RI Science Professional Development and Student

Opportunity Bulletin
May 23, 2014
This bulletin will be sent on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
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Go To RIScienceTeachers - https://riscienceteachers.wikispaces.com/ for PDF copy of past
issues
New In This
Bulletin
NGSS News News Web Sites
Job
Opportunities
Prof.
Development
Student
Opportunities
New In This Bulletin:
RIDE invites educators to participate developing
NECAP science assessment items Apply by May
30th
Creating Rhode Islands Future: Building Capacity
for STE[A]M Conference May 30
th

Seats Available for All Sessions! Attend TI Half-Day
Saturday Math and Science PD - May 31st
Geniverse Summer Online Course Using Game-
Like Genetics Software Apply By June 1
st

National Energy Education Development (NEED)
Project Rhode Island Teacher Workshop - Register
by June 2
nd
(Grades 4-12)
Summer Professional Development Courses from
the Wildlife Conservation Society's Online
Teacher Academy ($125 per seat)
Field Entomology for Teachers Through the
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts July 7 - 11
Job Opportunities:

News:
Research Shows Lectures Ineffective, Active Learning Key to STEM Learning
A new analysis of research studies from the University of Washington and recently published by the National
Academy of Sciences finds that undergraduate students in classes with traditional lectures are 1.5 times more likely to
fail than students in classes that use active learning methods. The study concludes:

"The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has called for a 33% increase in the number
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) bachelor's degrees completed per year and
recommended adoption of empirically validated teaching practices as critical to achieving that goal. The
studies analyzed here document that active learning leads to increases in examination performance that
would raise average grades by a half a letter, and that failure rates under traditional lecturing increase by
55% over the rates observed under active learning. The analysis supports theory claiming that calls to
increase the number of students receiving STEM degrees could be answered, at least in part, by abandoning
traditional lecturing in favor of active learning."

Reconnect with Your Inner Fish
Good news for fans of Neil Shubin's best-selling evolution-themed book, Your Inner Fish! Neil has taken his friendly
and engaging approach to television with the recently aired PBS series of the same name. If you missed the live
broadcast in April, you can watch all three episodes streaming from the PBS website, until June 13. The TV series was
produced by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's film production unit, Tangled Bank Studios, and HHMI has
developed a number of educational features to support using Your Inner Fish in the classroom. View a 15-minute film
on the Tiktaalik discovery tailor-made for the classroom, highly engaging interactive features, and a short video
showing how an elementary school class responds to a visit from Neil and Tiktaalik.

NGSS News:
'Pushback' to the Common Science Standards: Real or Overblown? - EdWeek
By Liana Heitin on May 20, 2014 8:15 AM
In March, as we reported, Wyoming became the second state to block the adoption of the Next Generation
Science Standards. South Carolina blocked adoption legislatively in the summer of 2012.
Over the last couple weeks, several articles have come out suggesting that differing views on climate change are
causing a divide over the science standards, using Wyoming as a case study.

An Associated Press article linked Wyoming's rejection of the standards to the state's economic reliance on fossil
fuels. It quoted state Rep. Matt Teeters, a Republican, as saying of man-made climate change, "I think those concepts
should be taught in science; I just think they should be taught as theory and not as scientific fact." And Amy Edmonds,
of the Wyoming Liberty Group, a libertarian think tank, told the AP that teaching "one view of what is not settled
science about global warming" is one of many problems with the standards.

The AP article went so far as to say that "the global warming and evolution components [of the science standards]
have created pushback around the country." (It also incorrectly stated Wyoming was the first state to reject the
standards.)

A New York Times story over the weekend echoed the AP article, also citing the state's economic stake in coal and
oil as reasons for the rejection and also quoting Teeters and Edmonds.

But is the "pushback" really a burgeoning movement against the science standards, or is it simply the opinions of a
vocal few being overblown? Are there many more opponents to the science standards than those being recycled in
news stories?

And if the language on fossil fuels is causing the divide, why have major oil companiesExxonMobile and Chevron,
for instancemade public shows of their support for the standards?

The common-core backlash is, it seems clear at this point, both real and gaining momentum. As my colleagues have
pointed out, Indiana reversed its adoption of the standards and several more states are considering the same. Much
of the ire is directed at the assessments being developed by two federally funded consortia. But the pushback is also
bipartisan, geographically diverse, and coming from a variety of stakeholdersfrom teachers to academics to parents
to politicians.

The mood around the science standards does seem different. Only 11 states and the District of Columbia have
adopted the science standards so far, and most say that's because they're tied up implementing the Common Core
State Standards, not because they're experiencing resistance.

In writing about the Next Generation Science Standards, it's been altogether tough to find science teachers and
professors who aren't in favor of implementing them. Parents and politicians tend to know less about them, at this
point. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is one of the only nationally known education organizations to have reliably
come out in criticism of them (and even there, the group still gives the standards a middling C grade).
Maybe the difference between the science standards and the common core is simply a lack of awareness. Or maybe
the difference is the lack of assessmentshigh-stakes tests for the science standards could very well change people's
moods. Or maybe it's that teachers felt more included in the science standards-writing process than they did with the
common core.

Or maybe I'm off altogether and you're hearing plenty of pushback in your state.
NGSS One Pagers
NSTA offers a tremendous collection of resources designed to help provide more information for the NGSS.
Three Dimensions of NGSS (Color | B&W)
This three page pdf document provides general information of each of the three dimensions of the NGSS specifically
the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and the crosscutting concepts.
A Look at the Next Generation Science Standards (Color | B&W)
This two page pdf document provides a detailed look at the architecture of the NGSS standards.
Venn Diagram of the Practices in Science, Math, and ELA (Color | B&W)
This pdf shows how the practices of the NGSS, CCSS-Math, and CCSS ELA intersect and support each other.
Matrix of Disciplinary Core Ideas in the NGSS
Here you will find a complete matrix of the disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS by domain
RIDEs NGSS Page
Find easy access to the NGSS standards, information on RIs participation as a Lead State, the Framework, and other
resources
Recorded Link for RIDEs Webinar Next Generation Science Standards Rhode Islands Implementation
Plan originally webcast on September 17
th
can be found under the Resources section of the RIDE NGSS page
along with a PDF of the PPT.

Science Web Sites Worth Exploring:
Common Core Resources for Literacy in Science
Grades 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects
http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy
Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects Standards can be accessed by clicking on the pull down menu on
the
left hand side of the screen
Curriculum and Instruction Resources for Literacy in Science on the RIDE
web Site
http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/Science/CurriculumInstructionResou
rces.aspx
Here you will find CCSS aligned tasks and resources to go deeper into the understanding of the CCSS
Standards for Literacy in Science.
Transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to PARCC -
http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/TransitiontotheCCSSandPARCC.aspx
This page contains recent updates, key information, and quality resources for educators and the public to
support our state's education system in its transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the
PARCC Assessment for ELA/literacy and mathematics.
Interactive World Map - http://www.maps.igemoe.com/fact_popl.htm
A clickable, interactive Flash world map showing countries and key city populations, and a number of
economic and social statistics. Great idea but where are the map sources?
Free Middle School Science Journal - http://www.naturalinquirer.org/all-issues.html
The Natural Inquirer is a middle school science education journal! Scientists report their research in journals,
which enable scientists to share information with one another. This journal, The Natural Inquirer, was created
so that scientists can share their research with middle school students. Each article tells you about scientific
research conducted by scientists in the USDA Forest Service. Find out more about the USDA Forest Service.
Earth System Data Access from NASA - http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/students/
The MY NASA DATA project is designed to enable students and other interested members of the public to
explore the large volumes of satellite data that NASA collects about the Earth from space. Through accessing
and displaying micro sets of Earth System data students are able to conduct investigations that relate to the
current status of climate factors affecting our world.
Bizarre Wildlife Slideshow - http://photos.msn.com/slideshow/weather/bizarre-
wildlife/236czedf
The variety of evolutional adaptation shown in this slide show is a real head turner
Beneath Greenland's Ice, A Grand Canyon -
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/world/europe/greenland-
megacanyon/index.html?eref=igoogledmn_topstories
British and American scientists watching Greenland's massive ice sheet have found what appears to be a
460-mile "megacanyon" far beneath the frozen surface of the world's largest island.
The Danger of Plastic Marine Debris Lessons -
http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/education/teachers/science_kits/marine_debris_kit.htm
Marine debris is an environmental problem of global importance, enlisting the concern and action of
scientists, policy makers, as well as the general public. This three-lesson kit focuses primarily on plastic
marine debris. Students critically examine data and samples and take part in activities that explore the
causes, geographical distribution, and biological impacts of marine debris. Each lesson can be completed in
about 5060 minutes, but many of the activities are discrete and can be easily rearranged to fit various
curricular objectives and time constraints.
Putting All the Worlds Water into a Big Cube - http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/putting-
all-worlds-water-into-big-cube.html
So Ive been thinking about all this water and how I dont really have a handle on how much of it there
really is. Its clear what needs to happenI need to cube it. I need to put all the worlds water in cubes so I
can look at it all at once and grasp how much there really is. Its only fair. Lets start by examining where all
the Earths water is.
How a Changing Jet Stream Might be Contributing to Climate Change -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nzwJg4Ebzo
A short review of how the jet stream and Rossby waves work, and some emerging indications that the
dynamics may be changing in a warming world.
AAAS Guide on Communicating Global Climate Change -
http://www.project2061.org/publications/guides/climate.pdf
An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Climate Change, from Project 2061 at AAAS
New Middle School Weather Site from NOAA/NASA - http://scijinks.nasa.gov/
NOAA and NASA have joined forces to create the ultimate weather web site for middle-school students.
SciJinks offers exciting and accessible content, games, and multimedia. There are videos, printable images
and posters, and help for teachers. The site also provides content by topic, such as clouds, tides, oceans,
atmosphere, seasons, and satellites.

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
NEW!!! Web Seminar. Center of Mass and Pressure: Engineering a Stable Rocket May 28, 2014 @
6:30 PM ET
This web seminar is part of a series of electronic professional development experiences sponsored by the NASA Explorer Schools
(NES) project. NASA Explorer Schools invests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators to inspire and engage
a whole generation of future scientists, engineers and technicians that NASA needs to continue our journey. NES gives educators of
grades 4-12 free access to NASA's people, missions, research, and facilities. We take the work out of searching through thousands of
materials on the NASA website and provide a comprehensive set of teaching materials for dozens of STEM concepts. For additional
information about the NASA Explorer Schools project, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.
.Register today!

Target audience: Educators of grades 412
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT /4:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Note: New users should log in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for an introduction to NSTA web seminars.
Register for the next web seminar coming up soon:
June 12, 6:30 p.m. ET: Planning Your Summer Professional Learning Experiences

Visit the NSTA Learning Center to register for more web seminars and access more than 500 web seminar archives.

Apply to be an AP Scorer - Interact and exchange ideas with fellow AP teachers Apply by May 30
th

(HS)
For more than 50 years, AP has partnered with high school AP teachers and faculty at colleges/universities to prepare students for
success in higher education. By participating in the AP Reading, college-level faculty and high school teachers help ensure that AP
Exams continue to measure a students ability to master college level work.

Join more than 12,000 college faculty and AP teachers who convene annually to score answers to free-response questions from
students around the world. This is a unique opportunity to attend the very best Teacher Professional Development that exists today
in education.
This year we are focusing recruitment efforts on professionals with expertise in Environmental Science, Human Geography, US
Government and Politics, US History, and Psychology.

Apply now to score AP Exams at the AP Reading!

You will receive:
An honorarium
Reimbursement for travel expenses, lodging and meals
Opportunities for professional development hours and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available to high school teachers.

Approved applicants will remain eligible for appointment to future AP readings for six years and are not required to reapply each
year.
NEW!!! Creating Rhode Islands Future: Building Capacity for STE[A]M Conference May 30
th

The Rhode Island STEM Center at Rhode Island College cordially invites you to participate in:
Creating Rhode Islands Future: Building Capacity for STE[A]M Conference
Friday, May 30, 2014
8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.
Rhode Island College, Alger Hall 110

Please click on the following link to register: http://tinyurl.com/RegistrationMay30

Where are we now? Where do we want to be? When it comes to STE[A]M literacy, Rhode Island industry, education and
government leaders agree on the answers to these questions. But we still need to work together to answer the question:
How do we get there?

JOIN us as we bring together the movers and shakers in industry, education and government to create Rhode Islands future in
STE[A]M. We will be forming task forces around three challenges:
Connecting engaged students to increase interest in STE[A]M.
Connecting STE[A]M skills to increase career readiness.
Connecting statewide sectors to build on the wonderful work that is being accomplished in R.I.
PARTNER with others to:
Develop realistic goals that reflect long--range vision.
Create time--specific objectives.
Craft action--oriented strategies that describe the approach.
Establish actionable steps for implementation by identifying relevant people and due dates.
MOBILIZE for action to continue to build capacity for STE[A]M. Participants will leave the conference with actionable steps to take
the charge to the next level.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Margaret Honey
President/CEO, New York Hall of Science; chair, Committee on Integrated STEM Education, National Academy Of Engineering and
National Research Council; and former vice president of the Education Development Center and director of the Center for Children
and Technology

RIDE invites educators to participate developing NECAP science assessment items Apply by May
30
th

The RI Department of Education is offering an opportunity for classroom teachers and other educators to participate in the
development process of the NECAP science assessments for grades 4, 8, and 11. The NECAP teacher Item Review and Bias and
Sensitivity committees are essential to the work of creating a valid and reliable assessment system. Many of your fellow teachers
have participated in these committees and have benefitted greatly from the opportunity not only from the process, but also
through interacting with teachers representing New Hampshire and Vermont.

Both meetings will take place at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, Stowe, Vermont

We encourage teachers to apply to represent our students as a member of the Item Review committee or the Bias & Sensitivity
Review Committee. Applications can be found on the RIDE website, at:

www.ride.ri.gov/NECAP-Science-IRC-Bias

Applications are due May 30, 2014

The Bias & Sensitivity Review Committee will convene for one day, August 7.

To prepare assessment items for field-testing, all NECAP assessment items are reviewed to ensure that they are free from language
or content that may negatively affect the performance of a specific group of students. This work is done by a team made up of four
educators from each state (Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont) for a total of 12 educators being selected to serve on the
Bias & Sensitivity Review Committee. These educators either represent specific groups (e.g., racial, ethnic, or religious groups; rural
or urban interests; individuals with disabilities; recent immigrants; English language learners) or they have direct experience working
with students from these groups.

To qualify, educators should meet the following criteria:

have current and direct experience teaching or working with students;
offer a unique perspective on one or more specific student groups;
be willing to work intensively with a team of educators for two consecutive days; and
have experience with the science GSEs for their grade span.

The Item Review Committee will convene on two days, August 7

and 8.

Each year, as part of preparing assessment items for field-testing, NECAP science items and the inquiry tasks are reviewed for
alignment to the appropriate science assessment target, depth-of knowledge level, student accessibility, and instructional relevance.
This work is done by three content-area teams of 12 educators, with four teachers each from Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and
Vermont on each team. The Item Review Committees meet once a year.

To qualify, educators should meet the following criteria:

have advanced knowledge and experience with the Grade Span Expectations,
have experience teaching at the relevant grade cluster; and
be willing to work intensively on a team for two or more consecutive days.

Applications are available on our website, at:

www.ride.ri.gov/NECAP-Science-IRC-Bias

Applications are due May 30, 2014

If you have questions about these teacher committees, please contact the following RIDE personnel:

Peter McLaren, at peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov; or
Jennifer Soek, at Jennifer.solek@ride.ri.gov

STEM Opportunity for School Districts - Student Spaceflight Experiments Program -- Mission 7 to the
International Space Station Apply by May 30 (grades 5 -12)
The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, and NanoRacks
announce Mission 7 to the International Space Station. This STEM education opportunity immerses grade 5-14 students across a
community in an authentic, high visibility research experience, where student teams design and propose real microgravity
experiments to fly in low Earth orbit on the International Space Station. The program nurtures ownership in learning, critical thinking,
problem solving, navigation of an interdisciplinary landscape, and communication skills all reflective of the Next Generation
Science Standards, and reflective of the skills needed by professional scientists and engineers, and the skills desired by 21st century
employers.

Each participating community will be provided a real microgravity research mini-laboratory capable of supporting a single
experiment, and all launch services to fly it to Space Station in Spring 2015, and return is safely to Earth for student harvesting and
analysis. A 9-week experiment design competition in each community, held September through November 2014, and engaging
typically 300 students, allows student teams to design and formally propose real experiments vying for their community's reserved
mini-lab on Space Station. A formal 2-step proposal review process, mirroring professional review, will determine the communitys
flight experiment. Content resources for teachers and students support foundational instruction on science in microgravity and
experimental design. Additional programming leverages the experiment design competition to engage the community, embracing a
Learning Community Model for STEM education. This includes a local art and design competition for a Mission Patch to accompany
the flight experiment to Space Station. SSEP therefore provides for a community-wide STEAM experience.

TIME CRITICAL: all interested communities are asked to inquire by May 30, 2014; schools and districts need to assess interest with
their staff and, if appropriate, move forward with an Implementation Plan. Communities must be aboard by September 3, 2014, for a
9-week experiment design phase September 8 to November 7, 2014, and flight experiment selection by December 17, 2014. Flight
of the selected experiment to ISS is expected in Spring 2015.

Contact: Dr. Jeff Goldstein, SSEP Program Director; 301-395-0770; jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org

NEW!!! Seats Available for All Sessions! Attend TI Half-Day Saturday Math and Science PD - May 31st
Texas Instruments Science/Math Professional Development for Middle /High School
Super Saturday Mini-PD Event
Worcester, MA
Using TI-Nspire and TI-84 Plus (COLOR) Technology Effectively in Science/Math
Saturday, May 31, 2014 8:30 AM 1:00 PM
Only $25.00
Location
Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science
85 Prescott St
Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
Contact registration and questions: Jim Donatelli 508-529-6787 jdonatelli@ti.com

You are invited to attend the Texas Instruments Science and Math Mini-PD Event on Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 8:30 1:00 in
Worcester, MA. The purpose of this Workshop is to offer a high quality, low-cost ($25.00) Professional Development opportunity for
middle/high school science and math educators and their administrators using the latest TI technology. There are (12) sessions to
choose from. Each session will be taught by an Instructor experienced in the technology and content described for each session.

TI Gift for Everyone - All attendees will receive one of the following based upon availability
TI travel tumbler, TI desk mug , TI Post-it-Notes desk set, TI mini pad and pen
Certificate of Attendance for everyone

Door Prize Drawing at 12:45 PM you must attend one session in the 8:40-10:30 block and one session in the 10:45-12:35 block and be
present at the Closing to win Prizes include TI-Nspire CX Handhelds, TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculators (not 84C), TI-Nspire Teacher
Software, TI-84 SmartView Software and Vernier probes/sensors your chance of winning is one-out-of two as the number of prizes
awarded will be equal to one-half of the number of attendees

What to Bring to the Workshop
If you have a TI-Nspire handheld or a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator, you may bring it along to the Workshop. .If you do, please
insure that it is updated with the latest Operating System. Visit http://education.ti.com/calculators/downloads/US/#Software We will
have TI Workshop Loan equipment for you to borrow during the Workshop so there is no need to bring your own unless you
choose to do so. You will have Internet access.

Registration is required Register now by Replying to this email with the following information:
your name,
school name,
e-mail address,
your 8:40-10:10:30 Session number and your 10:45-12:35 session number
A session may be closed once maximum enrollment (20) is reached REGISTER NOW.

PAYMENT - Purchase orders, personal checks and cash are accepted when you arrive on the day of the event. Make checks
payable to Mass Academy

Directions to Mass Academy can be found at http://www.massacademy.org/facilities.html

PROGRAM
7:30 8:30 Check-in and Light Continental Breakfast
8:30 8:40 Welcome, overview of the morning (gather in the Brickyard)
Session 1 (8:40 10:30) How will the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Affect My Science
Classroom? - NGSS will affect many middle and high school science teachers in the years to come. This session will use
the new middle/high school NGSS standards, crosscutting concepts and practices to do what we all really want to do
teach! It will highlight the whats new and whats not and more importantly how to make it happen in the classroom.
Helpful handouts will be available.
Session 2 (8:40-10:30) PARCC High School Math Assessments and TI-84 Plus Technology We now know
that the online graphing calculator students will use on the PARCC high school mathematics assessments will be the TI-84
Plus. This session will acquaint you with the TI Common Core Resources Toolkit featuring software and online tools to help
you prepare your students for the calculator permitted portion of the assessment. NOTE: If possible, bring a laptop
computer with the TI-84 Plus SmartView Emulator installed. A 90-day free trial of this product is available for
download at http://education.ti.com/smartview/84
Session 3 (8:40-10:30) Introduction to the TI-84 Plus C (COLOR) Graphing Calculator This session is for
those math and science educators who need to learn the basic operation of a TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator. You can bring
your own TI-84 Plus family graphing calculator or we can provide a TI-84 Plus C (COLOR) Graphing Calculator for your use
during this session. The emphasis of this session will be on the new capabilities of the TI-84 Plus C (COLOR) Graphing
Calculator.
Session 4 (8:40-10:30) Getting Started with TI-Nspire Navigator focus on Algebra - TI-Nspire
Navigator Technology is a wonderful tool for increasing student engagement, informing instruction, wirelessly delivering,
collecting and correcting student work, monitoring student work privately in real time and providing an electronic means
for students to be the Live Presenter in class. This hands on session will permit participants to experience Navigator in the
context of an Algebra classroom
Session 5 (8:40-10:30) Getting Started with TI-Nspire Technology in Algebra II - This hands on session is
for high school math educators who teach Algebra II. Focus will be on using TI-Nspire handheld technology in the Algebra
II classroom particularly the second half of an Algebra II course. We will work through several lessons and provide tips on
accessing and using free TI Algebra II activities.
Session 6 (8:40 10:30) Tech Lounge join an Instructor during this flexible meeting time to address your
individual questions about the TI technology you use. We can update your calculators Operating System and look at fully
prepared lessons for the TI-84 Plus and TI-Nspire that can be helpful in your science and mathematics classes.
BREAK (10:30 10:45) Continental breakfast items and a variety of snacks will be available
Session 7 (10:45-12:35) All Things Data - Data, its collection, presentation and analysis of patterns is the
backbone of science and mathematics. In this workshop we will use the Nspire to see the power of those techniques to
talk about the concepts we need to explore in science and math. Both categorical and functions will be discussed. We will
also explore the use of spreadsheets to enhance this practice.
Session 8 (10:45-12:35) Beyond the Obvious with the TI-84 Plus C (COLOR) Graphing Calculator - This
session is for educators who are comfortable with the basic operation of the TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator and would like
to learn what is specifically new about the 84C and its implications for teaching and learning. A content example from
Algebra 1, Algebra II, Precalculus and Calculus will be covered. Helpful handouts will be available.
Session 9 (10:45-12:35) PARCC High School Math Assessments and TI-84 Plus Technology We now know
that the online graphing calculator students will use on the PARCC high school mathematics assessments will be the TI-84
Plus. This session will acquaint you with the TI Common Core Resources Toolkit featuring software and online tools to help
you prepare your students for the calculator permitted portion of the assessment. NOTE: If possible, bring a laptop
computer with the TI-84 Plus SmartView Emulator installed. A 90-day free trial of this product is available for
download at http://education.ti.com/smartview/84
Session 10 (10:45-12:35) TI-Nspire Technology for Intermediate and Advanced Users (assumes prior
knowledge of the basics of using a TI-Nspire Handheld). Focus of this hands-on session will be effective use of the TI-
Nspire handheld for those math educators already familiar with its basic capabilities Content examples will come from
Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus. Required bring a laptop with the TI-Nspire Teacher Software installed. If you do not
own a license for TI-Nspire Teacher Software, you can download and install a free 90 day trial by visiting
http://education.ti.com/go/35
Session 11 (10:45-12:35) TI-Nspire App for iPad This session requires that you bring an iPad with the TI-
Nspire App for iPad or the TI-Nspire CAS App for iPad loaded. If you need to purchase the App, visit the App Store where it
can be purchased for $29.99. The session will cover the basics of using the TI-Nspire App for iPad in a middle/high school
mathematics classroom.
Session 12 (10:45-12:35) Tech Lounge join an Instructor during this flexible meeting time to address your
individual questions about the TI technology you use. We can update your calculators Operating System and look at fully
prepared lessons for the TI-84 Plus and TI-Nspire that can be helpful in your science and mathematics classes.
12:35 1:00 Door prizes and closing
NEW!!! Geniverse Summer Online Course Using Game-Like Genetics Software Apply By June 1
st

We invite you to join us this summer for an interactive online course that will guide you through the process of using our free,
game-like genetics software and support materials with your students next year. Geniverse engages students with a compelling
narrative introduction, offers multiple levels of interactive challenges, and includes the practice of scientific argumentation.
Dragon Summer Camp is open to both high school and middle school teachers and will span approximately two weeks, beginning
August 8, 2014 and ending August 23rd. This online course will contain synchronous and asynchronous components and require
approximately 25 hours of work. You will learn how to facilitate our online game-like genetics software, support student work in
scientific argumentation, and provide us with detailed feedback on the course and support materials. Your participation also
requires access to a reliable computer, internet connection and the Google Chrome browser. In exchange for your active
participation in this professional development opportunity, you will receive a stipend of $500.

Please note that you will not be able to run Geniverse on iPads or other touch-screen tablets for this course; however, a tablet-
friendly version is planned for a later release.

Space is limited--apply by June 1, 2014! We will review the applications and notify applicants of acceptance decisions on June 15,
2014.

For more information about the Geniverse project, please visit our teacher resource
website, Geniversity (geniverse.concord.org/geniversity).

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the following application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GVSummerCourse

NEW!!! National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Rhode Island Teacher Workshop -
Register by June 2
nd
(Grades 4-12)
June 11, 2014
Juanita Sanchez Complex
182 Thurbers Avenue
Providence, RI 02905

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project are excited to
announce the upcoming Rhode Island Teacher Workshop to be held June 11, 2014 at Juanita Sanchez Complex. Classroom
Teachers (4-12) will have a unique opportunity to learn energy in a fun and exciting way!

Thanks to the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, the workshop is FREE. Teachers will receive substitute reimbursement,
breakfast and lunch is provided, and participating teachers will receive hands-on curriculum resources for use with student teams
back in the classroom.

The NEED Projects mission is to promote an energy conscious and educated society. NEED is the nations leading provider of
energy programs and materials to schools. All NEED learning activities are correlated to Rhode Island science objective and many
others. The program will make teacher energy exciting and fun as you return to your classroom. Participation in the workshop
provides educators with a NEED Science of Energy Kit. The kit teaches the concepts of force, motion, light, sound, heat, electricity,
magnetism, and energy transformations through hands-on activities.

Substitute reimbursement forms will be available at the workshop and substitute costs will be reimbursed to all school districts. If
your district has a question, contact NEED at 1-800-875-5029

How to Register
Space is limited; please register by June 2, 2014!
To register online for the workshop visit http://www.need.org/calendar_list.asp and click on the workshop you would like to
attend.
Questions? Contact Wendi Moss at 1-800-875-5029 or at wmoss@need.org

Geoscience Teacher Training Workshop at UMass Amherst June 23 27
th
, 2014
We are writing to announce openings for a 5-day teacher training we are offering here at UMass-Amherst Geosciences. This
program is an outreach effort we developed as part of our Lake El paleoclimate Project funded by the National Science Foundation.
Here is the vital information. Please also see attachment and this video

Video of 2013 teacher workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCUBEbWX-HU

Dates are: Monday through Friday June 23-27, 2014. Participants could arrive June 22 or early June 23. 9 AM.

Location: Department of Geosciences, UMass-Amherst

All teacher Participants each receive (thanks to National Science Foundation):
Stipend of $75 per day
Stainless steel Hand corer with case (worth $469)
Fiberglass measuring tape ($20)
Munsell Color chart book ($175)
Grain size charts ($14)
New ideas for teaching climate and environmental systems via lakes

We can assist with partial travel costs to be used for hotel or gas. We are also arranging for the one week class to be taken for
continuing education credits if you need them. The cost of the credits are at your own expense but we can create the course
number etc.

The general plan for the week is as follows:
June 23: introductory materials, presentations and review of goals for teachers
June 24: All day coring in a few locations around the valley
June 25: Core splitting and initial core descriptions, all sampling and processing, smear slides
June 26: Curriculum work using the materials
June 27: testing and revision of materials so they are classroom ready.
For more information contact:
Department web site: www.geo.umass.edu
Julie Brigham-Grette - juliebg@geo.umass.edu
413-577-2270

Isla Castada - isla@geo.umass.edu
413-577-1124
NEW!!! Summer Professional Development Courses from the Wildlife Conservation Society's Online
Teacher Academy ($125 per seat)
The Wildlife Conservation Society's award-winning Online Teacher Academy allows busy educators across the nation earn
professional or graduate credits from the comfort of your own home on your own schedule. Collaborate with educators from
around the country this summer in one of the following courses:
Predators: Biology & Conservation - Separate from the herd. Become a predator advocate by learning about their roles
and discover why we can't live without them.
Nature's Thread: Weaving Environmental Education Into Your Classroom - Discover how to teach through an
environmental lens in your classroom. Nature can be an effective vehicle to enhance instruction for all subjects and all
gradesinvestigate how!
These summer courses run from June 27 through August 15, 2014. Enroll online today or call 718- 220-5136!

The MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering will host Science Teachers Enrichment Program
Dustbusting by Design - July 21-25, 2014 (MS and HS Teachers)
Spend a week at MITs Center for Materials Science and Engineering at a free hands-on workshop that addresses the engineering
design process, motor technology, and energy issues. Under the guidance of Professor Steven Leeb, explore the design challenges
associated with hand-held vacuums, then design and construct your own dc motor.

The motor-building lab portion of the workshop is taught simultaneously to high school women on campus participating in the
Womens Technology Program Additional program features include presentations by MIT researchers on materials science and
engineering. The final day of the workshop is devoted to group discussion and brainstorming related projects for use in K-12
classrooms.

Program details:
Middle and high school science teachers are invited to apply
Program takes place 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday, July 21-25 (Note that this is not a residential program)
$300 stipend will be awarded to each participant
Registration form available at: http://mit.edu/cmse/educational/STEP_registration_form14.pdf

For further information or questions, contact:
Susan Rosevear
Center for Materials Science and Engineering
77 Massachusetts Ave., Room 13-2082
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Phone: 617-253-0916
E-mail: susang@mit.edu
MIT is a non-smoking environment.
Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Research Experience In Bioengineering Program For Middle-School Teachers at WPI June 23 July
31, 2014 (Middle School)
This summer, WPI will be offering a Research Experience in Bioengineering program for middle-school teachers. The program takes
place full time over the summer. Teachers engage in cutting-edge research, and work on developing a curriculum unit to take back
to their classrooms. Excellent professional development program and generous compensation provided!

For more information, please go to https://www.wpi.edu/academics/bme/ret.html

Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) & Wonders of the Wetlands (WOW!) Register by June 27th
WHAT: 3 workshops over the course of 2.5 days co--led by educators from the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve and RIDEM
Division of Fish & Wildlifes Aquatic Resource Education program
WHEN: August 8--August 10, 2014
WHERE: Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on Prudence Island, Rhode Island
Lodging (dorm--style) and meals included; workshop is FREE!
Topics include estuaries, climate change and water resources
Participants receive a suite of resources including Project WET & WOW curriculum, NOAA educational materials and much
more!
Ideal for middle and high school teachers but others welcome to apply including informal educators
15 PDPs available
Space is limited; please make your reservation byJune27th to maureen@nbnerr.org
Visit http://www.nbnerr.org/tote.htm for additional information.

Harvard Medical School Professional Development for High School Teachers Personal Genetics In The
High School Classroom: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Register by June 30
Tuesday Thursday, July 29-31, 2014; 9:00 3:30
Boston, MA
Earn 18 PDPs for the three-day session
Cost: $50 (scholarships available)

This three-day training for teachers will be an introduction to personal genetics and its impact on society. A wave of personal
genetic information is coming how can we prepare students to make informed choices for themselves and for society as a whole?

The training will have two tracks; though both will explore ethical and social issues, one track will delve more deeply into the
scientific concepts and be most appropriate for science and health teachers, while the other will focus on historical events and social
issues, and be more appropriate for social studies and English teachers. Several sessions will be in the larger group.

Current high school students are among the first generation that will have unprecedented access to information about their DNA, as
genome sequencing and genetic testing become cheaper and more available. We create interactive lessons that engage students in
discussions about the potential risks and benefits of knowing more about your DNA, as well as ways in which they could
be impacted. We help students understand that this information has both personal and social impacts.

Through workshop-style sessions, we look at examples of the hopes, realities and controversies in personal genetics. Topics and
lessons we will explore include: An Introduction to personal genetics, Genetics, jobs & your rights, a History of the American
eugenics movement, Genetics and reproduction, DNA, crime and law enforcement, and several others. The training will also include
a session by a professor of social work who will address strategies for discussing personal and sometimes upsetting topics with
students who may be personally affected by these issues.

Topics to be covered: Advances in personal genetics, the intersection of athletics and genetics, genetics and aggression/complex
human behavior, reproductive genetics, low cost genetic testing, the history of eugenics and future of genetics, crime and DNA, and
critical thinking as it applies to assessing genetic risk factors.

Content Area: Biology, Social Studies, Health, Bioethics Genetics, English and Biotechnology; grades 9 12

To register, click here. For more information, click here or email Lauren Tomaselli at ltomaselli@pged.med.harvard.edu, or call (617)
432-1797. Visit our website at www.pged.org for more information about our project.

NEW!!! Field Entomology for Teachers Through the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Field Entomology for Teachers Through MCLA

Course title: Field Entomology for Educators
Course number: BIOE 650
Number of credits: 3 graduate
Course dates: July 7 - 11, 2014
Course times: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Course location: Pittsfield State Forest, Pittsfield, MA
to register go to: http://www.mcla.edu/Summer/

Where to meet: The educators building across from the swimming hole just past the main entrance to the forest.
What to bring to the course: Comfortable clothing and shoes with white socks, rain gear, a notebook for keeping field
notes, your lunch and snacks.
What will be provided: field collecting equipment, microscopes, pinning and mounting supplies, maps, and most
importantly BUG repellent.
What will be the focus of the course:
o What is an insect? And why should we study them?
o Lyme Disease overview
Anatomy of an insect
o The Insect Orders and Life Cycles
o Using an identification key
o Aquatic collecting and identification
o Insects, Ecology and the Environment
o Wooley Adelgids
o Night Collecting
o Pinning and mounting
o Insects, Genetics, Biodiversity and Evolution
o Insects and Society
o Malaria

This 3-credit graduate field entomology course will demonstrate to teachers the accessibility and versatility of insects as models in
teaching a wide range of concepts including: the characteristics of living things, reproduction and heredity, genetics, structure and
function of cells, evolution and biodiversity, adaptations, energy cycles, ecology and environmental science.

For more information contact Lisa Provencher: lprovencher@pittsfield.net

Summer Workshops on Modeling Instruction for Chemistry and Physics Kennebunk, ME - July 28
August 8
Want to get out of the classroom and still learn a new approach to chemistry or physics and gain some recertification hours? Please
consider joining us this summer at the historic First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Kennebunk, Maine for a week or two of
training in Modeling instruction. For over ten years we have introduced teachers to what has been endorsed as one of the most
promising approaches to science education.

From July 28 through August 8 we run two sequential sets of training (one in chemistry and one in physics). Each week costs $650
and includes training, workshop materials, breakfast and lunch (as well as free housing) on a first come first served basis. For
experienced modelers, we can offer guided experiences in advanced topics as add - ons. Evenings are free to explore the beaches,
restaurants, nature resources or to take a group trip to an amusement park or a ball game.

Chemistry two week Workshop Description Week one
1. Physical properties of Matter
2. Energy and States of Matter I: Particles in Motion
3. Energy and States of Matter II: Sticky Particles
4. Describing Substances
Week two
5. Counting Particles Too Small to See
6. Particles With Internal Structure
7. Chemical Equations
8. Stoichiometry

Physics two week Workshop Description - Week one
Electricity unit available as an add on
1. Measurement and Graphing with an emphasis on linearization.
2. Constant velocity particle
3. Constant acceleration particle
4. Vectors and tip-to-tail vector addition
5. Free particle (?F=0)
Week two
6. Constant force particle (?F=ma)
7. Energy and restoring force particle
8. Central force particle
9. Impulsive force particle

For more information and registration forms contact our Executive Director Dean Meggison at dmeggison@roadrunner.com.

Concept Mapping As A Tool For Meaningful Learning And Helping Students Learn How To Learn
(Middle and High School)
A one-day Summer Workshop for Middle and High School Teachers - August 23, 2014

A unique opportunity to speak to Professor Joseph Novak of Cornell University- the creator of Concept Maps - and his followers
who are using Concept Maps in every day classroom environment (as well as gain some recertification hours). Please consider
joining us this summer at Boston University on August 23
rd
.

Research proves that using Concept Maps facilitates critical thinking, deepens understanding and assists learners in developing a
self appraisal of their own thinking process.

The workshop lead by James Gorman, who is an experienced teacher and one of many followers of Professor Novak, will employ
participants with a hand on experience of using Concept Maps and Concept Mapping Tool.

During the workshop participants will have an opportunity to talk to Professor Novak, who is also the author of The Theory of
Meaningful Learning.

Please, use the links below if you want to learn more about concept maps and meaningful learning:

http://cmc.ihmc.us
http://cmc.ihmc.us/cmc/CMCProceedings.html
http://learn.cmappers.net
http://cmap.ihmc.us

If you are interested in attending the workshop, please, contact Dr. Valentin Voroshilov at valbu@bu.edu.
Dr. Valentin Voroshilov
Physics Department
Boston University
590 Commonwealth Ave., SCI 111
Boston, MA 02215
valbu@bu.edu
617-353-2634
http://mathhealth.com

Science Enrichment/Challenge Opportunities for Students
Hurricane Preparedness Webinar for RI 5th graders with the National Hurricane Center Thursday,
May 22
nd
at 10:00 AM EDT
The Hurricanes: Science and Society (HSS) Team at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography is excited to
announce that they will again coordinate with hurricane forecasting experts at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to offer a
hurricane preparedness webinar for 5th grade classes. This webinar is being offered to Rhode Island schools only, and we hope
your 5th grade classes can join us for this engaging and informative experience!

During this free, 1-hour webinar, students will hear from NHC scientists and forecasters, as well as NOAA Aircraft Operations Center
(AOC) personnel that fly into hurricanes. A presentation on region-specific hurricane science and preparedness will be given with
interactive questions and polls. We encourage classroom questions to be submitted in advance of the webinar so that as many
questions as possible can be answered by the hurricane scientists during their presentations. Introductory materials and helpful
links will also be supplied to all participating educators.

This RI Hurricane Preparedness webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 10:00am ET. Schools/classes wanting to
participate MUST REGISTER in advance. To register, please follow the link below:

https://rhody.webex.com/rhody/j.php?ED=295307107&RG=1&UID=0&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

If you have any questions, please contact Holly Morin (holly_morin@mail.uri.edu; 401-874-6414).

2014 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment Seeks Nominations Of Your Students
Sophomores and Juniors (Class of 2015 & 16)
Please consider nominating your top students for the 2014 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment.
http://wsp.gmu.edu/nominations/

George Mason University, along with its partners, National Geographic and the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (the National
Zoo), are excited to welcome students attending the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) to Washington, D.C.
The Summit is a hands-on, interactive program that provides Americas highest achieving high school students with an interest in
the environment, conservation and sustainability, and with the desire to explore careers in the fields of environmental science,
conservation, policy, law and engineering, with a remarkable opportunity. Students take an active role in the curriculum through
exclusive behind-the-scenes explorations of facilities and laboratories of the Smithsonian and National Zoo, and through exclusive
field visits, special access to, and activities with, researches, scientists, directors and staff. Students are led in small groups by faculty
advisors who are local experts in these fields and have extensive experience in conservation and the environment.

The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment is held on George Mason Universitys state-of-the-art campus, enabling
attending students to experience life as a typical college student and reside in comfortable, modern, fully air-conditioned dorm
rooms with wireless internet connections. Students will receive one college credit for their successful completion of the Summit, with
transcripts from George Mason University that can be sent to any college or university where the Delegate seeks admission.

Learn more about the program at http://www.wyse.gmu.edu or contact Richard Friesner at 703-993-5417 or by email at
rfriesne@gmu.edu with any questions.

Harvard Medical School MEDscience Summer Science Program for High School Students Program
Begins June 23
rd

Harvard Medical School MEDscience Program is offering (3) one week sessions this summer.

If you have interested students please see our web site for course dates and application at www.hmsmedscience.com. We do not
offer room and board and the students need to get to Harvard Medical School each day.

We accept 12 students per course and the program incorporates a hands-on, experiential pedagogy using patient simulators (a life-
like mannequin that doctors and nurses train on) integrating basic science and clinical judgment under the guidance of Harvard
Medical School faculty mentors. During the one-week intensive course, students use the simulator as their patient. The students are
organized in small groups for interactive case-based sessions including individual and group feedback. The curriculum is centered
around three seminal medical cases (Asthma, Heart attack and Diabetes) that serve to illustrate the role of basic and clinical
biomedical science in modern healthcare. Students are exposed to concepts from physics, biology, and chemistry, and they are
taught - through personal experience - the principles of teamwork, problem solving, and communication. During the programs,
students will receive a Basic Life Support certification, reflecting their acquisition of a crucial life skill.

OUR SPECIFIC AIMS:
To provide practical scientific knowledge.
To inspire interest in STEM.
To motivate for academic achievement.
To increase self-efficacy.
To make health professions attainable.
To introduce role models.
To practice real-life problem solving.
To bring science to life.
To train the next generation of scientifically literate citizens.

If you have questions or would like an application please contact Julie Joyal, Program Director at medscience@hms.harvard.edu
additional information on our web site www.hmsmedscience.com and FB page: HMS MEDscience.

NEW!!! Underwater Exploration Camp at the University of Rhode Island's (URI's) Inner Space Center
(ISC) - August 11-15, 2014
Become an ocean explorer! Underwater exploration camp is a week-long, experiential day camp for children/teens ages 11-15.
It will take place at URI's Graduate School of Oceanography in Narragansett, RI, August 11-15, 2014. Camp participants will build
and test a variety of oceanographic technologies, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and hydrophones (underwater
microphones). They will be surrounded by live feeds of video, audio, and other oceanographic data from active expeditions.
Participants will also witness amazing ocean discoveries and engage with ocean scientists.

Cost per camper is $495, which includes five days of supervised, hands-on instruction, transportation between field sites, fabrication
materials, and products. Campers will bring their ROVs and hydrophones home with them at the end of camp.

Online registration is now open! To register and learn about other c

Questions? Please contact Holly Morin (holly_morin@mail.uri.edu; 874-6414)
amp details, please visit the ISC website: http://www.innerspacecenter.org/explore/camps


________________________________________

Please note: attachments will not be sent. Most information will be posted online or included here to
reduce the size of this message.
Thank you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you know of something that you feel is a quality resource, event, or opportunity (e.g., grant), please send a
newsletter-ready blurb to peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov containing the following information by 3:00pm on
Thursday to be included in the Friday newsletter (subject to RIDE review and approval):
1. Type (e.g., grant, event, resource)
2. Name / Title of Event / Opportunity
3. Source or Event Sponsor
4. Web site, and/or contact name(s) and email address(es)
5. Description
6. Grade level(s) and/or intended audience
7. Deadline (if applicable) for time-sensitive submissions or event RSVPs

THIS NOTICE IS DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. R.I Department of Education does
not have any affiliation or responsibility to promote this information.

Peter J. McLaren
Science-Technology Specialist
Office of Instruction
Rhode Island Department of Education
255 Westminster Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-222-8454
peter.mclaren@ride.ri.gov
@PeterJMcLaren