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Safety Blog

Preschool–Grade 2 Science/Engineering Hands-On Activity Safety Protocols

By Ken Roy

Posted on 2024-04-19

Preschool–Grade 2 Science/Engineering Hands-On Activity Safety Protocols

 

Suminoe Oysters Redux

A Continuing Case of Environmental Rehabilitation

By Matthew L. Simon

Suminoe Oysters Redux

 

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 23, 2024

By Debra Shapiro

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 23, 2024

 

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 16, 2024

By Debra Shapiro

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 16, 2024

 

Legislative Update

Congress Finalizes FY24 Funding; ESSER Funding; and State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024

By NSTA Legislative Affairs and Advocacy Team

Posted on 2024-04-11

Congress Finalizes FY24 Funding; ESSER Funding; and State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024

 

Program Evaluation in Formal and Informal STEM Learning Environments

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

Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
 

Best Practices for STEM-Focused Mobile Instructional Spaces

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

By , ,

Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content. In this article, we describe three best practices (creating a shared culture, fostering agency, and offering multiple pathways for engagement) for operating a STEM-focused mobile instructional space with K–12 students and teachers. We developed these best practices based on our own extensive work with two STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces, the BioBus and the MakerTruck. These practices have the potential to inform the work of formal and informal STEM educators who also operate mobile instructional spaces. Next steps for cementing the unique role STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces play in bridging the gap between in-school and out-of-school learning are discussed.
Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content.
Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content.
 

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.
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