The 20/21 Hub Annual Report - An OPI Storybook!
Another fast-paced busy year has concluded at the Teacher Learning Hub and we are pleased to share our many endeavors through great participant memories, the latest data, Hub information, and where we are headed as we begin the 21/22 fiscal year! It’s reader-friendly and chock-full of great information! Please take a moment to take a peek at the Hub Story for 20/21!
A Bountiful Harvest of Great Facilitated Offerings!
The days are getting shorter and there’s a chill in the air! Curl up with a great course and a cup of hot cider and lose yourself in newfound knowledge to inspire those you teach! Enrollment opens October 10th and these fill quickly, so please mark your calendar!
It’s Hunting Season on the Hub!
Hunting for ways to renew your license and boost your professional knowledge base? Not yet familiar with the Teacher Learning Hub? Then it is time to "Take a Tour" and join the nearly 21,000 users earning FREE renewal units every day on the Teacher Learning Hub! We don't want you, or your school, to miss out on this great resource! And yes, you heard that right! 20,854 educators are registered on the Hub and earning FREE online renewal units toward licensure renewal with high-quality self-paced and facilitated courses! Whatever your role may be in education, we have a course for you!
Helpful Hub Tip of the Month: Signed up for a facilitated course and can no longer attend? Facilitated courses often have an enrollment cap. Please go to How to Unenroll Yourself From a Course and unenroll so that someone who may be able to take the course is able to do so.
Enjoy the Sights, Sounds, and Smells of a Beautiful Fall!
Questions for our Hub team?
Contact Allyson Briese or Marti Paugh, opilearninghub@mt.gov or 406.444.3557
Native Filmmaker Film Club - Registration OPEN!
This fall brings the exciting launch of the 2021 Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club, a part of the Big Sky Film Institute! The film series follows four powerful, young Native and Indigenous leaders in 3 gripping documentaries!
Mark your calendars for the kick-off film, THE WATER WALKER, an uplifting portrait of a water rights activist preparing to speak at the United Nations. The LIVE Q&A with filmmakers, the main subject, and OPI Indian Education Specialist Mike Jetty is set for October 13th @ 1:00 pm and we would love to see you there! Visit the Big Sky Film Fest website to register, view the film, work through the discussion guides and show up to the virtual discussions with your students. Q&A dates for the live discussions are as follows:
Live Q&A with Director James Burns, Subject Autumn Peltier, Producer Stevie Salas and OPI's Indian Ed Specialist Mike Jetty
Live Q&A with Director Emily Ibañez, Subject Ashley Solis, and OPI Indian Ed Specialist Mike Jetty
Live Q&A with Director Ben-Alex Dupris, Sweetheart Dancers Adrian Stevens & Sean Snyder, and OPI Indian Ed Specialist Mike Jetty
All accompanied curriculum tie in with Indian Education for All Essential Understandings and are created to be adaptable to a range of subject areas, Grades 6-12! With your registration comes a free screening link to the film, accompanied curriculum, and the opportunity to register for our Film Club Online Course.
Questions? Contact Julia Sherman, Director of Education and Grants Manager for the Big Sky Film Institute at 406.541.3456 or youth@bigskyfilmfest.org.
Dyslexia and Innovation Symposium of Changemakers
Montana State University will host a two-day 100% virtual symposium on October 28th and 29th that will change the narrative around the culture of dyslexia. This event focuses on the powerful advantages of the dyslexic mind including imagination, spatial awareness, and creative thinking.
Registration is limited to 500 participants so pre-registration online is required and will be available beginning Wednesday, September 1st, 2021. This symposium is open to students, educators, parents, and the community. All registered participants will have access to all recorded sessions for 30 days after the event. For more information, including a schedule of events and how to register, visit MSU's DXI website and the conference platform.
Join our Professional Learning Sessions at MFPE!
The OPI’s Standards Instruction and Professional Learning team has put together four sessions on standards-based instruction for this year’s MFPE Ed Conference. All sessions are grounded in standards and evidence-based instructional best practices that help teachers help our students! Join us in professional learning on October 21-22 for to following sessions:
Thursday, October 21:
8:00 - Tools for Teachers: Formative Assessment Resources in the Math Classroom
8:00 - Science and ELA: A Literacy and Writing Partnership
11:00 - Update! Social Studies Overview of 5 New Montana Content Standards
12:00 - Science Update! Overview of 5 New Montana Content Standards
12:00 - Smarter Balanced Math and ELA Interim Assessments
2:00 - (ELA) Tools For Teachers and SmART: Formative Assessment Resources
4:00 - (ELA) Science and ELA: A Literacy and Writing Partnership
Friday, October 22:
8:00 - K-12 Update! Overview of 5 New Montana Content Standards
10:00 - Update! ELA Overview of 5 New Montana Content Standards
10:00 - Update! Math Overview of 5 New Montana Content Standards
US Department of Education: Strategies for Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Impact of Lost Instructional Time
“As students continue to return to in-person instruction, educators and staff may face challenges in re-engaging students in their learning and supporting students during what may be a difficult transition. It is particularly important to reengage those students who had the least opportunity to engage in virtual learning, missed the most instruction, and were least engaged by their schools prior to and during the pandemic, and to ensure those students receive the social and emotional supports that they need to succeed academically.
To address this challenge, states, districts, and schools may engage in a variety of evidence-based practices to reengage students and address the varied impacts of lost instructional time. Educators should personalize instruction to meet students’ individual needs. It is critical to do so without lowering high expectations for their long-term goals in student achievement or using tracking or traditional remediation. Students benefit from doing work and engaging in a curriculum that is challenging, supported, and interesting including accessing content that is above grade-level.”
To learn more about the USFG strategies to address lost instructional time, check out the full guidance or follow the embedded links to key program design options educators can use for providing tailored acceleration or the Complex Instruction Approach. Our Standards, Instruction and Professional Learning team at the OPI has also developed a Montana Acceleration Guidance Document and carefully curated list of acceleration resources.
Questions for our ELA-Literacy Instructional Coordinator?
Contact Stephanie Swigart, stephanie.swigart@mt.gov or 406.444.0743
Check out these "Gold Star" Self-paced Mathematics Teacher Learning Hub Courses
As you prepare for implementation of your ESSER Plan, consider these “gold star” self-paced mathematics courses on our Teacher Learning Hub. These courses are recommended for continuous school improvement planning and have been highly rated by course participants. Broad participation in these courses can help provide common professional learning experiences, thereby contributing to equitable access to strong instruction for our students:
Acceleration Resources for the 2021-2022 School Year and Beyond
No time to sift through the multitude of resources available regarding the use of ESSER funds? Our OPI Webpage, All About Evidence-Based Instruction, contains links to a variety of quality resources to help support ESSER Plan implementation. Here are just a few:
Questions for our Mathematics Instructional Coordinator?
Contact Sonja Whitford, sonja.whitford@mt.gov or 406.444.0706
Support for Professional Learning and Renewal Unit Processes
Are you planning professional learning and need some ideas to get started? Are you curious about issuing renewal units? The Professional Learning staff has many resources available on the Professional Learning website. We also host a monthly collaborative call for anyone that offers professional learning to Montana educators. Please visit the Professional Learning website to learn more about the monthly call, find resources to help you plan professional learning opportunities, and learn how to issue renewal units to participants.
Questions for our Professional Learning Coordinator?
Contact Carli Cockrell, carli.cockrell@mt.gov or 406.444.0769
Join the Montana Aerospace Scholars Today!
Attention all High School Juniors!
Applications are open and are due October 17th, 2021
The Montana Aerospace Scholars (MAS) program was designed in partnership with NASA, University of Washington, and the Museum of Flight. The goal is to give high school juniors across the Treasure State access to unparalleled learning opportunities in Earth and Space Science, space exploration, and related careers.
The MAS program is offered in two parts -- the first is a free online course. Participants who complete the first phase are eligible to participate in a six-day summer residency at the Montana Learning Center in Helena. Once at the residency, students have the opportunity to discover the Treasure State’s aerospace industry through behind-the-scenes aerospace company tours and presentations from STEM experts. Students who complete Phase One of the program have the option to earn five science credits from the University of Washington. In addition to lessons in Earth and Space Science and NASA history, MAS offers opportunities to interact with STEM industry professionals, hands-on engineering activities, and a national alumni network which tracks student progress from high school until after college graduation. Many of our MAS alumni are currently involved in a STEM college or career pathway! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Ryan Hannahoe, executive director of the Montana Learning Center, at MontanaLearningCenter@gmail.com or (406) 475-3638.
Three-Dimensional Life Science Projects from MPG Ranch
Inspired Classroom works with MPG Ranch which is a biological research station in Montana. The researchers study everything in their ecosystem and want kids to know about what they’re learning! The expert teachers translate their research into 10 amazing, free projects for students.
Research Projects for Elementary, Middle School, and High School for the 2021-2022 school year center around: Mountain Lion Research, Golden Eagle Migration Research, Pollinators Research, and Soil Science Research. Learn more about these projects at Inspired Classroom and learn more about the MPG Ranch through their video.
Free K-12 Science Competition for Students and Teachers
The Toshiba/National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) ExploraVision competition challenges K-12 students to envision a future technology while engaging in Next Generation Science Standards. Inspire a lifelong love of STEM and discovery in an engaging, hands-on way! It’s not too late to register your teams. Deadline for submissions is January 31.
Download their free lesson plans for teachers and register online today.
NextGen Science Exemplar System - Virtual Oceans, Climate Science & Big Data Pathway
Calling all Middle School and High School Teachers of Science, Social Studies, and Computer Science!
New Session Dates for the “Oceans, Climate Science & Big Data (OCSBD) Pathway” are now available. Fee for entire PD pathway is $190.00.
Registration is now open! Pathway session dates are as follows:
- Saturday, October 16th
- Sunday, October 17th
- Saturday, October 23rd
- Sunday, October 24th
- Saturday, October 30
Each virtual session will start at 10:00 AM and conclude at 3PM Eastern Daylight Time. There will be breaks throughout. The pathway is designed for middle and high school teachers of science, social studies, and computer science. You will be working with data and using accessible digital tools that can be taken back to your classroom. Developing ideas for classroom lessons is a hallmark of this pathway. Importantly, this pathway is designed to make explicit the important linkages between the oceans, climate science, and big data.
Such linkages are an essential part of understanding climate change and how the ocean, working as a system, helps to shape weather patterns around the globe. In this pathway, you will explore the ocean, its effect on climate, and learn how to help students to acquire data literacy -- an essential tool in understanding climatic patterns.
OCSBD reflects a collaborative partnership between the Bigelow Laboratory in Boothbay, Maine and NGSX. Three very talented Bigelow scientists have important roles in the pathway. As always, this pathway uses many of the tools found in our other NGSX pathways – small and large group discussions, puzzling phenomenon, the virtual version of a driving question board, dedicated time to build an understanding of key ideas as well as learning how to use new pedagogical tools, using virtual science notebooks and being immersed in key concepts important in climate education. All of these tools have been designed or redesigned to be accessible in a virtual learning environment. Please send any questions you might have to nextgenexemplar@gmail.com.
New Opportunities from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
In light of the challenges children have faced during the COVID-10 pandemic, the National Academies has developed a suite of tools to help children and youth manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness. The Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth is available now.
Thinkalong, a Free Program to Help Students Think Critically about Media
Thinkalong, created by Connecticut Public is a great resource from PBS, NPR, and local media sites to help students think critically about media, develop informed opinions, and practice respectful, civil discourse.
Association of Science and Technology Centers Virtual Conference
Register now for the October 5-7, 2021, ASTC Virtual Conference!
You will have the opportunity to engage with more than 170 plenary and concurrent sessions, lightning talks, virtual posters, and Preconference ASTC Intensives. Plus a robust set of networking and social events, the Virtual Exhibitor Showcase, and more! Don’t miss out on one of the premier annual events for science-engagement professionals and leaders in science and technology centers and museums as well as allied organizations around the world.
In addition to attending this year’s live event, all registrants will receive on-demand access to session recordings after the conference ends, so you can engage with the content on your schedule.
University of Montana's spectrUM Big Night Postponed
From spectrUM:
Dear friends of spectrUM,
With great sadness about the worsening Covid-19 situation in our community, we have decided to postpone Big Night. Everyone’s health and safety is our top priority, but we are nevertheless disappointed that we will not be able to gather with you on October 7.
With our advisory board and Big Night committee, we explored a number of alternatives, but all were agreed that we would rather see you in person than on Zoom. For this reason, we are planning to reschedule Big Night for spring 2022, with the new date to be announced.
If you have already purchased your tickets, you will receive a refund shortly.
We will update you as soon as we have selected a spring date and can’t wait to get together with you in spectrUM’s new home…as soon as we can do so safely.
Two New Middle School High-Quality Units Approved by NGSS!
The items below are located on the OpenSciEd website.
- How Can We Use Chemical Reactions to Design a Solution to a Problem?
In OpenSciEd Unit 7.2: How Can We Use Chemical Reactions to Design a Solution to a Problem? students make sense of the anchoring phenomenon — a flameless heater in a Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) that provides hot food to people by just adding water. Students then use their learning to develop their own homemade heater design by engaging in engineering design processes. The unit was awarded the NGSS Design Badge by the NextGenScience Peer Review Panel.
- Where Do Natural Hazards Happen and How Do We Prepare for Them?
In OpenSciEd Unit 6.5: Where Do Natural Hazards Happen and How Do We Prepare for Them? student learning is anchored around the 2011 Great Sendai or Tōhoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused major loss of life and property in Japan. Through this anchoring phenomenon, students think about ways to detect tsunamis, warn people, and reduce damage from the wave. Then, students consider combinations of engineering design solutions and technologies to mitigate the effects of tsunamis. The unit was awarded the NGSS Design Badge by the NextGenScience Peer Review Panel.
Two New STEM Teaching Tools!
The items below are located on the STEM Teaching Tools website.
STEM Teaching Tool #77 provides research, guidance, and resources on how family and home-based activities can be leveraged to develop collaborative scientific sense-making outside of the classroom. The tool provides guidance on strengthening the coherence of learning from the classroom to students’ homes.
STEM Teaching Tool #78 can support educators and school leaders to address the political nature of climate change while students are learning the ideas behind it in the science classroom. The tool provides context on why climate change is sometimes a political topic in the education field and shares resources and recommendations on how educators and leaders can continue teaching the subject, especially through the lens of socio-historical issues in a local context.
Disrupting the Image of Who Can Be a Scientist - Webinar from NARST
Announcing a new NARST community engagement initiative -- The NARST Presidential webinar series. This series is part of the Virtual Events initiative to engage the NARST and science education community in productive, stimulating, and forward-thinking virtual events throughout the year. This webinar series offers scholars opportunities to participate in critical discussion about research, vision, and action around a central topic. This year’s Presidential theme is: Unity and Inclusion for Global Scientific Literacy: Invite as a community. Unite as a community. Webinars within this series will focus on one or more elements of this theme, as we lead up to the NARST 2022 conference.
"Disrupting the image of who can be a scientist: What does inclusion look like? What should inclusion look like" will take place October 6, 2021, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST on Zoom. Free registration is now available.
Questions for our Science Instructional Coordinator?
Contact Michelle McCarthy, mmccarthy5@mt.gov or 406.444.3537
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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