===========================================
> 2004 RT NEWS - April 28, 2004
> ===========================================
>
> Dear 2004 Explorations and Frontiers Research Teachers,
>
> Following is the first edition of the (generally)
weekly email that the
> APS Education Office sends out to Frontiers and
Explorations
> participants. This email is coming to you via an APS
Listserv using your
> home email address. These emails serve as reminders of
deadlines, provide
> hints and advice from former RTs (we call them
"alumni"), and let you
> know about opportunities and resources. This one is a
tad longer than
> most...just keep on scrolling!
>
> By now you should have received your first Assignment
packet, including a
> notebook in which to store your paperwork. I can not
stress enough the
> importance of holding on to these papers...especially
the one with your
> WISE Username and Password. You will refer to this
notebook all year long.
>
> Speaking of WISE, a good number of you have had success
logging on and
> using the site. The WISE folks recommend that you view
the site using
> Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser (which is true
for the APS website,
> as well). At the end of this email, I've added a WISE
guide for in case
> any of you are having trouble.
>
> The 2004 RT website is up and running. You'll note that
some links are
> not active yet. Look for updates and additions over the
next couple of
> weeks. http://www.the-aps.org/education/2004rts/home.htm
>
> ++++DEADLINES++++
>
> - Assignment #1 is due May 7th, which means all of your
online WISE
> components should be finished. You do not have to mail
your poster into
> the APS office, instead save it and bring it with you
to the Science
> Teaching Forum in July. - Assignment #2 will be
"active" on May 6th and
> is due on June 3rd.
>
> ++++OPPORTUNITIES++++
>
> - Start planning now if you want to apply for an NSTA
Award (deadline for
> most NSTA awards is October 15, 2004). Applications and
information can
> be found at www.nsta.org/awardscomp. Most awards
include a cash award and
> travel money to attend the NSTA National Convention.
>
> - The Lemelson-MIT Program started the InvenTeams
initiative to generate
> excitement about the rewarding process of identifying a
need,
> brainstorming on a solution, and working through the
inventive process to
> produce something beneficial to the community. A
non-competitive,
> team-based approach enriches this experience and adds
to the fun. As many
> as fifteen grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded
to teams (the
> 2005 InvenTeams) nationwide for the 2004-2005 academic
year. The initial
> application packet is due Friday, May 7, 2004 and must
be submitted by a
> high school science, mathematics or technology teacher.
See
> http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/inventeam/ for details.
>
> ++++RESOURCES++++
>
> - The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Strokes at NIH has
> a great series of color brochures called "Brain
Basics" that you can use
> in the classroom. Order free copies at their web site
>
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/multiple_brochure_order_form.
> htm on topics like the anatomy of the brain, neurons,
stroke and sleep.
> The graphics and text are clear, attractive and
understandable.
>
> - Check out GEM-SET (Girl's E-Mentoring in Science,
Engineering &
> Technology) brought to you by the US Dept. of Labor's
Women's Bureau
> http://www.uic.edu/orgs/gem-set/. This website links
girls (13-18) with
> women mentors via email and the website. Also available
from the Women's
> Bureau is a e-News service with topics like Women's
History Month, Women
> and Technology
(http://www.dol.gov/wb/media/newsletter/previssue.htm).
>
> ++++ALUMNI RT CORNER++++
>
> A reflection on the beginning of the program from
Shelley Epperson (2002
> Frontiers): "I remember being so excited about
receiving the award, and
> then really worried about whether I could handle the
extra work load. As
> the online assignments started up, I really felt
panicky about it all.
> Had I just read through everything as soon as it
arrived and gotten to
> the online portion sooner, I could have eased my mind.
It was clear that
> although work was involved, the amount of work and the
time it would take
> to complete it was completely blown out of proportion
by my worrying
> about it!
Also, whenever I was really stumped by anything, all of you at
> APS gave such great advice and reassurance!"
>
> ++++WISE GUIDE++++
>
> Some common problems getting on WISE include:
> - Not typing the URL correctly. Remember, there's no
"www" and check your
> spelling of "berkeley." Here's the URL http://wise.berkeley.edu/. -
> Sometimes school fire walls do not allow access to
WISE. Pop-up blockers
> can be a culprit, too. Have you tried a different
computer (home or
> library)? If this is the problem, then we'll connect
you (or your
> school's IT support) with the technical folks at WISE to resolve the
> problem. -
The type of browser used. WISE definitely functions best when
> viewed through Microsoft Internet Explorer. Also, if
you are using a Mac
> computer, the WISE folks recommend downloading the
latest version
> (Explorer 5.1.7). You can download the update at:
>
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/DOWNLOAD/IE/ie5_classic.asp. - If the above
> suggestions do not apply or work, it might be best to
contact WISE
> directly. They are very responsive. Be sure to tell
them that you're
> working with the APS and Marsha Matyas - they know us
well. Here's the
> email address wise-info@wise.berkeley.edu. If you don't
hear back from
> them promptly, please let Kathleen know. -
Occasionally, the WISE site
> itself is down for updates or has technical
difficulties. If you've had
> success logging on in the past and run into errors,
then you might just
> wait a couple of hours and try again. - When you sign
into WISE to work
> on your assignments, the first screen of the student
portal shows a
> tan/brown box with a "Projects" tab. This is
the entrance into the "2004
> RT Assignments #1-6" unit that you use to do your
work.
>
> As always, feel free to contact any of us in the
Education Office with
> questions, suggestions or concerns.
>
> Best regards,
> Kathleen
> _____________________________
> Kathleen H. Kelly
> K-12 Programs Coordinator
> American Physiological Society
> 9650 Rockville Pike
> Bethesda, MD
20814-3991
> T: 301 634 7231 F: 301 634 7098
> E:
kkelly@the-aps.org
>
>
>
>
>
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