Professional Development Opportunities
2023-2024 K-12 Science Office Hours
The K-12 Science Section will offer office hours during the 2023-24 School Year. Each session will focus on a particular topic and target a specific audience. A registration link and information about each session is found in the table below. Information and registration can also be found on the NCDPI K-12 Science Section Professional Development Google Doc.
Date and Time
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Title/Topic
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Audience
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Registration
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September 14, 2023
3:30-4:30
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STEM/PAEMST Recognitions
The purpose of this session is to raise awareness regarding the NC STEM Schools Progress Rubric and the STEM Schools of Distinction Recognition Program as well as the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
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District leaders, principals, administrators, and classroom teachers
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Link to Recording and Presentation
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October 12, 2023
3:30-4:30
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2023 K-12 Science Standards:
What’s new?
The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of the new 2023 K-12 Science Standards and Crosswalks.
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District leaders, principals, classroom teachers
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November 16, 2023
3:30-4:30
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Science and Engineering Practices
This session will provide an overview of the Science and Engineering Practices, including what they are and how they are used in the new standards.
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District leaders, principals, and classroom teachers
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Link to Recording and Presentation
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December 7, 2023
3:30-4:30
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Science Modeling
This session offers an example of how the Science and Engineering Practices can be incorporated into daily classroom instruction.
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District leaders, principals, and classroom teachers
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Registration
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February 15, 2024
3:30-4:30
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Nonformal and Formal Educator’s Partnerships
The session will focus on how the nonformal educators and formal educators form partnerships to promote student learning.
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District leaders, principals, and classroom teachers, nonformal educators
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Registration
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March 7, 2024
3:30-4:30
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Testing and Accountability
This session will include the NCDPI Test Measurement Specialists and will provide an overview of science testing in grades five, eight and Biology.
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Science curriculum specialists, teachers, and administrators
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Registration
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April 11, 2024
3:30-4:30
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Preparing for K-12 Science Standards Implementation
NCDPI Science Consultants will offer strategies and ideas for preparing for the 2023 K-12 Science Standards Implementation.
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District leaders, principals, and teachers
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Registration
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Fall Science Professional Learning Institute
The NCDPI K-12 Science Team recently completed the face to face PD sessions for each State Board Region. The Science Consultants began this six week journey in October and concluded with visiting the Southeast (Region 2) in November. Nearly 800 educators from across the state attended during this six week process. During each session participants explored the new 2023 NC K-12 Science Standards that were adopted in July, 2023. The Science Consultants guided participants in an overview of the new standards, including the Science and Engineering Practices (SEP) and the Revised Bloom's Taxonomy (RBT). Participants engaged in strategic conversations and worked collaboratively to plan for local implementation in 2024-2025.
The Slide Set Presentation can be found on the NCDPI K-12 Science Section Professional Development Google Document.
DEQ Environmental Educators Workshop
This workshop will highlight the education programs of several of the Department of Environment Quality Divisions. These Division experts will guide participants through free content, educational resources, and ideas on how to teach about a variety of environmental topics to a variety of audiences. This workshop is ideal for educators interested in expanding outreach and education programs.
Participants will learn fun activities to use at festivals, school visits, and classroom activities for K-12 teachers that participate! All activities covered can be used to meet K-12 classroom education standards. Participants will be provided with a detailed workshop agenda that can be used to obtain continuing education credit or NCEE credit where applicable.
This workshop is FREE, but participants must register. To do so, scan the flyers QR code, for follow the link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wakeparks/activity/search/detail/6635?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US
Nominate a K-6 STEM Teacher for the PAEMST Awards
Calling All STEM Reviewers!!
Your Support is Greatly Appreciated
The 2023-2024 North Carolina STEM Schools of Distinction Recognition Program is underway. With nearly 40 schools across the state having communicated their Intent to be recognized as a leading STEM program in North Carolina, we are asking those STEM educational leaders, who have familiarity with the STEM Schools of Distinction process, to assist with the Review of this year's applications.
Individuals presently leading within a NC recognized STEM school, or any individuals who have served as past SSoD reviewers, are asked to provide updated contact information by completing this Reviewer Application by December 31st.
There will be a required Reviewer training. More information on this training will be available soon. This year's applications will be shared the week following the February 2nd deadline and reviewers will have two weeks to complete their review and share feedback. The number of reviewers assigned will be dependent upon the number of submitted applications.
Thank you for continuing to drive quality STEM education in North Carolina!
PRC 196 - Plasma Games and PRC 201 - After School Robotics Competitive Grants
The competitive grant applications for the 2023-2024 PRC 196 and PRC 201 grants are now available. All PSUs are encouraged to read through the grant details for specific guidance and instructions. A few important notes about both:
- The grants are specific to the 2023-2024 school year and must be fully spent with all related purchases/services fully delivered by September 30th, 2024.
- Both grants are tied to remaining ESSER 3 funds, so there remains the need to connect to pandemic recovery.
- The grants are similar to ones from the previous budget, but each does have some changes. Please read the new budget details, guidelines and criteria closely. Let us know any questions you have about either grant opportunity.
Competitive Grant Guidance
2023-2024 After School Robotics (Applications due 11:59pm December 31, 2023)
2023-2024 Plasma Games (Applications due 11:59pm January 15, 2024)
*Please contact Charles Aiken (charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov) or Howard Ginsburg (howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov) with any questions.
Teaching the Craft of Writing PD
The NCDPI ELA Team invites teachers to participate in professional learning on Teaching the Craft of Writing. This one-day PD will be grounded in the Literacy Instruction Standards, ELA Standard Course of Study, current research, and the recommendations and guidance in the NCDPI ELA Team’s writing guidebook (to be released in January 2024). Collectively, participating teachers can use this learning to make informed and effective decisions when developing their vision for teaching writing.
Professional learning will be held face-to-face on the dates, times, and locations below. Participants are encouraged to bring a device.
East: February 1, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Lenoir County
West: February 13, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Burke County
Central: February 15, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | DPI
Central: February 16, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Hoke County
Central: February 21, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | DPI
Virtual: February 29, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Please note priority registration will be given to districts attending PD closest to their region.
Spots are limited for the in-person option. Once a location’s registration is full, registrants will be put on a waiting list. Registration is not finalized until registrants receive confirmation from the NCDPI ELA Team.
Register Today!
Student Opportunities
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AQ-IQ Contest for NC 7th Grade Students
It’s that time of year again! It’s time to start talking about the AQ-IQ contest with your 7th grade students.
Who: The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality invites ALL NC 7TH GRADE STUDENTS to participate in the 2023-2024 AQ-IQ Contest!
What is the AQ-IQ Contest:
The annual North Carolina AQ-IQ Contest for seventh grade combines S.T.E.A.M. education and project-based learning with student creativity to teach air pollution science to students across the state. The contest gives these students an opportunity to learn about air quality and think about solutions to air pollution. It puts students in charge of creating a project to educate others about an air quality problem. In the past, projects have been posters, videos, Minecraft creations, games, and artistic projects off all sorts.
Each year the AQ-IQ contest gives out special awards for projects that meet one of the following categories:
· Wildfires and Planned Burns
· Electrify Everything
· The Air Quality Forecast
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Note: Depending on the number of statewide entries, a larger statewide AQ-IQ award ceremony may be held in June or July. Location and specific date to be announced. In general, entries will compete against other entries from their regions. However, the best regional projects may then be evaluated in the statewide AQ-IQ Contest for a statewide award.
Examples of past project winners can be found on the NC Air Awareness YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/user/NCAirAwareness/videos
When:
Now until midnight on March 11, 2024, students can create and submit their projects through this form .
Why:
The AQ-IQ contest allows students to explore their interests and strengths while engaging with the material and learning about air quality. Students are asked to think creatively while designing their projects. Watch our video to hear from teachers about why the AQ-IQ contest works in their classrooms: https://youtu.be/ArtLhL1z1hY
How:
Students need to follow the step-by-step Student Worksheet guide to develop an AQ-IQ project. Once completed, students submit their projects using the online form linked above. We ask students to include both their teacher’s and parent’s emails, as well as their project’s bibliography, when submitting.
For more information on the AQ-IQ contest, you can also visit the NC Environmental Education webpage.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Keith Bamberger at keith.bamberger@deq.nc.gov, or Janina Millis at janina.millis@deq.nc.gov.
We are a free year long program that serves high school students in Grades 9-12 who have disabilities and are interested in STEM Careers. We provide: STEM Content and Skills, Workforce and College Readiness Skills, Advocacy and Life Skills. We serve students who are in Regular Education (Regular Classes, Honors, AP and College Classes) and the Occupational Course of Study Program. Our program includes: a week long summer session, paid STEM Internship, Field Studies Trip and Saturday Sessions and many other opportunities, during the school year. Students can participate for more than one year! We have won 5 National Awards in six years but our biggest award is all our students are doing well in college in STEM fields from Electrician to Engineering!
Open House Information for Catalyst:
Catalyst Open House for June 2024- May 2025 will be Virtually on: Thursday, January 11th at 7 PM-8 PM or in person on: Saturday, January 13th from 10 AM-11 AM at NC State University. Anyone interested in learning more or attending the program should come to the Open House either virtually or in person. We will explain the program in detail and the process for applying. Both parents and the student are required to attend. (Students should be a rising 9th-12th grader for next school year, 2024-2025).
Please complete the form in the link : https://go.ncsu.edu/catalyst_open_house_2024 if you are interested in attending, we will send you the address or link to attend. If you have any questions, please email: Joann Blumenfeld at: jrblumen@ncsu.edu or call me at: 919-633-3120.
NC DPI Science Consultants
Dr. Debra Hall
K-5 Science
debra.hall@dpi.nc.gov
Gavin Fradel
6-8 Science
gavin.fradel@dpi.nc.gov
Benita Tipton
9-12 Science
benita.tipton@dpi.nc.gov
Alexis Wood
9-12 Science
kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov
Additional Contacts:
Dr. Charles Aiken
Section Chief K-12 Mathematics, Science and STEM
charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov
Howard Ginsburg
K-12 STEM Consultant
howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov
Disclaimer Statement: The links on this page will bring you to third party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.
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