SAMEC E-News: Week of 02-03-06
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
2) Upcoming Courses for Teachers
Spring 2006
3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
5) Opportunities for K-12 Students
6) Outreach Opportunities for College
Students and Faculty
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1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
Astronomy
Camp for Educators, June 29 - July 3, 2006, Mt. Lemmon
Observatory. The University of Arizona announces its eleventh Astronomy
Camp for Educators. Astronomy Camps are immersion adventures in DOING
science. Participants become astronomers operating large telescopes
(12, 20, 40, 60, 61-inch diameters), interacting with leading
scientists, and interpreting their own scientific measurements. The
Camps are held in the "Sky Island" environment of Mt. Lemmon
Observatory (9200 feet). Daytime activities include solar observing,
interactive talks, inquiry-based activities led by astronomers and
educators, tour of the UA Mirror Lab and other facilities, hiking in
the unique "sky island" environment, plus a "swap meet" of teaching
ideas and materials. For more information, contact: Dr. Don McCarthy, dmccarthy@as.arizona.edu,
http://www.astronomycamp.org
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Discover
Mars in Alaska! Become a part of the Phoenix Mars Mission
Education Team by participating in the Alaska Phoenix Mars Arctic
Region Science Field Experience for Secondary Teachers--Phoenix
MARSFEST. NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander and Mars 2001 Odyssey missions
invite eight pairs of middle and/or high school science teachers to
immerse themselves in a week-long summer field experience focused on
current polar science research on both Earth and Mars. Selected teacher
teams will:
• Collect and analyze permafrost
samples from the CRREL research tunnel
• Visit and study active glaciers
and learn about Alaska polar science
• Study and compare remote sensing
data from both Earth and Mars
• Work directly with Mars
scientists, arctic experts, and education specialists
• Prepare to present Mars
activities at regional and national education conferences
Applications are due February 15, 2006. For more information, contact Doug Lombardi, Phoenix E/PO Manager,
lombardi@lpl.arizona.edu, 520-626-8973 or visit the Phoenix Mars Lander
Web site at: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/alaska_workshop
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Calling
all past and present SAHRA water education program users!
If you are able to attend the event listed below we could really use
your input! If you know of any teachers who have used our
materials or participated in any of our water education programs,
please pass this on and encourage them to help us with this important
program evaluation and planning workshop. Thank you for your continued
interest in SAHRA's programs! You are invited: WHAT: A SAHRA
Professional Development Round Table Discussion & Evaluation WHEN:
Wednesday, Feb 8th from 4pm-6pm WHERE: SAHRA at the University of
Arizona, 845 N. Park Ave, 5th floor (Marshall Bldg), large conference
room We want to know what our classroom teachers really need to
know about water! Please join us for 2 hours of your focused evaluation
of our past and current water education programs and a preview of our
upcoming offerings for teachers and classes. There will be treats,
validated parking, and you will receive 2 hours of professional
development credit. Please join us if you can! If you want to
attend please reply to AJ Schnell,
aschnell@email.arizona.edu
or
phone 520.626.8683 to confirm your attendance.
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Attention
High School Science Teachers:
Are you a first year high school science teacher? (Or do you have one
in your department? If so, please forward this announcement to
them.) The ASIST-AZ program seeks to help first-year
secondary science teachers (grades 7-12) in the Valley. Mentees in the
program are encouraged to participate for up to two years. While in the
program new teachers meet monthly with experienced LOCAL science
teachers to discuss current science instructional practices, and to
talk with other new teachers about teaching science. In addition,
mentees have weekly contact with mentor teachers, are observed in the
classroom once a month by university science educators, and are invited
to attend the Arizona Science Teachers Assn (ASTA) Conference in the
fall. Mentees also can visit one another or mentor teachers in their
classrooms. If you are interested in participating as a mentee,
please submit your contact information, current teaching assignment,
science background, and a paragraph about your philosophy as a science
teacher. Apply as soon as possible! Mentees participating
in this program will receive * a $200 stipend, * financial
assistance to the ASTA conference, and * materials related to
teaching science. For additional information, contact: Julie Luft, julie.luft@asu.edu,
or
480.965.8463. This program is supported by a grant from the
Arizona Board of Regents: Improving Teacher Quality program and Arizona
State University Dept of Curriculum and Instruction.
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2) Upcoming Courses for Teachers
Spring 2006
UA
Evolution Lecture Series: All the sciences, from astronomy to
biology, have worked together to discover the processes
that create the current state of our universe, our world,
and ourselves. These evolutionary processes defi ne the origin
of the atoms that make up all matter, the origin of stars
and planets, and the development of life itself. The
University of Arizona College of Science is proud to
present these seven lectures. Each will illustrate this
vision of evolution and demonstrate how we know that
evolution represents reality. At the Center for Creative
Photography Auditorium on the campus of the University of
Arizona, 1030 North Olive Road, Tucson, Arizona. Parking is
available in the Park Avenue Garage. All lectures begin at 7pm
and are free to the public.
* Tuesday, February 21,
Biological evolution: what it is and what it isn’t. Joanna Masel,
Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
* Tuesday, March 7,
Cosmic evolution: from big bang to biology. Chris Impey,
Distinguished Professor, Astronomy
* Tuesday, March 21,
Earth evolution: the formation of our planet. Joaquin Ruiz, Dean
of the College of Science and Professor of Geosciences
* Tuesday, March 28,
Social evolution: cooperation and conflict from molecules
to society. Rick Michod, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology
* Tuesday, April 11,
Animal evolution: recycling ancient genes for new uses. Lisa
Nagy, Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology
* Tuesday, April 18,
Human evolution: tracing our origins with DNA. Michael Hammer,
Research Scientist, Division of Biotechnology and
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
* Tuesday, April 25,
Disease evolution: the example of HIV. Michael Worobey, Assistant
Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Funding provided by Research Corporation. A corresponding K12 educator
course is available for 2 units of free tuition (contact
mangin@u.arizona.edu for more information). For K12 teachers who want
to attend one or more lectures but not participate in the course, SAMEC
will provide certificates of attendance for each lecture (counts
towards one hour of TUSD professional development; teachers from other
districts must check with their administration if this applies towards
PD), it may apply towards those as well). Call 520.621.4090 or go to http://cos.arizona.edu for more
information.
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3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
Free
Hands-On Data Collection Workshops: Join us for one of our
workshops to learn how to integrate our data-collection
technology into your science and/or math curriculum. Our products
can be used with computers, TI graphing calculators, and Palm
OS® handhelds. You will have an opportunity to collect data
on all of these platforms. You will also have the opportunity to earn
two (quarter) Graduate Science credit hours through the Portland State
University Center for Science Education. Learn more about graduate
credit. These free, 4-hour, hands-on workshops include lunch or dinner
and lab handouts. Data Collection Workshops are a great opportunity for
teachers that: 1) want to evaluate our award-winning
data-collection technology; 2) are new to data collection; 3) need a
refresher course on their Vernier equipment; want to learn from the
experts. Although the workshop is free, Vernier has another attractive
option: get your school district to pay $299, and that gives you the
workshop, dinner, a Lab Pro, Logger Pro software, and a probe. For 15
years, the Modeling Instruction Program has been helping teachers
attain knowledge and skills needed to benefit their students.
Modeling Instruction is the only high school science program
recognized as Exemplary by the U.S. Department of Education. The
workshops are at the Holiday Inn in Mesa, the Holiday Inn at 51st
Ave in Phoenix, and the Sheraton in Tucson. Jane Jackson,
Co-Director, Modeling Instruction Program Box 871504, Dept.of Physics
& Astronomy, ASU,Tempe,AZ 85287 480-965-8438/fax:965-7331 http://modeling.asu.edu
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"NUMB3RS,"
is a unique outreach program that uses the math featured on a
TV series to engage and interest more students in the subject matter
and help them see how it impacts their world. The program includes
classroom activities for teachers and students that can be found on
cbs.com/numb3rs. The math used in each episode of NUMB3RS is based on
real FBI cases. Mathematics consultants work with NUMB3RS throughout
production to ensure that the math used to help analyze and solve
crimes is real and accurate. Teachers are encouraged to devote class
time to activities, and to tape the shows. The program includes TI and
NCTM-developed classroom activities for teachers and students that can
be found on http://www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/ti/press.shtml
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4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
Summer
Biotech Instructor Position at Pima Community College: Pima
Community College in Tucson is looking for an instructor for a summer
biotechnology course for high school students. Through the
Biotechnology Career Ladder Grant from the Department of Labor, Job
Path and Pima Community College will be offering a Biotechnology Summer
Institute for High School Students. Students will take a course
introducing them to the field of biotechnology for which they will
receive 4 college credits and a stipend. (It is not too early to
announce this opportunity to students, but we will have outreach with
more specific information directed to the students very soon.) We
are looking for an instructor who has expertise in both biotechnology
and teaching high school students. The dates and times for the course
are May 30 - July 3, M-Th, 12:00-4:00 pm. We plan to substitute the
July 3 meeting with a Friday fieldtrip. I have attached the course
outline. Please contact Lisa Werner,
Biology Department, Pima Community College, West Campus, 520-206-6002
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5) Opportunities for K-12 Students
What Is
The Science Bowl? The Science Bowl is a tournament-style,
academic competition that challenges and recognizes students' knowledge
of both mathematics and the sciences. The questions are short-answer
and multiple choice, and include topics such as biology, chemistry,
physics, earth science, astronomy, mathematics, computer science, and
general science. Toss-up questions are read to each team. The
first player on either team to activate the lock-out buzzer system wins
the right to answer the question. After a team member has answered
correctly, the team is given the opportunity to answer a bonus
question. The team with the most points at the end of each round
advances to the next round. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Teams are
selected on a first-come-first-serve basis, up to a maximum of 32
teams. (It is possible for a school to register more than one
team.) A team consists of four students in grades 9-12, with one
alternate for each team. EVERYONE IS A WINNER! Each student
receives a certificate of recognition. Students, coaches, and
volunteers are provided with lunch, T-shirts, and grab bag items, which
are all graciously donated by the sponsors. The top four teams
are awarded trophies, individual medallions, and scholarship
funds. The winning team receives a banner to hang in their
school, and represents the State of Arizona in the National Science
Bowl in Washington, D.C. (All expenses are paid by the Department
of Energy.) For more information or to register, visit http://www.wapa.gov/dsw/scibowl/
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6) Outreach Opportunities for College
Students and Faculty
51st
Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF), March
20-25, 2006: The 51st Southern Arizona Regional Science and
Engineering Fair will be held March 20-25, 2006 at the Tucson
Convention Center, 260 South Church, Tucson, AZ 85701. Over 1300
student projects representing grades K-12 are expected to
compete. $15,000+ in prizes will be awarded including
scholarships to the University of Arizona and Pima Community College.
Top honors will include participation (grades 8-12) in the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Indianapolis,
IN, May 6-13, 2006 and nomination to the Discovery Channel Young
Scientist Challenge competition for grades 5-8. SARSEF
participants are chosen as the top projects at local school fairs
throughout southern Arizona. School Fair directors must register their
SARSEF nominated projects on-line at www.sarsef.org by March 6,
2006. A Registration Worksheet is offered for data collection
preparing for on-line registration and for gathering needed parental
approvals for student participation. $5 per project registration
fees are now payable on-line by credit card, or by check or purchase
order (postmarked by March 17, 2006). All projects from a school
are to be submitted and fees paid together as a group.
Merchandise will be available at the Fair. Student photos
professionally taken will be available for purchase from the SARSEF
website pending receipt of completed Approval for Use of Image forms.
Many judges and volunteers are needed. Please register via the
SARSEF website. Questions? Email: director@sarsef.org
or shirleyb@email.arizona.edu.
(520) 621-8646. SARSEF Director: Shirley
Briggs. Additional teacher/student resources are available
from http://www.sarsef.org
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