Colleague AI

Colleague AI is an educational platform in which AI assistants act as knowledgeable colleagues for educators and friendly buddies for learners, especially in science. The company’s technology closely aligns with the NGSS and individual state science learning standards, embedding the research-based science education practices into the latest AI models. Colleague AI’s research and development has been funded by federal awards from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Teachers can try the company’s cutting-edge, specialized AI technologies, which aim to improve teachers’ efficiency and student learning outcomes in science education, at no charge, and request a demo.

Colleague AI also offers free monthly webinars to help teachers learn hands-on AI skills and integration of AI in daily tasks, including lesson planning, project design and rubric development, AI-assisted grading and student feedback, professional development, and school leadership. 

Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the School Garden

Discussion of culture is often overlooked in garden-based education programs. To address that void, KidsGardening has created a curriculum, Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the School Garden, that incorporates cultural studies with garden-based education. Targeted for grades K–6, the curriculum features lesson plans, growing guides, worksheets, and more to familiarize educators with the pedagogical principles behind cultural inclusion in garden education. The curriculum also aims to honor plants that are culturally significant from different cultural groups around the globe—such as corn, fava beans, collard greens, ginger, and rice—in school gardens. (Free e-mail registration is required to download the materials.)

Where to Next: Exploring STEM Careers Kahoot!

Did you know that the most common STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) occupation is software developer? This Kahoot! game helps high school students channel their curiosity by using data from the U.S. Census Bureau to learn about different STEM careers. Players learn facts like average salaries in various STEM fields; the number of people in the United States working in select STEM professions; industry demographics; and more. The final item on the 23-question quiz is an interactive graph detailing additional trends in STEM. 

ORISE Heart of STEM Lesson Plan Competition

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to see how you show the Heart of STEM in your classroom by sharing your lesson plans about teaching empathy and compassion in STEM topics/fields. Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit a unique STEM lesson plan that incorporates teaching empathy and compassion in any STEM topics/fields. Three teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive prizes including an iPad 10th Generation and an Apple Pencil. (Deadline February 28)

Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science 

All day on February 11, World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants will feature women scientists from WWF discussing their conservation work and answering questions from viewers. Each of the day’s events is open to all and free of charge, and the talks will be livestreamed on Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants’ YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/exploringbytheseatofyourpants.

Strawbees STEAM LaunchPad Grant Program

K–8 teachers, STEAM Coordinators, STEAM Directors, and leaders in school districts across the United States are invited to apply for this grant program, which includes free online training and a Strawbees STEAM Starter Kit for the entire teaching team. This introductory kit includes an activity booklet and poster, as well as color-coded building straws and connectors. In addition, many creative curriculum-aligned lessons and activities are available online in the Strawbees Classroom.

Six school districts will be chosen for the program based on how many educators from the districts apply. Preference will be given to districts that are new to Strawbees and districts with the potential of a larger STEAM implementation at the district level. Apply by March 31.

Exploratorium’s Summer Institute for Teachers

Spend three weeks (June 16–July 3) at San Francisco’s Exploratorium learning how to introduce more inquiry into your classroom. Delve into inquiry-based science, explore exhibits, engage in hands-on activities and discussions, and participate in a supportive community of fellow educators. Participation includes a $2,500 stipend for completion of the institute, lifelong membership in a collaborative community of science teachers, ongoing opportunities for alumni workshops and institutes, and special access to online resources. Apply by March 3.