NSTA WebNews Digest

Education News

NSTA Responds to Fordham Institute Report on NGSS

6/13/2013 - NSTA
NSTA strongly disagrees with the opinions of the Fordham Institute regarding the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS contains rigorous and substantive science content that will give all students the skills and knowledge they need to be informed citizens, college ready, and prepared for careers in a workforce that now considers science skills and knowledge to be basic and fundamental requirements.

High School Scientists Innovate New Medical Therapies

6/11/2013 - U.S. News & World Report
Heart attack therapies can leave patients with an elevated risk of future heart failure, but four California high school students have a solution.

With Flipped Learning, How to Make Sure Students Are Doing the Work

6/11/2013 - eSchool News
In-video quizzes answer the question: ‘Who is doing their homework?’ and help direct the focus of class.

Students from The Woodlands Are National Winners in Largest K-12 Science Competition

6/7/2013 - Houston Chronicle
Three students from Mitchell Intermediate School in The Woodlands were honored in the nation’s capital Thursday for their scientific—and equine—expertise.

Leominster Youths’ Helmet Project Qualifies for National Finals

6/5/2013 - Sentinel & Enterprise
When New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley and wide receiver Wes Welker suffered head injuries last winter, it got three friends at Sky View Middle School thinking. Three sixth-graders named themselves the Falcons (even though the school mascot is the hawk) and set to work finding a better helmet to protect athletes.

National Science Standards Could Be in Store for Alabama Schools (Poll)

6/5/2013 - Al.com
If you think the fight over Alabama public schools' use of national education standards for math and English was contentious, wait until state education officials consider adopting new national science standards released this year.

National Award for ABES Teacher

6/4/2013 - The Winston-Salem Chronicle
Rebecca Koza, a science teacher at The Arts Based School, has been awarded the National Science Teachers Association’s Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers. NSTA recently announced the recipients of its 2013 Teacher Awards Program, which honors K–12 teachers, professors, principals, and other educators for their outstanding achievement and innovative programs in science education.

Senator to Introduce Education Measure

6/4/2013 - The New York Times; requires free registration
Nearly half a century after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a sweeping federal education act and promised to “bridge the gap between helplessness and hope” for disadvantaged children in the nation’s public schools, Congress is still trying to fine-tune the law to achieve its original goals.

High School Science Teacher Among the Best in the Nation

6/3/2013 - The Saline Reporter
High school teacher Bridgette Sparks was honored May 28 by the Saline Area Schools Board of Education for receiving the Shell Science Teaching Award. The national award is given to three science teachers who have a positive impact on their students and the community through exemplar teaching. The award is a partnership between Shell Oil Company and the National Science Teachers Association.

NASA Langley, STEAM Partner to Promote Science, Tech, Engineering and Math Education

6/3/2013 - The Washington Post
NASA Langley is partnering with a Virginia statewide initiative to promote science, technology, engineering, and math education. The partnership with the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics Academy, or STEAM, includes providing guidance on how to create hands-on learning experiences.

Sen. Shaheen Announces Push for Young Women to Focus on Engineering

6/3/2013 - The Union Leader
Announcing the launch of the Senate STEM Education and Workforce Caucus, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said Monday that more females should be pursuing engineering fields.

Science Standards Win OK in First State With Rhode Island Vote

5/24/2013 - Education Week
Rhode Island has become the first state to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards, when its state board of education voted unanimously to approve them. It is one of the 26 "lead state partners" that helped to develop the standards in collaboration with several national organizations. At least two other states, Kentucky and Maine, have signaled that they would likely vote on adoption this spring, and many more may well follow suit later this year, including California and Kansas.

How These Amazing, Kid-Friendly Languages Are Hooking Tomorrow's Programmers

5/22/2013 - THE Journal
Even though computers are pervasive in everyday life, many educators question the value of children becoming articulate in the language of technology—programming. But as STEM and Common Core concepts—with their emphasis on math, science, and critical thinking skills—begin to shift curricula across the K-12 spectrum, coding is sparking renewed interest.

The U.S. Army and the National Science Teachers Association Announce Regional Winners in the 2012-2013 eCYBERMISSION Competition

5/22/2013 - Yahoo!
Students in Grades 6-9 Tackle Real-World Challenges in Their Local Communities for a Chance to Advance to National Judging Event and Earn Up To $8,000 in U.S. Saving Bonds

STEM Schools Put High Priority on Digital Skills

5/22/2013 - Education Week
Programs build partnerships to provide the kinds of high-tech skills students need for college and careers.

Ed. Schools Lag Behind Digital Content Trends

5/22/2013 - Education Week
Teacher education institutions risk becoming obsolete if they do not do a better job preparing future teachers to use digital curricula, experts say.

The Transformational Potential of Flipped Classrooms

5/22/2013 - Educationnext.org
The flipped classroom is a form of blended learning in which students learn online at least part of the time while attending a brick-and-mortar school. Either at home or during a homework period at school, students view lessons and lectures online. Time in the classroom, previously reserved for teacher instruction, is spent on what we used to call homework, with teacher assistance as needed.

What Professors Can Learn From 'Hard Core' MOOC Students

5/22/2013 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
People who have taken dozens of massive open online courses share their advice for those teaching them.

Get Ready for NextGen Science: New National Standards Promise to Revolutionize the Content Area

5/21/2013 - District Administration
Recognizing that American K12 students have fallen behind foreign students in their grasp of scientific principles, educators have devised a new set of teaching guidelines that will radically change the way science is taught in classrooms across the United States—including recommendations that climate change and evolution be taught as core elements of scientific knowledge.

Computer Science Moves Past 'Elective' Status in Washington State

5/21/2013 - Education Week
Students who successfully complete an Advanced Placement computer science class in Washington state will get a math or science credit toward graduation, rather than having it count as an elective, under legislation Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee signed last week.

Sussex Academy Teams Take Top Honors in Delaware eCybermission Competition

5/20/2013 - Cape Gazette
Sussex Academy of Arts & Sciences in Georgetown sponsored six Grade 6 teams in the national eCybermission competition, sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association. Each team identified a problem in the community and then applied research, experimentation and engineering to try to solve the problem. Students designed and tested creative ways to harness renewable energy, reduce stress and make sports safer.

Deerfield Teacher Honored by National Science Organization

5/20/2013 - The Union Leader
Ellen O'Donnell doesn't just teach her Deerfield Community School seventh- and eighth-graders scientific theory. She takes them outside to show them the world they're studying so they can see how the classroom concepts relate to real life. For her efforts, O'Donnell has received the 2013 Distinguished Teaching Award from the National Science Teachers Association.

STEM Education Is More Than Teaching and Learning Numbers

5/19/2013 - The Austin American-Statesman
Despite steady gains in mathematics and science achievement, fewer than 75% of 2012 Texas high school graduates demonstrated college readiness in math, based on Texas Success Initiative indicators. Even fewer African-American (59%), Hispanic (68%), and economically disadvantaged (63%) students demonstrated the proficiency levels required for success in college level math. At the same time, national studies show the fastest growing high skill/high wage careers require a higher level of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills.

Adoption of New Science Standards May Start With Rhode Island

5/16/2013 - Education Week
Rhode Island may prove to be the first state to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards issued in final form last month. The state board of education is expected to vote on the standards at its next meeting, on May 23.

Kiera Wilmot Will Not Be Charged for Explosion at Florida School

5/16/2013 - Huffington Post
A central Florida teenager who was accused of igniting a chemical explosion on school grounds—and who became the subject of a grassroots social media campaign on her behalf—will not face criminal charges, authorities said Wednesday.

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