SAMEC E-News: 09-01-06
You can also view an online version of the newsletter at:
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/resources/e-news09-01-06.html
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science Teachers
2) Fall 2006 Science and Mathematics
Courses for Teachers
3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
5) K-12 Science and Mathematics
Teacher Opportunities
6) K-12 Student Opportunities
7) UA Faculty, Staff and College
Student Opportunities
_______________________________________________________________________________
1) Upcoming Professional Development
for K-12 Science and Mathematics
Teachers
SAMEC
Outreach Seminar—CEMELA and Tree of Life Outreach Programs,
September 19, 2006, 4:00 pm. Location: TBA. Asst. Professor Virginia
Horak, UA Department of Mathematics, will give a brief overview of
CEMELA (The Center for the Mathematics Education of Latinos/as), an
interdisciplinary, multi-university consortium focused on the research
and practice of the teaching and learning of mathematics with Latino
students in the United States. CEMELA brings together experts in
mathematics education, mathematics, language, and culture to
collaboratively work on improving the mathematics education of
low-income Latino students. CEMELA aims to understand the interplay of
mathematics education and the unique language, social and political
issues that affect Latino communities. In addition, Lisa Schwartz,
Editor/coordinator of Tree of Life learning materials will provide an
overview of The Tree of Life (ToL) web project. ToL is a collection of
materials documenting the diversity of the world's organisms. The
conceptual and navigational structure of the ToL web site is based upon
the phylogenetic relationships among the creatures it catalogues and
describes. Free parking will be available at the 2nd St. Parking
garage. Refreshments will also be provided. For additional
information please call 520-621-2234 or visit the SAMEC calendar of
events at: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu
___________________________________
"Global
Climate Change" Lecture Series. UA's College of Science
is proud to present seven lectures that will discuss how climate
interacts with our biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, and will
offer ways to mitigate global climate changes through technology and
policy. The first of the series begins on October 17 with Malcolm
Hughes, Professor of Dendrochronology. All lectures begin at 7 pm and
are free to the public. Call 520.621.4090 for more information or visit
their website at:
http://cos.arizona.edu/climate/
___________________________________
Annual
ASTA Conference October 12th and 13th. This is a reminder that
the Annual ASTA Conference is coming up on October 12th and 13th at the
Mesa Convention Center. If you are interested in
presenting, the link to download the registration form is:
http://www4.nau.edu/CSTL/asta/conference/index.asp. The deadline
for submitting the registration form is September 8th. This
October ASTA will be recognizing a new K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade level
teacher at the state conference. The new teacher does not have to
be a member of ASTA, so check around your school and see if any
outstanding new teachers are educating our students in science.
The Arizona Science Teacher's Association does many things to support
teachers and students with regards to learning science. Please
contact your regional director regarding concerns, questions, or
feedback. For more information, please visit the ASTA website at:
http://www4.nau.edu/CSTL/asta/index.asp
___________________________________
ARIZONA
PROJECT WET FALL 2006 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Kingman, AZ:
October 24, 2006, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Arizona Project WET “Waters of
Arizona for 4th and 6th grade teachers. Location: Mohave County
Administration Bldg. Senita Room. Sponsored by: Arizona Department of
Water Resources
Phoenix, AZ:
September 9 and 16, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day. Arizona
Project WET Workshop, Location: TBD. Each participant will receive the
National Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide, and the Arizona WET
Activity Guide, thanks to the City of Phoenix Water Conservation
Department. These are sponsored by the City of Phoenix and Lunch is
provided!
October 14 & 28th, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day; Discover a
Watershed The Colorado Workshop; Location: TBD
November 4 & December 2, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day.
Arizona Project WET Workshop with a Rio Salado Service Project,
Location TBD
Prescott, AZ:
September 19, 2006, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Arizona Project WET Workshop – focus on 3rd grade teachers
Prescott Unified School District Board Room – Lunch is provided.
Sponsored by: North Central Arizona Math and Science Consortium
and Arizona Department of Water Resources
September 26, 2006, 8:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Arizona Project WET Workshop – focus on 5th-8th grade teachers
Location: Prescott Unified School District Board Room – Lunch provided.
Sponsored by North Central Arizona Math & Science Consortium and
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Sierra Vista, AZ:
September, 2006, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Arizona Project WET Workshop – Space limited to first 20 who register.
Registration Deadline: September 1, 2006, Lunch Provided!
Location: University of Arizona South Campus, Sierra Vista
Tucson, AZ:
Each participant will receive the National Project WET Curriculum and
Activity Guide, and the Arizona Water Map thanks to the City of Tucson.
September 23, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Arizona Project WET Workshop,
Lunch is provided. Location: Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte,
Tucson, AZ 85704
October 21, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Arizona Project WET,
Healthy Water, Healthy People Workshop. Lunch is provided.
Location: Metro Water, 6265 N. La Canada, Tucson, AZ 85704
Tucson, AZ: November 18th, 2006, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Arizona Project
WET Discover A Watershed: The Colorado Workshop Tucson Water Department
Office. Lunch provided!
Yuma, AZ: October 27, and October 28, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 each day
Discover a Watershed: The Colorado Workshop. Location: University
of California, Desert Research & Extension Center. Sponsored
by: University of Arizona and University of California Cooperative
Extension, Arizona Project WET, Project WET International. Money for
substitute teachers will be provided to classroom teachers. First 25
registrants will be accepted! Workshop will be an engaging
learning experience focusing on Colorado River Watershed and
significance of the Colorado River. The Yuma Workshop will also focus
on the agricultural lands of the Imperial Irrigation, the Yuma
Irrigation district and the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation district.
Participants from this Yuma Workshop will receive: 16 hours of
Professional Development, Regionally specific content that will help
teachers meet Arizona and California, Academic Standards, 400 page
Discover a Watershed, the Colorado Educators Guide.
Register for all workshops at:
http://www.ag.arizona.edu/azwater/wet/workshops.html
___________________________________
Curriculum Mapping I: The Best Practices Section of the Arizona
Department of Education wants to let you know
about an upcoming opportunity to
enable teachers or administrators with the knowledge and
skills to help students meet challenging academic
standards. Standards are at the heart of today’s rigorous
accountability requirements. Standards define the high expectations for
what teachers must teach and what students must learn. If students are
to meet the state’s academic standards, each school’s instructional
program must be aligned with those standards and clearly articulated by
what teachers do within and across grade levels and courses. Curriculum
mapping is a powerful process in which teachers working collaboratively
take time to analyze the standards at the concept and performance
objective level, and decide what will be taught and when during
the academic year. In this workshop intended for school
teams, participants will examine the concept of curriculum mapping as a
proven instructional planning tool, explore how curriculum maps are
developed and used, and receive guided practice, not only on how to
map, but also how to facilitate mapping work in their professional
setting. Cost: $95.00 Per Person
September 19th, 2006, Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel, Tempe,
Arizona
September 20th, 2006, Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, Tucson, Arizona
September 29th, 2006, Little America Hotel, Flagstaff, Arizona
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Oran Tkatchov,
Director of Academic and Instructional Support, at
602-364-2066. Online registration is required and available
at:
http://www.ade.az.gov/onlineregistration/EventLocationSelection.asp?EventID=1076&EventDate=8/16/2006
_______________________________________________________________________________
2) Fall 2006 Science and Mathematics
Courses for Teachers
Sublime Slime: Using Slime Molds in the Biology Classroom
Date and Time: Sat., Oct. 28, 2006 (Pt 1) and Sat.,
Nov. 4, 2006 (Pt 2); 8 am to 12 noon both days
Location: Palo Verde High Magnet School, Room 127,
1302 S Avenida Vega, Tucson Arizona
Enter on north side of campus (22nd St), west of the pedestrian
overpass
Presenter: Kevin Kehl
The oft-neglected Kingdom Protista offers many possibilities for
scientific investigation. Participants will learn to grow and
maintain their own classroom cultures using readily available,
inexpensive materials. In addition, we will conduct an
investigation using Dictyostelium discoideum, a Protistan slime mold
that has both single-cellular and multi-cellular stages of its life
cycle. The data will be collected during the second meeting and
will be analyzed using a simple chi-square test. If statistics
scare you, not to worry; we will practice the chi-square test with
M&Ms first. Finally, we will be introduced to basic DNA
sequence analysis and bioinformatics (contig assembly, reading frame
translation and BLAST searches) and the ways to use these tools to
discuss the topics of genes and genomes. High school science
teachers may take this workshop (plus one other workshop) through our
non-degree graduate program for 1 unit of University credit ($325.84).
You must attend 2 workshops in order to receive the 1 unit of credit.
You must be enrolled in the class and have paid your fees by August 21
in order to avoid late penalties. Alternatively, you may elect to take
the workshop for professional development credit for free. To reserve
your space or for details on how to enroll for university credit,
please email Ellie Warder at warder@u.arizona.edu
or call (520)
621-5903.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3) Available Resources for K-12
Science and Mathematics Teachers
THE AIMS
SCIENCE BLUEPRINTS for grades 4, 8, and high school are now
available on the ADE website. They can be downloaded at
http://www.ade.az.gov/standards/aims/blueprints/
___________________________________
e-Mentoring
for Student Success (eMSS) First-year secondary
science teachers are needed for the piloting of an on-line mentoring
system by NSTA, NTC, and ASU. If you know of, or if you are, a
first-year secondary science teacher who would
like to participate in a pilot on-line mentoring program for science
teachers, please read on! An on-line e-mentoring program is being
developed for just secondary science teachers! At this time, I am
looking for first-year secondary science teachers to participate in
this program. Mentees will be paired with a mentor in Arizona and will
have access to on-going support all year from scientists,
teachers, and an assigned mentor. Furthermore, new teachers will
be paid to participate in this program! I am now accepting on-line
applications. Information about the program and the application
can be found at http://emss.nsta.org/
(Click
on the Arizona link). If you have any questions about
the program, please contact EJ (eun.bang@asu.edu)
or Julie Luft
(julie.luft@asu.edu)
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) Available Positions for K-12
Science and Mathematics Educators
Sunnyside
High School, Tucson, Arizona has an immediate job opening for
a science teacher. The position is for introductory a 9th grade
science (Science in Our Environment) and Biology split - 3/5 Science in
our Environment and 2/5 Biology. For more information, please contact
Hunter MacPherson, Science Department Chair at hmacpherso@aol.com
___________________________________
BASIS
school in Tucson needs math & science teacher. BASIS
Tucson is looking for a motivated individual to teach Saxon math and
science. BASIS is a college prep school recently ranked 3rd in the
nation by Newsweek magazine. Email interest to:
akristensen@basistucson.org
___________________________________
A
long-term sub position is available at Gilbert High School
starting
in January through the end of the semester. It is 3 sections of
Honors Chemistry and 2 sections of Regular Chemistry.
Please contact anne_sumner@yahoo.com
_______________________________________________________________________________
5) K-12 Science and Mathematics
Teachers Opportunities
Phoenix
Mission Science Operations Center Open House: The Phoenix Mars
Mission Science Operation Center will open its doors to the public for
its first Open House on October 21, 2006 from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. The
Phoenix Science Operations Center (SOC) located at 6th and Drachman is
mission control for the next NASA Mars mission, the Phoenix Mars
Lander. Scientists and engineers are training for Martian surface
operations in this facility using a lander model and simulated Martian
soils.
The public is invited to view the Payload Interoperability Testbed
lander perform tasks and check out two exhibits built by Tucson’s Pima
Air & Space Museum that focus on the Phoenix Mars Mission and the
search for water throughout our Solar System.
The day will include:
• Phoenix Mission Control Tours
• Spacecraft robotic arm
demonstrations
• Presentations by Peter Smith,
Phoenix Mission Principle Investigator
• Exhibits
• Kids activities
• Mars animation
• Meet NASA scientists
For more information keep checking back at:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/events
___________________________________
6) K-12 Student Opportunities
Phoenix
Mission Science Operations Center Open House: The Phoenix Mars
Mission Science Operation Center will open its doors to the public for
its first Open House on October 21, 2006 from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. The
Phoenix Science Operations Center (SOC) located at 6th and Drachman is
mission control for the next NASA Mars mission, the Phoenix Mars
Lander. Scientists and engineers are training for Martian surface
operations in this facility using a lander model and simulated Martian
soils.
The public is invited to view the Payload Interoperability Testbed
lander perform tasks and check out two exhibits built by Tucson’s Pima
Air & Space Museum that focus on the Phoenix Mars Mission and the
search for water throughout our Solar System.
The day will include:
• Phoenix Mission Control Tours
• Spacecraft robotic arm
demonstrations
• Presentations by Peter Smith,
Phoenix Mission Principle Investigator
• Exhibits
• Kids activities
• Mars animation
• Meet NASA scientists
For more information keep checking back at:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/events
___________________________________
Robolympics
2006, Saturday, September 16, 2006, 10 am-3 pm
Location: Sonoran Science Academy, 2255 W. Ina Road
(Ina/La Cholla intersection), Tucson, Arizona
Engage your students in science, math, engineering, and invention by
bringing them to Robolympics 2006. See robots compete against each
other in exhibition games throughout the day. Learn about the annual
FIRST Robotics Competition and attend workshops on how you can start a
robotics team at your school.
Food and beverages will be sold on site all day. For more information,
visit http://public.crush1011.org/robolympics
___________________________________
The Team
America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest model
rocket contest, which began in 2003 as a one-time celebration of the
centennial of flight. The contest is sponsored by the Aerospace
Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry, with
co-sponsorship by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
the Defense Department, American Association of Physics Teachers, and
39 AIA member companies. Students must design, build, and fly a
model rocket carrying a raw egg and return it safely to the ground,
while keeping it aloft for a predetermined amount of time. The
goal is to encourage students to study advanced math and sciences and
to consider studying aerospace fields in college. TARC is open to
teams of students in grades 7-12 from any US school or non-profit youth
organization (ex: Boy Scouts, 4-H, Civil Air Patrol). 2007
Contest Rules are set for release in late summer, and applications will
be available September 6, 2006. Please visit us on the web
at http://www.rocketcontest.org/
and sign up to get updates and
the latest details on this exciting, educational event.
_______________________________________________________________________________
7) UA Faculty, Staff and Student
Opportunities
SAMEC
Outreach Seminar—CEMELA and Tree of Life Outreach Programs,
September 19, 2006, 4:00 pm. Location: TBA. Asst. Professor Virginia
Horak, UA Department of Mathematics, will give a brief overview of
CEMELA (The Center for the Mathematics Education of Latinos/as), an
interdisciplinary, multi-university consortium focused on the research
and practice of the teaching and learning of mathematics with Latino
students in the United States. CEMELA brings together experts in
mathematics education, mathematics, language, and culture to
collaboratively work on improving the mathematics education of
low-income Latino students. CEMELA aims to understand the interplay of
mathematics education and the unique language, social and political
issues that affect Latino communities. In addition, Lisa Schwartz,
Editor/coordinator of Tree of Life learning materials will provide an
overview of The Tree of Life (ToL) web project. ToL is a collection of
materials documenting the diversity of the world's organisms. The
conceptual and navigational structure of the ToL web site is based upon
the phylogenetic relationships among the creatures it catalogues and
describes. Free parking will be available at the 2nd St. Parking
garage. Refreshments will also be provided. For additional
information please call 520-621-2234 or visit the SAMEC calendar of
events at: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu
___________________________________
Phoenix
Mission Science Operations Center Open House: The Phoenix Mars
Mission Science Operation Center will open its doors to the public for
its first Open House on October 21, 2006 from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. The
Phoenix Science Operations Center (SOC) located at 6th and Drachman is
mission control for the next NASA Mars mission, the Phoenix Mars
Lander. Scientists and engineers are training for Martian surface
operations in this facility using a lander model and simulated Martian
soils.
The public is invited to view the Payload Interoperability Testbed
lander perform tasks and check out two exhibits built by Tucson’s Pima
Air & Space Museum that focus on the Phoenix Mars Mission and the
search for water throughout our Solar System.
The day will include:
• Phoenix Mission Control Tours
• Spacecraft robotic arm
demonstrations
• Presentations by Peter Smith,
Phoenix Mission Principle Investigator
• Exhibits
• Kids activities
• Mars animation
• Meet NASA scientists
For more information keep checking back at:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/events
___________________________________
Mike Wells Fest—On Saturday and Sunday, October 28-29, 2006. This
event will celebrate the remarkable life of Regents Professor Michael
A. Wells. Mike passed away on May 23, 2006, as a consequence of
complications arising from aggressive treatment of
leukemia. Mike came to Tucson in 1967 as assistant
professor and a founding member of the new Department of
Biochemistry at The University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Mike was a staunch supporter of his department and served as
department head from 1986 to 1995. He received numerous awards
for his formal teaching, including the Distinguished Teaching Award
from the College of Science in 1996, and the Henry and Phyllis
Koffler Prize in 2003. In recognition of his excellence as both a
research scientist and a teacher, he was appointed Regents
Professor in 2002. During the free Day of Science on October 28
in the Integrated Learning Center, there will be approximately 16
short talks from former and current members of the Wells lab,
faculty colleagues from the University of Arizona, and colleagues
and collaborators from across the country and around the
world. In addition, attendees not presenting a talk will
have an opportunity to share their scientific advances during a
poster session over the lunch break. Following the talks the
public is invited to a reception at the Four Points by Sheraton
University Plaza Hotel, where all who knew Mike Wells may gather
and remember him informally. On Sunday morning, October 29, we will
have brunch at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and have an
opportunity to enjoy the annual butterfly exhibit, one of Mike s
favorites (fee charged for brunch and the butterfly exhibit). It is
sure to be an exciting weekend as we celebrate Mike's remarkable
life and discuss "way cool" science, as Mike called it. For more
information and to register for the event, please visit
http://www.biochem.arizona.edu/wellsfest
or contact Ellie Warder
via email warder@u.arizona.edu
or call 621-5903.
___________________________________
Marshall Foundation Dissertation Fellowships—The Graduate College is
pleased to announce the Marshall Foundation Dissertation
Fellowships designed to help Arizona graduate students complete their
doctoral dissertation. Award: $13,291 provided by the
Marshall Foundation (paid Spring 2007) and a Graduate
Registration Scholarship (in-state waiver of tuition for 2
semesters if needed, Spring 2007, Fall 2007) provided by the
Graduate College. Eligibility requirements and The
Marshall Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Application Form
can be found online at:
http://grad.arizona.edu/Current_Students/Financial_Resources/Meritorious_Awards.php
Application Deadline: October 16, 2006, No late applications will be
considered.
_______________________________________________________________________________
This information was sent to approximately 3070 science and mathematics
educators and is posted at the SAMEC website:
http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/resources/e-news.html
The SAMEC e-newsletter is provided to you by
The University of Arizona Science and Mathematics Education Center,
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu
To subscribe to the SAMEC e-news listserve, send email to
listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the following as the only line in
the body of the message: subscribe SAMECK12 Firstname Lastname
(Substitute your first name for Firstname and your last name for
Lastname).
If you do not wish to receive SAMEC e-news, send email to
listserv@listserv.arizona.edu
with the following as the only line in
the body of the message: unsubscribe SAMECK12