News and Events in Region 2
by Eric Lewis
As I’m starting to write this, it’s officially the last week of work in my school district. I’ve been attending graduations every day and it’s not even June yet. When I grew up, summer was more of a July and August affair; now it seems like summer is starting earlier and earlier (not to mention summer weather, but that’s a whole other story).
This summer is the first time in a while that I decided to take some time off. No IISME this year, even though I had an amazing time last year working at KQED thanks to IISME’s summer program. Of course, like most teachers, I spend a lot of time over the summer thinking about my practice, changing up my labs, adding new activities and projects to my curriculum, and seeking out professional development (short and paid, please) to help me to improve my practice.
Of course, what we think we’re going to do and what we actually do are often very different things. I had planned to spend a lot of time at home – planning out Daddy-camps for my daughter. Perhaps this would be our summer to camp in some of California’s state parks. Perhaps we would take a trip to LA or San Diego to see friends and – maybe – take in some amusement parks. Or, maybe, I’d start applying for some of the amazing programs that science teachers can take advantage of over the summer.
Oh, no. Let the applications begin. In my job, I get to find resources to share with other science teachers in the district. As I send things out to teachers, I’m often surprised by the appeal of these opportunities. I recommend that you all apply for some of them in the future. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow program looks amazing. I’d certainly be up for traveling to the Arctic with them! NOAA’s Teacher at Sea looks like a great opportunity as well.
If you know of great summer opportunities for teachers (even ones that are no longer available for this summer) PLEASE let me know. I’d love to include them here, too.
I hope that you take the opportunity to attend the CA Science Education Conference in San Jose this year. And, please let me know if there are things that you’d like to add to our Region’s offerings. Don’t forget to encourage your colleagues to join CSTA. I’m hoping that we’ll have the opportunity to grow our organization and expand to meet your needs and your colleague’s needs. To that end, please feel free to email me directly so that I can represent your questions and concerns with the CSTA board as a whole.
Eric Lewis, lewise2@sfusd.edu
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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
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