Nsta san francisco 2011

The latest in science content, teaching strategy, and research to enhance and expand your professional growth Take advantage of this unique opportunity to collaborate with science education leaders and your peers.

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Nature of Exploration , 3. Science Education , 4. The Earth , 5. Space Science. At a time when it should be the birthright of all students to an education. At a time when America must inspire its next generation of scientists and. I agree deeply with this assessment see , e. Yet a significant systemic response has been to elevate testing to the point where one has to question whether testing still serves education, or education now serves testing.

I am absolutely convinced that denying a joyful classroom to students AND teachers is not the road to success. And at this critical time for American education, there is a perfect storm. Severe budget cuts at the State and local levels have placed great stress on our school systems … and caused deep anxiety for our educators. And that the joy of teaching must always be the wellspring for all of our teachers who are so dedicated to passing a piece of themselves to the next generation.

We are a family … a family of educators. And in trying times, families come together so that the moral support of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. An NSTA conference is about family. The future of America rests in our ability to train the next generation of scientists and engineers, make sure we open high technology job sectors that embrace graduates with good jobs, and work toward a more scientifically literate public so that we the people can make informed decisions.

The aim is science education as conceptual understanding at an emotional level read About this Blog. And these essays address a range of topics across the Earth and space strand, including: climate change, solar system studies, history of exploration, and studies of the greater universe.

So … I invite you to grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and read some essays that I hope will provide brave new insights into our world, and how to joyfully bring them into the classroom. I also invite you, if you are so moved, to leave a comment below! Every parent remembers that magical time when our children first began to speak, that moment marking the beginning of an unending flow of questions.

In our children we can see our humanity — our innate curiosity — and recognize the obvious … that we are born to explore! Science, in all its seeming complexity, is nothing but a means to organize curiosity.

It is an emotional, joyful, and wondrous journey that hopefully allows the traveler to pull back the veil of nature just a little, see how she operates, and celebrate the accomplishment. Science education is no different. It is the means by which we immerse our children in the act of journey by letting them do science, and acknowledging it is their journey.

It is one of the language s to communicate patterns. This is an unprecedented moment in our world history and science. Science requires math, sure. But science also takes creativity, courage, collaboration, and community. In short, it takes integrated thinking and a tolerance for ambiguity. It requires one to seek evidence to support challenging questions. She saw patterns, and problems, and had the courage to speak up. I see parallels between Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle, who knew that the United States did not have much time and was unwilling to wait to test Seattle Flu Study samples for the Coronavirus.

Data is changing daily. New information informs new protocols and new policies. There is much ambiguity. Students reflected on those acts of courage and creativity exhibited by her and other notable women in math and science throughout the movie. Thus, we also explored barriers due to racism and sexism. There are a few other important heroes in integrated thinking and courageous communication. My lifelong hero, Dr. Her patience and persistence in observing wild chimpanzees use tools redefined what it means to be human.

Greta Thunberg leads a movement of youth activists through her courageous school strike for the climate and encourages us all to unitebehindthescience. These three women are heroes of science and action for a better planet. This current pandemic also requires creative solutions, tolerance of ambiguity, and integrated thinking. Middle school is an important time to develop a tolerance for ambiguity, and it seems we have the collective opportunity to develop this skill in young people now, since there is no precedent for what we are going through, and how to guide our young scientists through this time.

We have to be solutionaries. Even I curated a few tips and ideas for teaching a tolerance of ambiguity, maintaining and developing routines, and activities for integrated thinking and independence in this blog. Yet, despite all the resources, I think that this is an incredible opportunity for children to be bored enough to come up with their own ideas, without screen time obviously.

This is an unprecedented time where they are NOT required to be followers, sit in desks and rows, and follow directions, or follow some YouTube or Instagram. This this is a time where they can be leaders , discover their own passions, and develop skills, tools and strategies to grow them.

One does not go about a day and have a particular language arts experience or social studies experience or a math experience. Learning is all integrated. This is an incredible time to wonder, to watch, to ask questions, and then make more observations, like Jane did.

To gather data like Dr. Mona did and read, write, draw, design, and communicate like Rachel and Greta. So if there is anything that you can do to support your students in the weeks ahead, it may be to simply rediscover wonder.

It may require slowing down, hunkering down, listening to their interests, allowing young people the time to think, to tinker.