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A Safer “Flubber” Recipe

Connected Science Learning March/April 2024 (Volume 6, Issue 2)

By , , , ,

A material commonly known as Flubber, with properties that are excellent for teaching about glaciers, has been widely used in geosciences education. Yet, the original recipe contains borax, which has health risks that should be avoided. A new recipe is shared containing low-cost, readily available ingredients that produces a reformulated Flubber with properties similar to the original without the associated health risks.
A material commonly known as Flubber, with properties that are excellent for teaching about glaciers, has been widely used in geosciences education. Yet, the original recipe contains borax, which has health risks that should be avoided. A new recipe is shared containing low-cost, readily available ingredients that produces a reformulated Flubber with properties similar to the original without the associated health risks.
A material commonly known as Flubber, with properties that are excellent for teaching about glaciers, has been widely used in geosciences education. Yet, the original recipe contains borax, which has health risks that should be avoided. A new recipe is shared containing low-cost, readily available ingredients that produces a reformulated Flubber with properties similar to the original without the associated health risks.
 

How Do You Sample a Frozen River?

Connected Science Learning March/April 2024 (Volume 6, Issue 2)

By , , , , , , ,

Through the Sediment, Ice, & Learning on the Tanana (SILT) project, a team of university scientists engaged two middle school student groups in testing innovative environmental research technologies to measure sediment flowing underneath river ice. The culturally responsive, place-based pilot program tests these technologies as a strategy to increase students’ science interest and science self-efficacy. Over a series of three workshops, 39 students built and deployed low-cost turbidity sensors to measure sediment flowing underneath river ice and designed model payload attachment systems to attach the sensors to drones for measuring sediment fluxes during spring river ice breakup. Students’ changes in science interest and self-efficacy were measured using both a true pre- and post-program survey and a retrospective pre-program survey.
Through the Sediment, Ice, & Learning on the Tanana (SILT) project, a team of university scientists engaged two middle school student groups in testing innovative environmental research technologies to measure sediment flowing underneath river ice. The culturally responsive, place-based pilot program tests these technologies as a strategy to increase students’ science interest and science self-efficacy.
Through the Sediment, Ice, & Learning on the Tanana (SILT) project, a team of university scientists engaged two middle school student groups in testing innovative environmental research technologies to measure sediment flowing underneath river ice. The culturally responsive, place-based pilot program tests these technologies as a strategy to increase students’ science interest and science self-efficacy.
 

Changing Elementary Students’ Environmental-Based Attitudes Using an Outdoor Learning Experience: Watershed Investigations

Connected Science Learning March/April 2024 (Volume 6, Issue 2)

By , ,

The Learning Team at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa received funding in 2014 to create and conduct a long-term outdoor learning experience for Hillsborough County, Florida, fifth-grade students. The program was designed with four parts to optimize students’ experiences in their local watershed, including both classroom and field activities. This study examined learning gains and trends in student attitudes related to watershed topics. Via pre- and post-assessment, data suggests that students increased their knowledge through this program, and their atti-tudes became more positive about being able to effect change regarding climate change but not as much when it came to their confidence that they could make an impact on their local waterways. This study provides a strong example of how an informal learning environment can improve knowledge and attitudes of elementary students through an outdoor experience.
The Learning Team at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa received funding in 2014 to create and conduct a long-term outdoor learning experience for Hillsborough County, Florida, fifth-grade students. The program was designed with four parts to optimize students’ experiences in their local watershed, including both classroom and field activities. This study examined learning gains and trends in student attitudes related to watershed topics.
The Learning Team at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa received funding in 2014 to create and conduct a long-term outdoor learning experience for Hillsborough County, Florida, fifth-grade students. The program was designed with four parts to optimize students’ experiences in their local watershed, including both classroom and field activities. This study examined learning gains and trends in student attitudes related to watershed topics.
 

Engaging STEM Learners of All Ages: A University, Community, and K–12 Solar Eclipse Outreach Partnership

Connected Science Learning March/April 2024 (Volume 6, Issue 2)

By , ,

Solar eclipses are a rare phenomenon that everyone should have the opportunity to explore in depth. This article describes two programs developed by a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach center with the goal of bringing the excitement of eclipses to all learners. The STEM outreach center collaborated with local schools to provide a learning opportunity about eclipses in the weeks leading up to the October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse, and with a local library to provide a free public viewing event for the eclipse. Students and community members engaged in various activities including modeling lunar phases and eclipses, learning about why and how often eclipses happen in a mobile planetarium, exploring magnetism and sunspots with the use of a solar telescope, and measuring and graphing light intensity and ultraviolet radiation throughout the solar eclipse. Post-event evaluations and anecdotal evidence indicate that participants could make connections on a variety of topics including how sunspots occur; why eclipses are predictable; and the differences between annular, total, and partial eclipses. The article also includes adaptations for classroom teachers and other STEM outreach centers to use the ideas presented here for the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.
Solar eclipses are a rare phenomenon that everyone should have the opportunity to explore in depth. This article describes two programs developed by a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach center with the goal of bringing the excitement of eclipses to all learners. The STEM outreach center collaborated with local schools to provide a learning opportunity about eclipses in the weeks leading up to the October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse, and with a local library to provide a free public viewing event for the eclipse.
Solar eclipses are a rare phenomenon that everyone should have the opportunity to explore in depth. This article describes two programs developed by a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach center with the goal of bringing the excitement of eclipses to all learners. The STEM outreach center collaborated with local schools to provide a learning opportunity about eclipses in the weeks leading up to the October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse, and with a local library to provide a free public viewing event for the eclipse.
 

Transition Complete! So What’s Next?

Connected Science Learning March/April 2024

From the outside, it may not have seemed like a big deal, but transitioning the NSTA journals to an external publisher was a complex process. Of course it was worth it. New features such as DOI numbers, the ability to download and print PDFs of articles, and citation statistics (to name a few) as well as the increased functionality and added support for all stages of the publishing process truly mean that CSL has leveled up. Thank you to everyone—authors, reviewers, readers, and NSTA—for all you have done to grow CSL from its first issue in 2016 to a full-fledged member of NSTA’s suite of journals. So what’s next? We have a slate of compelling issues for the rest of 2024.
From the outside, it may not have seemed like a big deal, but transitioning the NSTA journals to an external publisher was a complex process. Of course it was worth it. New features such as DOI numbers, the ability to download and print PDFs of articles, and citation statistics (to name a few) as well as the increased functionality and added support for all stages of the publishing process truly mean that CSL has leveled up.
From the outside, it may not have seemed like a big deal, but transitioning the NSTA journals to an external publisher was a complex process. Of course it was worth it. New features such as DOI numbers, the ability to download and print PDFs of articles, and citation statistics (to name a few) as well as the increased functionality and added support for all stages of the publishing process truly mean that CSL has leveled up.
 

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 9, 2024

By Debra Shapiro

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 9, 2024

Archive: Science Update: Wildfires: Science and Technology, June 13, 2024

Wildfires have become an emerging issue of natural disasters in the U.S. For example, the 2023 Hawaii Maui Island Wildfire claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed almost all buildings on the island. Recent wildfires in Texas also burned hundreds of homes, killed thousands of livestock, and destroyed crops, grasslands, and ranching infrastructure due to the massive smoke and extreme heat.

Wildfires have become an emerging issue of natural disasters in the U.S. For example, the 2023 Hawaii Maui Island Wildfire claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed almost all buildings on the island. Recent wildfires in Texas also burned hundreds of homes, killed thousands of livestock, and destroyed crops, grasslands, and ranching infrastructure due to the massive smoke and extreme heat.

Wildfires have become an emerging issue of natural disasters in the U.S. For example, the 2023 Hawaii Maui Island Wildfire claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed almost all buildings on the island. Recent wildfires in Texas also burned hundreds of homes, killed thousands of livestock, and destroyed crops, grasslands, and ranching infrastructure due to the massive smoke and extreme heat.

Wildfires have become an emerging issue of natural disasters in the U.S. For example, the 2023 Hawaii Maui Island Wildfire claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed almost all buildings on the island. Recent wildfires in Texas also burned hundreds of homes, killed thousands of livestock, and destroyed crops, grasslands, and ranching infrastructure due to the massive smoke and extreme heat.

Archive: Science Update: National Marine Sanctuaries as Models of Science-Based Ocean Climate Action, October 10, 2024

Climate change presents a distinct challenge for ocean and coastal place-based managers. The complexity of marine ecosystems, coupled with the difficulty of both direct observations and swift management interventions in the ocean, necessitates a purposeful, science-based planning approach to inform successful adaptive management.

Climate change presents a distinct challenge for ocean and coastal place-based managers. The complexity of marine ecosystems, coupled with the difficulty of both direct observations and swift management interventions in the ocean, necessitates a purposeful, science-based planning approach to inform successful adaptive management.

Climate change presents a distinct challenge for ocean and coastal place-based managers. The complexity of marine ecosystems, coupled with the difficulty of both direct observations and swift management interventions in the ocean, necessitates a purposeful, science-based planning approach to inform successful adaptive management.

Climate change presents a distinct challenge for ocean and coastal place-based managers. The complexity of marine ecosystems, coupled with the difficulty of both direct observations and swift management interventions in the ocean, necessitates a purposeful, science-based planning approach to inform successful adaptive management.

Archive: FA24: Lab Safety Considerations for Pre-Service Secondary Science/STEM Teachers, October 21, 2024

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing secondary-level safer science/STEM laboratory activities. The presenters will be Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/Specialist and Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Glastonbury (CT) Public Schools, and NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District in Rockaway, New Jersey.

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing secondary-level safer science/STEM laboratory activities. The presenters will be Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/Specialist and Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Glastonbury (CT) Public Schools, and NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District in Rockaway, New Jersey.

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing secondary-level safer science/STEM laboratory activities. The presenters will be Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/Specialist and Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Glastonbury (CT) Public Schools, and NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District in Rockaway, New Jersey.

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing secondary-level safer science/STEM laboratory activities. The presenters will be Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/Specialist and Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Glastonbury (CT) Public Schools, and NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District in Rockaway, New Jersey.

Archive: FA24: Lab Safety Considerations for Pre-Service Elementary Science/STEM Teachers, October 7, 2024

Elementary Pre-service Teachers!

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing elementary level safer science/STEM classroom/laboratory activities with Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/specialist and, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District, NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson will also be presenting.

Elementary Pre-service Teachers!

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing elementary level safer science/STEM classroom/laboratory activities with Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/specialist and, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District, NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson will also be presenting.

Elementary Pre-service Teachers!

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing elementary level safer science/STEM classroom/laboratory activities with Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/specialist and, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District, NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson will also be presenting.

Elementary Pre-service Teachers!

This interactive web seminar will begin with an overview of safety protocols specific for doing elementary level safer science/STEM classroom/laboratory activities with Dr. Ken Roy, NSTA and NSELA Safety Compliance Advisor/specialist and, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). In addition, Dr. Kevin Doyle of Morris Hills Regional School District, NSTA Safety Advisory Board Chairperson will also be presenting.

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