STEM is important. The December 2014/January 2015 issue of Educational Leadership is all about STEM (http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership.aspx).

______________________

This article from The Journal resonated for a number of reasons: Four Tech Tools That Support New Teachers

_________________

I find the publication, Education Week (which I still receive through the US mail as well as electronically) a great compendium of the latest news around the country, primarily, but when relevant also internationally. In addition, emails from EdWeek arrive with special reports. This is one which collects a lot of interesting information (and ads) about Using Technology.

_________________

This brief asks and answers some appropriate questions about the use of tablets in school:Tablet-Computers-in-Education

_________________

A colleague I met through LearnLaunch asked for STEM Curriculum for elementary students. In searching I found the following sites:

http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/stem-resources.html

http://www.carolina.com/stem-science-technology-engineering-math-curriculum/10788.ct

http://www.weareteachers.com/hot-topics/special-reports/stem-for-elementary-school

As always, you need to check to be sure the material is appropriate for your students and your work.

________________________________________

A citation flashed across my screen today which looked intriguing. By the time I tried to locate it, it was gone. So I Googled and found this resource: Library STEM Toolkit_2013. Is it not wonderful that we still can go to a library but also to Google?

___________________

George Zimmerman has videod five physicists who made important contributions to the field and the world. He travelled with his own equipment to the homes or labs of those physicists. These videos are archived in the Niels Bohr Library and Archives in College Park, MD. To find them you need to know who they are: Michael Tinkham (Harvard), Lawrence Rubin (MIT), John King (MIT), Roman Jakiv (MIT), Wolfgang Franzen (Boston University).

He also recorded sessions at American Physical Society (APS) conferences, sponsored by the Forum on the History of Physics FHP), from 2008 to 2013. These results are accessible from this website.

_______________

Educatorlabs is a volunteer-based startup that conducts free research for educators by engaging retired teachers and librarians to other teachers. Examples are: Math Activities for Kids Crunch the Numbers: Do More Math, Eat More Fruits and Vegetables ZoomSci: Science and Engineering Projects for Kids Car Physics and Newton’s Laws of Motion Wildlife and Nature Lesson Plans and Resources for Educators Forest Fire Safety and Prevention for Kids Kids Know It Network Logistics Career Exploration Guide for Kids and Students Astronomy for Kids K-8 Space Education Resources They contacted me and asked to be included in the Resource section. Please check the site and see if and how you can use it in your work. _________________

Another resource reached out, and given how many fires there have been in MA in the last few months, it seems this might be of interest to some students. The site is http://www.firescience.org/ Education Week, June 17, 2014 edition, published an article which may be useful for instructional planning: Six Characteristics_Great STEM Lesson. _________________

Novel Engineering is an integrated approach to teaching engineering and literacy. As part of Novel Engineering, students develop projects based on texts they read in English Language Arts or other content classes, such as history. The characters become their clients and students pull from the text to scope problems and set constraints as they engage in engineering design. Teachers play a pivotal role in supporting their students’ engagement by providing a supportive, responsive environment that will allow students to build on their ideas as they work on complex problems. _________________

ASCD supplies resources to advance teaching and learning. Smart Brief is a daily dose of useful information. It is not a phishing site despite the warning that may appear on your screen. These links came from a colleague at the Boston STEM Network: The BioBuilder website (http://biobuilder.org) provides synthetic biology lab modules which combine engineering with biological principles and are well-aligned with the newest STEM standards. It includes free full protocols, videos demonstrating techniques, and student and teacher guides; teachers can obtain kits that include all the materials necessary for the labs. Professional Development workshops are also offered around the US to acquaint teachers with our labs. For 2014, a 3-day workshop offered at MIT from August 6-8 still has openings.

The Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership (https://mfdp.med.harvard.edu/dcp-programs) offers many programs for middle-school and high-school students in the Boston and Cambridge area to explore medicine and biomedical research. These programs are offered for free to students, and occur both during the school year and the summer.

The Journal of Emerging Investigators (www.emerginginvestigators.org) is a scientific journal for middle-school and high-school scientists. It offers young investigators the opportunity to publish their work in a peer-reviewed journal. Many science fair projects can be turned into journal articles, as well as summer internship work.

___________________

This opportunity came through Mort Sternheim’s daily news bulletin: The free STEM Activity App connects young minds to hands-on activities all summer long! As you may know, summer can be an intellectually stagnant time for students. According to the Summer Learning Loss Association, the loss of learning over summer breaks can account for two-thirds of the difference in the likelihood of a student pursuing a college preparatory path in high school! The STEM Activity App helps those who hold the power to reverse this summer learning loss. Registration is easy and free – just copy the following link into your browser: http://stem-app.wheelock.edu/signup Families will receive two simple activities each week throughout the summer. The activities are low-tech so they can be done in any home. Each activity connects the STEM concept learned with a potential STEM career, and a relevant everyday takeaway. The activities teach students STEM concepts now, but also develop an appreciation for learning outside of the classroom. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to help students love STEM learning over the summer, but it does require consistent practice! (http://stem-app.wheelock.edu/signup), or email stem-app@wheelock.edu to request a flyer to give students and their families. Wheelock College Aspire Institute Team _______________________

Jeff Weld, Iowa STEM Advisory Council, was googling and found two organizations that are worth a look. http://www.stem-leaders.com/ http://www.isea-stem.org/ ________________________

AAAS is sponsoring professionals who volunteer in science classrooms. Not a new idea but there is money to support the initiative. The National STEM Volunteer Program is worth investigating. ____________________________

The Center for Digital Educations hosts Research Roundtables. The one which took place in Burlington on May 29, 2014 provided some interesting statistics which you might want to look at. __________________________

According to the Affordable Colleges Foundation, “Our organization created a computer science career and post-secondary education guide tailored to the needs of current and future students. It includes industry resources, career paths, scholarships, supplemental free online courses, and internship opportunities. Additionally, we have created the first database of Not-for-Profit accredited online computer science programs that is updated on a quarterly basis…” Check out their Computer Science Guide __________________

With many people establishing one to one programs, this advice might be useful. See http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/5-Ways-to-Run-a-Successful-Mobile-Device-Initiative.html from the Center for Digital Education. The Center for Digital Education publishes papers of interest which are complimentary. The March 2o, 2014 issue has several STEM related stories which are worth reading: Computer Science Degrees Jump to New Heights at Doctorate Level and Closing the IT Skills Gap. Go to http://forms.erepublic.com/ to register so you have access.

NASA Launches Online Video Series Using Sports to Teach STEM Subjects The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched a new online video series last week aimed at using sports to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The series, called NASA STEM Mania, includes sessions for both students and teachers. Students can learn about the physics behind the game of football and the differences in training for athletes and astronauts, while some of the educator sessions include clips of astronauts playing sports on the International Space Station, a comparison between the principles of bowling and those used to develop Mars rovers, and how solar energy is being used to power a NASCAR track. All sessions will be streamed live on NASA’s Distance Learning Network. To participate in interactive activities, students and teachers will have to register on NASA’s website for particular sessions. Sessions run through March 20. –Bryan Toporek, EdWeek March 5, 2014 _____________________________

A colleague from CELT pointed out this teen website designed by PBS in Minnesota.. Shades of Search4STEM: U.S. Learning Registry Aims to Tailor Online Content for Educators Check out http://www.educatorstechnology.com. There are suggestions about the use of mobile learning devices and educational web tools. Five uses of technology which serve learning: Cloud Computing, Mobile Technology, Game Based Learning, MOOCs and Learning Analytics… Check out Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. It is a resource of educational web tools and mobile apps for teachers and educators.

Check out EdSurge, Dec 11, 2013 for a collection of articles and a guide to Teaching Kids to Code. This is all part of Hour of Coding. MassCAN has been in the news…in the December 12 Boston Globe Opinion section: An ‘Hour of Code’ Your Plan For The Future is MA’s no-cost, one-stop online shop for students, parents, and educators designed to help Massachusetts students manage their educational and career pathways (from the website). ___________

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care & education and after-school settings ( Stair Steps to Quality , Anne W. Mitchell (2005); United Way Success by Six, p. 4). The MA QRIS offers guidance to professionals in early education and care and out of school time settings on a path towards quality, recognizing that higher expectations of programs must be matched with increased supports that include a better-articulated career ladder, financial incentives, and professional development and technical assistance, which are grounded in the science of child development (from the website). _______________

Check out ed-fi at http://www.ed-fi.org. According to their explanation it is a system which connects “data with insights that make it easier for teachers to teach, for students to learn and for schools to succeed.” —————

If you do not receive the STEM Daily from the STEMconnector, you should. Go to http://www.stemconnector.org/ for more information and directions. —————

As a physicist I know said when I read him this story: Zombies Infiltrate Classrooms To Bring STEM Back To Life – Forbes, “Whatever it takes!”

This story marks yet another milestone in the history of technology in schools. As a long time member of ASCD, and active in the governance of the organization, I can remember suggesting to then Executive Director, Gordon Cawelti, that ASCD needed to start exploring and incorporating technology for itself and for the educational enterprise. His response at the time was a tv with an attached video tape recorder (the precursor to VHS). Schools were somewhat ahead of that curve…. Even when schools caught up, there were still issues with mobile devices being brought to school, much less used in school. Imagine my pleasure when I read in September 2013’s Education Update, a story about Why Every District Needs a Mobile App

IF YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE College & Career Readiness Report JUNE 2012 the bottom line starts on page 15.

LEADING EDUCATION BY ADVANCING DIGITAL or LEAD “believes America is reaching a tipping point for digital textbooks, online lessons, learning games, collaborative platforms and other digital tools.” (http://www.leadcommission.org/)

ZWIVET ZONE Swivet Zone is a new web based program designed to “ignite.. students’ curiosity in science and technology through an interactive multi-platform learning experience. Quizzes, games and downloadable activities on the Swivet Zone help students build on what they learn in the classroom. Cartoon characters guide subject exploration and keep kids engaged by bringing the characters to life through Swivet video episodes.… Swivet Zone can be used in class or at home…” This story brings the announcement to life. ———————————————————–

STEM Vital Signs is a report released by the nonprofit coalition, Change the Equation. ‘The group sent letters to all the nation’s governors on April 21, 2011 calling for higher proficiency standards in science and mathematics so that American students will be better prepared to compete globally.’ See also state by state data and their updated STEMWORKS database. __________________

If you have not read Life with Teens (TeenLife.com/mag), published by Marie Schwartz, President and Founder of Teen Life Media in Brookline, MA, you have not had the opportunity to learn about how to help your teen as a parent. The Fall 2012 (Vol 1, Issue 2), includes a major article about STEM and the parental role in fostering STEM which includes the comments of many of the people we work with on the MA Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. __________________

FROM THE MassCUE/MASS CONFERENCE: Free STEM Resources from the Concord Consortium “Learn to use hundreds of free activities developed by the Concord Consortium for grades 3-14 that integrate probes and models, including the award-winning Molecular Workbench. The Concord Consortium (www.concord.org) is a nonprofit R&D organization in Concord, MA, dedicated to transforming education through technology. Since 1994, we have been building deeply digital tools and learning activities that capture the power of curiosity and create revolutionary new approaches to science, math and engineering education. Our scientifically accurate virtual labs and hands-on digital tools make the invisible visible and explorable in a way that brings out the inner scientist in everyone.” We were told about a promising app called Science Writer from CAST. __________________

We received a note about The VHS Collaborative, an initiative which started when I was Superintendent in Acton and Acton/Boxborough and which is now a serious topic of conversation and consideration all over the country. In fact in Education Week (August 8, 2012 edition), there was a story titled “When Technology Trumps Teachers” which described a Colorado school district cutting “three foreign language teaching positions and replacing them with online instruction.” Senator Will Brownsberger of MA has been sponsoring a bill to require online learning for high school graduation. The debate will undoubtedly cover a wide range of topics, both controversial and desirable. __________________

About BATEC: It is [Broadening Advanced Technological Education Connections], a National Science Foundation-funded Center for IT Education, dedicated to the complex mission of developing career-focused pathways to high technology education and practical work experience for motivated, typically underserved high school, community college and university students in four urban regions – Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas. These four regions feature a high demand for skilled labor coupled with great opportunities for building new connections in skills-training and workforce development. A group they work with is The Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science (IWITTS) which helps educators nationwide close the gender gap for women and girls in technology. IWITTS’s CalWomenTech Project was highlighted by the National Science Foundation for demonstrating significant achievement and program effectiveness for increasing the number of female students in community college technology programs in which they were underrepresented. __________________

To see a good model of a website of STEM resources and activities developed by a school district, please visit one of my former districts, Acton-Boxborough Regional School District .__________________

We did some work with Eli Luberoff whose company, Desmos, describes itself as “Interactive education. For every platform. For everyone…we let all of the devices in the classroom work together – from Interactive Whiteboards, to laptops and tablets, to smartphones. With our software, anyone can build rich content that plays in any browser, on any device.” __________________

The STEM Connector describes itself as a one stop shop for who is doing what in the four STEM disciplines. It provides state by state information as well as a state STEM report card and daily email bulletins. __________________

The Pathways to Prosperity project is based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.The report was released in February of 2011. It explores the challenges facing the educational enterprise as it prepares students for post high school education. __________________

NCTAF’s STEM Learning Studios are cross STEM disciplinary teams of 4 to 6 teachers who collaboratively develop and implement hands-on projects in high needs schools working with STEM professionals from the community who volunteer to become participants in the schools. __________________

eSchool News reported on September 14, 2011, that the “STEM education crisis stems from unsupported teachers. Lack of respect for teaching, public perception are two main causes of the shortage of STEM graduates in the U.S., experts say.” The back up reports come the Economics and Statistics Administration of the US Department of Commerce. This website is a treasure trove of information. __________________

The Center for Digital Education produced The Guide to Digital Content Transformation. A webinar was conducted on June 21, 2011 featuring an overview of the guide. _____________

Helping children envision their future, the Quirkles®are 26 imaginary scientists that help children everyday to connect with STEM. __________________

The STEM Education Coalition in Washington, D.C. supports programs for students and teachers at the US Dept of Education, NSF and other agencies. __________________

Below are other resources that have been recommended to me or that I have found which may be useful. They need to be explored and assessed for value to you and your constituents.

NOVA, the primetime science series on television, was launched on PBS in 1974 and remains the only weekly documentary series dedicated to telling important science stories. NOVA can be seen on air and online.

Digital Teacher for Digital Learners www.jfyboston.org

Massachusetts Biotechnology Educational Resource Center http://www.massbioed.org/

PBS Teachers offers a STEM Education Resource Center

New York Academy of Sciences The Art of Teaching Science Noyce Foundation WGBH Teachers’ Domain Enablemath: The active engagement by the student in the process of learning called “Productive Practice”™.

P roject Lead the Way Sally Ride Science Massachusetts Technology Education/ Engineering Collaborative (MassTEEC) Digital Media for Instruction

Teachers’ Domain STEM and the Arts STEM + ARTS = STEAM National Academy of Engineering

WestEd is a research, development and service agency. It is leading the National Center for Cognition and Mathematics Instruction (Math Center), funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. Cjheck out http://www.wested.org/about-us/programs/science-technology-engineering-mathematics/resources/

National Sciences Resource Center

The National Science Resources Center (NSRC) was established in 1985 by the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies. Its mission is to improve the learning and teaching of science for all students in the United States and throughout the world.

Mathematics As A Second Language EdTechTeacher (Professional Development, Tutorials, Lesson Plans)

4H National Society of Black Engineers

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers SETDA State Educational Technology Directors Association

ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) Technology and Engineering standards (http://www.edgateway.net/cs/naepsci/print/docs/470) MassCUE is an affiliate of ISTE.

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education… Please refer specifically to the Office of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering (OMSTE).

Massachusetts Department of Early Childhood and Care

Massachusetts STEM Indicators Project (MASSIP) 2009 Full Report Leadership Initiative for Teaching and Technology (LIFT²) As of 2014 this organization has been de-activated but while it operated it provided excellent education for teachers and as a result, also for students.