MEEC Accepting Applications for Teacher and Student of the Year by 4/11/14

MEEC is pleased to announce its 9th annual search for nominations for “Teacher of the Year” and “Students of the Year”.

Teacher of the Year: Three winners will be selected to receive this prestigious honor; one first place winner, who will receive $500 in cash and a plaque, and two MEEC “Teachers of Excellence” recipients, who will each receive $300 in cash and plaques. This year’s awards banquet will be held on May 8, 2014 at 6 PM at the beautiful Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville, California. To this end, MEEC is soliciting your nomination of the educator from your school that you feel would be most worthy of this prestigious recognition. MEEC is looking for an educator who makes continuous and enduring contributions to environmental education, demonstrates capacity for creating and implementing successful environmental activities, shows creative approaches, promotes individual and societal environmental responsibility, and encourages youth to make informed decisions about environmental issues. Please take the time to formulate a brief letter describing your nominee and his/her contributions to environmental education. Please mail your submission to MEEC, 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392. Letters may also be faxed to (760) 241-6271 or emailed to smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov. Deadline for entries is April 14, 2014.

Student of the Year: Each Student of the Year recipient will receive $60.00 in cash, as well as a $60.00 Staples gift card. The awards banquet will be held on May 8, 2014 at 6 PM at Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville. To this end, MEEC is soliciting one Student of the Year nomination from each school site. The nomination can come from either a principal or teacher. When selecting the student nominee, the nominator must take into consideration the work that the student has done in leadership toward environmental issues and stewardship. The following stipulations will serve as a guide for assisting you in the nomination process:
1. The student will be nominated by a teacher or principal from his/her school.
2. The student nominee must have spent a minimum of 12 hours in conservation and environmental education activities.
3. The student has educated peer students, school employees or community in environmental issues or conservation.
4. The student must have above average academic standing (>2.0 GPA for secondary, and the equivalent for primary grades).
5. The student must display leadership qualities, possess good character and a good reputation among peers, and not be a disciplinary problem.

Please take the time to complete the nomination form found at MEEC Student of the Year Nomination Form, and mail your submission to MEEC, 14306 Park Ave., Victorville, CA 92392. Forms may also be faxed to (760) 241-6271 or emailed to smurray@mdaqmd.ca.gov. Deadline for entries April 14, 2014.

RCOE to Host Science Fair Expo on 10/13/12

Riverside County Office of Education will be hosting a half-day seminar on Saturday, 13 October 2012, for teachers and students on how to create winning science fair projects, and how to run and get volunteers for a successful science fair.  The event will be held from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the RCOE Conference Center, located at 3958 Twelfth St., Riverside.  For more information, please contact Yamileth Shimojyo at (951) 600-5658. 

MEEC Teacher of the Year, Student of the Year, and Environmental/Engineering Scholarship Application Period Closes 4/6 and 4/20/12

The Mojave Environmental Education Consortium (MEEC) is once again offering recognition (including cash and/or gift cards and plaques) for outstanding High Desert (Victorville and Palmdale/Lancaster areas) teachers and students, as well as five $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors declaring college majors in environmental science or engineering fields of study.  One Teacher of the Year, two Teachers of Excellence, and up to ten Students of the Year will be awarded.

Applications are due to Christie Robinson at MEEC by no later than 6 April 2012 (deadline extended for Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year to 20 April 2012!).  For more information on eligibility requirements and to download the application forms, please visit:

http://www.meeconline.com/20102011-teacher-of-the-year-nominations-now-being-accepted/
http://www.meeconline.com/20102011-student-of-the-year-nominations-now-being-accepted/ or
http://www.meeconline.com/20102011-hs-environmental-science-scholarship-announcement/

Microsoft STEM Survey Reveals Parent and Student Opinions

Microsoft Corporation revealed results in early September of a survey of college STEM students and parents.  Among the key findings were that only half of those parents who believed that STEM should be a US priority felt that it actually was; more felt that the priority was important for global competitiveness than for higher wages or job fulfillment for their children; only 24% were extremely willing to spend extra money to ensure their children's success in math and science classes. 

Of college students pursuing STEM degrees, 20% made the decision in middle school or earlier, while 78% made it in high school; somewhat more females than males were led to the decision by a teacher.  Only 1/5 of students felt adequately prepared by high school courses, and the less-prepared students felt that more STEM offerings in high school would have been helpful.  Approximately two-thirds of the students chose STEM fields for job security or wages or intellectual challenge, rather than at parent urging.  While males generally chose the field because of enjoyment of STEM subjects, most females chose the pathway because they wanted to make a difference.  http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/sep11/09-07MSSTEMSurveyPR.mspx

Background information with the survey results also outlines Microsoft's initiatives supporting STEM education.

LEGO (r) Smart Creativity Contest Period Open Until 10/14/11

LEGO (r) Education is sponsoring a contest to showcase how you use LEGOs to foster creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning.  Entries must be 150 seconds or less,and on-line registration must occur by 14 October 2011.  The first 8,000 entrants will receive a free Smart Kit and challenge card. For more information, visit http://aux.legoeducation.us/Forms/LEGOSmartContest.aspx.

National Academy of Sciences Introduces "iWAS Wondering" Website

The "iWASwondering.org" website from the National Academy of Sciences showcases women's adventures in science, including stories, biographies, games and a question function.  A teacher resource tab is also available.  http://www.iwaswondering.org/ [also see our Helpful STEM Links section here]

Robotics Workshops for Middle School Teachers and Students 7/29 and 8/3/11

NASA AERO Institute in Palmdale will offer two free workshops for middle school teachers and students (grades 4-9) using LEGO Mindstorm kits.  Teams of 4-6 teachers and students will learn about the history of robotics and how to start a team, as well as gain hands-on experience in programming and building a robot; teams will demonstrate their work before the group.  Laptops will be available for programming, but kits will not be given away.  The workshops will be held on Friday, 29 July, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Palmdale Boys and Girls Club, or on Wednesday, 3 August, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, location TBD (East Lancaster tentative).  The deadline to register is Wednesday, 27 July 2011.

For further information and to register, contact Cecilia Cordova at cecilia.cordova@nasa.gov and provide your full name plus the name of the school/organization affiliation.

E-Mentoring Program for Diversity in Engineering and Science

MentorNet is an on-line mentoring program for diversity in engineering and science.  Organized in 1997 by Dr. Carol Muller to help women engineers, the award-winning, non-profit initiative matches students with mentors in its "mission to diversify the global talent workforce [which] has expanded to more than 70 science, engineering and technical fields and to serve all eligible students, with a focus on those who are underrepresented in their chosen fields."  To learn more, visit   http://mentornet.net/about_us.aspx

Study Finds Limited Impact of Teacher Professional Development on Student Learning

A recent federally-funded study conducted by the American Institutes of Research and MDRC found little impact on student learning from a two-year sustained professional development math series.  Despite well-planned and executed summer institutes, one-day workshops, and follow-up coaching sessions with teachers over two years, the professional development "failed to discern a measurable impact on either teacher knowledge or student achievement."  Researchers cautioned that not all teachers were able to participate in all sessions (114 hours), but there was still not the expected beneficial result.  Similar results have been found in other studies.  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2011/05/new_study_shows_little_benefit.html

Carnegie-Mellon Summer Academy for Mathematics and Science Applications Due 4/1/11

The Carnegie-Mellon Summer Academy for Mathematics and Science is a residential program for students entering their junior or senior years in high school and are considering careers in engineering, science, or other math-based disciplines.  The experience will run from 25 June through 5 August 2011, with different tracks for each grade level.  Tuition, university housing, and dining expenses are provided, however, students/parents must provide their own transportation, books, supplies, recreation, and incidental expenses.  Applications and supporting documentation are due by 1 April 2011.  For more details, visit http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/summerprogramsfordiversity/sams.html

CTE Equity Conference Sept. 15-16, 2011

The CTE Equity Council will be holding its annual conference in Tulsa, OK on 15-16 September 2011.  The purpose of the council is to promote educational equity, participation, and high achievement by all students and teachers in career-technical education.  For more information on the conference, see http://www.cteec.org/. 

Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation Awards for Life Sciences and Agriscience Scientists, Educators and Students Nominations Due 4/5/11

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is seeking nominations for outstanding achievement awards for scientists, educators, and students in the fields of life sciences and agriscience.  This competition will recognize recipients in July 2011 in Washington, D.C. (winner must be present).  Nominations are due by no later than 5 April 2011.  For more details, visit http://www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org/