JoinAll Blog Posts
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In previous entries, I’ve mentioned the online, collaborative projects that are part of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s (CLO) Citizen Science program. Well, they’ve done it again!...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Doesn’t it seem like there’s always something new in technology? How can we keep up with what’s going on? I’ve found a resource that can be very helpful: TipLine – Gates’ Computer Tips. This award-winning blog is w...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
A different kind of assessment
Several issues of NSTA journals this year have had an assessment theme, including the April/May issue of Science & Children and the January issue of Science Scope. I recently became aware of another assessment project called MOSART, which stands ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Assessment to guide instruction
“I don’t have many grades for this quarter, so I better give a few quizzes soon.” “I don’t have time for assessments – just let me teach.” I’m sure we’ve heard comments such as these (or thought them ourselve...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
At first when I saw this issue, I thought of community partnerships, in which students work with organizations outside of school. But I realized by reading the articles, that the activities and resources also apply to the communities of learners with...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Well, this conference is history, and I’m exhausted in a good way— both physically and mentally. From talks by astronaut Barbara Morgan, Rodger Bybee, and Bill Nye the Science Guy to the awesome resources in the exhibit area to the sessio...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
So, you’re a presenter and your time slot is the last one of the conference, and your room is the farthest from the lobby. Will anyone come? In the case of Sami Kahn’s presentation on Wikis in the elementary classroom, she didn’t ha...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Sunday morning is a tough time for a presenter. Early departures, church services, brunch dates, or too much Saturday evening make it difficult for some to attend sessions at this time....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Some presenters had basic lectures with PowerPoints, some provided “think-pair-share” opportunities for participants, some had laptops for participants and guided us through simulations or software tools (an advantage to sitting up front)...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
This session prepared us to lead a one-week unit in which students take a “journey” to the Moon. Facilitators Tara Clopper and Heather Slatoff led us in hands-on activities, including designing our own mission patches. One perk with t...
By Debra Shapiro
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With so much to see and do at the conference, I shouldn’t be surprised by the number of people I see no matter how early I arrive. If there’s a workshop going on, there are people in there....
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education) sponsored a series of seven sessions presented by two of the most dynamic educators I’ve ever met: Ben Smith and Jared Mader of the Red Lion School District in PA....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
The exhibit hall is like a science teacher’s paradise! There are so many new things, as well as some tried and true ones. All of the major textbook and trade book publishers are here as well as many of the lab equipment and supply companies. Th...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Virginie Chokouanga, the SciLinks database administrator, did a session on using SciLink’s online assignment tool. This tool allows the teacher to create assignments based on the websites in SciLinks. The students can show what they’ve le...
By Mary Bigelow
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Is it madness to give away $150,000 worth of science equipment and supplies? No way! Cheryl A....
By Debra Shapiro
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Page Keeley, NSTA’s President-Elect, guided us through the use of probes (the written kind, not the electronic ones!) to uncover student’s knowledge and misconceptions about science concepts....
By Mary Bigelow
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OK, I’ve been to a number of sessions on topics that I’m familiar with. It’s time to stretch my mind and venture into unfamiliar territory to learn something new. Dr....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
At the NSTA conference bookstore, the current books are on display and available for purchase (but you can get a gre...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I saw teachers lining up to spin the Fisher Science Education wheel to try for a “grand slam” of prizes, including balances, a forensic entomology kit, and videos. Consolation prizes included mini baseballs and baseball bats. ...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Look Out for the New Creationism
Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, told a packed room of educators that “it is their duty” to step in when they discover a colleague who is teaching creationist theory in a science classroom....
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Unfortunately, with hundreds of sessions at a conference this size, not all are going to be terrific. I was at a clunker this morning. The presenter (who shall remain nameless) was not very prepared and really didn’t explain the point very well...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Watch presentations on Ustream
You can watch a few Presentations on Ustream.tv. Watch and chat with us! Current Presentation Schedule: Eugenie Scott: After Dover: The New Creationism Friday, March 28 3:30–4:30 PM EST Bill Nye: (The Planetary Society Lecture) Planetary Citizen...
By NSTA Web Director
Blog Post
Today is Informal Science Day and everywhere I look there’s some kind of hands-on activity going on—in workshops and the exhibit hall. From attendees putting together simple tools from what looks like an assortment of children’s bui...
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Science notebooks in real classrooms
It’s always fun to hear from teachers and former teachers. When they describe the wonderful and effective projects they do with real students in their own classrooms, it’s hard to say: Yeah, but that won’t work in my school....
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
I attended a session presented by some folks from NOAA called Data in the Classroom. No, it’s not about student assessments and NCLB! It’s about an effort to make the huge amount of data that NOAA has on the oceans and atmosphere accessi...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
In her session on “Unleashing the Power of Data,” Nancy Love said cultural proficiency—knowing about and understanding different cultures—is key to interpreting data about science learning. “A child is not a number̶...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Lynn here. I attended the general session this morning as well. I found Barbara’s speech particularly inspirational. As folks were leaving the ballroom, she announced she had a special presentation to make....
By Lynn Petrinjak
Blog Post
Susan Morgan gave us tips for starting and running a science fair gleaned from her 18 years of experience with fairs. I appreciated her suggestion to let students choose something they’re interested in and develop a question to answer. Let them...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Barbara Morgan—exploring space through a teacher's eyes
Barbara Morgan was a featured speaker today, and it was a real thrill to see her in person. She described her Space Shuttle mission with slides and videos, a wonderful sense of humor, and a real pride in being an educator. As I listened to her descri...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
It’s amazing how comfortable you can be at an NSTA conference, even in a city you’ve never visited before. Even the floors are just like home! That guy lying down looks so peaceful, don’t you think? ...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Just taking a break after a full schedule of sessions and a reconnaissance of the exhibitor’s hall. The conference center is a very large venue, but somehow it doesn’t seem as hectic as some. It even seemed that the registration area was ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Be sure to check out the conference blog this week. Use the tab at the top of the page for first-hand accounts of the sessions, exhibitors, speakers, and the overall impressions of being a national conference! ...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Just how big is this conference?
According to the NSTA conference website, there are over 1400 presentations and workshops (not counting other special sessions and happenings)! I was finding it hard to visualize this until this evening when I picked up my hard copy of the conference...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Why are we studying this? What good will this do me? I know there are teachers who enjoy the challenge of students’ asking questions such as these and others who consider these questions to be disrespectful or distracting (and from some student...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
All of these articles this month reflect Isaac Newton’s work on forces and motion and the application of these principles to our daily lives – from seat belts and amusement parks to tools and trains. Check out additional web resources availab...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
Was there ever a time when a one-size-fits-all approach to science instruction was appropriate?...
By Mary Bigelow
Blog Post
You’ve heard the old saying that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. In the case of the NSTA Boston National Conference, when the city is ready, thousands of teachers will appear!...
By Debra Shapiro
Blog Post
Natural history, nature science, and science teaching
Our science department meetings were interesting. My colleague and I taught life and environmental science, and our counterparts in the high school sciences would poke (good-natured) fun at our “woodsy-birdsy” themes. Well, I hope they...
By Mary Bigelow