Hello, everyone!

It's my pleasure to formally introduce myself as the new state science consultant at the Iowa Department of Education.  While I've worked with many of you in various capacities in the past, I look forward to continuing to deepen and improve implementation of our Iowa Core science standards in my new role.

A little about myself...

I taught science in grade levels 9-12 and worked with an academically and culturally diverse student body in the Des Moines schools for eighteen years. I also served as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Coordinator and Instructional Coach at Hoover HS for five years. In this role, I oversaw students’ progress through the IB Middle Years Programme and supported staff in finding ways to incorporate a more global, sustainable, and reflective mindset into their respective curricular areas and instructional practices. I also helped manage STEM BEST grants, working to bring off-site research experiences to students as a Hoover STEM Academy adviser. 

During my summers, I co-coordinated a research experience for teachers (RET) program and middle school biorenewables summer academy at Iowa State for many years, and I was both a past-president and a conference chair of the Iowa Science Teaching Section of the Iowa Academy of Science.

Although I certainly have big shoes to fill, I am excited to lead the team as the new science consultant in Iowa.  This monthly SCIENCE NOTES newsletter will serve as a way to showcase bright spots across the science education landscape in Iowa, as well as to communicate important and relevant news and opportunities.

If you have any stories, events or resources that could be shared in the next SCIENCE NOTES, please send them my way at the email address at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for your continued work and dedication to high quality science learning experiences for all students.  Enjoy your weekend!

Submitted by: Deborah Darge, deborah.darge@iowa.gov
URL provided: https://educateiowa.gov/general-component-presidential-scholar-nomination

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking nominations for outstanding high school seniors for the 2019-20 U.S. Presidential Scholars selection cycle. We encourage you to nominate students who, while demonstrating outstanding scholarship, might not otherwise be nominated through the current SAT/ACT, arts, or CTE recognition processes. If you have an outstanding high school senior deserving of consideration, submit a nomination through the Department’s online Presidential Scholar Nomination Form by Sept 30.

Department Director Ryan Wise will select 25 students (10 males, 10 females, and 5 in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) category) to submit to the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program for consideration. The 2020 Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, DC. Reviewers will consider the following categories:

• Involvement and service (in school and community)
• Leadership and character
• Writing samples
• Academic achievements
• Discretionary points for extraordinary achievement, heavy workload, family responsibilities, or obstacles overcome.

The CTE component of the program will honor students on the basis of outstanding scholarship and demonstrated ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Reviewers will consider the following categories:

• Mastery of technical skills
• Strength in teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving
• Real world application

Specific information to be included in each nomination is described on the Department’s online General Component Presidential Scholar Nomination form, or the CTE Component Presidential Scholar Nomination form. Nominations must be submitted no later than Sept. 30.

For questions regarding the nomination process, contact Deborah Darge at deborah.darge@iowa.gov or (515) 242-6176. Read more about the Presidential Scholars Program.

Submitted by: Tiffany Morgan, tiffany.morgan@iptv.org
URL provided: http://www.iptv.org/education/story/34665/iptv-seeking-iowa-science-teachers-participate-iowa-phenomena-cohort

Iowa Public Television is seeking innovative Iowa science teachers to participate in a professional development cohort exploring Iowa Earth and environmental science phenomena. Selected participants will collaborate with teachers across the state to research strategies for using local phenomena to inspire student questions, work with conservation professionals to find and capture local phenomena, and create original resources for a new IPTV educational website. Teachers selected to participate will earn a $650 stipend for completing the project requirements. Relicensure and graduate credit is available. Visit our website HERE for additional information.

Submitted by:  Craig Johnson, IowaAcademyOfScience@wildapricot.org

Join your friends and colleagues at the 2019 ISTS Fall Conference. If you have already registered - thank you! Please disregard this reminder! If you haven't registered use the link at the bottom of this page to learn more and register.

The Pre-Conference and Conference are packed with information you can use, opportunities to network, break out sessions, workshops, exhibitors and more.

Conference Keynote Speaker
Benjamin Herman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Learning, Teaching and Curriculum
University of Missouri

Choose from more than 70 Break-out and Expo Sessions
Exhibit Hall

Learn more and Register

Submitted by: Mark McDermott, mark-a-mcdermott@uiowa.edu
URL provided: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lkYqHvrI7lNbCMvL-Zq908VcLorCn3vz

The Argument-based Strategies for STEM Infused Science Teaching (ASSIST) approach provides a framework for developing effective science learning environments at all grade levels. The argument-based Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) is combined with the purposeful integration of mathematics, engineering, and technology to develop units of study aligned with the NGSS and the Iowa Science Standards. Focusing on literacy skills as a way to develop science understanding, especially consistent engagement with multimodal communication is also emphasized.

ASSIST project developers along with a number of teachers who have participated in professional development related to the approach have developed templates and resources to help teachers plan and implement units. Teachers can access copies of the latest version of tools and associated resources at this link. Feedback and comments about the tools or suggestions for further resources can be emailed to Mark McDermott.