News and Events in Region 1: Environmental Education – Hot Topic for January
by Valerie Joyner
Two very important environmental education events will take place this month for all educators in Region 1.
First is the Northern California’s Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair, better known as the BAEER Fair, will be held on Saturday, January 21, at the Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is the 35th anniversary of the BAEER Fair one of our areas most exciting environmental education opportunities await educators in Region 1. For more information, go to www.baeerfair.org, or call 510-657-4847.
On January 25, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, the Education and the Environment (EEI) Educators Workshop will be held at SonomaStateUniversity. The North Coast Chapter of CREEC will update classroom teachers and environmental educators on the new model curriculum from the Education and Environment Initiative. For more information view the informational flyer.
Opportunities Await You with CSTA
We are in the midst of some very exciting times in science education in the state of California. With a new framework being developed, the recent release of “High Hopes – Few Opportunities” study, the Preschool Science Education Framework, and The Next Generation of Science Standards we are beginning to move forward in our efforts to improve science education across the grades in California. CSTA is always a prominent player in these reform efforts and you have the opportunity to get involved. Currently there are several positions open on CSTA’s Board of Directors, including Treasurer, 4-Year College, High School Director, and Intermediate (3-5) Director. I hope you will seriously consider applying for one of these positions on the Board.
CSTA’s Conference is scheduled for October 19-21, in San Jose. Don’t forget to submit your Short Course (January 31, 2012) and Workshop (March 6, 2012) proposals soon.
Valerie Joyner is district science lead teacher for Petaluma City Schools and is the CSTA’s region 1 director.
LATEST POST
NGSS and the Primary Classroom
by Michelle French
Since the public reviews of the Next Generation Science Standards have come to a close, like many primary teachers, I’ve been wondering what science will look like in kindergarten, first, and second grade classrooms. Learn More…
What is it April Explanation
It is a photo of:
“SOL Grotto, 2012. 1368 glass tubes, paint. Fabrication: Matarozzi Pelsinger, Rael San Fratello Architects. SOL Grotto is a contemporary take on a grotto or Throeau’s cabin – a spartan retreat that is a space of solitude and close to nature – where one is presented with a mediated experience of water, coolness and light. The SOL Grotto also explores Solyndra’s role as a company S#@t Out of Luck. 1,368 of the 24 million high tech glass tubes destined to be destroyed as a casualty of their bankruptcy, are used in the installation. The tube’s original role as a light concentrating element is extended to transmit cool air into the space via the Venturi effect, to amplify sounds from the adjacent waterfall via the vibrations of the tubes cantilevering over the creek, and to create distorted views of the garden. The form of the electric blue array evokes Plato’s Allegory of the Cave where shadows, light and sounds can call reality into question.”
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/whatsnew/NaturalDiscourse/artists.shtml
Responses from Readers:
Peter A’Hearn: Rush hour in little blue circle land.
Full image:
CSTA Member Katherine Schenkelberg Awarded 2013 Vernier/NSTA Technology Award
by Valerie Joyner
Congratulations to CSTA member and STEM Educator, Katherine Schenkelberg, of West High School, in Torrance, CA! Katherine was recently awarded one of the 2013 Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards. An appointed panel of experts selected her for her innovative use of data-collection technology. “The use of data-collection technology in the classroom helps foster students’ interest in STEM education and provides them with engaging, hands-on opportunities for scientific investigation,” said David Vernier, co-founder of Vernier and a former physics teacher. “For ten years Vernier and NSTA have recognized innovative STEM educators through this award and this year’s winners are no exception – their projects and programs truly utilize the power of data-collection technology as part of the teaching and learning process.” Learn More…
Election for CSTA’s Board of Directors 2013-2015 Now In Progress
by Tim Williamson
Members of the California Science Teachers Association are now in the process of voting for qualified CSTA members to fill the seven openings on the CSTA Board of Directors for the 2013-2015 term.
The election is being conducted electronically and opened for voting on April 16, 2013. Voting will close on May 16, 2013. All CSTA members were sent links to the online ballot. Members for whom we do not have current email addresses or who request a paper ballot have been mailed a ballot and candidate statements. Learn More…
Leave a Reply