"My Next Move" Provides Information on Professional, Scientific and Technical Careers

 My Next Move, a new federal website, provides information on a variety of career pathways, including those in the professional, scientific, and technical areas.  http://www.mynextmove.org/find/browse?c=54

New Links Posted

A number of new links have gone up recently in the "Helpful STEM Links" section.  If you haven't visited recently, you might want to scroll through to see the changes.

NSF Grants Awarded to Transform STEM Learning

The National Science Foundation recently awarded seven grants totaling approximately $5 million for the purpose of "transforming STEM learning."  The awards include approximately $500k to the American Association for the Advancement of Science to use "green" school buildings to transform middle school science and math curriculum, nearly $500k to the Education Development Center for its iPuzzle project, $500k to Loyola University of Chicago for a blended instructional model involving family and community in sustainable resource projects, $500k to the NY Hall of Science for the creation and testing of two innovative science games, $2m to the Research Triangle Institute to study the re-design of ten SC high schools to determine the effect of environment on learning, and $1m to TERC, Inc. for two projects including a digital gaming environment known as Arcadia and for an integrated science and art learning approach focusing on water use.  A second round of grants will be released in 2012.  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2011/11/nsf_aims_to_transform_stem_lea.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

Super Science Saturday at Joe Walker MS on 12/10/11

The next Super Science Saturday for the Antelope Valley's Westside and Lancaster School Districts will be held on Saturday, 10 December 2011, from 8:00am to noon at Joe Walker Middle School in Quartz Hill.  Exhibitors will be present and activities will take place, including straw bridge-building, egg drop, rocketry, robotics, green-eco, crimebusters, and more.  Student pre-registration will take place through the schools; contact your child's teacher in those districts for further information.

Congressman Honda Introduces STEM Education Innovation Legislation

Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA) introduced the STEM Education Innovation Act of 2011 recently, proposing a new Office of STEM Education in the US Department of Education, a State Consortium on STEM best practices, and establishing the Education Innovation Project to "promote the development of transformational technologies for the classroom by providing grant funding to outside entities."  Congressman Honda, who represents the 15th District in the Silicon Valley area, is a former science teacher, school principal, educational researcher, and school board member, among other posts.  http://honda.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1136&Itemid=110

Congressional Hearing on Transferring STEM Knowledge from Industry to the Classroom

The House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a session on 3 November on transferring STEM knowledge from the workplace to the classroom.  Under review was the issue of alternative licensure for teaching by STEM professionals, and the benefits the professionals bring in relevance and practical application of core principles.  Witnesses from both high-tech industry and teacher preparation institutions testified.  http://science.house.gov/hearing/research-and-science-education-subcommittee-hearing

ACTE Convention in St. Louis A Hit!

The 2011 national convention for the Association of Career and Technical Education in St. Louis from 17-19 November was a great success.  Featuring keynotes by Sir Ken Robinson, Ray McNulty of the International Center for Leadership in Education, Brenda Dann-Messier of the US Dept. of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and Eric Chester, literally hundreds of sessions were offered on a variety of subjects and strands, including STEM, Common Core State Standards and the upcoming Common Career Technical Core, Green Technology, Career Academies, Agriculture, Business/Marketing, Administration/Leadership, Certifications, Student Organizations, and many, many more.  Materials from the sessions are in the process of being posted at http://www.acteonline.org/conventionsessions11.aspx and a Schooltube video channel is also available at http://www.schooltube.com/channel/dgoble/.  I've brought back many great ideas to pass along to colleagues, however, it has also reinforced my belief that the AV is already doing outstanding things for our students that need to be replicated.

Michelle Webb accepts 2011 Business Advocate of the Year  Award for Northrop from Mark Pelesh of the CTE Foundation

Our own Michelle Webb, Corporate Responsibility and Business Conduct Officer for Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility, accepted the 2011 Business Advocate of the Year Award from CTE Foundation Board Chair Mark Pelesh of Corinthian Colleges on behalf of Northrop Grumman. Here's a picture of Michelle on-stage during the award presentation.

Prior to the ACTE Convention, LEGO Education and National Instruments sponsored a STEM Summit at the America's Center in St. Louis.  Delays at the airport (but nothing compared to Michelle's!!) meant that I was only able to attend one afternoon breakout session on incorporating 21st Century Skills into the classroom; a common theme is the use of technology to inspire and engage students to become creative, collaborative critical thinkers and problem solvers which will make them college and career ready.

Disney Planet Challenge Grant Applications Due by 12/1/11

Disney's Planet Challenge is reviewing applications for grants of up to $650 in materials for 3rd through 8th grade classroom projects that benefit the environment, such as class/school gardens.  For those who sign up for the Disney Planet Challenge, additional funding may be available.  Proposals are due by no later than 1 December 2011 for notification of funding in December.  To submit a request, use your teacher's "DonorsChoose.org" account and include information on the hands-on environmental project for materials up to $650.  For more information on the Disney Planet Challenge, visit http://dpcproject.com/RegTrack.aspx.

NASA "Improving Earthquake Monitoring" Class 12/5/11

A class on new web-based curriculum "Improving Earthquake Monitoring" will be held by NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center on 5 December 2011 from 4:00 to 6:00pm PST (1600-1800) at the AERO Institute in Palmdale.  While the material is targeted for 5th through 9th graders, it is adaptable to different grade levels.  Space is limited.  For more information and to register, e-mail your name, phone number, and school name to Cheryl Craft at cheryl.a.craft@nasa.gov.

WEPAN Knowledge Center Orientation Webinar 11/18/11

WEPAN (Women in Engineering ProActive Network) will be hosting a free webinar tour of their Knowledge Center http://www.wepanknowledgecenter.org/home, including professional interest communities, research, resources, etc., on Friday, 18 November 2011, from noon to 1:00pm PST.  To register, visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/478969545 .

STEM Summit Hosted in St. Louis 11/16/11

LEGO Education and National Instruments are sponsoring a STEM Summit at the America's Center in St. Louis on 16 November 2011.  A keynote will be provided by NASA's Associate Administrator for Education, Leland Melvin, and panelists include educators and industry leaders.  Sessions will be held on Preparing Today's Student for Tomorrow's Career, Using Robotics as a STEM Instructional Tool, Getting Kids Excited About STEM, Working as a 21st Century Educator, and more.

Expect a report back on the Summit, as well as the ACTE Convention, sometime next week!

Tehachapi Super Science Saturday Held 11/12/11

A science and engineering exposition was held on Saturday, 12 November 2011, at Tehachapi High School.  Features included a morning LEGO League tournament for high desert robotics teams, with the afternoon dedicated to speakers, activities, and demonstrations.  There were give-aways from local industry and goodie bags provided to younger students.  Sessions scheduled were on unmanned aerial vehicles by Tim Bourgeois and Daniel Loehrer, bird-like flight and interplanetary space travel by Albion Bowers of NASA, rockets and rocket planes by Geoff Licciardello and Jeremy Voigt of XCOR, and fun with chemistry, among others.  (Courtesy of Cecilia Cordova, NASA Dryden, and Danielle Evansic, THS)

LACTMA Hosting "Getting to the Core" Fall Conference in December

The LA City Teachers' Math Association is hosting its annual Regional Fall Conference for 2011 regarding the Common Core standards on 3 December 2011 in South Pasadena, and on 10 December 2011 in Northridge.  The sessions run from 8:30 am to noon, with different grade level breakouts; registration costs $8 for the first person, and $4 for the second, with additional attendees in a group free of charge.  For more information and to register, visit http://www.lactma-math.org/ .

AV Math Council "Meet and Greet" 11/16/11

The Antelope Valley Math Council will be holding a "meet and greet" mixer at Vince's Pizza and Pasta on Avenue L in Lancaster (near 30th St. West) on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 from 4-6pm (1600-1800).  All math teachers and others interested are welcome. . . first-come, first-served for free pizza until it is gone.

Also, find out more about the second annual AVMC Symposium which will be held on 12 April 2012, with the theme of the Common Core Standards of Mathematical Practice - more details to follow.

US News STEM Summit in Dallas 6/27-6/29/12

The US News, in conjunction with co-sponsors AT&T, CSC, Ingersoll Rand, Intel, Lockheed Martin, and Monster, will hold a STEM Summit for policymakers and the public from 27-29 June 2012 in Dallas, TX.  The summit is billed as an opportunity to focus on the development of a STEM workforce by "exploring solutions and successes in science, technology, engineering and math education as the pathways to jobs."  http://usnewsstemsummit.com/

2011 NAEP Math Test Scores Revealed

The National Assessment of Educational Progress math scores for the US were released on 1 November 2011; nationwide, a modest gain of 1 point at both the 4th and 8th grade levels over 2009 scores were posted.  Proficiency rates at both grade levels were also higher for 2011 than in previous years.  Scores in 4th grade were 28 points higher than in 1990, and in 8th grade were 21 points higher than those in 1990.  California scores showed no significant change at either grade level since the 2009 test administration.  http://nationsreportcard.gov/math_2011/

Dean Kamen Says Fear of Failure Inhibits Innovation

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway personal vehicle and founder of FIRST Robotics, opines in the STEM Education column of US News and World Report that the fear of failure and lack of innovation in America are inhibiting US advancement in the flattening world.  He exhorts teachers to have students work on big problems (which may or may not have existing answers), which will result in failure and loss, but also to encourage and re-energize the students to keep going afterwards.  Additionally, Kamen states that government regulations stifle creativity; rather than focusing on job creation per se, there must be a focus on innovation.  "I don't think Sergei [Brin] and Larry [Page] set out to create a job for themselves. I don't think Alexander Bell or the Wright Brothers were looking to create a job. They were looking to change the world."  http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/stem-education/2011/11/02/segway-inventor-fear-of-failure-kills-us-innovation

Free iPad App Assists Chemistry Students

The "Lewis Dots" free app for iPads allows students to build and manipulate chemical bonds, using the touch-screen to add atoms and match electrons, simplifying computations.  The app was developed by scientists at New York University-Polytechnic.  http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/education/149141/new-ipad-app-lets-brooklyn-students-learn-chemistry-with-greater-ease

National Teacher of the Year Advocates for STEM Diversity

The 2011 National Teacher of the Year, Michelle Shearer, a math/science teacher from Maryland, states in a recent interview that, "[c]hildren are born scientists.  All children. . . . And I really believe that because science is everywhere and chemistry is everywhere, that really it’s for every student."  On encouraging young women in STEM, Ms. Shearer states that she works to be a good role model, noting that if she can be a scientist, a mother, plus enjoy sports and music, other females feel they can do the same.  She is explicit with her students about the relevance of chemistry in daily life, and explains that "STEM is not just four subject areas. It’s a set of skills, habits of mind. It’s problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, communication—all these skills that are going to apply to any number of careers."  http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2011/10/13/01shearer.h05.html?tkn=YMYF0WN4pXtUR2iqi%2FgeCdXiFi01LjSdB%2Ftt&cmp=clp-sb-ascd

New Female CEO of Big Blue

IBM has named Virginia Rometty as its new Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Rometty began her career at Big Blue in 1981 as a systems engineer, with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.  She is being elevated to the CEO position from her current role as Senior VP of Sales, Marketing and Strategy.  Ms. Rometty speaks about the role of women as part of a recent New York Times article regarding her rise and women in business.  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/business/for-incoming-ibm-chief-self-confidence-rewarded.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25

Article Posits "A Better Rationale for Science Literacy"

Bruce Wightman, a biology professor at Muhlenberg College, posts in The Chronicle Review that the best rationale for "science literacy" is not necessarily that it is required for vocational reasons, but rather that not only should all citizens be educated to decide issues of science-related policy, but also that the study of science is transcendent, and "frames the 21st century consciousness."  http://chronicle.com/article/A-Better-Rationale-for-Science/129541/?sid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en

WEPAN Sponsoring Webinar on Stemming the Tide of Departing Women Engineers on 11/10/11

Dr. Nadya Fouad and Dr. Romila Singh will be presenting a webinar on what employers and educators can do to stem the tide of women engineers leaving the profession, based upon their March 2011 study results from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  The session, sponsored by Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network, will be held on 10 November 2011 from 1000 to 1100 PST.  To register, see https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/563764881.

NAPE Professional Development on "Access, Equity, and Diversity" 4/16-4/19/12

The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity is soliciting proposals for the 2012 annual Professional Development Institute to be held 16-19 April 2012 in Arlington, Virginia.  The theme of the conference is "Access, Equity, and Diversity - We've Got an App for That!"  The deadline to submit a proposal related to workforce development, including underrepresented populations in STEM careers, is 16 December 2011.  For more information, see http://www.napequity.org/files/NAPE%202012%20PDI%20Request%20for%20Presenters.pdf.

To register for the conference, including a STEM Leadership Institute, visit http://beta.napequity.org/2012-professional-development-institute/.

Webinar on PLC's - Connecting Faculty Development to Student Outcomes - Offered 11/3/11

The STEM Equity Pipeline is sponsoring a free webinar on the impact of faculty professional learning communities on student outcomes on Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 0900 PDT.  Dr. Tara Eisenhauer Ebersole will present on the elements of a successful professional learning community and the steps to implement, as well as how to assess its results on student learning.  To register, visit https://www106.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001043798/Registration.aspx?pageName=kvh1zv00r67gq4jv.