NWESD Science Announcements and Opportunities

Climate Science 3.0: Modeling and Student Explanations   The January Cohort is NOW open for Registration   Course Description : In this FREE online asynchronous Canvas Course, attendees will learn a protocol for developing and using models as a means for students to explain their thinking and understanding of scientific concepts. In this context of the course, the protocol will be applied to a climate science topic. With regard to NGSS alignment, the course focuses on the practice "Developing and Using Models", as well as "Constructing Explanations" within the dimension "Science and Engineering Practices". Upon completion, participants can earn 10 STEM clock hours. January Cohort participants will need to commit between 6 to 10 hours in order to complete all lessons The course is open from January 1, 2021 7:00 AM to January 29, 2021 5:00 PM All January wait listed participants will be offered placement in the February or Mar...

Good Morning,   In case you missed our presentation at NSTA's fall virtual conference Engage20, our information and materials are attached for you to review and share with k-12 science educators. Teachers may apply for both the Shell awards and the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge.   You or your colleagues may also nominate teachers for these awards anonymously by following the links provided.   Copied on this e-mail is Ruth Ruud, the lead judge of the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge competition who is available for mentoring and can answer additional questions.   NSTA and Shell are fueling success with students. The Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge Competition will provide lab resources and professional development for k-12 teachers who need a new science lab.  This program is for teachers in regions across the U.S., such as Mobile, AL, Monaca PA, Puget Sound WA, Louisiana, Kermit and Houston TX, and CA....

Are you tired of students just trying to get a grade and not learning science? Using Modeling Instruction, we will develop the pedagogical framework to Get students to think hard Develop equitable practices in the classroom Bring joy back into teaching In our Distance Learning course, we will delve into the Modeling Cycle, its basis in cognitive science, and the practical ways that teachers use Modeling Instruction in the science classroom. This course will sample Life Sciences and Physical Sciences in order to explore the Modeling pedagogy through multiple content lenses. By utilizing both student mode and teacher mode, participants will use readings, virtual whiteboarding, discussions, and reflections to engage in Modeling practices that will lead to improved student learning. Day : Sundays from 4-7 pm (EST), except February 7, which will be 1-4 (EST) (PST = EST - 3) Duration : 15 weeks, January 10 - May 2, 2021 Costs : $750 for current AMTA members; $82...

For high school students who are passionate about biology or are interested in growing their experiences,  the USA Biolympiad (USABO) is a national and international competition open to all 9-12 students.      The competition has four tiers. The first tier, 50-minute Open Exam, is open to all students nationwide . In the second tier, the top 500 students in the USA from Tier 1 sit for a 2-hour exam to determine the top 20 students in the USA. These 20 students identified as National Finalists move forward to the third tier of the National Finals, a two-week training program with lectures, discussions and hands-on lab training conducted with instructors from top level universities which include Stanford, MIT, UC San Diego, George Washington University and others. Students are evaluated during this portion and the top four students compete against 80 other countries in Tier 4 International Biology Olympiad (IBO).   Students at each ...

Hello all!   NCESD 171 (Wenatchee) are excited to offer some ESD Remote Learning professional learning around Desmos.   Participants will experience the different tools and activities Desmos has to offer for K-5 & 6-12 virtual learning and in class instruction. These activities are grounded in the science and mathematical practices, and some time will be given to search the many resources available for teachers in multiple content areas.   Registration is now open for the following dates:   Science/Math: Using Desmos in Your Elementary Virtual Setting (ERL) 10/26/2020; 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (pdEnroller #108279) 10/28/2020, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (pdEnroller #108290 – repeat of 10/26) 10/29/2020, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (pdEnroller #108291 – repeat of 10/26)   Science/Math: Using Desmos in Your Secondary Virtual Setting (ERL) 12/14/2020; 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (pdEnroller #108295) 12/16/2020; 1...

📚 Materials You Can Share with Your Colleagues! Today, we're excited to share our latest FREE instructional materials, COVID-19 & Health Equity units for 3-5 and High School science educators. Our K-2 unit will be released on September 30th and we will share that with you too!   As community members, we hope that you will consider sharing these new units with colleagues and friends who lead or teach at the 3-5 and High School level. Some information for you... Grades 3-5 Unit: "How can we make decisions to care for ourselves, our families, and our communities?"  These ready-to-use materials were developed in partnership with NextGen Science Storylines (at Northwestern University), Learning in Places (at Northwestern University and University of Washington), and curre...

2020 UW's PCC Climate Change Biology Teacher-Scientist Workshop (Sept. 21, 23, and 25 3:30-5:30pm Pacific Time) Free, including 6 STEM clock hours. A virtual (zoom) interactive workshop. We will be preparing participants to incorporate the  lessons and visualizations from the Trench-Ed resource  into their teaching, including: Metabolic Impacts of Climate Change : Use historic climate data and the temperature dependence of metabolism to compare climate impacts between temperate and tropical regions.   Energy Budgets : Use weather and terrain data to explore how an energy budget is constructed and use it to estimate an organism's body temperature. Robomussels : Use data from biomimetic temperature sensors to explore how organisms experience climate. Butterfly Museum Specimens : Use data from museum specimens to explore how temperature influences morphology and phenology. Wildflower Phenology : Use historical and resurvey data to explore ...