by Laura Henriques

More than 1,300 educators from across California came together in San Jose for three days of outstanding professional development. The general consensus is in – the 2012 California Science Education Conference was a big success!

The conference included more than 200 workshops of all science topics for grades preK-12! The ten focus speakers were invited to address issues of interest to the membership, and talked about the latest scientific research and science pedagogy in life, earth, and physical sciences. Short courses and field trips were also available to attendees. The short courses were 3- or 6-hour workshops on specific topics, including a new short course on primary science offered for the first time this year. It was particularly well received and is likely something that will continue in the future! There were three field trips this year: one to J. Lohr Winery for tasting and networking, one to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Reserve, and one to iFLY. Attendees came back from the iFly field trip ready to try skydiving for real! They learned about flight and terminal velocity along with two “flights” in the wind tunnel. (more…)

by Yilmaz Kara

Today, many teachers find themselves in hard situations. They may want to have some outdoor activities or field courses with their students but do not know where to start. They have heard lots about the new standards but nobody has explained how they are different or new. It would be good to know cool and engaging activities being done by the teachers who have the admiration of their students. Maybe they are searching for educational materials to use in the classroom or laboratory, but they don’t know where to find them. Some teachers are just burned out, having taught for so many years that they have can’t find the inspiration that brought them to the classroom in the first place. You can find cures to all these kinds of situations and more than others at the CSTA conference. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

The following is the text of the President’s address at the opening session of the 2012 California Science Education Conference:

These are exciting times to be in science education. Since the last time we talked, a lot has happened in our schools that will fundamentally change our teaching, science education, and, most importantly, the learning and lives of our students.

The child born today will begin school in 2017. He or she will graduate high school in 2029, college in 2035, and work as a productive citizen through 2070. Given the trends in life expectancy, the child born today will be alive in 2100. The decisions we make today will impact choices and opportunities for a significant period of time. (more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl

While attending the California Science Education Conference in San Jose, consider checking out The Tech Museum.  During the Conference, the Tech Museum will be hosting an exhibition from the Discovery Channel’s Emmy nominated series, “MythBusters,” called “MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition.” The exhibition will showcase hands on, interactive displays that are appropriate for all ages.  The Tech Museum is open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Tickets for the MythBusters exhibit can be purchased now at The Tech Museum website. The Tech Museum offers free museum membership to K-12  teachers. Check out the benefits of membership on-line at http://www.thetech.org/teacher-opportunities/free-teacher-membership.

by Maria Simani

The Endless Summer of Learning

Summer has been a busy time for teachers and professional development providers all over California. This especially holds true for the California Science Project, (CSP), which this year engaged more than 800 K-12 teachers in professional learning institutes at 18 campus locations across the state.

As the Executive Director of the CSP network, I had the pleasure to visit most of these institutes and experience these professional opportunities as a learner as well as an observer. What I valued the most from these experiences was that for a few days I became part of a collaboration among science educators, scientists, and teacher participants in their efforts to build new knowledge around their practice of teaching science, and reflect how a new teaching practice may positively impact students’ understanding in the classroom. It is through these professional learning communities that participants are re-invigorated in their teaching career, and often exposed to ways of teaching that they may never have seen before.  (more…)

by Valerie Joyner

Betsy Fulwiler is the developer of the nationally recognized, “Expository Writing and Science Notebook Program,” a part of the Seattle Public School System.  She is a pioneer in the development of strategies for students to deepen their understanding of science through writing.

In 1996, with funding from the NSF, the Seattle’s Public System set out to make a systemic change from their Pre-K-5 science instruction to an Inquiry-Based Science Program throughout the district.  Fulwiler, an active participant in this reform effort, was excited to begin teaching her students using the new inquiry skills she had learned.  However, she found it challenging to teach her elementary students to write about science, and this marked the beginning of her journey to research and develop writing practices that encouraged analytical thinking in her students’ writing.  (more…)

by Pete A’Hearn

If you really want to get a leg up on the Next Generation Science Standards, then the place to be is the California Science Education Conference October this October 19^th to 21^st in San Jose.  The keynote speaker on Friday will be Dr. Helen Quinn, who is heading up the whole NGSS effort. There will also be a series of workshops for those looking to learn more about the NGSS. A Common Core State Standards strand will be offered as well, and those of you who have been closely following this blog know that there are some strong parallels between the two sets of standards.

Register for the conference at http://www.cascience.org/csta/conf_registration.asp.

Secondly, if you were one of those who participated in the public review of the NGSS in May and were wondering what happened to your feedback, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the California state reviewers (there are 70) and got some insights.  (more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl

Karis McFarlane is an environmental scientist who has been using radiocarbons to study and better understand the carbon cycle since 1999. By studying Earth’s carbon cycle—the exchange of carbon between the planet’s land, atmosphere, and oceans—scientists are trying to understand the role played by huge tropical rainforests such as the Amazon River basin. In particular, they want to determine how long an ecosystem stores atmospheric carbon dioxide in its plants, soils, and rivers. At the 2012 CSTA Conference, Karis McFarlane will discuss the ways radiocarbon is used to study carbon cycling in ecosystems, and why it’s unique and important for climate change. She will focus on the importance of understanding how much, and for how long, carbon is sequestered in soil, as well as the role it plays in the carbon cycle. Environmental science educators and other conference attendees will find this lecture informative and thought provoking. (more…)

by Laura Henriques

Learning Physics by Doing Physics

As California science teachers we’ve all heard of the Exploratorium, and I am hoping that most of us have had the pleasure of spending some time there. The Exploratorium is the Grand Dame of hands-on science museums. In addition to the wonderful facility, The Exploratorium hosts workshops for teachers, and publishes books. Their vision includes a focus on learners exploring and making sense of their world through inquiry. A key contributor to that exciting edifice of science education is 2012 California Science Education Conference Focus Speaker Paul Doherty. (more…)

by Bethany Dixon

Google “genius,” and you’ll get pictures of Albert Einstein. However, to bring genius into your classroom, attend the CSTA Opening Session and listen to Dr. Helen Quinn speak at the Marriot San Jose on October 19, at 9:15 a.m. Dr. Quinn is one of the few to have shared Einstein’s job title: as a theoretical physicist she proposed the near-symmetry of the universe and explained quark-hadron duality. You might say she has a proclivity for solving both large and small problems. To our great fortune she has also channeled her energy into improving science education. Dr. Quinn served as the Chairperson of the 18-member super-team (equally split between science and education experts and including two Nobel Prize winners) responsible for developing, “A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas.”  (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

12. Everyone who teaches is involved in science education. What better place to get up-to-date, California-focused information, than the California Science Education Conference?

11. There are great room rates at local hotels.

10. There will be a special short course and workshops devoted expressly to teaching science in primary grades (short course requires a ticket).

9. It’s fun.

8. Focus speakers will provide great insights into the science of our everyday lives.

7. Get the most current information about the Next Generation Science Standards.

6. Schmooze and shop with over 70 exhibitors and vendors for the newest cool science stuff.

5. Experience the thrill of sky diving without ever getting into an airplane. (Field course, requires a ticket) (more…)

by Michelle French and Valerie Joyner

CSTA recognizes that teachers of primary grades play an instrumental role in the delivery of high quality science education in California.  Like all curricular areas, a strong foundation in science is critical to ensure students develop the skills and concepts needed to succeed throughout their journey from kindergarten to high school.  According to A Framework for K-12 Science Education (2012), “There is ample opportunity to develop scientific thinking, argumentation, and reasoning in the context of familiar phenomena in grades K-2, and that is the experience that will best support science learning across the grades.”   (more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl

Over the past few months, you’ve been kept up to date about the ongoing planning for the 2012 California Science Education Conference that will be held in San Jose on October 19-21.  So far, we’ve shared registration information, an online brochure, and online scheduling.  Information about all of these can be found on the CSTA website.

Did you know that you can also view a map of the Conference Exhibit Hall and get information about vendors who have already booked booths? It’s easy! Just go the CSTA website, click on the 2012 Conference link, then Exhibit Hall, then Current Floor Plan. When you hover your mouse over booths marked in orange, the name of the organization that has purchased that booth will appear. Click on the booth to get more information such as links to the organization’s website and e-mail address.  (more…)

by Heather A. Wygant

The California Science Education Conference is in San Jose this year on October 19-21 2012, and we’d love for you to join us for Professional Development, collaboration with science teachers across the state, and fun field trips!  This year we have four field trips planned:

Then, on Saturday, October 20 we have, “Monterey Bay Aquarium Visit,” and on Sunday, October 21 we have, “Living Wetlands- Environmental Education,” at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.  (more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl

Back by popular demand are the On-line Program Book and Personal Scheduler for the annual California Science Educators Conference.  Clicking on the conference logo on the lower left on the CSTA website will take you to the 2012 California Science Education Conference and then to the On-line Program Book and Personal Scheduler.  Currently you can see lists and descriptions of Short Courses, Field Courses, General Sessions, Meal Events, and Evening Events that will be part of the 2012 California Science Education Conference October 19-21 in San Jose. The schedule of Workshops will be available in August.  Using the Personal Scheduler, you can plan your time at the Conference as well as see other CSTA members who are attending the events with you.    (more…)

You can now register extra early for the 2012 California Science Education Conference in San Jose. This is a great option for those teachers looking to use some of this year’s unspent funds to attend the conference in the fall. This option is only available using the early registration form available for download by clicking here. Because this is early registration, and not all of the details have been finalized, ticketed events are not available for registration. Ticketed events will be available for purchase when registration officially opens on June 1. (more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl

By the time the California Science Education Conference is held in San Jose, October 19-21, the Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) will be nearing its final draft.  In anticipation of the interest science educators will have regarding the standards, the California Science Teachers Association will provide an NGSS strand during their annual conference.

Helen Quinn Photo Credit: Dan Quinn

The opening keynote speaker will be Helen Quinn, Emerita Professor of Physics at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.  Helen Quinn assisted in the development of the California State Science Standards and was the chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on a Conceptual Framework for New K-12 Science Education Standards, the committee that authored A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Dr. Quinn is an authority on the Framework, the document that is guiding the development of the NGSS.

(more…)

by Lisa Hegdahl
Planning for the 2012 California Science Education Conference, to be held October 19-21, 2012 in San Jose is well under way. Reviews of Short Course proposals, communications with prospective guest speakers, and contracts with host hotels are all near completion.  Now it is your turn to get involved in the planning.

Instead of simply attending the California Science Education Conference, why not present a workshop?  It’s easy!  Think of all the amazing teaching that happens daily in your classroom, then share just one grade level specific lesson or strategy with fellow educators. Teachers, informal educators, university professors, professional developers, and other members of the science education community are invited to submit workshop proposals.

Not only do workshop presenters receive the fulfillment that comes from inspiring classroom teachers, CSTA provides one complimentary conference registration to the lead presenter of a workshop who is a member in good standing of CSTA through November 1, 2012. (See the CSTA website for information regarding non-CSTA members and co-presenters). The CSTA website also contains details regarding the workshop proposal review process, tips for writing a successful proposal, and information on how workshop presenters will be notified. But don’t wait – workshop proposals are due March 6.  To submit a proposal, log on to the CSTA website here. (more…)

by Rick Pomeroy

By the time this article hits the e-waves, you will have missed one of the great opportunities to get something for nothing. Well maybe not nothing but definitely for free. With a little planning, you won’t miss the next chance.

By now, you maybe wondering, “What is he talking about?” You guessed it, short course and workshop proposals for the 2012 California Science Education Conference to be held October 19-21, 2012 in San Jose.  It has been the policy of CSTA to offer members free conference registration to the lead presenter of each short course and each workshop offered at the annual conference.  As I have eluded to in the opening paragraph, the deadline for submission of proposals for 3 and 6 hour short courses was midnight, January 31, but the deadline for one-hour workshops isn’t until March 6.  This means that you still have a chance for a free registration to the 2012 conference (approximately $100 value).

For many attendees, the offer of free registration makes the difference between being able to attend the conference and not attending.  From what I have been told, this is not just a monetary issue, though $100 is nothing to sneeze at.  Presenting at a conference is an example of professionalism. Sharing what you do and what you have learned, is one of the highest forms of service that teachers can perform. Some administrators recognize the value of your involvement in a conference as a presenter and thus are more likely to approve of and in some cases support your conference attendance. (more…)