AV Math Council Symposium 4/21/12

The Antelope Valley Math Council will be offering its second annual symposium on Saturday, 21 April 2012, beginning at 9:00am at Highland High School in Palmdale.  The focus will be on the Standards of Math Practice in the Common Core State Standards.  Stay tuned for further details; contact Matt Winheim for information at MCWinheim@palmdalesd.org .

Update as of 3/26/12:  Brad Fulton of TTT Press will be presenting on Common Core, with grade-specific breakout sessions (K-6, 6-8, 9-12).  The price to attend is $20 for members of the AVMC, and $30 for non-members (includes $10 membership through December 2012).

Women In Mining to Host Mineral Workshop on 2/9/12

Women in Mining will present a free teacher workshop on commonly used minerals at the Mojave Desert AQMD in Victorville on Thursday, 9 February 2012, from 3:45 to 6:00pm.  Registration is first-come, first-served, and is limited to 25 participants.  Attendees will learn to make toothpaste, will receive a curriculum kit and standards, and get free dinner.  To receive further information and to register, contact Christie Robinson, MEEC and STEM SL Program Specialist, at (760) 245-1661 ext 6101, or via e-mail at christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov .  Visit the MEEC website at http://www.meeconline.com/ .

NASA-ISTE Magnetosphere Project Applications Due By 1/15/12

NASA is partnering with ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) to select 25 middle and high school teachers to "work collaboratively  to create learning and educational artifacts that teachers or students can use to gain a deeper understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere."  Projects may be presented at an upcoming ISTE conference and/or published on the NASA website.  Applicants (teachers from any content area) should have experience in and be interested in using social media tools, as well as be willing to create and test artifacts related to the mission.  A Learning Lab for the project will run beginning 6 February 2012. 


Applications are due by Sunday, 15 January 2012.  For more details and to access the application, visit:  http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/Learning_Laboratory_Description_for_Flyer.sflb.ashx .

Camp CHLA Applications Available 1/30/12

The new Camp CHLA (Children's Hospital of Los Angeles) applications for high school students to spend five days job shadowing nursing and health professionals will be available beginning 30 January 2012, and are due for the August session by no later than 9 March 2012.  To obtain further details and to download the application materials, visit:  http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.5049537/k.1180/Camp_CHLA__Observe_Nursing__Healthcare_Professions__Student_Healthcare_Opportunities.htm

Marine Ecology Teacher Workshop Scholarship Application Due by 4/15/12

The application period is now open for the Marine Ecology Teacher Workshop scholarship through MEEC.  The workshop, sponsored by a grant from the Boeing Company, will be held 11-13 June 2012 at the *rustic* Campus by the Sea on Catalina Island.  Scholarships are available for 16 High Desert (including San Bernardino, Victor Valley/Mojave Desert, and Antelope Valley within the MEEC service area) teachers, covering a $50 transportation stipend, transportation to and from Catalina Island, basic lodging (campers bring their own sleeping bags, etc.), meals served family-style, and curriculum materials; applications are due to Christie Robinson at MEEC by no later than 15 April 2012.  For more information about the workshop, as well as scholarship application materials, visit http://www.meeconline.com/catalina-island-marine-ecology-teacher-workshop-scholarship-announcement/. 

Mission 2 Announced for Student Spaceflight Experiment Program to ISS

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education has announced competition for Mission 2 to the International Space Station for the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program.  Designed to be a community-based process, SSEP allows students to participate in local competitions and then to submit their micro-gravity experiment proposals for consideration to fly aboard the International Space Station.  The Mission 2 competition will run from March to September 2012, with the winning experiments flying aboard Soyuz 32 to the ISS in September.  For more details, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org/2011/11/announcing-communities-participating-in-ssep-mission-1-to-iss-and-new-flight-opportunity-mission-2-to-iss/.  The twelve Mission 1 teams participating include San Marino and West Hills, California, with winners scheduled to fly on Soyuz 30 in early 2012.

Engineering Exploration Class Offered at Lancaster University Center 1/30 to 5/14/12

Cal State Long Beach/Antelope Valley Engineering Program is offering the Engineering Exploration class for high school juniors and seniors at the Lancaster University Center beginning 30 January 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00pm.  Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA, have completed Algebra 2 or higher, be enrolled in college prep English, be on-track to complete minimum UC a-g requirements, and have the recommendation signature of either a counselor or Project Lead the Way instructor.  For more information regarding fees, schedule, requirements, and to register, visit http://www.ccpe.csulb.edu/continuinged/course_listing/programdescription.aspx?Course_ID=25868&Course_Version=1 .

Workshop on Inquiry-Based Science on 1/23/12

A workshop on inquiry-based teaching of science will be offered in Gardena on Monday, 23 January 2012.  "Inquiry-based science engages students in the processes of formulating predications, organizing and interpreting data, and communicating results using science terminology."  The presenter is Dr. Molina Walters; with a background in primary and secondary education, Dr. Walters is now a professor at Arizona State University.  For more information on costs of attending and to register, visit https://secure.peakpresenters.com/ViewEvent.aspx?wsID=1874 .

Arizona High School Offering STEM Diplomas

In addition to standard high school diplomas, Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona will be offering STEM diplomas and STEM Scholar diplomas to students beginning in 2012-2013.  In order to receive the enhanced diploma and recognition, students must take five math courses, including AP Statistics, as well as six science and engineering courses; to receive the Scholar diploma, students will also have to participate in summer workshops and job shadowing or college coursework at Arizona State University Polytechnic program (for an additional fee).  STEM graduates will be automatically admitted to ASU. Dual enrollment will also be provided through Chandler Gilbert Community College.  http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/stem-education/2011/12/30/arizona-high-school-to-offer-stem-degrees

College Scholarships for Under-Represented Students in STEM

Jason Koebler of US News has published a list of scholarship resources for African-American students studying STEM subjects:  http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/stem-education/2011/12/29/scholarships-for-african-americans-studying-stem  Related articles posted on the sidebar also note scholarships for Hispanic and women students in STEM.