DIY Podcasts Available from NASA

Are you looking for a new approach to engage your students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics? NASA's Do-It-Yourself Podcast activity sets the stage for students to host a show that features astronauts training for missions, doing experiments in space or demonstrating equipment. We'll provide a set of audio and video clips along with photos and information about a space-related topic. You and your students may choose as many items as you want to include in your project and download them to your computer. Students may use the information we provide or conduct their own research to write a script for an audio or video production.

Full information is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/diypodcast/index.html

Imagine, Design, Build Workshop Photos

ITEA member Bill Van Loo recently attended the Imagine, Design, Build workshop in Michigan and graciously shared the following photos. They are definitely worth a look.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Imagine,+Design,+Build

President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan Announce National Competition to Advance School Reform

Between the 2009 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more than $10 billion in grant money will be available to states and districts that are driving reform.

For more information:

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07242009.html

Top 5 Ways Nature Has Inspired Technology

From "How Stuff Works" - the Top 5 Ways Nature Has Inspired Technology.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/earth/green-technology/sustainable/community/5-ways-nature-inspired-technology.htm

Submitted by Jared Bitting of Pennsylvania.

STEM Educators Day

The following was submitted by "guest blogger" Dave Janosz of the New Jersey Technology Education Association:

July 15, 2009

A number of folks from New Jersey were invited to attend a special event titled “STEM Educators Day” hosted by NJ Representative Rush Holt. The agenda for the day was more than interesting. The speakers included several members of Congress (Holt, McNerny, Honda, Ehlers), the advisor to the House Education and Labor committee, and an advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education, among others.

Much information was shared, which shed light on important initiatives on the federal level at the moment. Here are some things that came up through the course of the day which may be worth some of your attention in the coming days and months:

H.R. 1709 “STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009”
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1709:

SPEAK Act
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3699

SMART Grants (student aid)
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/SmartGrants.jsp

Teacher Incentive Fund
http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/index.html

No Child Left Inside Act
http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=CA3BDF3E-5056-A868-A0A176C5FB74B49E

President Honors Math, Science, Engineering Teachers Mentors
http://ostp.gov/

Race to the Top Initiative of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/implementation.html

What Works and Innovation Fund
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/program-plan&program_id=7604

NGA Common Core State Standards Development
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=60e20e4d3d132210VgnVCM1000005e00100aRCRD


July 16, 2009

NJTEA President Chris Anderson and I attended two meetings with staffers from the offices of our two U.S. Senators, Menendez and Lautenberg. It was relatively easy to contact their offices and set up these meetings. All I had to do was give them a call and let them know I’d be in DC on this particular day and I’d like to meet with someone in the office that normally deals with education policy issues. While there is not much going in the Senate right now relative to STEM education, I do consider the individuals we met with important points of contact if needed in the future.

Public Launch of the U.S. STEM Education Model

Below is a link to a number of resources pertaining to the Business-Higher Education Forum's recent launch of a STEM Education Model. The launch took place on July 8 at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

Materials from the event are available for download from:

http://www.stemnetwork.org/events/model.html

Posted by Katie de la Paz

"Innovation, Motherhood, and Apple Pie"

An interview with the author of "Innovation, Motherhood, and Apple Pie." He provides a thought-provoking perspective on what constitutes "innovation" as well as the importance of differentiating between "effective" and "ineffective" innovations.

http://www.publicschoolinsights.org/does-slow-and-steady-win-race-conversation-top-researcher-grover-russ-whitehurst

Engaging young people in STEM is a community job

A private sector executive discusses the importance of the private and public sectors working together to encourage students to enter STEM careers.

"Following the passionate and constructive dialogue between the panel and the more than 150 business and technology leaders in attendance, Massachusetts Lt. Governor Timothy Murray announced that Governor Deval Patrick would file an Executive Order creating the Governor's STEM Coordinating Council. This is an exciting opportunity and tremendous first step toward coordinating statewide initiatives to innovate STEM education."

The full article is posted at: http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2009/06/29/editorial2-engaging-young-people-in-STEM-is-a-community-job.html.

Posted by Katie de la Paz

New Education Materials Available Online at NASA.gov

Among the just-released materials, NASA and ITEA present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build, and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers - while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. The lesson plans in this guide encourage students to participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.

For a listing of new materials, with links, go to:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31639

Posted by Katie de la Paz