YELC STEM Service Learning Conference Set for 10/5/13

MEEC's annual fall Youth Environmental Leadership STEM Service Learning Conference will be held on 5 October 2013 at Granite Hills HS in Apple Valley, CA.  Not only is this premier STEM service learning event free for school teams to attend, but also there are transportation stipends and STEM service learning project grant applications available.  Applications to attend are due by no later than 5 September 2013.  School teams, including 3-5 students and a teacher advisor, may include students from the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  Registration is due by no later than 5 September 2013.  Teams which attend will also participate in a spring 2014 event.  For more information and to register, see YELC STEM Service Learning Conference 2013.

Lockheed Essay Contest Submissions Due by 5/23/13

Submissions for the MEEC essay contest sponsored by Lockheed Martin on the theme "Earth: There's Only One" are due by no later than 23 May 2013.  For all grade levels, the 250 word essay (drawing for K level), should address " FIVE ways that they can protect the Earth for future generations by reducing their ecological footprint."  First place winners in grades 1-12 categories will win a $50 gift card, second place $25, and third place $15 (K winner $10).  Students must submit their essays by no later than 5:00pm on 23 May 2013 to:  MEEC at 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392.  Winners will be notified by phone and invited to attend the Award Ceremony presentation at 5:00 PM on June 4, at the Antelope Valley AQMD Office, 43301 Division St. Ste. 206, Lancaster.  For further information, please call Samantha Murray, at: (760) 245-1661 ext 6717.

AVUHSD Summer Pre-Engineering Internships Online Application Due by 5/15

The online application for AVUHSD's Summer Pre-Engineering Internships course for high school juniors (meeting 10 June - 5 July) is now available at Summer Pre-Engineering Internships Application .  Completed applications, including teacher recommendation, 200-word essay, and parent and student information and signatures, are due by no later than Wednesday, 15 May 2013.  For further information, please contact either James Stockdale at jstockdale@avhsd.org or Diane Walker at dwalker@avhsd.org.

Third Annual Conference on Integrated Computing and STEM Education Scheduled for 5/18 at UC Davis

Registration is now open for the 3rd annual Conference on Integrated Computing and STEM Education; early bird registration ($25) closes 2 May, and regular registration ($30) is due by 14 May 2013.  The conference will address issues in K-14 education, including increasing student numbers in C-STEM education.  Keynote addresses by Dr. Ralph J. Hexter (Provost of UC Davis), Dr. Debra Richardson (Prof. of Informatics at UC Irvine), Jonathon Raymond (Superintendent of Sacramento City Schools), and a panel of STEM teachers and principal from the School of Engineering and Sciences in the Sac City Union School District and moderated by Karen Shores of the CDE, are among the sessions on tap.  Teachers, business partners, and others will share best practices in break-outs, and the C-STEM Teacher of the Year awards will be presented.  For more information, visit http://c-stem.ucdavis.edu/activities/conference/.

California Students Honored at White House Science Fair

Among the 100 students from 40 states recently honored at the White House Science Fair, three hailed from California:  eleven year old Sylvia Todd from Auburn, who demonstrated her drawing maker-bot; junior high student Jessika Baral from Fremont, for her eye exercise device which reduces eye fatigue and strengthens peripheral vision; and fifteen year old Jonah Kohn from San Diego, whose project won a top honor at the Google Science Fair, who created a device which allows hearing-impaired people to enjoy music through tactile vibration.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/2013_scifair_students.pdf

I-Squared Act Proposes Additional Funding for STEM Education

According to Roll Call, the I-Squared Act includes a proposal by the tech industry to double their fees for visas and green cards for additional foreign workers, with the increased funding raised to be designated for US STEM education.  Due to the severe shortage of qualified tech workers for many open positions across the nation, the need to fill the pipeline is seen as being at a critical stage.  Public awareness campaigns to draw students to computer science and ICT careers include a very popular video by code.org Code Video.  http://www.rollcall.com/news/reed_tech_industry_ready_to_do_its_part_for_stem_education-223901-1.html?pos=oopih

Well-Paying Science Careers Without a Ph.D.

Brazen Life has published a feature by Annie Favreau on "7 Cool Science Jobs That Don't Require a Ph.D."  While all require some post-secondary education, these jobs fit within the higher-paying, higher-growth categories of STEM careers.  The job titles include:  environmental scientist; sonographer; veterinary technician; geotech; nurse; forensic science tech; and biomedical engineer.  7 Cool Science Jobs That Don't Require a Ph.D.

HP Catalyst Academy to Offer Free Summer Professional Development Sessions on STEMx Topics

Leila Meyer of THE Journal reports that ISTE, New Media Consortium, and HP are partnering to offer 15 free summer on-line professional development modules on STEMx (x=other subjects such as computer science, nanotechnology, biotech, etc., incorporating 21st century skills) beginning in June 2013.

"The first 15 online mini-courses available through HP Catalyst Academy include:

• Building a Framework for Digital Fabrication;
• ClassroomSalon.org: Social Textbooks;
• Computational Thinking in Secondary Schools;
• Connecting Students to their World;
• Game Design for Learning;
• Geospatial Tech for STEMx Learning;
• Helping Students Change their World through App Design;
• InkSurvey: Graphical Response Tool for Real-Time Formative Assessment;
• Multi/Interdisciplinary STEMx Teaching;
• Planning Enriching ICT-Mediated STEMx Experiences;
• Polar Bears in a Changing Climate;
• Project-Based Learning with Real-World Problems;
• Remote Labs;
• Weaving Social Media into STEM Teaching; and
• Strategies for Formative Assessment through e-Portfolios.

"Further information about HP Catalyst Academy can be found at catalyst-academy.org."

Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/04/18/hp-catalyst-initiative-offers-free-online-professional-development-courses-for-stemx-educators.aspx#f9OuYGWi1PEUmcBU.99

On-Line Registration for Summer Gateway Academy Now Available

On-line registration is now available for the AVUHSD Summer Gateway Academy sessions.  The first will be held 17-21 June 2013 at Lancaster High School, and the second 29 July through 2 August 2013 at Knight High School in Palmdale.  Please visit http://www.avrop.avhsd.org/Summer to complete the registration forms.  The deadline to submit registration is 23 May 2013 or until each camp is filled (35 slots), first-come, first-served (a waiting list for each site will be held).

Please contact instructor Bob Fenbers for questions regarding the Lancaster session at rfenbers@avhsd.org and instructor Bill Lewis for questions regarding the Knight session at blewis@avhsd.org .

Crafton College Implements "Left Lane Program" to Bridge Student Gaps

Crafton College in the Victor Valley area is implementing a new "Left Lane Project" to assist high school students to transition more effectively to community college by helping them to create education plans, use tutors for subjects needing remediation, and participate in summer bridge programs, in return for giving successful students priority registration.  Other efforts include use of the K16 Bridge program at Victor Valley College (and Antelope Valley College's own  S-MAP [Senior Math Acceleration and Preparation] and counseling/matriculation project), all prior to a 2014 mandate for all California Community Colleges.  http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_22971027/community-colleges-work-help-students

For a look at related challenges for students working to get through a community college in two years, see:   http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22971077/few-finishing-community-college-courses-time.html