Category Archives: STEM
Thursday, April 25, 2013 This Week in Pictures
This week, area educators and students at a distance took advantage of the educational resources offered by Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis in areas like Special Education, Early Childhood Education, STEM, U.S. History, School-wide Positive Behavior Support and Common Core State Standards. To see what’s coming up on the professional development schedule, visit www.csd.org/pd_programs.
Tags: Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis, Common Core State Standards, Cooperating School Districts, early childhood education, School-wide Positive Behavior Support, Special Education, St. Louis RPDC, STEM, U.S. History
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 This Summer, Attend a Tech Boot Camp!
Learn more about Cooperating School Districts’ summer educational technology workshops, like the boot camp
with Meg Ormiston, by clicking on the image below.
Tags: Cooperating School Districts, Meg Ormiston, Common Core State Standards, Understanding by Design®, Microsoft Tools, Next Generation Assessments
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- Posted under Uncategorized, podcast, Web 2.0, Moodle, webinar, STEM, Common Core, Literacy, Learning Division programs
Monday, March 18, 2013 The Science Behind Weather Forecasting
We’ve all watched the local TV weatherperson & wondered just what they do to create the forecast they give us. What equipment do they use? What kind of training do they need? How do they determine when conditions are ripe for certain types of storms, whether temperatures will rise or fall, whether or not they should break into TV programs to provide a breaking weather update? What is the science behind forecasting?
Join HEC-TV Live! on April 4 to interact with St. Louis’ KTVI Fox2 meteorologist Chris Higgins to take a tour of his weather studio and find out what goes into creating a forecast. The program will focus on two very different spring days of actual St. Louis weather—one with clear skies and temperatures in the sixties and one where conditions produced dangerous storms and tornadoes. How were the forecasts created? What technology was used to follow the changing weather conditions on that stormy day? What conditions forced the announcement of a tornado watch and later a tornado warning? How does Mr. Higgins read that Doppler Radar and pinpoint where the tornado is located? How does he take what he has learned and translate into understandable language for every TV viewer? Enroll in “The Science Behind Weather Forecasting” videoconference by March 28 to find out the answers to these questions and more.
After enrolling for the program, you will receive pre-program materials that include website resources, information on the two actual weather days that will be used as examples during the program, and pre-program worksheets designed to get your students thinking about the topic of weather forecasting and creating questions they most want to ask Mr. Higgins. If you wish to participate as an interactive school, be sure to note the deadline for returning these pre-program worksheets to us so we can incorporate your student comments and questions into the program.
Date: April 4, 2013
Times: 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time
Grade Levels: 4-8
Cost: no fee, but please register online
Tags: Creative Commons, Distance Learning, Flickr, HEC-TV Live!, KTVI, STEM, weather
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- Posted under Collaborations, Digital Media, Distance Learning, Links, STEM, Videoconferencing
Friday, March 15, 2013 UbD & CCSS Summer Institute
[Post updated April 4 with registration links! Enroll today!]
Grant Wiggins
is the President of Authentic Education in Hopewell, New Jersey. Dr. Wiggins and his AE colleagues consult with schools, districts, state and national education departments on a variety of reform matters. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Wiggins has worked on some of the most influential reform initiatives in the world. He earned his Ed.D. from Harvard University and his B.A. from St. John’s College in Annapolis, and is perhaps best known for being the co-author, with Jay McTighe, of Understanding by Design®, the award-winning and highly successful program and set of materials on curriculum design used all over the world; and of Schooling by Design. This summer, Dr. Wiggins comes to St. Louis to offer two, three-day institutes on Common Core State Standards and Understanding by Design®. Discussion points will include: framing the CCSS Math and ELA curriculum; integrating the CCSS ELA Standards into Science and Social Studies classrooms; and what Common Core learning looks like in the classroom and how leaders foster it.Two sets of dates to select from:
- June 10, 11 & 12* at Fox School District
2 days of small group sessions with AE Consultants and local experts, including lead presenter Grant Wiggins. June 12* is an optional 3rd day of collaborative work with institute participants
- July 8, 9 & 10* at Ritenour School District
2 days of small group sessions with AE Consultants and local experts, including Grant Wiggins. July 10* is an optional 3rd day of collaborative work with institute participants
Tags: Authentic Education, Common Core State Standards, Cooperating School Districts, Grant Wiggins, Jay McTighe, Schooling by Design, summer PD, Understanding by Design®
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- Posted under Collaborations, Common Core, Learning Division programs, STEM
Friday, March 1, 2013 February 2013 Top Reads
Here are the top five blog posts for the past month on The Connected Classroom — have you read them?
(1) Students Front & Center @ METC 2013
(2) February 11: Best Practices Conference
(3) Announcing the Winning 2012 Show-Me Movies
(4) Reinventing Project-Based Learning
(5) Free Opportunities for Teachers this Week in St. Louis
Tags: best practices, Cooperating School Districts, METC, PBL, project-based learning, Show Me a Movie
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Connect to Panama and Learn about Wetlands from Experts
We wanted to share this upcoming free opportunity, perfect for science classrooms! On March 8, just go to the WetlandsLIVE homepage and click on the webcast link to connect to the Bay of Panama and learn how wetlands connect us. A web chat will follow & students can ask questions of wetland experts.
• Webcast of “Wetland Connections”: 1-1:30 p.m. ET/ 12-12:30 p.m. CT
• Web chat with experts: 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET/ 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT
Birds, fish, and other migratory species don’t recognize state or international borders and need wetlands and habitats located in many states and countries in order to survive. The Bay of Panama is a Wetland of International Importance and millions of migrating birds use the mudflats to rest and refuel. Participants will learn about the importance of mangrove swamps (a type of wetland) as a nursery for hammerhead sharks. If you can’t watch on March 8, “Wetland Connections” will be archived as streaming video to watch anytime.
To join the web chat, go to WetlandsLIVE.pwnet.org. The following experts are looking forward to answering your questions:
– Rosabel Miro, executive director of the Panama Audubon Society
– Zuleika Pinzon, Panama director of MarViva, an organization that supports the conservation of marine and coastal resources
– Erin Cooper, a biologist with the USDA Forest Services, who specializes in wetlands
– Jillian Jablonski with the USDA Forest Service
WetlandsLIVE is geared to students in grades 4 to 8 and provides teachers and students with a fun, informative, and interactive way to learn about wetlands. WetlandsLIVE is on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. WetlandsLIVE is brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network, and many other partners. It’s website has lesson plans, information in English and Spanish, archived videos, and more.
In addition, all schools are eligible to enter the WetlandsLIVE video contest. Highlight a service learning project, art or music activity, field research or monitoring, restoration or any project focusing on wetlands. Earn $1,000 for your school. For more information on the video contest, click here. The deadline for submissions is March 31.
Tags: Distance Learning, mangrove swamp, Panama, Prince William Network, STEM, USDA Forest Service, wetlands
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- Posted under Digital Media, Distance Learning, STEM
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 Free Opportunities for Teachers this Week in St. Louis
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University
THURSDAY
February 7, 2013 | 4-7 pm | Kemper Art Museum | Teacher Open House
Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum invite St. Louis-area teachers to an open house event to learn about opportunities for themselves and their students. At the event, participants will:
• Tour the Sam Fox School (tours at 5pm and at 6pm)
• View current exhibitions:
Georges Braque and the Cubist Still Life, 1928 – 1945
Face and Figure in European Art, 1928 – 1945
Women: Contemporary Chinese Art
• Learn about upcoming professional development workshops:
Meaningful Objects: The Cubist Still Life
About Face: Poetry and the Human Visage
Opening the Eye Mind: Visual Art through Focused Awareness
• Pick up educational materials
• Enter a raffle for a chance to win a Kemper goody bag
• Enjoy snacks and drinks with fellow teachers
SATURDAY
Februay 9, 2013 | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm | Washington University Danforth Campus | Darwin Day 2013
Come celebrate Charles Darwin’s Birthday with your fellow teachers and scientists. Free for all St. Louis area K-12 science teachers. Register here.
• Choose from four workshops:
Teaching the Foundations of Evolution in K-5
Teaching Evolution in Middle School
Teaching Evolution in High School
What Observations Baffled Young Charles Darwin?
• Enter drawings for books and prizes (the first 50 attendees receive a free posters)
• Sign up for a monthly book club (books provided)
• Take your picture with Darwin!
• Enjoy birthday cake and coffee
Februay 9, 2013 | 8 am – 3 pm | Hixson Middle School | edcampSTL
edcampSTL is free one-day professional development session. It brings together those interested in learning and sharing more about best practices in education in an “unconference” format. This innovative format allows the knowledge and interests of those in attendance to lead the conversations of growth. All are welcome to join! Register here.
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- Posted under Collaborations, Links, STEM, Tech PD
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Book Review: Playing Games in School
As posted yesterday, for the 2013 METC, several of the Midwest Education Technology Conference Advisory Committee members have read some of the books being offered at the METC book store and are providing brief reviews on the content.
Playing Games in School: Video Games and Simulations for Primary and Secondary Schools edited by Atsusi ”2c” Hirumi, reviewed by Tom Swoboda
Playing Games in School is an extraordinary resource for teachers and administrators looking to utilize gaming in the classroom. The book investigates the rationale behind using video games in the classroom. It examines the types of students who are entering our classrooms and the effect both psychologically and physiologically that video games have on those students. A solid case is made for the educational benefits of video games. Additionally, the book discusses the alignment of gaming with NETS.
Section II of the book is a valuable resource for all science, math, language arts, social studies and health and fitness teachers. This section gives educators recommendations of games that can be used as well as examples of best practices, reviews of games and instructional methods.
The final sections of the book give educators a look at how to plan, integrate and facilitate student learning through the use of video games. To conclude the book, several educators give their perspectives on gaming in the classroom. Different types of gaming are discussed as well as a look at some of the barriers that can be involved with gaming in the classroom.
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- Posted under Classroom Technology, Collaborations, Conferences, Digital Media, STEM, Tech PD
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 Have You Registered for Your METC Precon?
The 30th annual Midwest Education Technology Conference takes place in just over 1 month! Registration is open. The sessions available are on Monday are our preconference workshops- these sessions are either a full-day or 1/2-day of hands-on professional development, and require pre-registration. Here’s a sampling of some of the opportunities:
P01: Remixing the Common Core: Digital Media & 21st Century Literacies
P03: Engaging Students with ActivInspire & Promethean Boards (Beginner)
P04: Promethean ActivInspire Training for the Advanced User
P14: Deconstructing Pop Culture’s Effect on Adolescent Career Aspirations
P18: Hands-On STEM Investigations with CPO Science
P19: Systems Thinking Through Game Design
P20: Moodle 2 for Beginners
P26: Planning Great Lessons with Google Earth
We’ll see you soon at the St. Charles Convention Center! To learn more about METC, visit METCconference.org and follow us on Twitter with @METC_CSD or #METC13. METC is a program of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.
Tags: Cooperating School Districts, Midwest Education Technology Conference
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- Posted under Collaborations, Common Core, Conferences, Literacy, Media Literacy, Moodle, Promethean Activboard, STEM, Tech PD, Web 2.0
Thursday, October 11, 2012 METC 2013 Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 30th annual Midwest Education Technology Conference in St. Charles, Missouri at METCconference.org. METC, a program of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis, is February 11, 12, and 13, 2013. This year’s theme is Motivate, Engage, Transform, Connect. Nine strands include:
• Accountability / Assessment
• Differentiated Instruction
• Digital Creation
• Virtual Teaching & Learning
• Innovative Instruction & Engaged Learning
• Leadership & Professional Learning
• Library & Media Literacy
• Mobile Learning
• Technical Infrastructure & Support
Other conference information is available on Twitter at @METC_CSD and at pinterest.com/csdofstl.
Tags: Cooperating School Districts, METC, Midwest Education Technology Conference
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- Posted under Classroom Technology, Common Core, Conferences, ISTE, Learning Division programs, STEM, Tech PD, Web 2.0
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