The third day of NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis continued to provide science educators multiple opportunities to enhance their professional development and network with colleagues.
Highlights of events taking place on March 31 included workshops on podcasting and science fairs. Attendees were also able to listen to featured speakers.
Podcasting
Several attendees began the day by learning how to make a podcast. NSTA and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) enabled attendees to work on this effort by presenting a workshop titled Podcasting for Students and Teachers in Science. This session enabled attendees to create their own podcasts, learn the details of publishing and subscribing to podcasts, and gain new ideas for how to use podcasting in the classroom.
Jeffrey Metcalf of Scottsdale, Arizona, works
on making a podcast while Carol Lessig of
Gretna, Louisiana, looks on. |
As science educators, it is important that you identify technology resources and learn how to integrate them into the classroom, presenter Jared Mader of the Red Lion, Pennsylvania, school district told attendees. “The idea for technology integration is to make tasks easier,” Mader added.
Mader and co-presenter Ben Smith explained to attendees that to make a podcast five pieces of equipment are needed. This equipment includes applications, a microphone, hard drive space, server access to host files and FTP client software, and other media. The presenters also noted that science teachers need to give consideration to audacity and possible file formats, such as WAV, MP3, m4a, or m4b.
Attendees were then instructed by Mader and Smith to work with a partner using a laptop computer to create their own podcast.
“Create things that will affect the most students possible,” Mader observed.
Two science teachers who attended the workshop noted they did not know how to use podcasts in the classroom. However, after the workshop, “I’m at least willing to try it,” said Matthew Eggleston, an attendee from Westfield, New York.
Mader added that podcasts have many uses in the classroom. These uses include:
- Recording lectures
- Homework help
- Lab reports
- Special projects
- Giving advice on labs and projects
- Problem solving
- Radio shows
- Explaining what is going on in class
Mader also noted that attendees could combine podcasts with blogs.
Science Fairs
A workshop titled Science Fair Central: A Survival Guide for Teachers enabled attendees to learn how to take the stress out of the science fair season with resources and strategies from Discovery Education and Elmer’s.
Michael Herbst of Bridgewater, New Jersey,
and Deborah Wilson of Chillicothe, Missouri,
use clickers to answer a question about
science experiments in a workshop titled
Science Fair Central: A Survival Guide for
Teachers. |
Presenter Lance Rougeux, a former middle school teacher who works for Discovery Education and Elmer’s in Bethesda, Maryland, began the session by having attendees use clickers to answer several questions. “Have you ever conducted a science experiment that went wrong?” Rougeux asked attendees. Twenty-one attendees clicked in “yes” while five answered “no.”
Rougeux then explained to attendees that is important for teachers to help students select topics that will get students excited about science fair projects. There are four Bs for research, Rougeux said. These components include:
- Be aware
- Be curious
- Be reasonable
- Be focused
“Once they have an idea, encourage students to hone in on it,” Rougeux said.
Rougeux then shared with attendees several resources they could use to help plan a science fair. Two resources offered include the science fairs section at www.elmers.com and the science fair central section at www.discoveryschool.com.
Attendees then separated into small groups to share with their colleagues what resources they use for science fairs. Attendee Michael Herbst of Bridgewater, New Jersey, suggested to his group to check out the website www.sciencebuddies.org.
Catherine LeMar, a high school science teacher from El Paso, Texas, noted that is was helpful to find some good resources. “I’m looking for ways to get the students involved,” LeMar said, adding that she had only previously judged science fairs.
Astronaut Training
Attendees were able to get a taste of astronaut training at the Aerospace Educators Luncheon. NASA Educator Astronaut Ricky Arnold provided attendees this opportunity by serving as the guest speaker for the luncheon.
Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo Lunar Module Pilot and
chairman of the ShareSpace Foundation,
speaks to attendees at the Aerospace
Educators Luncehon. |
Selected as an educator astronaut in May 2004, Arnold completed astronaut candidate training in February 2006 that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, as well as water and wilderness survival training.
“We had a really good time,” Arnold observed of the survival training.
Arnold also noted that he and fellow educator astronauts conducted center visits of NASA facilities. “It’s a huge operation,” Arnold noted.
Attendees at the luncheon were also treated to a special guest appearance by former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot and chairman of the ShareSpace Foundation. Aldrin discussed with attendees various projects that he is working on with the foundation and took time to sign autographs for and be photographed with attendees.
“NSTA is proud to have you here,” said Frank Owens, NSTA’s associate executive director for professional programs.