STEM News Splash

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Office of Public Instruction

August

2021

STEM News Splash


Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge

Mosquito Bite

Audience: Citizen scientists Worldwide

Challenge Dates: Now through August 25

Contact: cassie_soeffing@strategies.org

 

Photo from Wikimedia

Scientists need your photos of mosquito larvae and land cover to help prevent outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases. The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program invites citizen scientists to use the GLOBE Observer app tools to document mosquito breeding habitats and the land around them.  To learn how you can participate, observe, learn, create and engage to help scientists worldwide, visit Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge to learn more.


Clean Energy Cohorts

Clean Energy Fellows

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation is offering three Clean Energy Fellows Cohorts. They are an opportunity for teachers to work as part of a broader network, engage with local utilities and industry, and acquire professional development. Teachers participating will receive:

  • $3,000-5,000 stipend
  • $2,000 materials budget
  • Access to industry and education experts for consultation on their projects
  • Collaboration and training opportunities with educators nationwide

You can take a look at our current application information as well as our current cohort of Fellows to learn more. NOTE: There is no longer a deadline for teachers to apply, and we currently have a rolling acceptance process. If this year is not the right year for you to apply, do feel free to take advantage of the clean energy curriculum and activities developed for all grade levels on our website: https://cebrightfutures.org/teach [cebrightfutures.org].


Girls in STEM: Curious about Curiosity Camp?

GoldieBlox is educating and empowering girls by creating engaging content, fun toys, and interesting resources.

Girls in STEM

In this webinar, you’ll learn more about the IF/THEN® Collection, Curiosity Camp, and the newly released Camp GoldieBlox resources. The webinar will highlight ways to use these resources to support girls in STEM. Hear from GoldieBlox founder, Debbie Sterling, and the stars of Curiosity Camp, about the importance of STEM role models and resources for girls.

Register for this MT After School Alliance opportunity.


Partners in Science Meet and Greet

Partners in Science Invite

Are you interested in doing research in a college level research lab and getting paid for it? Are you interested in applying for a grant to purchase equipment for your classroom? If so, please plan to attend an informational meet and greet at the Missoula Public Library on August 19 at 6:00 in the evening. There will be former grant recipients, research professors and grant employees to discuss the grant and answer any questions you may have. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Popham at kimpopham13@gmail.com.


MSU to offer Soils, Slopes, and Streams Courses

Academic Technology and Outreach and the Department of Earth Sciences at MSU will offer a series of non-credit courses for both traditional K-12 teachers and alternative educators focusing on teaching about soils, slopes, and streams and how different Earth processes impact human lives.

Learn more about these courses and their dates.


NASEM

Call to Action for Science Education: Building Opportunity for the Future

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a new report that lays out a vision for K–16 science education, priorities that need to be addressed to achieve that vision, and a series of research-based recommendations for federal, state, and local actors to improve access to quality science learning experiences.

     A Call to Action for Science Education: Building Opportunity for the Future


Planning for the Next Year: Open Source Fordham Institute

The Acceleration Imperative

This new open-source, living document from the Fordham Institute was developed to help support educators’ planning for the next year. The resource is not discipline specific, and educators working to address unfinished learning in science resulting from COVID-19 disruptions over the past two years can use and adapt this document to inform their strategies.


Upcoming Courses

Teacher Learning Hub

NEW Course!  Opening for enrollment September 1st!

Supercharge Your Classroom with Montana Field Science Data!

This course is 36 Renewal Units and runs from Sept 19 through October 30, 2021

This is a job-embedded course that will take you through research-based approaches to complete an applicable product for your classroom. The course is based in best practices research and designed to support a classroom balance of inquiry and explicit instruction. Each step of the process (milestone) will be composed of a building background knowledge portion and an inquiry/application activity. Each week, you will collaborate with other teachers in Montana to deepen understanding and refine your product. This peer feedback mirrors research emphasized within the course. Finally, assignment submissions ensure you have trainer feedback for each milestone in the course. This feedback loop is designed to help you produce the highest quality product for the course and, more importantly, for your classroom.

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Gather a deeper understanding in the Next Generation K-12 Framework aligned Montana Science Standards, these highly rated facilitated online courses are made available again this fall.

September 2021                     Renewal Units     Enrollment Opens     Run Dates

3D in Your Classroom               24                         Aug 22                         Sept 19-Oct 30

This course will enable educators to gain a deeper understanding of the Science and Engineering Practices through a six-week course designed around interactive discussion groups, job-embedded practice, videos, reflection, and surveys. Each week is divided into steps to aid you in following the coursework path.

October 2021

Crosscutting Concepts: Making Learning Real

                                                   20                         Sept 12                        Oct 3 - Oct 30

This facilitated course introduces the Crosscutting Concepts (CCC's) in detail and helps guide you to incorporate them into the curriculum that you are already using in your classes.  Most of the Crosscutting Concepts apply to all disciplines and take into account the deeper learning that needs to occur for our students.  It is where students see the big picture that enables them to apply their learning, reaching Bloom's Taxonomy of higher order thinking. 

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Self-Paced Courses: Science Foundation: Each of these courses builds a deeper understanding of Montana K-12 Framework Aligned Standards (understand the standards and what is being assessed).

3D Poster

If you would like one or more of these free 3D Posters, please contact Michelle McCarthy at mmccarthy5@mt.gov.


This newsletter is released on the second Wednesday of every month, except for the month of July.  If you want to share science opportunities for teachers, please email Michelle below.  Items need to be received at least a week prior to the release date.  All newsletters are archived and available on the OPI Science Webpage.


Calendar of Events & Opportunities

Keep updated with new opportunities, professional development, and science resources at the Montana OPI's Science Page.  

Pulse

This message was sent by Michelle McCarthy, Science Instructional Coordinator.  You can reach Michelle by email at MMcCarthy5@mt.gov or by calling (406) 444-3537 or (406) 860-6619 (cell).  If you want to share out this subscription or unsubscribe you can change your email subscription status.


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, TTY 406-444-0235.