SAMEC E-News: 12-15-06
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Third
Annual Mathematics Educator Appreciation Day
The Center of Recruitment & Retention is pleased to announce the
third annual Mathematics Educator Appreciation Day Saturday, January
20, 2007, 7:30 am – 2:00 pm, Tucson High Magnet School Luncheon at the
University Park Marriott.
1) open to all middle school and high school teachers of mathematics in
the Tucson area at no cost if pre-registered by December 15, 2006; 2)
An opportunity to replenish, recharge and renew; 3) Terrific door
prizes; 4) delicious continental breakfast and sumptuous lunch to each
pre-registered participant; 5) Fifty-five and eighty-five minute
sessions from which to choose; 6) Dynamic keynote speaker Dr. Gail
Burrill, past president, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics;
7) Resource materials, calculators and textbooks will be on display by
publishing companies, including McDougal Littell, Glencoe/McGraw Hill,
Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Pearson Prentice Hall, Key
Curriculum
Press and Texas Instruments
Registration deadline is Friday, December 15, 2006. A $30
refundable
deposit is required to complete your registration (if postmarked by
December 15) and will be returned to you on the day of the
conference.
If you are unable to attend and contact us by January 11, 2007 your
deposit will be returned to you. For teachers registering after
December 15, the conference will cost $30.
Register for the conference by accessing the registration form on our
web page at http://crr.math.arizna.edu, or email us at
crr@math.arizona.edu The
schedule of sessions will be posted on our
website in mid-December. The Center of Recruitment and Retention is
working in partnership with Amphitheater, Catalina Foothills, Flowing
Wells, Marana, Sahuarita, Santa Cruz, Sunnyside, Tanque Verde, Tucson
Unified, and Vail School Districts. For program and registration
details, visit: http://crr.math.arizona.edu
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Arizona
ACS High School Chemistry Teaching Award
The Southern Arizona Section of the American Chemical Society announces
its 2007 Southern Arizona ACS High School Chemistry Teaching Award. The
purpose is to recognize, encourage, and stimulate outstanding teachers
of high school chemistry in Southern Arizona. The nature of the award
consists of a plaque, a cash prize of $500 for the teacher, and a $500
donation to the teacher?s school for use by the awardee for
educational supplies. The winner will automatically be nominated by the
section for the American Chemical Society's annual Regional Award in
High School Chemistry Teaching. The award will be presented at the
Southern Arizona Section's April awards reception. The awardee,
the nominator, and selected students will be invited to attend. The
award, originally funded by Research Corporation of Tucson, is
made possible due to the generosity of the members of the local
section. Past Recipients include: Jill Christman, Canyon Del Oro High
School; Brenda Wolpa, Canyon del Oro High School; Ann Marie Condes,
Catalina Foothills High School; Teresa Potter, Rio Rico High School;
Ellen Caldwell, Palo Verde High School; Gayle Brickert-Albreicht,
Tucson High School; Elyse Wexler, Sabino High School; Patricia Merha,
Amphitheater High School Eligibility: Any high school chemistry teacher
in the Southern Arizona Section geographic area (Pima, Pinal, Greenlee,
Graham and Santa Cruz counties) may be nominated for the award.
Nomination information: Contact Kathryn Louie, Ph.D. by phone at (520)
626-8695 or 626-2044 or by email at klouie@email.arizona.edu
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Science
Teacher's Colloquium Series
The Science Teacher's Colloquium Series is a forum for K-12 science
teachers to learn about cutting edge research at The University of
Arizona (UA). From nanotechnology to Earth-sized virtual radio
telescopes, the Ice Age to gene science, the UA is advancing in all
areas of science as it reinforces its continued position as one of the
top public national research universitys. One hour of professional
development credit is offered for attending each seminar. This series
is sponsored by The University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary
Laboratory, the UA/NASA Space Grant Program, the Space Imagery
Center and the Science and Mathematics Education Center, which provide
funding for this program. For additional information visit: http://samec.lpl.arizona.edu/k12educators
or email samec@lpl.arizona.edu
* December 20, 2006, 3:30-4:30 pm "Europa's Tenuous Atmosphere," Gilda
Ballester, Associate Staff Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
(Location: Planetary Science Institute)
* January 23, 2007, 7:30-8:30 pm "Mission to the Surface of Saturn’s
moon Titan," Martin Tomasko, Research Professor, Lunar and Planetary
Laboratory (Location: UA Kuiper Space Sciences Lecture Hall Room 308)
* February 27, 2007, 7:30-8:30 pm “Hothouse: Global Climate Change and
the Human Condition," Robert Strom, Professor Emeritus, Lunar and
Planetary Laboratory (Location: UA Kuiper Space Sciences Lecture Hall
Room 308)
* March 27, 2007, 7:30-8:30 pm "New Views of Saturn," Bob Brown,
Professor, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
(Location: UA Kuiper Space Sciences Lecture Hall Room 308)
* April 24, 2007, 7:30-8:30 pm "Mars: Up Close and Personal, Alfred
McEwen, Professor, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (Location: UA Kuiper
Space Sciences Lecture Hall Room 308)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
K-12
Education Outreach Funding Announcement (Proposal
Deadline: January 16, 2007, 5:00 PM)
The BIO5 Institute invites proposals in support of UA life science
outreach activities for K-12 students and teachers. BIO5 actively
supports life science education outreach for the development of
new programs or the enhancement of existing programs. Our
objective is to bring the resources we have available to partner
with other units at the UA working to enhance K-12 science
education and to improve science literacy in Arizona. Eligible programs
include, but are not limited to: summer camps, hands-on research
experiences, career workshops and professional development
activities for teachers. Funding requests can range from $500 - $1,500
each, and the funds may be used for awards, stipends, materials,
supplies, and other expenses that directly benefit the students
or teachers involved. Priority will be given to new programs that
promote BIO5’s science education goals. Proposals should be no
more than five pages and should describe: 1. the program or activity,
including details regarding program participants, 2. the
program’s predicted impact on its target audience, 3. the program’s
potential to strengthen science literacy in Arizona, 4. a detailed
proposed budget, including a list of contributions from other
partners, the earliest date that funds will be needed, and an
indication of how this program will be sustained in future years.
Please note that funds must be spent by August 31, 2007. Awardees
will be notified by February 23, 2007. To apply, send an electronic
copy of the proposal (PDF format) to: Stacey Forsyth, Ph.D. BIO5 Life
Sciences Outreach Coordinator, forsyth@email.arizona.edu
For more information, please contact Stacey at
626-2308.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Tree of
Life Web Project (ToL)
The Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) is a collaborative effort of
biologists worldwide. With over 4000 WWW pages and 10,000 media files,
the ToL provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth,
their evolutionary history (phylogeny), and characteristics. The ToL
has many resources and learning opportunities for teachers and students
to contribute media and web pages (stories, investigations, games and
more!) to the site. See http://learning.tolweb.org
http://treehouses.tolweb.org
and http://podcasts.tolweb.org
for more information.
What’s new! Arizonans, from scientists to k12 students, are featured in
and can contribute to the Tree of Life (ToL) audio/video podcast
series. Podcasts can be viewed on computer screens, and through
projectors as well as on iPods and MP3 players. Podcasts include Bugs
of the Month and Arizona Biodiversity/Life Science Research, Scientists
Interviews and more, and contain accompanying learning resources.
Initial podcasts focus on Sonoran Desert biodiversity. Contribute to
ToL podcasts with minimal or no equipment (use our call-in line!). View
podcasts and how to contibute at http://podcasts.tolweb.org Free
workshops around the state! Scholarships available for podcasting
workshops at AzTea(http://aztea.org)
conferences, January 27th in Tucson and April 28 in Phoenix. Contact
Lisa Schwartz at learning@tolweb.org to register. Also, if your school
is in or around Tucson, we could potentially set up a workshop at your
school or affiliated AzTea site. http://www.tolweb.org
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Summer
Research Experience for Teachers Program in Materials Science and
Engineering
NSF-Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program will support four
teachers of all levels to participate in the on-going research in
Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona. The
program will begin Monday, June 4, 2007, and run for 6 weeks through
Friday, July 13, 2007. Participants will receive a $4,500 stipend
and a week of intensive training on scanning electron microscopy or
optical materials characterization (June 4-8). Participants will
then begin a research project that matches their interests, and in
which they are able to apply their skills to topics involving the
microstructure, characterization, and processing of advanced
materials. The program will provide participants with an
opportunity to learn, firsthand, the excitement - and challenges - of
conducting research at the cutting edge of technology. A portion
of the program is also designed for teachers to develop classroom
materials that incorporate their research experiences. Selection of
participants will be based primarily on a "Statement of Goals" of the
applicant and two letters of recommendation. To apply, mail in or FAX
an application form, a one page "Statement of Goals", resume, and two
letters of recommendation by February 16, 2007. To learn more about the
program and download the application form, visit our website at: http://mse.arizona.edu/reu-ret/.
See a list of MSE faculty and their research interests at http://www.mse.arizona.edu/faculty/.
Contact: Gary Chandler, gwc@u.arizona.edu, (520) 237-7259.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
International
Research Experience for Teachers in Thailand
This is your chance to experience a career and life changing summer of
research and cultural immersion. The Department of Materials Science
and Engineering at the University of Arizona, with funding through the
NSF-Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program, will support four
MS or HS teachers (any science, math) to participate in the on-going
research at King Mongkut's University of Technology - Thonburi, in
Bangkok, Thailand. The program will begin Thursday, May31, 2007, and
run for 6 weeks through Friday, July 13, 2007. Participants will
receive up to $4,500 stipend. The program will cover travel to and from
Thailand and lodging, but the individual will be responsible for
weekend travel expenses. Research projects will be matched to the
participant's interests. Weekend trips to historical, cultural, and
educational sites in Thailand are designed to immerse you in the
friendly Thai culture. Selection of participants will be based
primarily on a "Statement of Goals" of the applicant and two letters of
recommendation. Applicants must have previous research experience. To
apply, mail in or FAX an application form, a one page "Statement of
Goals", resume, and two letters of recommendation by February 16, 2007.
To learn more about the program and download the application form,
visit our website at: http://mse.arizona.edu/reu-ret/
See a list of MSE faculty and their research interests at http://www.mse.arizona.edu/faculty/
Contact: Gary Chandler, gwc@u.arizona.edu,
(520) 237-7259.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Biology
Classes during Summer 2007
Are you a teacher who would like to earn an M.S. in biology? Or perhaps
you'd like to just take a few classes to update your knowledge? If so,
the University of Arizona has just the program for you! Teachers
wishing to earn an M.S. degree may do so over 4-5 summers. Teachers
wishing to take a few classes may take as many or as few classes as
they wish during the summer. Summer 2007 classes will include
Astrobiology, Biology Update 1 & 2, and Secondary Biology Lab
Curricula. For more information, visit http://biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/
or contact Ellie Warder at
(520) 621-5903. Application packets are due on March 1 for the coming
summer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Math Workshop
Opportunity for High School Students
The University of Arizona Math Department would like to offer high
school teachers a chance to bring your classes to the University. As
part of the outreach efforts of the Department of Mathematics at
the
University of Arizona we try to organize half- or full-day workshops
for high school students. These workshops expose students to
interesting topics in mathematics not usually covered in standard
high
school math classes, with the aim of presenting real-world applications
and active areas of research in a way that is both accessible and fun.
Past topics have included Cryptography, Biomathematics, Game Theory,
Graph Theory, and many others. A secondary purpose of the
workshops is
to give students an idea of what an undergraduate education in
mathematics is like and to encourage them to add math classes to
their
schedule when they enter college. If you are interested in
participating in either a weekday or weekend workshop with your
high
school mathematics class, please contact boguszak@math.arizona.edu with
any questions you may have and dates that would be convenient for you.
Our goal is to have at least one workshop before the winter break and
then several next spring.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Math
596f: Topics in Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
In the spring semester the department of mathematics will be offering
Math 596f: Topics in Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School
Teachers. The topics for this semester will be discrete mathematics and
elementary number theory. While we will be examining these subjects
from an advanced perspective appropriate for adult
learners, we will
do so with an eye towards unpacking the big mathematical ideas and how
these big ideas can be incorporated into instruction at several grade
levels. Moreover, our mathematical explorations will serve as a
platform for engaging in issues related to teaching, such
as
investigating students’ thinking and developing effective learning
environments. Research on teaching and learning will be integrated
throughout. The class will meet on Mondays from 5:15 – 7:45 in Matheast
room 141. For additional information, please contact Peter Wiles at
wiles@math.arizona.edu
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2007 Science
Bowl competitions!
Register now for the 2007 Science Bowl competitions! The Middle
SchoolScience Bowl will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2007 in Phoenix.
The HighSchool Science Bowl will be held on Saturday, March 3 at
GlendaleCommunity College. For more information, visit http://www.wapa.gov/dsw/scibowl/
or email Dennis Schaefer at dschaefe@wapa.gov
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Educational
E-Journal Links
* Carolina Biological online tips: http://www.carolina.com/tips/
* CONTINUUM (The first edition of the Governor's P-20 Council
newsletter): http://www.governor.state.az.us/P20/
* Education News and Research Reports: http://www.queuenews.com/AZnews
* Education Week: http://www.edweek.org/
* NSTA Express: http://science.nsta.org/nstaexpress/
* NSTA Science Class (High School Edition): http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2006-11/member_high.htm
* NSTA Web Seminars:http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp
* Physics Teacher Online: http://phy.ilstu.edu/jpteo/
* Teacher Magazine: http://www.teachermagazine.org
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
This information was sent to approximately 3100 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 SAMEC 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 SAMEC