What's New For Teachers

• Eligibility for Complimentary Kit
  SAE International will provide one A World In Motion classroom materials kit to a teacher that partners with a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) professional with a limit of one complimentary kit per school each academic year, based on availability. Teachers who need additional kits can purchase kits using the order forms. This web site to find the order form is <http://www.awim.org/teachers/apply/>
  To determine your eligibility, please make certain that you meet all of the following criteria before you fill out the application.
  I am a full-time public/private school teacher in the US or Canada.
  I have a partner in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) profession who is willing to dedicate time to visiting and assisting in my classroom.
  No other teachers in my school have received complimentary A World in Motion materials during this academic school year.
  I agree to participate in follow-up surveys to gauge the effectiveness of the curriculum.
  I have administrative approval from my school to use the A World in Motion program in my classroom during this academic school year.
  If you currently do not meet the criteria in the initial screen process above, kits are available for purchase
  
• Dear Colleagues,
  Many of you have become aware of the report recently released by the National Research Council of The Academies directed by the National Board on Science Education entitled A Framework for K-12 Science Standards: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. This report can be accessed via www.nationalacademies.org/bose.
  The significance of this report is the direction that it proposes for K-12 science education, including a strong emphasis on technology and engineering. One could argue that technology and engineering should or should not be a part of the science curriculum of the future. However, the reality is that this report is public and will affect future science standards. By its nature, it is aimed at providing a different area of the curriculum in which technology and engineering will be taught. Just as technology and engineering teachers teach some science, this science framework now places a stronger emphasis on science teachers teaching more about technology and engineering. This report certainly has the potential to change the positioning of these subjects in our schools.
  The Science Board acknowledges that, “Many high schools already have courses designated as technology, design, or even engineering that go beyond the limited introduction to these topics specified in the framework.” The report further states, “We (the Board) simply maintain that some introduction to engineering practice, the application of science, and the interrelationship of science and technology is integral to the learning of science for all students.” The Framework is, “. . . not intended to define course structure, particularly at the high school level.” However, that does not preclude the Framework from doing so.
  Technology and engineering educators should be proactive in their response to this report. Educators outside of our field will be discussing how they will be using this framework to create science core standards in every state. Technology and engineering educators need to be a part of those discussions to provide support to the science community as they attempt to teach more about our content.
  ITEEA suggests the following steps for every concerned technology and engineering educator as it relates to this study:
  Read the report, become familiar with the general direction, goals, and progression as it relates to technology and engineering. You will find that many concepts and ideas are being taught by technology and engineering teachers like yourself.
  Work with your colleagues in developing a strategy for discussing this Framework with your state superintendent of instruction, the science teachers’ association, administrator associations, and any other groups that may play a central role in its implementation. These people want to know that many of these goals are being taught and that you are ready to be of assistance to the science community.
  Make appointments with key officials noted above. Your main asset in making your case is what you are already doing if your teaching includes Standards for Technological Literacy and your state standards for technology and engineering education. Selected states already have science and technology standards.
  Don’t go to sleep. Make sure you keep this strategy going for at least three years. People change positions, and key points are forgotten. Your influence will not be felt with just one meeting. Continue to inform your educational colleagues in these communities at all levels.
  Do the same thing in your own school system, starting at the top with your superintendent and moving through the school board as well as the administrators dealing with curriculum. Don’t forget to become a closer friend with your science counterpart.
  We want you to see this Science Framework as an opportunity to teach technology and engineering more widely than just your program. The average science teacher is not as prepared as you are to provide more than cursory detail regarding technology and engineering. The Framework only identifies general concepts. Therefore, your position becomes more important. Take the opportunity to be a leader and become very involved with the science community in their quest to be better educators.
  Finally, keep in mind that being the maker of the rules is more important than having them made and put upon you. We want you to become one of the greatest assets involved in the Science Framework and exercise your leadership as you have never done before. You will never regret it, and education will become much stronger because of you. I look forward to hearing your success stories.
  Sincerely,
  Thomas P. Bell, Ph.D., DTE
  ITEEA President 2011-12

• MATH & ROBOTICS open to HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS (15 SPOTS)
  Robotics is proving to be an effective tool in STEM education. Nationally, students are responding with tremendous enthusiasm for programs utilizing the technology. Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE) lead instructors, Dr's. Laura and Anthony Pyzdrowski, have developed an exciting mathematics program utilizing Lego Robotics as a primary (not only) component for classroom use. Teachers learn to integrate robotics with mathematics while performing a variety of intriguing hands-on activities to accomplish the following objectives: use self-discovery techniques; compare and contrast attributes of different wheels; program, collect and analyze data; and compare and contrast attributes of different gears. Each certified math teacher will receive one LEGO robot for class-room use.
  WHEN: August 9, 10, 11; 8:00am-4:30pm
  WHERE: US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering
  Center, 15 Kansas Street, Natick MA
  75$/day Stipend; Certificates of Attendance will be provided; PDPs must
  be individually pursued.
  To register, please contact Megan O'Brien: megan.obrien2@us.army.mil
  INCLUDE:
  NAME
  EMAIL ADDRESS
  HOME ADDRESS
  PHONE NUMBER TO BE EASILY REACHED
  SCHOOL/SUBJECT/GRADE TAUGHT
  
  OPTIONAL GRADUATE LEVEL CREDITS: Two Graduate Level credits will be awarded through Framingham State University for a total fee of $130 FOR FOOD PACKAGING MODULE ONLY.
  Teachers interested in this option are responsible for the college credit fee.
  NOTE: If you have previously taken an MWM module for graduate credit you will not be eligible to apply for the credits a second time.
  You will receive additional information on this option with confirmation of your registration.
  
  If you would like to register or have any questions, please contact
  Megan O'Brien at: megan.obrien2@us.army.mil.
  
  Please include your:
  Name
  Email
  Home Address
  Phone Number
  School/Grade taught
  Module (Food Packaging- Middle School Only; OR Math and Robotics)
  Attending for Graduate Credits for Food Packaging Module (Yes/No)
  Megan O'Brien
  US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center
  Kansas Street
  Natick, MA 01760
  508-233-4176
  
  
• Dear MassTEC Members,
  I am writing you as the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Affiliate Representative of MassTEC to let you know of the benefits of being a member of the ITEEA and ask you to join this organization. As a member for over 30 years, I know first hand the importance of the ITEEA and the work this organization has accomplished in moving our profession forward in the 21st century.
  Members of the ITEEA are classroom teachers from elementary to high school, local and state/provincial supervisors, college/university faculty, and museum staff. Their common ground is an interest and involvement in technology education. A main goal of the ITEEA is to bring together technology education professionals to share ideas, gain professional development, and improve public understanding of technological literacy. ITEEA helps its members to stay connected with others, who share their interests and/or activities, keep up with the latest trends on STEM education, identify and recognize leaders in the field, stay relevant through professional development opportunities, and much more.
  Right now our profession is at an important crossroad. We need a strong membership base in order for us to rightful claim to be the profession that should be teaching the Technology and Engineering of STEM to America’s students. As you are aware, the National Association for Educational Progress (NAEP) will be testing students in the area of technology/engineering in the year 2012. In addition, there is a bill in Congress to add engineering to the revised “No Child Left Behind” law. These two accomplishments will only help make our discipline stronger here in Massachusetts, but the ITEEA cannot continue to do this work without your help. We are only as strong as our membership, therefore, I ask you to consider a membership in the ITEEA. Having you as an active member will make the organization stronger and you will benefit from belonging to an organization that is committed to making your students technologically literate.
  You can get a membership form at http://store.iteea.org/department/iteea-memberships-10001.cfm to start your membership. If you become a member by the end of June, you will receive 15 months membership for the cost of 12. The membership code for this promotion is 1512 and you need to join by June 30th to take advantage of this promotion. If you have retired in the last few years, as I have, there is an advocate form you can complete to help keep you current with our profession.
  You can check out all of the ITEEA membership benefits at <www.iteea.org/Membership/MembershipBenefits.pdf> or you can contact Maureen Wiley, 703-860-5028, <mwiley@iteea.org>
  Thank you for all you do for our profession and our nation’s children. I hope you will join me as a member of the ITEEA.
  Charlie Corley, DTE
  
• NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Grant Program
  Join forces with NASA and help your students reach for the stars!
  Does your organization:
  Develop activities to encourage student interest in STEM and NASA-themed topics – earth and space science, robotics. aeronautics, and rocketry,
  Inspire middle school students to become the scientists and engineers of the future, and
  Engage middle school students during the summer or in after-school programs?
  NASA is looking for community and school-based organizations that inspire and engage middle school students in STEM disciplines during the summer or in after-school programs. Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to: Boy Scout troops, Girl Scout troops, YMCA programs, science centers, museums, libraries, school clubs, and any other community or school-based organization.
  Applications due: late Spring 2011
  To learn more, visit http://soi.spacegrant.org.

• Museum of Science PD Opportunities
  Summer Teacher-in-residence Positions
  July 5 - August 5
  Looking for a new way to stay connected during your vacation? Spend this summer at the Museum of Science as a Teacher-in-Residence. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective of the Museum, learn from our staff as you share your knowledge of formal learning environments with us, and serve as a liaison between the Museum and your school / district. Each Teacher-in-Residence works on a relevant Museum project, participates in a weekly teacher learner seminar, and works on an independent project of his or her choice.
  Choose to work five 6-hour days or four 7 1/2-hour days each week. During the school year, you are also expected to work an additional 24 hours to research and develop a product determined by you and your Museum partner. All participants must also attend a call-back meeting scheduled for Saturday, December 3. Although we are not able to offer housing, we do offer stipends of $3,000. For more information and the application go to http://survey.mos.org/public_survey/Checkbox/Survey.aspx?s=25ab895631ce4f5fa63441d96db5a8b8.

• Please note that the Department has asked superintendents of Race to the Top districts to submit additional nominations in science and technology/engineering for our newly formed Model Curriculum and Curriculum Embedded Performance Assessment Committees. These committees will help us in developing curriculum and embedded performance assessments. There will be a one day meeting April, a week long meeting at the end of July, and a 2 day meeting in the fall. These committees will meet over the 4 year period of the RTTT grant. Committee members, substitutes, travel, etc. are paid through the district's RTTT funds, not through the Department.
  Specifically we need educators in the following STE areas:
  Technology/Engineering (all grade levels)-we currently do not have any applicants in this field, so please spread the word!!!
  Earth and space (middle school and high school levels)-we currently do not have any middle school applicants and only a couple at the high school level
  Physical science (middle school)-we do not have any middle school applicants
  Physics (high school)-we only have a couple of applicants
  More information about this opportunity is below, and I have attached the application. If you or colleagues are interested in participating, please express interest to your district administrator (superintendent or RTTT coordinator) to have an application form considered for submission by your district.
  Take care
  Katie Bowler
  Administrator for Science and
  Technology/Engineering Test Development
  Student Assessment Services
  Massachusetts Department of
  Elementary and Secondary Education
  75 Pleasant Street
  Malden, MA 02148-4906

Announcing Tufts University's new Master's of Arts in Teaching Engineering
The Tufts Education department in collaboration with the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach are pleased to announce a new program to prepare middle and high school engineering teachers. Tufts has been a leader in the push to include engineering in the K-12 classroom in Massachusetts and beyond and is well-positioned to prepare teachers in an innovative, hands-on environment. Who should apply: Teachers currently teaching engineering without licensure - Current engineering professionals who may be considering a career in K-12 education - Engineering undergraduates who are excited about engineering and want to teach - People with a passion to improve the STEM education of our students > >To learn more about the program, please visit our website or contact >Morgan Hynes at morgan.hynes@tufts.edu. http://ase.tufts.edu/education/programs/teacherPrep/MATengineering.asp
Morgan Hynes, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Education
Research Program Director, CEEO

The MA Department of Education has posted new resources, Science and Technology/Engineering Concept and Skill Progressions, on the Department's website. These summarize how student thinking of selected science and technology/engineering topics can be supported over time, including common misconceptions they may hold. Each progression is set up in a learning progression format, drawing upon a range of research that includes but is not limited to learning progression research. We believe these can be valuable resources for instruction relative to our current standards. We want to be clear that these are not new standards -- our current standards remain the document to reference for outcomes and assessment; these resources can help to understand student misconceptions and how to sequence ideas to support student learning of core science and technology/engineering ideas. A wide range of contributors generously volunteered their time and expertise in the development of these, each acknowledged in the documents.
The STE concept and skill progressions can be found at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/omste/ste/default.html
Many of you have also been interested in the work we did to represent our state science and technology/engineering standards in a strand map format (modeled on the AAAS Atlases of Science Literacy). Those are also available on the web at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/omste/maps/default.html

FRAMEWORK FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION PRELIMINARY PUBLIC DRAFT 8-2010, click here to download the document

Massachusetts STEM State Plan
Titled: A Foundation for the Future: Massachusetts Plan for Excellence in STEM Education
Building the pipeline of STEM Professionals to fuel the MA innovation economy
The state's first ever statewide STEM Plan was presented at this year's STEM Summit.  Governor Patrick's STEM Advisory Council, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff and many other agencies worked together to create this first version 1.0 and to include Race to the Top goals and initiatives into the plan. Once implemented, this plan will serve as a guide as we move forward in our efforts to make long-lasting and critical strides in STEM that will positively impact communities across the Commonwealth. You can download a copy of the plan at:  http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/MA%20STEM%20Plan%209%2028%2010.pdf.

STEM Corporate Matching Funds Grant Announcement
The STEM Academy is pleased to announce the establishment of the STEM Corporate Matching Grant Fund for high schools throughout America that want to improve STEM literacy for all students. Any high school can apply to receive matching funds for the establishment of The STEM Academy Tier One or Foundation courses. Foundation courses are inclusive of Introduction to Engineering, 3D Solid Modeling, Design for Manufacturing, Architecture + Construction Management featuring Green Methods and capstone course Principles of Engineering.
The STEM Corporate Matching Grant Fund was established on September 15, 2010 for public, private and charter high-schools that  want to (1) improve traditional under-represented minority student participation and growth, (2) increase student attendance and graduation rates, (3) and improve instructor and principal effectiveness. School districts who are interested in qualifying for the STEM Grant must do three things: (1) register at www.stem101.org/registration; (2) submit a letter of intent to implement on school letter head and signed by the District Superintendent; (3) submit school report card data for the previous academic school year. Submittals should be emailed to funds match@stem101.org.
STEM Corporate Matching Funds Grant Awards
School districts are eligible for up to $50,000.00 in matching funds grant awards over a three year term. High schools must commit to utilizing courses for stand-alone or show integration into traditional academic courses. High schools would also be encouraged to participate in a national study by reporting student outcomes which are captured by The STEM Academy Learning Management System. The captured data will be utilized for continuous program improvement and student improvement validation.
About The STEM Academy: The STEM Academy is a national non-profit status education program designed to improve STEM literacy for all students. K-12 curriculum was designed to improve student performance, close achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, increase graduation rates, and improve teacher and principal effectiveness. The STEM Academy prepares students to be competent, capable citizens in a technology-dependent society through comprehensive student assessments including traditional tests, project based learning presentations and portfolios. This STEM centric program is focused on standards based foundations, gender awareness, socio-economic concerns and general learner needs to improve STEM literacy for all students.
To learn more, please visit www.stem101.org and request a meeting or evaluation access to available courses.

Employment Opportunities Available at ESE
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) has listed many open positions due to RTTT funding.  Many positions are temporary, lasting approximately three years, and are funded through Race to the Top (RTTT) and other ARRA funds and initiatives.  You can access details about each position through the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website at https://jobs.hrd.state.ma.us/recruit/public/3111/index.do.  Contact our Human Resources department at hrservices@doe.mass.edu, for further information or questions

NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants
The foundation provides grants to increase the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students' habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Practicing U.S. public school teachers, public school education support professionals, and faculty and staff members at public institutions of higher education may apply. The maximum grant amount is $5,000. Deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 15 each year. For more information, visit http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/grant-application/student-achievement-grants/

NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Have you ever thought about shipping out to sea? This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) program will begin accepting applications for the 2011 field season October 1, 2010. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2010. For more information about the program or to learn how to apply, visit http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/.

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
K-12 teachers with a strong background in science, technology, math, or engineering education are encouraged to apply to the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. Those selected will participate in a 10-month paid fellowship in Washington, D.C., working either in a Congressional office or in a federal agency. Einstein Fellows have the unique opportunity to provide those agencies with their insights and perspectives on education programs and policies.
Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $6,000 along with a $1,000 monthly cost-of-living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance. For more information, go to http://www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm.

Model Solar Car: the Junior Solar Sprint Experience Teacher Workshop. This workshop, originally scheduled for 9/21 has been rescheduled to Wednesday, October 27 from 4-7pm to maximize participation
Build a Model Solar Car: The Junior Solar Sprint Experience
A free teacher training workshop presented by Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)
When: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: NESEA, 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA
This workshop is designed to prepare teachers and non-formal educators in leading middle school kids through Junior Solar Sprint, a highly engaging and successful program where kids design, build and compete with model
 solar electric cars. Your young engineers will deepen their understanding about solar energy, math, physical science and craftsmanship. Teams can enter their cars in local design and race competitions with top winners
 invited to NESEA's annual Northeast JSS Championship. JSS is a great project for the classroom, after school program, or youth group! At the workshop you will receive: a basic parts kit
 and hands-on building experience and packet of lessons and resources -all the information you need to launch a JSS program.
To Pre-Register (required): Visit the NESEA website at http://www.nesea.org/k-12/  and click on Junior Solar Sprint. Click on "registration form", complete the form  and email to agrindrod@nesea.org  or fax to 413-774-6053.
 Questions call 413-774-6051 x21 or email agrindrod@nesea.org This workshop is offered FREE through a grant from the U.S. Army Education Outreach Program. Starter JSS kits are provided free through a generous donation from Pitsco.

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Fitchburg State University is offering a Masters Level Hybrid Methods of Technology Education course called:
14843 ITEC 8000 Advanced Methods of Teaching at the Secondary Level
It is  a 3 Credit course that will be more flexible than the "Wed, 5 - 7:30 pm" stated in the Fall Bulletin. There will four classes (one introductory and 3 on Saturdays) at FSU and the rest will be on-line.
See page 24 of the Fitchburg State University Bulletin PDF http://www.fsc.edu/gcebulletin/pdf/fsc-fall_bulletin2010.pdf -- There are no prerequisites except being licensed to teach in any state.
This will be a great course to work on improving your game and solving teaching problems right now in your classrooms and labs.
Contact the instructor, Dr. Ray McCarthy, at ray.mccarthy.masstec@gmail.com for more details.
This is the first of the new style course offerings for the Technology Education department. If you can not make it this semester but want more courses and/or Professional Development done in an on-line or hybrid format please let Dr. James Alicata jalicata@fsc.edu or Dr. Ray McCarthy know.

Teachers in Space Announces New Astronaut Competition
Teachers in Space has announced the start of a new astronaut-teacher competition. The nonprofit program is working with U.S. companies that are developing reusable suborbital spacecraft, which promises dramatic improvements in the cost and safety of human spaceflight. Teachers in Space already has 15 seats that have been donated or purchased for teachers, but the program’s goals go far beyond 15 teachers. In the long term, Teachers in Space plans to fly at least 200 teachers a year. “We want to put a thousand astronaut teachers into American schools within the next decade," said Teachers in Space project manager Edward Wright. Teachers in Space has already selected seven Pathfinder astronaut teacher candidates. The Original Seven, who were announced on July 20, 2009 at NASA Ames Research Center, have already begun training for their flights into space, which are expected to occur in about two years. On July 12, 2010, Teachers in Space announced that it will be selecting three additional Pathfinders. The new competition, which is expected to last about a year, will begin within the next few weeks. Teachers who wish to be notified as soon as the competition begins should email apply@teachersinspace.org with “New Competition” in the subject line. Details on the new competition will soon be available at www.teachersinspace.org.

ITEEA Teams Up With Four Other Associations on Digital Fabrication Article
Writers from ITEEA, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, and the American Society for Engineering Educators have teamed up to write an article titled “Use of Digital Fabrication to Incorporate Engineering Design Principle in Elementary Mathematics Education” that is featured in the Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Journal.
The article is designed to show the collaboration of these five associations in teaching about and with technology in elementary mathematics instruction. The article was also directed at fostering STEM education, which is a fundamental challenge for education. President Obama (2009) recently addressed members of the National Academy of Sciences and called for an increased emphasis on hands-on learning to address this need when he said:
“I want to encourage young people to be makers of things, not just consumers of things.”
The President concluded that the future of the United States depends upon our ability to encourage young people to “create and build and invent.”
This article can be found at www.citejournal.org/vol10/iss2/editorial/article1.cfm.

Save the Date Notice The Massachusetts STEM Plan:  A Summit Mapping the Commonwealth's STEM Future
When:Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm
Where:Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center366 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA  01566

• Part 1 – Spurring US Innovation Through Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Integration
  In 2010, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference featured a “crowd source” keynote selection. People voted over the web and the most popular nominee was given the closing keynote of one of the largest educational computing conferences in the world.
  On July 1, Hawaii’s Jeff Piontek declared: “It’s no longer STEM. It’s STEAM.” His presentation slides had white typeface for the words science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and bold red typeface for the word arts. The educator drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd of thousands.
  The term STEM was coined by Dr. Judith Ramaley when she was assistant director of the education and human resources directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2001 to 2004 (Chute, 2009). Ramaley’s concept of STEM situates learning in the context of solving real world problems or creating new opportunities—pursuit of innovation. Spurred by a public and private sector push for global competitiveness, STEM has become a lightning rod for education in 2010.
  People involved in the movement to integrate STEM and the arts use the acronym “TEAMS” or “STEAM.” Advocates from both the world of science and the world of arts have converged in a grass roots movement. The movement is about transformative practices in education that unify knowing and doing—theory and application.
  According to the NSF, the great scientific and technological breakthroughs are expected at the intersection of disciplines. Related to TEAMS, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) both have emerging practices. Model schools and states are emerging though they are highly differentiated. Part three of this article series covers a TEAMS model school in California and part four identifies Ohio as a TEAMS model state.
  On January 11, 2010, the National Science Teachers Association published "Reaching Students Through STEM and the Arts." The article describes efforts underway across the U.S. focused on integrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) curricula.
  In 2007, the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) released Arts Integration Frameworks, Research and Practice: A Survey of the Literature on Arts Integration as a free online book. The book is a complete survey of the literature related to arts integration. Today, integrated technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and science (TEAMS) initiatives are grass roots and emerging but not yet part of the formal national STEM innovation agenda.
  During President Barack Obama’s April 2009 visit to the 146th congress of the National Academy of Science he announced more planned investment in STEM education, research and commercialization than America spent to answer Russia’s Sputnik and ultimately to pioneer space travel to the moon. In his shadow are Eisenhower’s investments in the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA and the Defense research and development office DARPA.
  Today, the questions and circumstances are different than the Sputnik Era; however, the goal is the same—innovation. On July 28, 2010, the Father of the U.S.Global Positioning System, Col. (Dr.) Francis “Duke” Kane read this article. Duke’s response is: “STEM represents the knowledge, tools and processes to invent the future, however, the arts are what make us human. They are inseparable.”
  Energy innovation, workforce innovation, educational innovation, and economic innovation are all part of the U.S. innovation agenda. The arts; however, are struggling to find a voice and a place in the 21 st century story. Stay tuned for part two of the five article series: Emerging TEAMS Innovation in Florida, New York and Texas.
  

Georgette Yakman STEAM Image http://www.handshake20.com/2009/04/steam.html

Applications Being Accepted for NASA’s DEVELOP Program – 2010 Fall Session
The DEVELOP Program is a NASA Science Mission Directorate Applied Sciences-sponsored internship that fosters the training and development of students in the atmospheric and Earth sciences. The DEVELOP Program extends the application of NASA Earth science research and technology to meet societal needs. Students conduct projects that focus on the practical application of NASA’s Earth science research and demonstrate how results can benefit partner organizations and local communities. Advisors and mentors from NASA and partner organizations provide the guidance and support for the program. Students gain experience by using NASA science and technology in a professional setting. Students from high school through doctoral levels are chosen in a competitive application process. The selected students work on teams at eight locations nationwide. Activities are conducted during three 10-week terms per year: summer, fall, and spring. Applications for the fall 2010 session are due August 9, 2010.
For more information about this unique internship opportunity, please visit the DEVELOP website at http://develop.larc.nasa.gov. Questions about the DEVELOP program should be directed by email to NASA-DL-DEVELOP@mail.nasa.gov or by telephone to 757-864-3761.

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ITEEA/SITE Recognized with
MacArthur 21^st Century Learning Lab Award
RESTON, VA, June 18, 2010 - The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITTEA) and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) have been recognized by the MacArthur Foundation for their joint effort to support children's engineering in the nation's schools. The Fab@School 3D fabricator is at the center of their winning entry in the first MacArthur Foundation Learning Labs competition. The Fab@School submission was selected from more than 800 entries in the competition, cosponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The SITE/ITEEA Fab@School project was designated by the sponsors as the "most novel use of new media in support of learning."
The nation's Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, announced the winners of the 21st Century Learning Lab Designers competition as part of the first-ever National Lab Day. The partnership between science and engineering societies and educators was launched in response to Obama's call to raise American students to the top of science and math achievement. The President concluded that the future of the Nation depends upon our ability to encourage young people to "create and build and invent."
The Fab@School 3D fabricator is being jointly designed by the Cornell College of Engineering and the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. This classroom desktop manufacturing laboratory will allow students to create three-dimensional objects-from model skyscrapers and bridges to plants and animals-using a digital fabricator. FableVision and Software Mackiev are developing digital fabrication software for elementary students as a matching contribution to the MacAthur Learning Labs award. The Fab@School Designer software will allow students to design objects on a computer and then send them to the fabricator to produce the physical object.
Young students typically have not had the opportunity to see their concepts make the trip from an initial conceptual idea to a final physical form. The Fab@School fabricator will allow students this opportunity for the first time, facilitating the incorporation of children's engineering into K-12 education. The goal of the Fab@School initiative is to fundamentally change how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines are approached in the nation's elementary classrooms.
"The success of this idea in such a prestigious competition is evidence of the combination of creativity and rigor behind these plans to develop digital fabrication as a pathway for children's engineering," Robert Pianta, Dean of the Curry School, said. "This project truly represents a collaborative effort that brings math, technology, curriculum development and teacher preparation together to address a critical educational and social problem-the learning of analysis, problem-solving, math and science in the context of engineering. To be doing this work in elementary education is indeed a breakthrough."
A cover story in Wired magazine [www.wired.com/magazine/2010/01/ff_newrevolution/all/1] describes the extent to which digital fabrication will change society in the 21st century. The MacArthur Foundation website features comments about the Fab@School project. The project received 200 comments from around the world [www.dmlcompetition.net/pligg/story.php?title=630] with reactions from Hong Kong, Portugal, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, Austria, Lithuania, Italy and the United States. One commentator wrote "Enabling elementary students to gain early access to the tools and skills that will put them at the forefront of this revolution seems a necessary step in revitalizing American competitiveness within the STEM disciplines."
For further information, please contact ITEEA at iteea@iteea.org or 703-860-2100.
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA): www.iteea.org
Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE): www.site.aace.org
Katie de la Paz
Editor-in-Chief
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA)
www.iteea.org
Get the latest STEM Education news and updates - FREE.
Sign up for "STEM Connections" at  
https://www.iteea.org/Forms/STEMconnectionsform.htm
Follow ITEEA on Twitter and Facebook.
Go to www.iteea.org/Networking/networking.htm

STEM Explorations: Living in Space” McAuliffe Center Offers Robotics Workshop for Teachers!
How do you get your students excited about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics? Two words - ROBOTS and SPACE!
The McAuliffe Center at Framingham State College is offering a week-long professional development workshop to upper elementary and middle school teachers, designed to turn your students into NASA aerospace engineers.
McAuliffe staff will prepare you to engage your class in a space-themed program of iterative design utilizing LEGO’s state-of-the-art Mindstorms NXT robotics building system. By designing, building, and testing robotic solutions to the real problems associated with planetary exploration, your students will gain confidence in STEM subject areas, experience the thrill of the creative process, and discover a range of new potential career paths.
Like all of the McAuliffe Center’s education programs, “STEM Explorations: Living in Space” is standards-based, and presents hand-on science education in a way that is both content rich and thoroughly engaging.
The first session workshop begins on Tuesday July 6, 2010, and concludes on Friday, July 9. A second session (repeat of the first session) will begin on July 12, 2010 and conclude on July 16. A stipend will be awarded to all teachers who complete the program.
“STEM Explorations: Living in Space” is funded in part by a grant from the NASA Summer of Innovation program. Call the McAuliffe Center at 508.626.4050 for more information. More information can also be viewed at http://www.christa.org/home.htm

Dear Educator, The CEEO at Tufts is excited to share new developments around its very own software -  SAM Animation - in the past several months!   We are celebrating the release of: - An updated free demo version, available from www.samanimation.com. - A new full-version, along with 'Getting Started Kits', available for purchase from
www.shop.pitsco.com/samanimation

. - The Klutz Book of Animation, highlighting fun, at-home activities using SAM Animation. And, with the launch of a new company - iCreate to Educate - professional development workshops and additional support will now be available for enhancing STEM education with stop-motion animation!  See below for information on the first workshop this summer!
WHEN:    July 27th, 9am - 12pm
WHERE:  Waltham High School, Waltham MA, US
FEE:         $75 or $125 for your own webcam & stand
Click here to download the Registration Information.

SUMMER TRAINING . . . Summer Training Classes at Nathan Hale Ray HS in East Haddam, CT  (week of July 12th) still has room available in the Mastercam classes and the SolidWorks classes. Both of these 4 day sessions are going to run as planned. HOWEVER . . . . we have been forced to cancel the Chief Architect class scheduled for 7/14 & 7/15, due to very little enrollment.
We have had many requests to offer an additional week of Mastercam Training so we have arranged for just that. We are pleased to offer you a 2 day basic and a 2 day advanced Mastercam X4 set of classes to be held at Worcester Technical High School the week of July 26th. The details of this new addition are now posted on our website. There are registration forms ready for you to fill in and submit.
SolidWorks 2010-2011 Released. We have shipped everyone eligible to receive the 2010-2011 their package. If you think you should have received one and didn't please let us know. SPECIAL NOTE: Please be sure to "Transfer" your license before removing the 2009 SolidWorks. If you are unsure about how to do this please give us a call or check the Knowledge Base on the Customer Portal. It's very important that you transfer the license now that there are no dongles.
Another NOTE: We shipped SolidWorks 2010-2011 SP2.1. If you install this as SP2.1 the installation will automatically install the product known as "DWG Editor" (SoldiWorks Version of 2D CAD). If you elect to install the SP3.1 from the website (an option during installation) you will notice that it does not install the 2D product. The reason for this is that the new SolidWorks 2D Editor is now a download from the Customer Portal. If you have any trouble with this please give us a call.
Chief Architect is about to release Version X3. July 8th is the date that X3 can be downloaded and August 2nd is the date the media kits will be available. Existing customers will be downloading this new version, while new customers (and / or new seats) will receive 1 media kit.
Mastercam Version X5 is schedule for release on or about September 1st.
Techno's NEW Plasma Cutting System is now available in a 6' X 10' configuration with the water table option.
Have a wonderful summer . . . . .
Sincerely,
Frank Gregorio
Diane Walkinshaw
Don Schaer
Mark O'Bryan
This message was sent by: Technical Education Solutions, 64 Benz Street, Ansonia, CT 06401

July 6 - July 9th, and July 12- TWRFM 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
IDIS 0536 TECHNOLOGY FOR MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATORS
Course Description:  Students in this course will explore and investigate topics in mathematics, science and engineering technology through an integrated approach.  Several scientific and engineering topics will be studied with the underlying mathematical principles required for complete understanding.  Students will learn to use tools and technology such as graphing calculator, data collection devices, computer programs, laboratory equipment, etc. that are appropriate for mathematics, science and engineering design. Participants will develop hands-on classroom activities integrating science, mathematics, and engineering technology.  Hands-on classroom activities using low cost readily available materials include constructing parachutes, bridges, building structures, wind powered vehicles, amusement park rides, catapults, and gliders.  These activities will incorporate the standards of the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), ITEA (International Technology Education Association) and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for mathematics, science, and engineering technology. (3 Credits)
July 13 - July 16th, and July 19- TWRFM 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
IDIS 0550 SCIENCE & MATH TECHNOLOGY
Course Description:  A survey of the major innovations in technology during the past twenty years and their effects upon the biological and physical sciences. Topics covered will include, but not be limited to, computer analyses and simulations, electrophoretic analysis of proteins and nucleic acids, DNA amplification procedures, and genetic engineering.  Groups will work on selected topics as projects and subsequently present their work to the entire class.  Students will learn to use tools and technology such as graphing calculator, data collection devices, computer programs, laboratory equipment, etc. that are appropriate for the project and presentations. (3 Credits)
Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, Westfield State College
(413) 572-8020
Instructors
Mary Ann Connors and Thomas Kress
mconnors@wsc.ma.edu
tkress12@hotmail.com

DEPARTMENT BEGINS COMPETITION FOR $437 MILLION IN TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND GRANTS
U.S. Department of Education recently made $437 million in Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant applications available for school districts, non profits, and states. TIF grants support local projects that reward teachers, principals, and other school personnel who improve student achievement. States, districts, and non-profits partnering with states or districts are eligible to apply. Applications are due July 6th and grants will be awarded in September 2010. The Department will be awarding approximately $437 million in new TIF grants this fall. These funds are available through both the ARRA and the FY 2010 appropriations. The TIF program will hold two separate competitions -- the Main TIF competition and a TIF Evaluation competition. The Department is running a separate TIF evaluation competition in order to identify applicants willing to participate in a rigorous evaluation of the impact of performance based compensation on student achievement in high need schools. TIF Evaluation competition applicants will be required to meet additional criteria and will be eligible for at least an additional $1 million over the 5 year grant period. The Department will select winners for the TIF Evaluation competition first and then allow anyone who did not win the TIF Evaluation to compete for the Main TIF competition.
TIF began in 2006 and currently supports 33 grant sites in 18 states and has been implemented in 109 school districts, including charter school districts. The current program impacts approximately 55,000 teachers and 2,500 principals. The estimated range of awards is between $5,000,000- $10,000,000 and the Department expects to award approximately 40-80 grants.
More details are at www.ed.gov/teacher-incentive-fund

The National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston launched the first issue of its new electronic newsletter, the NCTL ENews, on April 2, 2010. The purpose of this quarterly e-newsletter is to provide readers with the latest news from the National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston. Some of the articles in this first issue included: Delaware's Winning Race to the Top Application Features NCTL Curriculum, NCTL Works with Congress on Engineering Education for Innovation Act, and ITEA Adds Engineering to ITEEA. For subscription information, contact nctlinfo@mos.org.

NASA MICI seeks Undergrads and Faculty
The mission of the Minority Innovation Challenges Institute is to create a virtual training ground where minority undergraduate students learn how to compete in NASA technical challenges for both prestige and significant cash prizes. This NASA-funded program is managed by Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. MICI provides a year-round virtual conference platform where students from across the country can participate in free, interactive, educational sessions of their choosing. Many sessions will focus on competitions within NASA’s Centennial Challenges program, which provides cash prizes ranging from $50,000 to $2 million. Students will learn how to compete in other NASA-sponsored competitions created specifically for universities. These competitions include the Fundamental Aeronautics Student Competition for Colleges/Universities, the NASA University Student Launch Initiative, the University Business Plan Contest for Engineering Technology, and the Great Moonbuggy Race. Students and faculty are encouraged to learn more about it by visiting www.NASAMICI.com. Please email questions concerning this program to mary@nasamici.com.

NEA’s Green Across America $50,000—A Lot of Green for Grants!Engage and inspire your K-12 students to increase sustainable, earth-friendly behavior in their neighborhoods and communities. NEA’s Green Across America grants of up to $1,000 are available to help you implement your innovative education program, activity, lesson or event to excite students about going green, caring for the earth and creating a sustainable future. For more information click here http://www.neamb.com/green. All applications must be submitted online by July 30, 2010.

The CEEO was just awarded a grant from NASA that allows us to offer our summer LEGO Engineering Institute for FREE to teachers that work with
students in grades 5-9. There are two workshops being offered. Each workshop will focus on the Living in Space curriculum that is being
developed as part of the NASA grant. The curriculum is a joint partnership between the CEEO and the Christa Macauliffe Challenger Center at Framingham State College. The workshops will also teach
educators how to use the hardware and software. 30 PDPs are available for participation.
Week 1 (August 2-6) will be an introduction to LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT.
Week 2 (August 9-13)will be an introduction to LabVIEW Education Edition.
Additional information can be found at:
http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/Workshops-Current/workshop-summerenginst.html
A stipend is available for teachers work with the CEEO during the school year. Please contact me if you would like to apply for this program or have
questions,
Elissa Milto
Community Relations and WFD Program Manager
Center for Engineering Educational Outreach
Tufts University
www.ceeo.tufts.edu
474 Boston Ave., Curtis Hall
Medford, Ma. 02155
phone: 617.627.3418
fax: 617.627.4760
elissa.milto@tufts.edu

Below is an announcement from Jim Alicata regarding courses begin offered at FSC.
The course is ITEC 8900 Curriculum development in Technology Education. It is a required course for the Master of Science degree in Technology Education.  This course will be offered as a hybrid where students will come to campus for the first class to learn and familiarize themselves with the Elluminate technology that will be used throughout the course.  The following classes will be held on line.  This is the first master degree class we are offering in this format. We are planning to offer all of the required course in this format in the future. It truly makes these courses more accessible to every student regardless of where they live in Massachusetts. The course currently has 6 students enrolled but I am optimistic that we will reach the 10 student number required to offer the course as a full class.  All interested  students can register for the course online at www.fsc.edu or by telephone at (978) -665-4196.
If anyone has further questions, they can contact me at (978)-665-3047.

Massachusetts Launches Recruitment Campaign to Aid in School Turnaround Efforts
A statewide recruitment campaign aimed at encouraging outstanding educators to apply for vacancies in the Commonwealth's lowest performing schools kicked off today with the launch of a new website, www.amazingteachers.org. The goal is to support superintendents and principals as they make decisions about staffing needs to support school turnaround plans, to support teachers who are returning to these schools and to attract new teachers as positions become available.The new website is designed to inform teachers about career opportunities in the state's Turnaround Schools, located in 9 districts across the state: Boston, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester. The site provides information about the first group of 35 "Level 4" schools and the nine urban public school districts in which they are located, with a focus on supports and incentives for teachers who work in those systems.

2010 Summer Professional Development Institutes
This summer more than 30 graduate-level professional development institutes are being offered in a variety of areas including: the Arts, Health, Literacy, Special Education, Mathematics, and Science and Technology/Engineering.  There are over 15 PD institutes being offered in STEM alone!
The institutes, sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will be offered throughout the summer with follow-up sessions in the fall and winter to support implementation of the content and pedagogical skills into classroom teaching and learning. All educators are eligible to participate.  Professional development points (PDPs) toward re licensure will be awarded, and graduate credits are also available. 
For a listing of all the 2010 Professional Development Institutes, descriptions of each institute, and registration information, please see:  http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/institutes/10/. 

NSTAR and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project have partnered to provide teachers in the NSTAR service area with a series of energy workshops focusing on general energy and electricity, solar energy, wind energy, and energy efficiency.  The program provides educators with energy curriculum, hands-on classroom materials and teacher training.
September 30, 2010 - Plymouth
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
https://www.regonline.com/neednstarSeptember30
 Workshop participants receive: Hands-on kits and classroom materials; NEED curriculum materials; breakfast and lunch during the workshop, and substitute reimbursement.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's New RFP for the Title II-B Competitive Grant
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) is announcing a new Massachusetts Mathematics and Science Partnership (MMSP) Request for Proposals (RFP). This grant program is funded by Title II-B.  The purpose of the MMSP program is to improve student achievement in science, technology/engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through intensive, high-quality professional development activities that focus on deepening teachers' content knowledge and improving standards-based practices.  MMSP partnerships must include a high-need school district, a mathematics, science, and/or engineering department from an institution of higher education, and a local evaluator.  The RFP is posted on the ESE's website at http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants/grants11/rfp/150B.html .  For additional information, please contact Carol Lach at clach@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3532. Application due Monday, June 14, 2010

Boston University CityLab's SummerLab Biotechnology Program
What is SummerLab? Created in 1995, this summer program at Boston University School of Medicine provides an opportunity for students to learn and apply basic techniques and concepts related to biotechnology. Working in teams, the participants assume the role of researchers in a biotechnology company and work cooperatively to choose and perform appropriate laboratory-based investigations to solve problems in biotechnology.
This summer students may choose from three one-week sessions.
Session I:    July 19-23, 2010
Session II:   July 26-30, 2010
Session III:   August 2-6, 2010
Each session meets Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The CityLab SummerLab program provides:
· an authentic hands-on laboratory experience in biotechnology
· freedom to design and plan experiments
· support to learn from mistakes
· pertinent readings to prepare for the investigations
· laboratory time to apply the techniques and concepts of biotechnology in a problem-based authentic setting
· an opportunity for students to communicate their findings during a poster session
This is a day program. However housing is available for participants on the Charles River campus.  Boston and Cambridge residents may attend free of charge thanks to the generous support of the BioGen Idec Foundation. There is limited financial assistance available to those outside of Boston and Cambridge.
Additional information and the SummerLab application are available on our website:  www.bumc.bu.edu/citylab.  Look for the SummerLab link.

STREAM 2010: Using Robots to teach STEM - June 24-25, iRobot, Bedford, MA The University of Massachusetts Lowell and iRobot invite you to participate in the STREAM interactive workshop for k-12 educators. This two day workshop will focus on integrating robotics into STEM education. Please note: for those that attended the 2009 workshop, the 2010 workshop sessions are completely new! For additional information, including flyer and registration form, visit our website at: http://stream.cs.uml.edu. Registration is due May 27; $50 fee must be mailed with registration form. All classroom teachers interested in integrating robotics with STEM education are encouraged to attend! Please feel free to forward this invitation to area educators that might be interested. If you have any questions on this workshop, please direct them to: robots@cs.uml.edu Organizing Committee: Holly Yanco, University of Massachusetts, Lowell Kristen Stubbs, iRobot Dave Matheson, Split Rock Partners, Inc. This event is co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Alliance for Information Technology Education (CAITE, www.caite.info), an NSF-sponsored project.

The CEEO is happy to announce a new workshop for elementary school educators in July 2010. Based on the results of 3 years of classroom testing, the Science
Through Engineering Workshops offer teachers the chance to explore units that teach science concepts through engineering design challenges.
Science Through Engineering Workshops: July 12-16, 2010
At the Tufts University CEEO Science through Engineering workshops, educators explore how engineering design challenges can help their students learn science
content and skills. These workshops specifically prepare educators to teach science curriculum units on simple machines and sound. Educators are welcome to
attend the full workshop or the sessions related to a single unit.
For more information, visit:
http://ceeo.tufts.edu/Workshops-Educators/simple-machines-training.html
Contact Erin Riecker (Erin.Cejka@tufts.edu) with questions.
Also, check out our annual NXT Teacher Workshop, now with two sessions:
Summer LEGO Engineering Institute for Educators 2010
Tufts University's CEEO Summer LEGO Engineering Institute is a way for educators to gain knowledge of engineering concepts, LEGO hardware & software
(NXT brick and NXT-G/LVEE), and associated pedagogy/educational theory. Exploration of the LEGO bricks and related theory will primarily be done
through participation in hands-on, open-ended design projects.
August 2-6: LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT Software   (NXT-G)
August 9-13: LabVIEW Education Edition
For more information, visit:
http://ceeo.tufts.edu/Workshops-Current/workshop-summerenginst.html
Contact Erin.Cejka@tufts.edu with questions.
Please visit our website for more professional development opportunities:
www.ceeo.tufts.edu/ceeoworkshops

Technology Education Concepts, Inc. 16th Annual TEC Summer Institute, will be held on July 7-9, at Concord, NH’s Courtyard by Marriott. 
Graduate Credits are available through Keene State, and hands-on courses available include (1) “Engineering by Design” classes, as well as tiered courses concerning (2) Laser Technologies, (3) Key Creator (Mechanical CAD), (4) Envisioneer (Mechanical CAD), and (5) 3D Rapid Prototyping.
For additional information please contact Gary at the number listed below.
Thanks,
Gary Lacey
Marketing Director
800-338-2238 | Ext. 308
What is the RapManUSA machine?
Click here http://www.RapManUSA.com to find out!
Technology Education Concepts, Inc.
32 Commercial St. | Concord, NH 03301
Fax (603) 225-7766
www.TECedu.com | gary.lacey@tecedu.com
http://www.RapManUSA.com

ASM Materials Education Foundation Teacher Grants
To help teachers bring the "real world" of materials science into the classroom, the American Society for Metals (ASM) Materials Education Foundation is awarding ten $500 grants to K-12 teachers. The purpose of these grants is to enhance awareness of materials science and the role of materials scientists in society. The deadline for submissions is May
25, 2010. For more information, visit
http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/Foundation/Educ
ators/TeacherGrants/.

Registration is open for the June 8th-10th, 2010 LEGO Engineering Symposium!

• The LEGO Engineering Symposium, hosted by Tufts CEEO, aims to bring together educators that want to explore using LEGO MINDSTORMS to teach STEM concepts. This year the LEGO Engineering Symposium has two themes: Climate Change and Tipping Points.
  View the schedule
  View the development lab themes
  As we attempt to do each year, we have presenters who practice in the classroom, conduct research on teaching and learning, and develop the latest and greatest educational technologies. We are excited to announce a number of presenters that will speak on these themes planned for the 2010 LEGO Engineering Symposium.

  2010 Symposium Presenter confirmed at this point
  Chris Rogers, Tufts University
  David Hammer, University of Maryland
  Magnus Wallenborg, Upsala Sweden
  Birger Brevik, Akershus Norway
  Tina Grotzer, Harvard School of Education
  

  Brian Gravel, Tufts University
  Merredith Portsmore, Tufts University
  Barbara Bratzel, Shady Hill Elementary
  Representatives from LEGO Company
  Teachers Award Recipients from Asia

  If you are interested in presenting, please email Robert Rasmussen for more details (robert.rasmussen@tufts.edu).
  Click here if you would like more information about accommodations, transportation and directions.
  

  We hope you can join us on June 8th!
  Sincerely, 
  CEEO Staff & Students

• Inquiry-based, science and engineering education provides students with the tools necessary to assess and make healthy choices for themselves, their families, and their communities.  The work of the K-12 Education Department is to provide opportunities that nurture the development of informed and pro-active citizens, infused with a team-spirit approach to face the challenges that lie ahead with dignity and resourcefulness.
  <https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/144981/9c5a43ad62a6c9f3795fd79b9914882e/image/jpeg> 
  NESEA K-12 SPRING 2010 E-NEWS
  Spring has marched into our lives and is showering its warming rays upon us.  Time to get out those model solar panels and get your students outside exploring the science and applications of solar energy! 
  Sample Experiment:
  PARTS OF A SOLAR PANEL
  Relates to School Power.NaturallySM <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powernaturally.org%2FPrograms%2FSchoolPowerNaturally%2FInTheClassroom%2Fkitlessons.asp%3Fi%3D9%23Lesson4> Solar Kit Lesson #4
  Materials: multi-testers (multi-meters); magnifying lens; a 3 V, 1.2A Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) solar panel from Pitsco or Solar World; 1 V 400mA mini-panels; small solar cells (request pieces from a solar installer - visit NESEA.org Sustainable Green Pages for a listing of PV installers near you).
  Basic Explanation:
  A solar panel and solar cells are examined and the solar panel is mentally "reverse engineered" to gain a deeper understanding of the way it works.
  SOLAR PANEL SAFETY: Don't bend solar panels, and don't drop them. The cells are like thin pieces of glass. Be careful not to cut yourself on them. If doing experiment indoors with a lamp, keep solar panels at least 10 cm from lamp & don't leave them unattended or sitting there. Remove them before they feel too hot to the touch. The plastic covering can easily warp, shrink, or melt.
  
  Tasks for students:
  ___ Using a magnifying lens, carefully examine the cells on both sides and make note of observations.
  One side of cell:
  Other side of cell:
  Which side do you think should face the light?  If you didn't already know the answer, what led you to choose a particular side?
  ___Set up your multi-tester. Set the dial on 20V DC. Lay the red lead flat against the most solid area of the white grid of one of the small cells & touch one of the center strips on the top of the blue-black side. Measure other cells if time permits.
  Cell #1 ______V      Cell #2 _______V           Cell #3________V
  ___Compare the results for the different cells. What did you notice?
  ____Move the red banana plug to the top of the three holes on the multi-tester and measure the current: _______Amps
  ___Examine a solar panel under a magnifier. Imagine you are deconstructing the panel. Describe all the parts and details you can, and try to figure out a function and/or explanation for the observed detail.
  ___Diagram the inside and outside wiring of the solar cells in a mini panel.
  Note where each connection is coming from and where it is going to. Note which lead is + and which is - and how it is attached to the panel.
  __Diagram the cell-to-cell and lead wiring of solar cells in a JSS panel:
  Note which lead is + and which is - and how it is attached to the panel
  ___What do you think accounts for the difference in voltage & current between the JSS & mini panels?     Hint: Each cell is 0.5V regardless of size, which you might have discovered in the cell exploration.
  # cells in each:
  JSS-                    Mini-
  Note series connections - bottom of one to top of another:
  JSS-                    Mini-
  Note parallel connections
  JSS-                    Mini-
  ___What is the difference between a solar cell, a solar panel and a solar array?
  Have students complete activity in pairs or small groups and regroup to discuss findings.
  A special notice to New York educators:
  Solar Sails New York Program
  Through a service contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NESEA is offering free workshops:
  a free energy education kit and support materials for your classroom, center, or institution.
  For more information on the Solar Sails New York program and a workshop schedule visit http://www.nesea.org/k-12/solarsailsnewyork/ <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fsolarsailsnewyork%2F> 
  JSS Rules and Regulations Updates
  Junior Solar Sprint Rules and Regulations Northeast Championship rules have been updated for 2010, mostly for clarification. Updates arose from feedback of teachers and participants and were discussed among area coordinators at the coordinator conference last November and were carefully considered. Particular attention was given to the compartment and payload rules, which are now addressed separately. A simple way for kids to think about the payload is that it can represent either a person or cargo. As such, the can should not be required to hold up or hold together any part of the car including the solar panel. The payload (person or cargo) shouldn't be altered in any way (eg crushed or cut up), shouldn't be held in place with a stick (skewered) and should be removable and re-insertable in the same condition at any time. As for the compartment, it is intended to be a 3D structure of the vehicle, remaining the same shape with or without the payload. Get the specific language in the JSS Rules and Regulations document found on our web site.
  It is important to note that the rules for the Northeast Championship may be varied at area events, allowing for experimentation and a dynamic program. Please be sure to check with your area coordinator about specifics for each area event. Download your Junior Solar Sprint Rules and Regulations at our web site at www.nesea.org/k-12/juniorsolarsprint <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fjuniorsolarsprint%2F>
  Check out a winning model solar car: This team won First Place in Technical Merit at the 2008 Northeast Championship.
   <https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/144981/d611c68f2030a2c26f983692f214a2c9/image/jpeg>
  The CECE Experience: "Outside the Box" Exhibits
  Have you, your students or someone you know created a renewable energy project that is "outside the box," meaning that it doesn't fit the criteria for a Junior Solar Sprint model solar electric car, and maybe it isn't even a car at all, but would be great to showcase at the Championship? If it is a light, small model vehicle similar to JSS cars, we may be able to offer an exhibition run on the track at lunchtime. Here is a starter list for potential exhibit items:
  -Did you make a model solar car where you used a different panel arrangement or soldered your own solar cells to make a panel?
  -Do you have an alternative fuel or electric powered model, ride-in or real car, cart or bike or other machinery?
  -Did you have a human powered device?
  -Have you crafted a wind powered kinetic sculpture or vehicle?
  -Have you tinkered around with solar ovens or solar concentrators?
  Send a description, a photo and your contact information by May 20, 2010 to sreyes@nesea.org <mailto:sreyes@nesea.org?subject=JSS%20Northeast%20Championship>  and we will consider including it at the Northeast Championship on June 13.
  The Clean Energy for a Clean Environment (CECE) Program empowers youth and educators to explore topics in energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. Students explore the science and applications of renewable energy and can earn a Clean Green Power Champion Patch by completing hands-on projects that they then share with their school and/or community. Consider the JSS Northeast Championship as your place to showcase! <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fcleanenergyforacleanenvironment%2F>
   <https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/144981/93317fc985835566c2269999e26733c2/image/jpeg>
  What age can participate in area events and the Northeast Championship?
  The official Northeast Junior Solar Sprint competition network is for middle school students up to 8th grade or equivalent ages of middle schoolers. There has been some flexibility at different area events for younger students. A guiding rule should be that parents and adults, while they may teach about engineering process; applicable principles of physical science; solar photovoltaics and other components, as well as various crafting techniques and successful features of a well designed car, should not have built any part of the car or told the child how to design their vehicle. At the Championship, teams are expected to handle all aspects of managing their vehicles from problem solving to soldering repairs, without adult hands involved. Within limits of safety, youth should be allowed to experience their own successes and failures with good sportsmanship. That said, kids of all ages benefit from making model solar cars, so teachers are encouraged to build their own programs and classroom and school competitions. We love to hear how your unique events are going and encourage creativity.
   <https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/144981/34561b0daacec8a4f2b2417610ae752c/image/jpeg>
  Visit http://www.nesea.org/k-12/events/ <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fevents%2F>  for a full description and to register.
  4/15 Wind Wisdom for School Power Naturally, Manhattan, NY, 4:00 - 6:30 pm
  4/17 Wind Wisdom for School Power Naturally, Staten Island, NY 1:00 - 4:00 pm
  Junior Solar Sprint!
  SAVE THE DATE:
  Northeast JSS Championship, Sunday, June 13
  To qualify for participation in the Championship, student teams must be invited by winning at their area or state race.
   <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fjuniorsolarsprint%2F>
  Contact NESEA if you are interested in volunteering or exhibiting a renewable energy project at the Northeast Championship.
  The JSS Process:
  Through hands-on experimentation, students learn how to design, build,and race model solar cars and tackle issues in the engineering process, properties of materials, forces and motion, electricity and magnetism, ratios and geometry.These young engineers deepen their understanding about solar energy, math, physical science and craftsmanship.
  Meet your JSS Area & State Event Coordinators <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fjuniorsolarsprint%2Fareacoordinatorsandjssareaevents%2F> 
  Area Events:
  Connecticut
  Connecticut State Race
  Date: Saturday, June 5
  Contact: Jeff Bechard, Slade Middle School
  jkbechard@aol.com
  Maine
  Maine State Race
  Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
  Site: Owls Head Transportation Museum, Rockland, ME
  Contact: Peter Zack, Maine Energy Education Program  meep@psouth.net
  Massachusetts
  Berkshire-Hudson Area
  Date: Saturday, June 5
  Contact: Cynthia Grippaldi, Center for Ecological Technology
  cynthiag@cetonline.org
  Cape and Islands
  Date: Saturday, June 5
  Contact: Megan Amsler
  Cape and Islands Self-Reliance
  megan@reliance.org
  Eastern Massachusetts
  Date: TBA
  Contact: Henry Vandermark, Boston Area Solar Energy Association,
  hkv@solarwave.com
  West Central Massachusetts
  Date: Saturday, March 5
  Contact: MaryAnn Berselli,  Western New England College
  mberselli@wnec.edu
  New Hampshire
  Upper Connecticut River Valley
  Date: TBA
  Contact: Jen Tate, Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College
  Jennifer.A.Tate@dartmouth.edu
  Keene - Monadnock Area
  Date: Wednesday, June 2
  Contact: Susie Spikol,
  Harris Center for Conservation
  spikol@harriscenter.org
  Rhode Island
  Rhode Island State Race
  Date: Saturday, June 5
  Contact: Elisabeth Bux, Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living,
  401-397-3430 or elisabeth@apeiron.org
  Vermont
  Northern Vermont
  Date: TBA
  Contact: Mike Thomas, Williston Central School, Williston, VT
  THOMASM@wsdvt.org
  Washington D.C. & Maryland
  Date: Friday, May 21
  Contact: Charlie Garlow, Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, D.C.
  Garlow.Charlie@epamail.epa.gov
   <https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/144981/601ee9adedf29b21bb0d3c00ff7a9691/image/jpeg>  
  JSS in the northeast is coordinated by NESEA and sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usaeop.com%2F> .
   <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usaeop.com%2F> 
  Energy Thinking
  Energy-where we get it and how we use it-can be expected to change radically during the lifetimes of our children. Through activities in this unit <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fcurricularunits%2F> , students will implement an easy-to-use structure-the Energy
  Thinker's Diagram-to analyze and evaluate energy use in their lives and propose changes that could reduce unwanted consequences of energy use that students consider important. Students examine the scientific concepts of energy sources, forms, transformations, efficiency, and heat transfer. (Curricular units currently available in MA & PA)
  Become a fan! Let's start some discussions. What are your interests in renewable energy education? What are your needs? Let's help one another. Share lessons that really work. Post your challenges and accomplishments.
          NESEA videos on YouTube
  Watch the JSS promos from footage of the 2009 Northeast Championship. 10 min. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DegWYCtUZhTA> & 4min <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZhnRtfpqvBE%26feature%3Drelated>
  The original video is also available on YouTube <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D12mAEyebxnQ>  or you can purchase a DVD through NESEA <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=13588894&msgid=257058&act=D9DU&c=144981&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nesea.org%2Fk-12%2Fjuniorsolarsprint%2Fmodelsolarracecarteacherresources%2F> .
  Contact the K-12 Education Department!
  413-774-6051 x 21 or x 27
  agrindrod@nesea.org <mailto:agrindrod@nesea.org%20>
  sreyes@nesea.org <mailto:sreyes@nesea.org%20>
  This message was sent from NESEA K-12 Education Department. It was sent from: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, NESEA, 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.      Email Marketing by <http://www.icontact.com/a.pl/144186>
  iContact - Try It Free! <http://www.icontact.com/a.pl/144186>
  
  
• Click here E 2 for Innovation Act (House posting) (Senate Posting) to view three documents that are important to you and your professional future. Please take the time to read them and then make the time to write a letter or send an email to your US Senator and Congressman in support of this legislation. If you can't find the time to write, then call their Washington office or district office.  Below is a copy of a script you can use when you call. 
  There is also a sample letter you can use if you decide to email or write your senator or congressman.
  This piece of legislation is important to you and your profession, so please give some thought to contacting your representatives.  On a personal note I've heard state representatives and senators say more than once that having people in their district contact them about a piece of legislation does has a great impact on how they vote.
  Also, below is some additional information about the bill.
   
  Below are the addresses of Senator Kerry and Senator Brown. You can go to the following web site to find the contact information for your US Representative. http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#ma
  
  Senator John Kerry
  218 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
  (202) 224-2742
  Web Form: kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
  
  Senator Scott Brown
  SENATE RUSSELL COURTYARD 1 WASHINGTON DC 20510
  (202) 224-4543
  
  The following was posted on the ITEEA ideagarden web site.
  The Senate bill number is S.3043 and the House bill number is H.R.4709.  The latest bill information and current list of sponsors can be found by searching the bill numbers here:
  http://thomas.loc.gov/
  http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#ma
  At this point, the goal is to bring this legislation to their attention and ask them to cosponsor the bill.  FIRST, call their DC office and ask for the name and email address of the staff person that handles education issues for the member of Congress (a.k.a. Education LA or Legislative Assistant).  If they are unavailable to take your call immediately, leave a succinct message in their voice mailbox such as:
   
  Hi, my name is ____.  I am a Technology/Engineering instructor at ____ school in CITY, STATE and I live in CITY, STATE (if you happen to live in another congressional district from your school).
  I am calling to draw your attention to S.3043 (for Senate offices) OR H.R.4709 (for House offices) – the Engineering Education for Innovation Act introduced by Senators Gillibrand (hard G), Kaufman & Snowe (in the Senate) OR Representative Tonko (in the House) and to encourage Sen. LAST NAME OR Representative LAST NAME to cosponsor this legislation.
  This bill will provide resources to states to advance K-12 engineering education.  It will help improve K-12 student achievement in the STEM fields and will enhance our economic competitiveness.  I will email you a copy of the Dear Colleague being circulated by the sponsors and I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you at your earliest convenience.  My number is _____.  Thank you. I look forward to your return call.
  Remember, you are an expert on this issue and staffers may not be aware of the advances in Technology & Engineering education in their district or state.  Most will be grateful for your input on such a positive measure.  If you sense more contacts are needed for a particular office, please encourage your colleagues to follow suit.  Encourage others in neighboring congressional districts to do the same.
  Please see below for a sample written communication.  Cut and paste the entire message if that’s what you have time to do, realizing that your own genuine message is perhaps more effective.  In either case, it’s important to at least hit all of the main points. 
  Dear [Senator/Representative] _____:
  I am writing to you today with regard to the Engineering Education (E2) for Innovation Act, bill number [S.3043/H.R.4709].
  I am one of your constituents and I currently teach/supervise/etc. at ______ school.  I am a member of the recently renamed International Technology & Engineering Educators Association.
  I encourage you to support this measure by signing on as a cosponsor of the bill.  Please consider the following anticipated outcomes as the concept of technology/engineering education takes hold in schools:
  •         Superior innovation capacity for our nation;
  •         A technologically literate citizenry;
  •         Workforce skills for the 21st century;
  •         Higher achievement in mathematics, science, and language arts;
  •         An enhanced STEM experience; and
  •         Support for the professional fields of technology, engineering, and other design professions. 
  [Consider adding a brief description about how an activity in your classroom or department helps to achieve the above outcomes.]
  [If available, the appropriate Dear Colleague letter from the sponsors could be attached to your email. Make mention of this if you do include it.]
  It is crucial for our nation to pay more attention to these imperative school subjects.
  Thank you for your consideration.
  Sincerely,
  [ Your Name]
  [Your Home Address]
  [Your Phone Number]

• Teachers' Domain to Offer Biotechnology Professional Development Are you looking for hands-on opportunities to engage in biotechnology? Do you want to learn how to integrate biotechnology into your existing curriculum?

  Teachers' Domain is offering several one-day workshops, funded by the Amgen Foundation, for teachers interested in developing a new unit/elective about the subject.  Teachers will learn about best practices in teaching about biotechnology and develop new lessons to integrate the biotechnology digital media resources in WGBH Teachers' Domain. 

  Teaching Biotechnology Workshops scheduled for:

  Saturday, March 27th - Watertown, MA

  Saturday, May 1st - Los Angeles, CA

  Sunday, June 27th - Denver, CO

  Workshops in Rhode Island, Seattle, San Francisco, and Puerto Rico will follow later this Spring.

  Interested in participating? Send a e-mail to daniella_quinones@wgbh.org 
  Check out the new Biotechnology collection on Teachers' Domain. These unique video and interactive resources bring to life the emerging field of biotechnology for middle and high students. Review the biotechnology lesson plan for ideas on integrating the digital media into your classroom.

  There will be a permanent link to this lesson plan on the classroom resources page, click here for the link.

• Summer LEGO Engineering Institute for Educators 2010 Tufts University's CEEO Summer LEGO Engineering Institute is a way for educators to gain knowledge of engineering concepts, LEGO hardware & software (NXT brick and NXT-G/LVEE), and associated pedagogy/educational theory. Exploration of the LEGO bricks and related theory will primarily be done through participation in hands-on, open-ended design projects.
  August 2-6: LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT Software   (NXT-G)
  August 9-13: LabVIEW Education Edition
  Cost: $600
  For more information, click here
  Contact Erin.Cejka@tufts.edu with questions.
  Please visit our website for more professional development opportunities:
  www.ceeo.tufts.edu/ceeoworkshops

• Applications Available for 2010 NSTI Faculty Fellowship Program
  The NASA Science and Technology Institute announces a new summer faculty fellowship program. This fellowship program targets full-time, early career, STEM faculty from minority institutions in the United States. Faculty Fellows will engage in a ten-week research experience with scientists and engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Additionally, the fellowship recipients will receive professional development training and a stipend to cover housing, travel, and living expenses. A primary goal of the fellowship program is to strengthen the relationship between NASA and the minority higher education community. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must return to their home institutions in a teaching/research capacity for at least one year after the fellowship. Applications are due April 1, 2010.
  For more information, visit www.uncfsp.org/NSTI-FFP. Please direct any questions about this opportunity to program manager Natalie Gore at natalie.gore@uncfsp.org.
  Become a MESSENGER Educator Fellow
  The MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program seeks 30 educators to become the next MESSENGER Educator Fellows. The Fellows are volunteers who bring the excitement of the MESSENGER mission to classrooms nationwide by conducting teacher training workshops. These workshops introduce educators to materials related to the MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Fellows will attend an all-expense-paid, five-day workshop in Washington, D.C., in July 2010. Fellows will also receive materials needed to conduct workshops and an annual allowance to cover workshop expenses. Applications are due April 10, 2010. For more information about the MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program and how to apply, visit http://messenger-education.org/teachers/ao.php. Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Harri Vanhala at HarriVanhala@ncesse.org.

• Dear ASEE K-12 Colleagues,We are currently developing a research and evaluation survey instrument that could be used to measure changes in adults’ (educators’) thinking about engineering concepts and processes. Having done a few rounds of pilot testing, we are now seeking a larger pool of respondents so we can validate the instrument. We would love your help! Our survey needs respondents who are knowledgeable and who are not-so-knowledge about engineering. The survey, which takes 5-10 minutes to complete, can be accessed at: http://www.formspring.com/forms/eie-atlas_round_2_engineering_statements1 Feel free to share this email or link with others that might be willing to help us! If you have any questions about the survey, the ATLAS project that is supporting it, or would like a copy of the final survey, please contact Melissa Higgins (mhiggins@mos.org). The survey will also eventually be available online at http://www.mos.org/eie/atlas/. This is an experiment ; we really welcome your data as we strive to develop new measurement instruments .Thanks, Christine Cunningham

• NASA has launched an initiative to use its out-of-this-world missions and technology programs to boost summer learning programs. NASA's Summer of Innovation supports President Obama's Educate to Innovate campaign for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education.
  The Summer of Innovation program will work with thousands of middle school teachers and students during multi-week programs in the summer of 2010 to engage students in stimulating math and science-based education programs. NASA's goal is to increase the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, with an emphasis on broadening participation of underrepresented groups.
  Representatives of interested public/private entities including other federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit entities, and organizations/associations with relevant experience, are encouraged to contact the state Space Grant Director in the state(s) of particular interest. www.nasa.gov/spacegrant
  Contingent upon the availability of funding, NASA intends to competitively select up to seven states to pilot the Summer of Innovation during 2010. Awards may range from $1 million–$5 million dollars. Each will have a period of performance of 36 months. Local programs will be required to develop ways to keep students and teachers engaged during the school year and to track student participants' performance through 2012. Awardees will be expected to leverage the unique capabilities and resources of program partners to ensure a sustainable effort following the period of performance.
  The Summer of Innovation Notice of Intent is available online:
  http://nspires.nasaprs.com and http://www.grants.gov

• ... to Help Fill Budget Gaps
  Classroom, school, and district standards are putting an increasing pressure on budget dollars, many times diverting them from other important educational activities. With no guarantee on when the economy may turn around, teachers and administrators are scrambling to find ways to cut costs yet implement valid educational activities. Apperson Education Products, a leading test scoring solutions provider, wants to help schools have the tools they need to achieve the highest learning potential and has put together a program that is fun and will involve the entire school or district community .Teachers or faculty members can nominate their school or classroom to participate in the monthly “Gives Back” contest. If their school or classroom is chosen, they will be notified, and it will be up to them to encourage as many people as possible to go to the voting page on the website to vote for their school. The school with the most votes wins $1500, second-most $750, and third-most $500. The only requirement to entering the contest is that the nominee must be a teacher or faculty member of the nominated school and the funds must be used for educational purposes such as: a new computer, software, an educational field trip, etc.
  The nomination period for the first contest, which will take place in March, is now open. Nomination and contest periods will coincide with the traditional school in-session months. For more information about this program, or to nominate a school, please visit www.appersonedu.com/schools.
  Voting cycles through 11-2010

• For the past several years the CTTE Leadership Development Committee has been administering the Twenty-First Century Leader Associates (TCLA) program. This initiative was developed to facilitate a sense of community and provide activities and resources to provide scholarly and professional development opportunities for groups of early career technology education faculty. The success of the TCLA program was recognized by the ITEA Board as they determined the course of action needed to implement a leadership development component of the strategic plan for ITEA. A decision was made to join efforts and develop a 21st Century Leadership Academy (21CLA).
  This is a program designed to create tomorrow's most successful and respected technology and engineering leaders, consultants, and strategic thinkers. As leaders, we need to create the future. This program incorporates knowledge and experiences from education leaders and other experts using practical and innovative advice on how leaders make a difference. Participants will be involved in important dialogue using the best wisdom from experts and practitioners across sectors.
  The aim of this program is to help technology and engineering educators gain additional skills to better deal with issues of performance, how systems and associations work, the role of finance in decision-making, and how to merge ideas and ambitions in a positive manner. The 21CLA program will provide a balance of practical and inspirational ideas to individuals who want to be leaders in the association and profession.
  This year's class of 21st Century Leaders will be presented at the Foundation for Technology Education Spirit of Excellence Breakfast at the ITEA Conference in Charlotte on Friday morning, March 19. If you would like to apply for this program, contact William Havice, DTE at whavice@clemson.edu or Roger Hill at rbhill@uga.edu as soon as possible.

• Looking for Survey Participants
  I am looking for science leaders at the K12 district or school level to participate in this study. If you know STEM leaders who would be willing to participate, please pass this email along to them.
  This survey is designed to help STEM education publishers, science technology companies, and professional development service providers develop a better understanding of the challenges and needs of STEM educators and educational leaders. You are invited to participate in this survey because you are a leader in STEM education in your district or school. The survey should take you approximately ten minutes to complete.
  You'll be asked questions about:
  - Challenges facing STEM education in the U.S.
  - Funding for STEM education and your funding priorities
  - Technology for STEM education
  - Professional development for STEM education
  You may reach the survey by clicking on the link below.
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/STEM_Research
  To thank you for answering this survey, we would like to enter you into a drawing for a $200 Amazon gift certificate. One winner will be selected. If you would like to be included in the drawing, please enter your contact information at the end of the survey. Your contact information will be used for the purpose of sending the prize to the winner, and will not be used for advertising or marketing purposes.
  Thank you for taking the time to help with this important research.
  Best Regards,
  Daylene Long

• GIS Workshop powered by CITY green for Massachusetts Schools
  American Forests' in collaboration with the Urban Ecology Institute and the Lynch School of Education is offering a fall workshop for Massachusetts Schools on environmental education that provides an innovative program for teaching science, math and Geographic Information Systems to help your students learn how to determine the ecological services provided by green space in their city.
  DATE:   April 10th, 2010
  Time:  9:00 - 3:00 (breakfast and lunch included)
  Location:  Boston College, Higgins Hall Room 270
  For participation in the workshop as a teacher you will have access to:
  ArcGIS Software (school license)
  The NEW and Improved 2009 Edition of CITY green Software
  Lesson Plans and Tutorials and Learn Basic ArcView 9.3 (GIS) concepts
  Tree ID guides
  Tape measures
  Tangent Height Gauge
  Tree inventory and health evaluation worksheets
  Data CD of their school and surrounding neighborhoods
  $50 Stipend
  See the tree program in action at: http://itestlrc.edc.org/inside_itest/maprofile.html
  The lesson plans have detailed step-by-step instructions for the student; well-placed screen shots; and questions at the end of each lesson that guide the students through the process of mapping the trees on their school campus or local neighborhood. The students are able to conduct an environmental analysis of their trees and determine the benefits that the trees provide for cleaning the air and water using American Forests' CITY green software and learn to use GIS in the process. With advanced investigation lessons, the students are able to create and analyze alternate scenarios that build broad-based problem-solving skills. Through this program, students and their teachers will become stronger advocates for investment in maintenance of local tree canopy and the region's green infrastructure. This program also includes a spring-time planting event where the students and teachers will be invited to participate in a local tree planting event with one of our tree planting partners. Contact: Kim Kilcourse kkilcourse@urbaneco.org or (617)-552-0938 Or Mike Barnett at barnetge@bc.edu or (781)-367-2337 to express your interest in attending.

• National Center for Technological Literacy Professional Development
  In the coming year, the National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston, is pleased to offer a number of professional development opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) educators. These sessions will review both the content and pedagogical skills necessary to successfully engage students in learning the mathematics, science and technology/engineering standards found in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Space is limited, so register early.
  Spring Professional Development Workshops
  The National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston, is holding two free, distinct, STEM professional development opportunities this spring. These professional development opportunities include an informational session based on the high school Engineering the Future program and a mathematics session focused on investigating proportional reasoning. These sessions are free, interactive opportunities to learn about STEM at the middle school and secondary school level.
  Engineering/Technology Informational Session
  To register, for the FREE engineering/technology informational session on Sunday, April 11, 2010, please use:
  http://survey.mos.org/public_survey/Checkbox/Survey.aspx?s=99e1f347973d4a62bb2eb96d13f024d5
  The workshop will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2009 from 9am-12:30pm.
  Parking is free, and attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.
  This program is designed for high school educators, although educators at all levels are welcome to attend.
  A general overview of the Engineering the Future can be found at:  http://www.mos.org/etf/
  Videos about each project and what teachers think can be found at: http://www.mos.org/nctl/etf_video
  Mathematics Professional Development Session
  To register, for the FREE mathematics professional development session on Thursday, April 1, 2010, please use: http://survey.mos.org/public_survey/Checkbox/Survey.aspx?s=e2d2c816b0ad402aac3f3d161077ed93
  The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2009 from 4pm-7pm.
  Parking is free, and attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.
  This is session will investigate teacher and student understanding of proportional reason in grades 6 through 8.
  Summer Professional Development Opportunities
  The National Center for Technological Literacy is also hosting a summer institute. This institute will provide teachers with the content knowledge and pedagogical skills necessary to successfully engage students in learning the content of the seven topic areas of the Massachusetts Technology/Engineering strand for grades 9-10. Teachers will learn methods to support specific standards-based classroom projects, using examples from Engineering the Future (ETF), a full-year high school course for all students. Please note that college credit is available as an additional low-cost option.
  Engineering the Future - Summer Institute
  Tentative Dates:
      Wednesday, August 11 - Friday, August 13 and Monday, August 16 - Tuesday, August 17
      Fall follow- up: To be determined
  Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
  Location: Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, MA
  Contact etf@mos.org  to be put on email list regarding registration.
  
• * "Siemens STEM Academy" Institute: A week-long STEM immersion program that will enable 50 select teachers to gather and engage with today's critical science thinkers and other peers from across the nation and visit leading institutions to see real-world applications of STEM subject matter.
  * "STEM Academy Online" Portal: A national portal and online community at www.siemensstemacademy.com <http://www.siemensstemacademy.com/> , designed to foster STEM achievement by providing educators with a dedicated resource to collaborate, exchange, and connect about all things related to STEM education.
  * "Brains of Science Connect" Webinar Series: A monthly webinar series that gives educators from across the country the chance to interact with today's eminent scientists, personalities, and thought-leaders and extend that experience to their students through customized, standards-based content.

• Why would a teacher want to work in a STEM company?
  There is a major shortage of workers in science, technology, engineering,and math (STEM) fields, and teachers are being called upon to prepare students for a world with increasing technology and innovation, which may look very different than their own experiences. How can we prepare students for these rapid changes, and how can we influence more students to pursue STEM careers? Well, when we ask highly successful professionals in these fields what had the greatest impact on their career choice, they repeatedly look back to a teacher who had a profound influence on their lives, both academically and personally. Here’s an opportunity to experience 21stcentury skills in action, get real answers to students’ most popular question, “Where am I ever going to use this in life,” and become better equipped to expose your students to real-world applications of STEM content that they may never have considered.
  How does LIFT2 benefit teachers?* LIFT2 provides teachers with professional development designed to inspire their students’ awareness, interest, motivation, and preparation to pursue STEM careers. Teachers engage in authentic projects through corporate externships during the summer. Students take field trips to the company or employees visit the classroom during the school year. Graduate courses strengthen teachers’ practice by integrating experiential and inquiry-based learning, 21st century technology and workplace skills, and STEM career awareness into curriculum and instruction. *Program Details (please see attached documents for more information) - *Summer externship lasts 5-8 weeks. Teachers are paid $800/week. (Samples of projects attached.) - Three graduate courses (12 credits total) are spread throughout the school year, mostly on-line and face-to-face just one Saturday morning per month. *How do I sign up?* - Submit your application and resume on-line on our website, at www.LIFT2.org <http://www.lift2.org/> - There is a $200 enrollment fee for teachers, and a $300 professional development fee for the district. All other costs are generously paid by the sponsoring companies. - When we receive your application, we make every effort to work with both you and the companies to find a great fit. We do our best to place *every*applicant. *Timeline* We accept applications on a rolling basis until the beginning of June, but the *best time to apply is before March 30th*, so that you benefit from a wider range of company opportunities. *Questions?* For more detailed information about types of projects and companies, program details, or other questions, and even if you have scheduling conflicts (we’ll work it out!), please contact: Ronit Carter, (Acting) Deputy Director, 508-281-6910 x9, rcarter@mswreb.org

• Dear Educator,
  We are please to announce registration is open for the LEGO Engineering Symposium hosted by the Tufts CEEO June 8-10, 2010! To register follow the link below. Registration will take place online. If you prefer to pay with check, choose the "offline" mode under Payment Options. http://ceeo.tufts.edu/legosymp
  Present at the symposium: The Symposium is seeking presenters to give talks that address one or both of the symposium themes. The talks are generally 15-20 minutes in length and given in front of the entire Symposium. Please contact Robert Rasmussen to inquire about presenting at the Symposium: robert.rasmussen@tufts.edu
  For more details visit the Symposium site at: LEGOengineering.com
  Sincerely,
  CEEO Staff & Students

• PBS Teachers Innovation Awards
  Where, oh where is innovation in education?   Let's uncover and reward cutting-edge educators.    Please help us spread the word...we're looking for innovative teachers. TEN winners will travel to Austin, TX for the PBS annual showcase event - a coveted invitation in the PBS universe!   Please see below for details.Show us how you inspire your students and you could win a behind-the-scenes trip to the Premier Annual PBS Event:  PBS Showcase in Austin, TX, May 17-20! 
  How to enter:
  Go to http://www.pbs.org/teachers/innovators/
  Tell us why you are an innovative educator in 200 words or less.
  Submit a video clip or a photograph showing us how you inspire your students. (*Use of Teachers' Domain and other PBS content is a plus!)
  Entry due between January 25 - March 12.
  Fifty winners announced April 5, 2010, and winning entries will be featured on the PBS Teachers site.

• Video's from You Tube about Georgia Engineering and Technology Education / STEM,Video 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT8F9g5CD6Q&feature=channel Video 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxBBtk9BSho. If you would like to contribute to a similar type video from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contact MassTEC's president by clicking here.

• 15th Annual Symposium on Biotechnology Education
  Monday, March 29, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  $25 registration fee
  For grade 6 - 12 educators
  Register
  Join us for a full-day symposium on current approaches to biotechnology education. Learn from leading researchers, biotechnology practitioners, and experienced teachers as they conduct workshops on a variety of current and advanced topics.
  Directions for non-Teacher Partners:
  To register, you must first sign up for our free Teacher Partner Program. Visit mos.org/teachers to create an online log-in and then register for the program. Once you complete the Teacher Partner sign-up, you will see a link to "Register for the Biotech Symposium."
  Directions for Teacher Partners:
  To register, sign in to your Teacher Partner account at mos.org/teachers. Click on the "Register for the Biotech Symposium" link.
  Learn More: Teacher Partner Program | Biotech Symposium

.Dear Educator,
The Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) invites you to the 4th annual LEGO Engineering Symposium June 8-10, 2010 at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, USA.
http://www.legoengineering.com/component/content/article/144.html
The 2010 LEGO Engineering Symposium features two themes: Climate Change and Tipping Points. These themes will guide the selection of presentations and provide focus for discussions and activities during development lab work sessions.
Climate Change: During the symposium, participants and presenters will explore how climate change can be a real-world context for LEGO learning activities. Whether exploring the science behind global warming or the technology behind renewable energy there are many rich opportunities for teaching and learning STEM concepts through LEGO activities.
Tipping Points: The Symposium is introducing a pedagogical theme—Tipping Points—for 2010. In the context of Climate Change, Tipping Points are defined as the points at which the global climate irreversibly changes from one state to a distinct new state. Similarly for education, a Tipping Point could be that moment when a student reaches an “aha” moment when they organize what they know in such a way that they really get it. Throughout the Symposium, participants will explore how educators can facilitate these Tipping Points through investigating how activities are designed and presented, the kinds of questions students are asked, and how students are asked to represent their knowledge.  
Registration: Registration will open February 1st! Registration will be done online this year.
Call for presentations: The Symposium is seeking presenters to give talks that address one or both of the symposium themes. The talks are generally 15 minutes in length and given in front of the entire Symposium. Please contact Robert Rasmussen to inquire about presenting at the Symposium: robert.rasmussen@tufts.edu
The CEEO hopes you will be able to attend and share your experiences with the community of LEGO Engineering Educators!
Sincerely,
CEEO Staff and Students

• The Museum of Science, Boston recently launched a new website making its National Center for Technological Literacy® (NCTL®) and its corresponding resources accessible nationwide: www.mos.org/nctl.  The NCTL was established in 2004 to advance technological literacy by helping state governments modify their educational standards and assessments, designing standards-based, teacher-tested K-12 engineering materials, offering pre-service, in-service, and online professional development for educators, and creating museum exhibits and programs.
  The new website offers educators information about NCTL curricula and professional development materials and provides individuals and organizations across the country with tools to advocate for technological literacy within their education systems.
  The country's only science museum with a comprehensive strategy and infrastructure designed to foster technological literacy in both science museums and schools nationwide, the Museum of Science now provides access on one easily navigable site to all NCTL activities and offerings. They include low-cost K-12 engineering curricula and professional development opportunities, design challenges, contact information, and news updates with relevant data and research from organizations such as the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), National Research Council (NRC), International Technology and Education Association, and U.S. National Science Board.
  The NCTL's national efforts are greatly enhanced by our strong partnerships with state departments of education, universities, and collaboratives.  Our partners expand opportunities for teachers and students to experience a rich and engaging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.
  I am excited to make the NCTL's resources available to the broadest possible audience.
  Sincerely,
  Ioannis N. Miaoulis
  Founding Director of National Center for Technological Literacy
  President and Director, Museum of Science, Boston
  Museum of Science, Boston | Science Park | Boston, MA 02114 | 617-723-2500 | mos.org
  Click here for a permanent link to the National Center for Technological Literacy located at the Museum of Science Boston

• Do you want to hitch a ride on NASA's next climate-monitoring satellite? Join the Glory mission, which will launch no earlier than October 1, 2010, by surfing over to the Send Your Name Around the Earth Web page. Names will be recorded on a microchip built into the satellite, and you will get a printable certificate from NASA acknowledging your participation. There are already 226,323 names on the chip, but there's still plenty of room. You may not submit your name more than once.
  To add your name to the microchip, visit http://polls.nasa.gov/utilities/sendtospace/jsp/sendName.jsp.
  Glory carries two scientific sensors dedicated to understanding the effects of aerosols and the sun's variability on Earth's climate. The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor will collect information about tiny liquid and solid particles suspended in the atmosphere that absorb or reflect sunlight. The Total Irradiance Monitor will measure the intensity of incoming sunlight that can vary over time.
  To learn more about the Glory mission, visit http://glory.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Become a Friend to the Glory Mission on Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1368706679&ref=profile.

• 2010 NASA Postdoctoral Program Accepting Applications
  The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers qualified postdoctoral scientists and engineers the opportunity to engage in ongoing NASA research and serves as a source of talent to ensure the continued quality of the NASA research workforce. These competitive one- to three-year fellowship appointments advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the dissertation.
  Applications for the NASA Postdoctoral Program are due on March 1, 2010. For further information about this opportunity and to apply online, visit http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm. Questions regarding this opportunity may be submitted by email to nasapostdoc@orau.org.

• NASA's Digital Learning Network presents a series of video conferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products. During each event, product producers, authors, and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. Instructional objectives, accessing the materials, and primary contacts for the materials will also be discussed. During the video conferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation. In the coming months, the following topics will be covered:
  STS-131 Robotics: January 27, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
  NASA Fit Explorers February 24, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
  NASA eProfessional Development Network—Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
  For more information about these video conferences and to sign up online, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/ . Questions about these events should be directed to Caryn Long at caryn.long@nasa.gov .

• Science and Technology/Engineering in Massachusetts:  Using Learning Progressions to Support STE Learning, and Development and Scoring STE MCAS Items
  Sponsored by the Salem State Collaborative
  Workshop: Science and Technology/Engineering in Massachusetts: Using Learning Progressions to Support STE Learning, and Development and Scoring STE MCAS Items
  Presenters:     Katie Bowler, Student Assessment Services, ESE, Jake Foster, Office of Science, Technology/Engineering, and Mathematics, ESE
  Location:       SEEM Collaborative, 92 Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA
  Audience:      Grades K-12 Curriculum Directors, Teachers and Department Heads (Science Content)
  Time:             8:15-2:15 PM (lunch included)
  Date:              26 February 2010 (Friday)
  Fee:               Free
  Description: 
  This workshop is designed for K-12 teachers teaching any science subject or grade.  Katie Bowler and Jake Foster from the Massachusetts DESE will engage participants in considering the implications of the current standards revision process and MCAS development and scoring processes.
  Jake Foster will share how the Science and Technology/Engineering Framework Review process is developing, focusing on possible implications of revised standards for STE programs. In particular, participants will explore strand maps of state standards and learning progressions in science to systematically support student learning. Participants will examine different instructional practices and assessment strategies that take advantage of learning progressions.
  Katie Bowler will present multiple facets of both the test creation and scoring process.  The process of developing items for the Massachusetts MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering tests will be described. It is a complex process, taking at least two years for an item to be considered "common eligible." In addition, participants will examine student work on science open-response items and discuss how this work was assessed. Participants will be able to assess student work given scoring criteria for specific items. We will discuss the use of open-response data and its limitations. 
  This workshop is sure to provide you with insights to the standards revision and MCAS testing process that will help your students achieve in Science and Technology/Engineering.
  Registration Information:
  Please register at our website www.salemcollaborative.org, or email the following information to Jim Kearns at registration@salemcollaborative.org.  If you have registration questions, please either email (preferred) or call Jim at 781-771-4860.

• Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Resource Center www.massbioed.org
  This interactive site offers: Educators
  Pathways to  BioTeach Grants
  Searchable professional development programs
  Listings for teacher externship or student internship programs
  Connections to corporate site visit or speakers
  
  Students
  Explore biotech learning resources
  Search for jobs and internships
  Learn about careers in biotech
  Search  biotech college programs
  For more information contact: Suzanne Grillo, Manager of Outreach Programs at suzanne.grillo@massbio.org  (617) 674-5141
  There will be a permanent link to this site on the classroom resource page, click here for the link

• DOE Opens Lab Equipment Acquisition Program to High Schools and Middle Schools
  U.S. high schools and middle schools are now eligible to participate in the Department of Energy Energy-Related Laboratory Equipment (ERLE) program. For 32 years this program has enabled institutions of higher education to acquire hundreds of millions of dollars in high quality surplus laboratory equipment from the Department's National Laboratories. Schools may acquire equipment by reviewing the available equipment list at the DOE ERLE website, http://erle.osti.gov/erle/,  and completing an electronic application form. The ERLE website is hosted by the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI).
  There will be a permanent link to this resource on the classroom resources page, click here for the link

• Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars Spring, 2010
  Designed for science teachers; new teachers are especially welcome 
  Five Saturdays each term; 8:30-1 at UMass Amherst, Lederle Grad
  Towers 1033 (except as noted)
  Educational materials, refreshments, parking, PDP's included
  Advance registration is required; capacity is limited
  Cost $30 per session, $120 for all five sessions
  4 PDP's per half day session; option for 3 grad credits at reduced  cost with extra work
  January 23. What Electrical Engineering Can Do for You. Marinos N. Vouvakis, Electrical and Computer Engineering. When asking the average high-school student what Electrical Engineering is all about, the most probable answer is: it deals with the electrical wiring and outlets, or in the best case, it helps build TV sets. Although this would have been the case for the Electrical Engineering of the 30s or 50s, modern electrical engineering is been considerably more exciting. We will give an overview of Electrical Engineering, and outline the basic principles behind some of the most ubiquitous electrical engineering technologies such as the iPhone, the laptop computer, the internet, radar, etc. 
  January 30. Weather cancellation makeup date if needed
  February 6. Ice, glaciers, and oceans. Julie Brigham-Grette ,
  Geosciences.
  Hands on explorations of remote sensing, the effects of rising ocean levels, and changes in the forces driving ocean circulation. Melting ice and snow exposes water and land, increasing the energy absorbed from sunlight. We will explore ways to measure this change in the "albedo," and will do an experiment that models remote sensing by satellites.
  March 6.  DNA & Protein 3D Structure. Frieda Reichsman and Eric Martz, Microbiology. Ready-to-use software, tutorials, and lesson plans offer interactive, rotating, zooming 3D models of high-impact macromolecules such as influenza neuraminidase and Tamiflu, DNA, antibody, hemoglobin, HIV-protease and inhibitor drug, lipid bilayers and channels. BioMolecular Explorer 3D features molecules that dovetail into high school curricula.
  Proteopedia.Org, a new wiki with Jmol, makes it easy to author new 3D structure tutorials which are immediately online. All software is free, works in web browsers on Windows or Macs, and is available from http://HighSchool.MolviZ.Org <http://highschool.molviz.org/> .
  March 27. Antibiotics in the Environment.  Erik Rosenfeldt, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Discharges of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into aquatic ecosystems are an emerging environmental issue.
  Antibiotics are of particular concern since they may lead to the evolution of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.  A simple assay that detects activity associated with antibiotics is known as the AntiBiotic Challenge [ABC], and is based upon a commercially available test for finding antibiotics in meat, urine, and dairy products. The assay has been adapted so that students will have no contact with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and only simple equipment is required.
  April 3. Science of the Eye.  Ishara Mills-Henry, Biology, MIT. In the retina, photoreceptor cells translate light into electrical and chemical signals that are processed through several downstream neurons.  We will discuss photoreceptor function as it relates to color vision, the proteins involved in phototransduction (signaling pathways and ion channels leading to changes in membrane potential), the evolution of color vision, and the genetics of color blindness.  In the second part of the workshop, we will focus on how the processing of visual stimuli in the brain plays a critical role in vision. Many optical or visual illusions are a result of how the brain perceives what we see and studying them has provided further understanding of the mechanisms of visual perception.  Hands-on activities will include aligning opsin gene and protein sequences and how optical illusions are interpreted.
  April 10.  Weather cancellation makeup date if needed.
  May 1. Recall for those registered for graduate credit. Hasbrouck Lab.
  Graduate credit option: There is a charge of $300 for 3 Continuing Education credits plus a $45 registration fee.  This is in addition to the $120 STEM Education Institute fee. Teachers may obtain credit for the seminar as many terms as they wish, but only 3 credits may be applied to UMass Amherst degrees. A lesson plan and a book report will be required for those enrolled for graduate credit. Register with Continuing Education or the UMass Graduate School for CNS 697S, ST-Contemporary Science and Engineering II. We will have registration forms at the first seminar.
  Questions: Mort Sternheim, mort@umassk12.net, 413-545-1908, www.umassk12.net/sess
  Online seminar registration and payment: www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html
  Required for everyone whether or not they are registering for graduate
  credit. 

• Application for the 16th Annual Secretary's Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education
  The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2010 Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education. Deadline for submitting your application is March 30, 2010 at the close of business.
  Applicants can type directly into the online form and submit it; or download the "fillable" pdf application, fill it out, save it and then email their application to meg.colclough@state.ma.us.
  Fill out the Excellence in Energy and Environmental
  Education Form Online <http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/exedu/> 
  If you are unable to fill out the form online please contact Meg Colclough by phone: (617) 626-1110, or email meg.colclough@state.ma.us for alternate instructions.
  The Secretary's Advisory Group on Energy and Environmental Education (SAGEE) will review nominations through the beginning of April.  Winners will be notified in April along with an invitation to attend a formal award ceremony at the State House.  Award winners will be recognized by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian A. Bowles.
  Winners will receive certificates of excellence, honor and merit. We encourage you to nominate a school program, teacher and students who are participating in energy and environmental education projects.
  Ian A. Bowles, Secretary
  Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
  100 Cambridge, 9th Floor
  Boston, Massachusetts

• Information about the April 2010 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering Test Administration for Students in the Class of 2010
  A December 14 memo regarding the April 2010 STE MCAS Test Administrationcan be found at www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=5198

• New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, RI continues to offer group tours of the college for all high school and adult education groups daily.
  If you are interested in touring with a group of students please schedule a time with Amanda Metzger, Special Events Coordinator. NEIT provides a campus tour and a pizza lunch. Assistance with transportation is available.
  For more information contact Amanda at 800-736-7744 ext. 3377 or by e-mail at ametzger@neit.edu
  Erin Flynn
  Manager of Admissions Outreach and Events
  New England Institute of Technology
  RI FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner
  2500 Post Road
  Warwick, RI 02886
  800-736-7744 x3462
  eflynn@neit.edu
  www.neit.edu

• Tools Explained
  DRILL  PRESS:
  A  tall upright machine useful for  suddenly  snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands  so that it  smacks you in the chest and  flings your beer across the room, denting the  freshly-painted project which you had carefully  set in the  corner where nothing could get  to it.
  WIRE  WHEEL:
  Cleans paint off bolts and  then throws them somewhere under the workbench  with the speed of light. Also removes  fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from  fingers
  SKILL  SAW:
  A portable cutting tool used to  make studs too  short.
  PLIERS:
  Used to  round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the  creation of blood-blisters.
  BELT  SANDER:
  An electric sanding tool  commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs  into  major refinishing  jobs.
  HACKSAW:
  One of a  family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board  principle.. It transforms human energy into a  crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you  attempt to influence its course, the  more  dismal your future  becomes.
  VISE-GRIPS:
  Generally  used after pliers to completely round off bolt  heads. If nothing else is available, they can  also be used to transfer intense welding heat to  the palm of your hand.
  OXYACETYLENE  TORCH:
  Used almost entirely for  lighting various flammable objects in your shop  on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease  inside the wheel hub out of which you want to  remove a bearing race..
  TABLE  SAW:
  A large stationary power tool  commonly used to launch wood projectiles for  testing wall integrity.
  HYDRAULIC  FLOOR JACK:
  Used for lowering an  automobile to the ground after you have  installed  your new brake shoes, trapping  the jack handle firmly under the   bumper.
  BAND SAW:
  A  large stationary power saw primarily used by  most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into  smaller pieces that more easily  fit into  the trash can after you cut on the inside of the  line instead  of the outside  edge.
  TWO-TON ENGINE  HOIST:
  A tool for testing the maximum  tensile strength of everything you forgot  to  disconnect.
  PHILLIPS  SCREWDRIVER:
  Normally used to stab  the vacuum seals under lids or for opening  old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing  oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the  name implies, to strip  out Phillips  screw heads.
  STRAIGHT  SCREWDRIVER:
  A tool for opening paint  cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted  screws into non-removable screws and butchering  your palms.
  PRY BAR:
  A  tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that  clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to  replace a 50 cent part.
  HOSE  CUTTER:
  A tool used to make hoses too  short.
  HAMMER:
  Originally  employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays  is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the  most expensive parts adjacent the object we are  trying to hit.
  UTILITY  KNIFE:
  Used to open and slice through  the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to  your  front door; works particularly well  on contents such as seats, vinyl records,   liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines,  refund checks, and rubber or  plastic  parts. Especially useful for slicing work  clothes, but only while in use..

• Students became toy-making elves
  CLINTON — For a week in December, the technology engineering wood shop at Clinton Middle School was turned into a toy factory. 
  Operation Rocking Squirrel had the grade 8 students making a toy for the Toys for Tots program. The Toys for Tots program is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The program, founded in 1947, has collected and distributed almost five million toys. 
  The wooden rocking squirrels filled a large bin at the drop off collection site, Massachusetts State Police Barracks E, located on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The students used furniture-grade pine wood in the shop to manufacture the toys. To build and assemble them, they used saws, drill presses, templates, adhesives, sandpaper, and lots of elbow grease. 
  Technology and Engineering teacher Scott Karpuk developed this project for his students. It addresses part of the curriculum framework for middle school technology engineering that students have hands-on learning experience with the tools and materials, while they also learned the importance of community service. Several students dedicated personal time, staying after school during the week to work on the project. 
  Clinton Middle School eighth-grader David Dias cuts out the rocker for the Toys for Tots program.

Article buy Scott Karpuk MassTEC Member

• UMASS NANOTECHNOLOGY 2010 SUMMER INSTITUTE
  Monday to Friday, June 28 - July 2 at UMass Amherst
  Funded by the National Science Foundation
  Sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing
  Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology Teachers
  $75/day stipends ($375 total), materials, parking, lunches
  Housing (new air conditioned dorms) and meals for those outside the commuting radius
  3 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free PDP's

Ongoing partnerships with UMass Faculty
Nanotechnology deals with materials on the scale of nanometers. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, or about 10 atomic diameters. Such materials can have surprising and useful behaviors and properties. Applications of this rapidly growing field include regenerative medicine, fabrics and construction materials of unprecedented strength, ultra-high performance computers and data storage, more efficient solar photovoltaic cells, and much more. Activity in this field cuts across the traditional disciplinary boundaries, and involves chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering.
The UMass Nanotechnology Summer Institute will explore the basic science and engineering concepts of this exciting new field, and will illustrate how they may be integrated into the usual math, science and technology courses in middle schools and high schools. The content and pedagogy will be aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Framework.
Application process: An application form and additional information are available at www.umassk12.net/nano. Teachers should also prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their application package a recent resume and a letter of support from their school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. Applications are due April 1, 2010. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis.

• NASA's Ares Project is developing America's next generation of launch vehicles to replace the space shuttle and send people to explore the moon and beyond. Are you looking for the latest information on the Ares rockets that will return humans to the moon? Do you want to find videos of the successful Ares I-X test flight to show in your classroom? Find all of this and more on the Ares social media sites. Stay up to date on developments with the Ares rockets by checking the following sites:
  Ares on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NASA.Ares
  Ares TV on YouTube: www.youtube.com/AresTV
  Ares on TeacherTube: www.teachertube.com/videoList.php?pg=videonew&cid=38
  We will have a permanent link to these resources on our classroom resources page, click here for the links

• NASA Invites Schools to Apply for Free Space Shuttle Artifacts
  NASA invites eligible educational institutions, museums, and other organizations to register, screen, and request potential space shuttle artifacts. Included are small items such as astronaut helmets, gloves, and boots, and large items such as shuttle Motion Based Simulators and Crew Compartment Trainers.
  NASA will retire the Space Shuttle Program at the end of 2010 and is eager to share the wonders of space exploration through donations to museum and library exhibitions. This is your opportunity to own and display Space Shuttle artifacts. In order to receive an ID and password to access the website, schools and universities must register using their IPED or NCES number. Information on registering and links to find the IPED and NCES numbers are available on the U.S. General Services Administration website. The artifacts are free, but recipients must cover shipping and special handling fees.
  For the latest information about NASA shuttle transition and artifacts, visit www.nasa.gov/transition. For more about NASA and agency programs, visit www.nasa.gov.

• SUMMER 2010 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR TEACHERS
  The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is soliciting applications from middle and high school teachers for the summer RET program.
  Up to ten teachers will be selected to participate in team research at the Silvio O. Conte Center for Polymer Research. Participants will perform research as a team and develop teaching modules to transfer their experience to their classroom. The teachers will be selected to research a topic from a broad spectrum of topics in chemistry, physics or engineering of polymers.
  Examples of projects under consideration are: nanomembranes, crystallization in confined geometries, sensors, and polymer deformation.
  You must be a US citizen to be able to participate.
  The program has a flexible duration as teachers can participate from 6-8 weeks. Benefits include a salary of $1,000 per week, up to $1,000 to defray relocation expenses, six graduate credits, and at least 135 PDPs.
  Please send a one-page resume along with a paragraph describing how a research experience could benefit your teaching. In addition send a copy of either your passport or your birth certificate AND social security card.
  Electronic or hard copy applications are acceptable. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 7th.
  Jennifer Green, MRSEC Educational Outreach Manager Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Polymer Science and Engineering Department University of Massachusetts 120 Governors Drive Amherst, MA 01003
  email: jgreen@mail.pse.umass.ed

• What's New on UMassK12.net, STEM Ed Newsletter: http://www.umassk12.net/stem/newsletter/, Materials from our Saturday Seminars, Nanotech Summer Institute, and STEM, Polar Connections programs:   http://www.umassk12.net/stem/materials.html, 2010 Nanotechnology Summer Institute information:  www.umassk12.net/nano 2010 STEM Polar Connections Summer Institute information:  www.umassk12.net/ipy

• 2009-2010 NASA Education Resource Showcase Series
  NASA's Digital Learning Network presents a series of video conferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products. During each event, product producers, authors, and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. Instructional objectives, accessing the materials, and primary contacts for the materials will also be discussed. During the video conferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation. In the coming months, the following topics will be covered:

• NASAimages.org and eClips: November 18, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
• Exploring Space Through Math: December 16, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
• STS-131 Robotics: January 27, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
• NASA Fit Explorers: February 24, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
• NASA eProfessional Development Network—Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
• MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
• On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
• For more information about these video conferences and to sign up online, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/. Questions about these events should be directed to Caryn Long at caryn.long@nasa.gov.

• ESE and WGBH/WGBY Link Online Resources for Educators
  Teachers Will Have Access to Free Digital Resources Linked to State Standards
  MALDEN - The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has partnered with the WGBH Educational Foundation and WGBY in Springfield to launch a new online resource for teachers to provide free access to more than 2,200 classroom-ready media tools.
  Massachusetts Teachers' Domain (MTD) is a localized edition of Teachers' Domain, a nationally used database of digital resources for educators, and contains lesson plans and media clips that have been developed to align with the state's curriculum frameworks. MTD is linked directly to MassONE, the state's existing online portal for educators, which offers web-based tools and resources to support and connect teachers across the Commonwealth.
  The MTD content is pulled from a variety of public television programming including Nova, Frontline, Design Squad, American Experience as well as government agencies, museums, libraries and academic institutions. Most segments contain a multi-media resource, such as a video clip, animated chart or PowerPoint slides, as well as classroom instructions and student assignments.
  "Public television has produced some extraordinary content, and bringing those multi-media components into the classroom will help bring much of the content to life for our students," said Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester. "We are fortunate to have a media giant like WGBH in our backyard, and I am pleased to be able to partner with them to offer these valuable resources to our educators.
  "We are delighted to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to extend the services of public broadcasting into all Massachusetts classrooms.  This collaboration allows us to better serve our constituents and gives teachers access to award-winning media resources from Teachers' Domain to meet diverse learning styles and educational needs,"  said Jon Abbott, WGBH's President and Chief Executive Officer.  (TBC)
  This week's launch is the first step in a multi-year plan to expand MTD into a service that can be used by Massachusetts educators, students and parents. Over the next two years MTD will expand its collection to include history, social science and arts resources, all aligned with the state's curriculum frameworks. Educators can now move from MassONE to MTD through links, and will eventually be able to move seamlessly from one to the other using a single sign-on.
  There are currently more than 400,000 registered users in 187 countries signed up to utilize the Teachers' Domain resources, but only Massachusetts users will have access to the state's special content. Users will also have access to professional development courses and training workshops offered by WGBH, WGBY, and PBS TeacherLine. 
  The development of MTD is the first in a series of projects that ESE and WGBH/WGBY are working on together. Other efforts include the development of the Mass Academic Challenge, a quiz show for high school students that will go into production later this year.
  For a link to this resource on our classroom resource page click here

• Nickelodeon's Big GREEN Grant program
  This program teams up kids and adults to~bring resources to their community. Each Green Grant will provide up to $5,000 to support environmentally friendly projects that educate and inspire kids to (1) take care of the environment; (2) be active and live healthier; and/or (3) engage in community service.
  For application information, visit - http://bghevent.com/grant/index.htm
  Application Deadline: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. (December 31st 2009)

• Announcing JASON's New Energy Curriculum
  JASON's new energy curriculum unit for Grades 5-8, Operation: Infinite Potential, is now launched!
  Working alongside leading scientists, students explore the challenges of energy generation, storage, and consumption. Through research articles, inquiry-based activities, videos, games, and other multimedia, they investigate and analyze emerging technologies designed to meet the needs of an energy-hungry planet.
  Learn more about Operation: Infinite Potential: www.jason.org/public/feature/FeatureDetail.aspx?pos=1&fid=144
  Order Operation: Infinite Potential now at www.jason.org/PublicPage/Products/curriculum.aspx
  Download free PDF version at www.jason.org/PublicPage/Curriculum/Download.aspx
  Operation: Infinite Potential, along with all of JASON's recent curricula, is available free to teachers, students, and parents everywhere. To get started, simply register for a free JASON Mission Center account at www.jason.org/public/registration/registration.aspx?bhcp=1. Already registered? Log-in to explore Operation: Infinite Potential now! (www.jason.org/Public/login.aspx?bhcp=1)

• From the ITEA, Foundations that give to Educational Projects:
  Check the individual foundation website's for their guidelines. 

• The Pew Charitable Trusts  www.pewtrusts.org
• The Annenberg Foundation www.annenbergfoundation.org
• The Wallace Foundation www.wallacefoundation.org
• Carnegie Corporation of New York www.carnegie.org
• The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation www.kauffman.org
• The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation www.broadfoundation.org
• The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation www.hewlett.org
• The Joyce Foundation www.joycefdn.org/Programs/Education/
• The Spencer Foundation www.spencer.org
• The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation www.mott.org
• The MetLife Foundation www.metlife.org

• EPA Releases New K-12 Responsible School Chemical Management Video EPA has teamed up with schools and community partners in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Wyoming to bring models of responsible chemical management programs to schools across the country. For more information on responsible chemical management in schools and to watch the new video, Safe Chemical Management in Your School please visit: www.epa.gov/SC3.  In addition to identifying steps to build a responsible chemical management program, the video features real life examples of schools and their community partners that are working towards permanent chemical management solutions.

• New England's Only Air and Space Science Center Opens
  McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
  Be inspired, have fun, and learn something new in the spirit of Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard. A new full-service science center, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, opened on March 6, 2009. With a Mercury-Redstone rocket at the front entry and a prominent observatory dome, New England's first air and space science center will make its home in Concord, New Hampshire, housing 45,000-square-feet of new interactive science exhibits. The new Discovery Center is a major transformation of the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium.
  The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a lively educational science center featuring twenty-first century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, and Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and a variety of science and engineering programs.
  The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors the legacies of two New Hampshire heroes and is a place for visitors to explore, discover, and be inspired.  As the only air and space science center in New England, it welcomes visitors of all ages to have fun while learning about the universe in which we live. More information is online at http://www.starhop.com.

• Partnership for 21st Century Skills
  Groundbreaking Program Will Increase the Capacity of Practitioners to Embed 21st Century Skills into Classroom Practices
  The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has launched a groundbreaking new program to establish a network of experts who are specialists in helping states and districts design and implement 21st century skills via targeted professional development programs. Nearly 30 people from 11 organizations were the inaugural participants in the P21 Professional Development Affiliate program.  
  As affiliates, participants now form a specialized cadre armed with the resources required to align their already robust professional development programs with the Partnership's Framework for 21st Learning-which makes clear the skills, knowledge, and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life. Program participants are also able to assist others seeking to align the Framework into existing models. The unique design of the program allows for differentiation within states to ensure 21st century skills fit seamlessly into existing state standards and policies. 
  As more and more states and districts embrace 21st century skills, there is an exponentially growing need for assistance in embedding these skills into schools and classrooms. The affiliate program fills this void by creating a national network of providers proficient in helping teachers and administrators implement the Framework. 
  The affiliate program is designed for national, state, and regional organizations that provide training and professional development programs to school administrators and instructional leaders. Upon completion of the program, participants become part of a national community committed to infusing 21st century skills into K-12 instructional practices and sharing their work with colleagues. http://21stcenturyskills.org
  The Partnership Releases a 21st Century Learning Environments White Paper
  Successful learning environments break through the barriers that separate schools from the real world, educators from each other, and policymakers from the communities they serve. Yet, many schools continue to reflect their Industrial Age origins with rigid schedules, inflexible facilities, and fixed boundaries between grades, disciplines, and classrooms, according to a new paper released by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and sponsored by Cisco Systems.
  The paper, 21st Century Learning Environments, finds that learning environments-the structures, tools, and communities that inspire students and educators to attain the knowledge and skills that are required of them-must embrace a diverse and complex world of people, places, and ideas. While a tremendous amount of attention has been paid to standards, assessments, professional development, and curriculum and instruction, the paper finds that learning environments are an essential component to supporting positive 21st century outcomes for students.Read the full report at http://21stcenturyskills.org/documents/le_white_paper-1.pdf.

• NAEP Seeks Examples for Assessment of Technological Literacy
  The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which generates the Nation's Report Card,is planning to administer an assessment of technological literacy in 2012. This assessment is planned for the national level only and at one grade level only. The first step in the development of this assessment is the creation of a framework document that will guide the development of actual test items. WestEd, the organization charged with developing the framework, is seeking examples of assessment items and tasks that illustrate different approaches to probing students' technological literacy. These items and tasks may be multiple-choice, constructed-response, or involve or require demonstration of design and problem-solving capability. The 2012 assessment of technological literacy will be delivered entirely via computer, which offers the potential to use approaches not possible with traditional paper-and-pencil tests, such as the use of audio, video, and simulation. Items and tasks should be sent to Mark Loveland at WestEd, mlovela@wested.org. If WestEd decides it wants to use your submission, you will be contacted for permission.

• New From the National Energy Education Development Project. EIA Renewable Energy Slide show
  Looking for a multimedia way for students to learn more about renewable energy? Check out the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy in Brief audio slide show about renewable energy. Visit http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/slideshows/renewable_energy.html.
  Source: Energy  Exchange (from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, November 2008)

• Nuclear Engineering
  In the most recent issue of JETS' Pre-Engineering Times, you'll find the tools to help your students explore.assess.and experience engineering! From a look into the world of Ross Radel and his work to find cost-effective options for nuclear power on the Moon and on Mars to enjoying a hands-on activity where students will control energy production in a nuclear reactor, students will learn firsthand how nuclear engineering is all around them. Enjoy!
  Source: JETS Pre-Engineering Times, November 2008
  JETS e-newsletter is a unique and free publication distributed monthly from September to May. Each issue introduces a different type of engineering career, highlights an "Extreme Engineer," and offers activities to truly help students Explore, Assess, and Experience engineering. www.jets.org/newsletter/index.cfm

• From the Science, Mathematics, And Research For Transformation Defense Scholarship for Service Program (SMART)
  The Department of Defense (DoD) is proud to offer scholarships to undergraduate, master's and doctoral students who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for training in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) fields. The DoD also offers them career opportunities to continue their research as civilian employees of a DoD laboratory after graduation. 
  The Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship for Service Program offers our nation's research leaders of tomorrow not only an education but rewarding career opportunities. Click here for a link to there web page https://www.asee.org/smart/

• The NASA Undergraduate Student Research Project The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking undergraduate students from diverse communities across the United States interested in unique hands-on experiences with NASA scientists and engineers. USRP internships are available year-round at all NASA facilities. Selected students receive a stipend and round-trip travel allowance. Students may apply for 15 week spring session, 10-week summer session, or 15-week fall session. USRP seeks applications from undergraduates who are U.S. citizens enrolled full-time in accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Applicants must be classified as sophomores, juniors, or seniors by the start of their internship. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with academic majors or course concentration in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or physical and life sciences. NASA-USRP provides students with hands-on, real-life, career-related internships that challenge, inspire, and provide practical application that complements students' academic education. Click here for more information