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APS ALUMNI RT NEWS - January 2005

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In this issue...

* Resources

* Opportunities

* Listserv info

 

~The APS Education Office wishes you a happy and healthy New Year~

 

+++++RESOURCES+++++

 

- The NIH Office of Science Education has just released a new curriculum series "Using Technology to Study Cellular and Molecular Biology." Go to http://science.education.nih.gov/h5 to request a FREE set of printed materials. Geared for Grades 9 - 12, this series is structured in the 5 E's format and explores how advanced scientific discovery enabled by technology enhances human health and quality of life.

 

- Check out Science Clips on the BBC web site:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/index_flash.shtml . The Science Clips website is aimed at children aged 5-11 years and their teachers. There are 36 interactive Flash animations that students can manipulate on topics ranging from forces to plants to healthy bodies.

 

- The Council of State Science Supervisors has published great science education safety guides that are free to download. Go to http://csss.enc.org/safety.htm to see the three versions: secondary, elementary with a 2004-5 calendar, and elementary flip book. PDFs that you can print out.

 

- The Wright Center for Science Education has a gorgeous set of full-color posters on a variety of science topics (genomes, scale, earth anatomy, and more) available free of charge. You can take a look at the posters at http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_center/svl/posters/posts.html. Send your written request on school letterhead to:

Wright Center

Department P, Room 267 C

Science & Technology Center

Tufts University

4 Colby Street

Medford, MA 02155

 

- Flash-y Noble prize winners: The Noble Prize web site has 16 interactive online games that introduce high school students to the work of Nobel Laureates in physiology or medicine (oh yeah, they have chemistry and physics, too). Games are accompanied by background information about the featured scientific breakthroughs and descriptions of the honored scientists. http://nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/index.html . Your students can play the lost synapse game or (in honor of the 100 year anniversary of Pavlov's award) try to make a dog drool or help out in the MRI room. Flash players needed and high-speed Internet connections would be optimal.

 

- Teaching about Tsunamis:

* "Schools use web to deepen tsunami study" eSchool News article with links to web resources: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5452

* Although the following story made the Internet rounds quickly, here's the link in case you missed it:

"A 10-year-old British girl saved 100 people in Phuket, Thailand, when she recognized signs of the approaching tsunami that occurred last week. According to Reuters, an international news agency, the girl had just learned about the science of tsunamis in school..." http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050103/od_uk_nm/oukoe_quake_briton_girl

* Discovery Channel has a new show and resources on tsunamis - http://education.discovery.com/.

 

- biochem4schools - a new online resource for teachers and students

Developed by the Biochemical Society, this free-to-use and user-friendly 'portal' is geared for teachers and students at all levels who are searching for biochemistry resources.  http://www.biochem4schools.org

 

- The Women In Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ON THE AIR! website is an audio resource for young girls, young women, parents, middle and high school teachers, college professors, guidance counselors, researchers, organizational leaders, and anyone interested in learning more about the past, present and future role of women in science and technology education, fields and careers. You can listen (free!) to 26 two-minute radio stories that trace the lives of women scientists and engineers from ancient Egypt to modern day Troy, New York. There are online posters, interactive sections and great resources for women in the sciences. http://www.womeninscience.org/

 

- Recent article in eSchool News highlights once again the importance of questioning sources on the Internet and cross-referencing information.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5424&page=1

 

+++++OPPORTUNITIES+++++

 

- Research has indicated that lichens and some very small organisms living on them can be used to assess atmospheric levels of sulfur dioxide, SO2. How much of a tree that lichens cover may make a good indicator of air pollution in the area. Students can delve into this question and conduct their own research on the issue at the Pathfinder Science web site. See the Lichen project at http://pathfinderscience.net/so2/index.cfm. Pathfinder Science is a virtual community that hosts collaborative research projects for students across the country. Learn more at http://pathfinderscience.net . Other projects include the Winter Bird Feeder Survey, global warming, stream monitoring and more.

 

- Aloha energy: Igniting Creative Energy Challenge is an educational competition designed to encourage students to learn more about energy and the environment. Students are asked to submit entries that reflect the competition theme, Igniting Creative Energy, and demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family, or group can do to make a difference in their home, school, or community. Three students, one in each grade cluster whose work best exemplifies the Challenge criteria, will receive a hosted trip to Hawaii April 26-30, 2005, for themselves and a parent or legal guardian. http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org

 

- The Foundation for Microbiology supports projects that enhance schoolteachers' use of microorganisms to teach science in the K-12 classroom. Letters describing proposed projects (teacher training, course or curriculum development, construction of laboratory exercises, or innovative use of electronic media) should be sent directly to:

Nan Waksman Schanbacher, M.Ed.,J.D.

218 Valley Road

Merion Station, PA 19066

Proposals are reviewed in November and in March, so those submitted by the end of September or January can be assured of action within a month or two. See http://www.waksmanfoundation.org/ for details.

 

- Looking for grants or donations? Take a few minutes to peruse the On-going Grant Opportunities page at eSchool News http://www.eschoolnews.com/erc/funding/ongoing.cfm . For hints and tips on how to apply for a Federal grant, go to http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showfundStory.cfm?ArticleID=5345

 

- A good way to reflect on teaching: The editors of Edutopia magazine are working on a story about why good teachers--great teachers--often drop out of the teaching profession for the February/March issue. What keeps you in the classroom in spite of the pay, the hours, and the other drawbacks? What could change to make you stay in the profession longer (or to make your stay happier)? Send your responses, along with your full name, location, and title, to edit@edutopia.org.

 

- Three NSTA Award deadlines are fast approaching:

January 19, 2005: Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

February 1, 2005: Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards

March 15, 2005: Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards

Go to http://www.nsta.org for information.

 

- Biotechnology company Amgen has announced a call for nominations for its 14th Annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. The award is designed to recognize and honor extraordinary K-12 science teachers in communities where Amgen operates (California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington, and Puerto Rico).

 

Winners will receive an unrestricted cash award and a restricted cash grant to the recipient's school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program. For the 2005 awards, nominations will be accepted beginning November 29, 2004 through January 31, 2005. See http://www.amgen.com/community/teacherAward/index.html for details.

 

+++++LIST SERV INFORMATION++++

 

- With Listserv software, we are sending this message to the entire group all at once. This Listserv has a unique address (alumni-rts@lists.the-aps.org). When you send your message to that address, the Listserv software sends it out to EVERYONE on the list. If you "reply" to a Listserv message, it goes back to everyone, not just the person who wrote the original message.

 

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Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome! Please contact Kathleen Kelly (kkelly@the-aps.org ) directly.

______________________________________

The American Physiological Society

Education Office

9650 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20814-3991

T: 301 634 7132 F: 301 634 7098

E: education@the-aps.org

Web: http://www.the-aps.org/education

 

 

 

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