Funding for Educational Technology Webinar on 5/10/11

A webinar will be held at 11:00 am PDT on 10 May 2011 on the subject of "Finding Funding for Educational Technology."  Hosted by Dreambox Learning and eSchool News, the one-hour free webinar is aimed at the elementary schools and districts.  It will be presented by Jon Bernstein and John SanGiovanni.  For more details and a link to register, visit http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/04/13/finding-funding-for-educational-technology/

Gates Foundation Donates $20 Million to New Educational Tools

It was announced yesterday that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is donating $20 million towards the cause of creating new interactive educational tools, including video games and social networking sites promoting math, science, and literacy, to support the new Common Core Standards.  The foundation is partnering with Pearson and America's Choice.  Florida Virtual School will also develop four digital courses utilizing the tools, which are expected to be ready for use by teachers nationwide in 2013-2014.  A number of the tools are expected to be free.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iy60FQzVE2r5TL_zv95cTq8nqDFg?docId=ce608bb8dd0147d8bbec7e863f9352ab

UC Santa Cruz to Offer Robotics Degree and Game Research Ph. D.

UC Santa Cruz has just announced recruitment for a degree in robotics beginning in the fall of 2011.  The interdisciplinary degree which will combine electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering components, will be the first such degree program in the UC system.  Demand is expected to be high, and will prepare students for careers in biotechnology, computer hardware, and instrumentation in addition to robotics.  For more information on the announcement, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/04/12/ucsc-creates-ucs-first-robot-major.html.

UC Santa Cruz's Center for Games and Playable Media is also one of a few universities offering a Ph. D. degree in game research.  http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17820494?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

Antelope Valley Summer of Innovation Proposals Due by 4/15/11

Local Antelope Valley proposals for up to $5,000 funding from NASA's Summer of Innovation are due by no later than Friday, 15 April 2011.  At a minimum, programs must include at least 20 hours of NASA STEM content delivered to at least 50 under-represented 4th through 9th graders during a summer program, plus at least 20 hours of NASA STEM content delivered to the students during the school year.  Teachers will receive professional development, and NASA resources will be provided.  For more information, contact Sara Cutts at the AERO Institute at sara.cutts@nasa.gov or by phone at (661)276-3992.

4/29/11 update:  Rough Order of Magnitude forms outlining STEM activities and costs are due to Sara Cutts by no later than 18 May 2011.

Internet Pioneer Urges Increased STEM Innovation

Vincent Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, urged increased concentration on STEM efforts and education in order to fire up US innovation.  In a Wall St. Journal comment (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704461304576216911954533514.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop ), Cerf noted the synergy of university researchers, trained professionals,  and venture capitalists to start new companies which transfer technology to the marketplace; information access and the freedom to try and fail with new ideas are also key.  Overcoming obstacles of a national culture which does not value education and STEM and a concurrent deterioration of the K-12 education system will require emphasizing the thrill of STEM in youth through school and extra-curricular activities.

New Model for Training Engineers

The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is marrying engineering education with a spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity.  Using a "design-based approach," the school encourages students not only to determine what is important, but also to use creative skills to solve problems or find innovative solutions in hands-on applications beginning early on in their education.  Forty-five percent of the students are women, and the school has more than its share of Fulbright scholars and NSF fellowships being awarded to them.  Read more in an Inc. interview with President Richard Miller.  http://www.inc.com/articles/201104/olin-school-of-engineering-richard-miller-interview.html

Engineering Majors Top Pay Lists

According to CNNMoney.com, engineering majors top pay lists again this year in a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.  Four of the top five positions belong to engineering disciplines, with starting salaries averaging over $60,000; computer science also occupies a top ten position, with an average starting salary of approximately $63,000.  Business and telecommunications are also well-paid jobs.  http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/08/pf/college/best_paying_college_majors/?section=money_latest

STEM Education at iTunesU

Here's a link to a number of resources related to STEM education and careers which can be found at iTunes U - many are free to subscribe/download:  http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMultiRoom?fcId=421972407 .

Summer Gateway Academies Again to be Held in the AV - Applications Due by 5/25/11

Two Summer Gateway Academy sessions will be held for middle school students in the Antelope Valley.  Entering 7th graders will have the opportunity to participate in a free one-week session focusing on pre-engineering activities at either a Lancaster location (20-24 June 2011, 30 spaces) or Palmdale location (11-15 July 2011, 35 spaces).  Entering 8th graders or return students may be accepted on a space-available/instructor-approved basis.  Sessions will be held from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm, and students must have their own transportation to and from the sites.

Applications are available and will be accepted until 25 May 2011 or until all spots are filled; wait-lists may be made, as necessary.  For more information and to obtain application materials, contact Kevin Spoelstra regarding the Lancaster session at kspoelstra@avhsd.org , Bill Lewis regarding the Palmdale session at blewis@avhsd.org, or Diane Walker at dwalker@avhsd.org .

Boy Scouts Add Robotics Merit Badge

Furthering the Boy Scouts of America's STEM initiative, next week a new robotics merit badge will be unveiled.  "We view STEM as an essential survival skill in the 21st century.  We're just trying to keep relevant with what kids need to learn," says BSA's Matt Myers in an NPR posting.  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135228346 .  In order to earn the badge, scouts will have to design and build a robot, while learning about sensors, programming, and movement.  The badge will depict the NASA Mars rover;100 patches will be flown on the upcoming Endeavour space shuttle flight and be distributed through a contest.