MnSTA Newsletter Winter 2013

MnSTA

Newsletter Volume 49 No. 2 A Quarterly Publication of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association Inc.

Putting the “E” in STEM is Theme for 2013 MnCOSE

The 2013 MnCOSE (Minnesota Conference on Science Education) will be held in Duluth, February 22-23. Inspirational keynote and strand speakers will highlight the event as well as sessions delivered by dedicated and passionate teachers.

There will be many opportunities for professional development for all teachers at this event.

Friday’s keynote address will be delivered by popular meterologist Mike Lynch. A native Minnesotan, he has been a broadcast meterologist at WCCO radio for over 30 years. For over 40 years he has been teaching classes and putting on star parties through community education, nature centers, and other entities throughout Minnestoa and Wisconsin. On Saturday morning Mike will present an Astronomy and Star Gazing Hands-on workshop.

Also speaking on Friday will be Stephen Pruitt, Vice-President for Content, Research and Development, Achieve, Inc, Washington, D.C. His talk will focus on what the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will mean for Minnesota teachers of science.

Also on Saturday, the hands-on workshop Adding “TEM” to STEM will be facilitated by Dr. Darci Harland. Harland is the author of the NSTA Press book “STEM Student Research Handbook,” as well as the virtual space STEMmom.org. She will discuss organizing students using lab notebooks and tips on how to redesign existing activities into

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higher-level inquiry labs. Her past experiences include teaching high school and middle school science and English.

More information on MnCOSE can be found on pages 10 & 11.

Dr. Darci Harland, NSTA Press author, will present a workshop Adding TEM to K-8 science on Saturday morning.

In This Issue: Presidents Message...........................................................2 Department of Conservation............................................2 In Media Res ...................................................................3 Update from Science Specialist.................................... 4 Department of Educatioin............................................4-8 NSTA................................................................................8 Opportunities................................... ...............................9 MnCOSE information............................................. .10-11 Teacher Feature........................................................12-13 Board Directory.........................................................14-15

President’s Address by Steve Walvig

As we begin the New Year, it’s great to reflect on the many accomplishments we’ve enjoyed so far this school year and look forward to all that the new year has in store for us. For me, one of the great highlights of the year was Minnesota’s 2011 TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) evaluation results. The 2011 TIMSS results were recently released and show Minnesota 8th graders scoring near the top in science and math.

In the 2011 TIMSS study Minnesota was evaluated as a “benchmarking educational system” for the 8th grade and our state score was one of the best.

Compared to the countries tested in the 2011 TIMSS study, Minnesota would rank as the fifth best country in the world. This is a testament to the high quality of Minnesota science teachers and the incredible educational system we’ve built together.

As great examples of the science teachers who have made Minnesota so successful, this year eight Minnesota science teachers were selected for a fellowship program in the prestigious NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. See page 8 for the eight teachers who were selected. These 2012 Dow-NSTA Program Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria, including showing evidence of a solid science background and displaying a strong interest in growing as a professional science educator. Please help me congratulate them on their great work this year.

Another way to highlight the many accomPresidents message....continued on page 3

Department of Conservation by Ed Hessler Oeconomia Naturae All organic beings are striving to seize on each place in the economy of nature.--Darwin Numbers are the coin of the scientific realm.

Among their many uses is in characterizing the interactions between human animals and non-human animals. Abundance and distribution (past and present).

Natality. Mortality (total, causes, when, longevity).

Predation. Food groups (kinds and caloric requirements).

These numbers, data or what Stephen Jay Gould once playfully referred to as “capta,” are transformed and become the input and output of population models and the charts and graphs of scientific papers.

They are also critical in arriving at personal and social decisions.

The Essential Grizzly: The Mingled Fates of Men and Bears (The Lyons Press) by Doug and Andrea Peacock often drew my attention to just one of those numbers: km*2 of habitat. Grizzlies consume it, e.g., 259 km*2 (female) to 1036 km*2 (male). Grizzly habitat is special. It is known as wilderness and it needs to be connected.

While reading the Peacocks’ book I found myself wondering about the complicated life cycle of a grizzly as she or he is embedded in wildlife management-of the grizzly as an individual organism. As notnumbers. As something alive.

In As You Like It (Act 2, Scene 7), Shakespeare divided the life of an individual into seven, albeit arbitrary, stages, a framework for considering a life.

Infancy. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.

Department of Conservation...continuted on page 3

The MnSTA Newsletter is published four times each year by the Minnesota Science Teachers Association, Inc. Articles, opinions, book reviews and other information pertinent to Minnesota teachers are welcome. Please limit submission to 1 typed page, e-mail preferred (text file please).

Deadlines for submission of articles are: Fall ............... August 1st Winter ............. November 1st Spring ........... February 1st Summer....................April 1st Send all correspondence regarding the newsletter to: Jerry Wenzel 22002 100th Ave Randall, MN 56475 e-mail: jerrywenzel@brainerd.net The MnSTA Newsletter is an exempt program service provided to the membership. A membership form is found on the back page.

Materials found in the newsletter may be reprinted without charge.

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MnSTA, Inc. is an IRS 501 (c) (3) Charitable Educational Corpora-tion, incorporated as a tax exempt, non-profit organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Donations and dues are tax deductible charitable contributions for itemized deductions on IRS form 1040 Schedule A. The newsletter is an exempt program service provided to the membership. A membership form is found on the last page.

MnSTA Newsletter

In Medias Res by Edward Hessler Science and Another Way of Making Judgments Occurrences in this domain are beyond the reach of exact prediction because of the variety of factors in operation, not because of any lack of order in nature.—Albert Einstein It started out so simply with a series of minor tremors in March 2009 in the city of L’Aquila (“The Eagle”), the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L’Aquila in central Italy. Still, it frazzled nerves.

Shortly after, a special risk commission consisting of six seismologists and a government official met to evaluate public concern in the light of what was known. The public was assured that they were not in danger. A few days later a 6.3 Richter-scale earthquake resulted in the deaths of 309 people and injuries to 1600.

On October 22, 2012, the government official and the six scientists were sentenced to six years in prison on multiple manslaughter convictions, fined $10 million dollars each and required to pay the costs of the trial. The argument made by the prosecution was that these deaths were avoidable had it not been for preearthquake assurances. Even though the scientists involved had not said that there was no danger, the prosecutors persuaded the court that they should have refuted the statement which led people to remain in their homes when the initial earthquake tremors were felt.

Central to the prosecution case was that 29 residents of L’Aquila’s who died had indicated that they wanted to leave following the very first tremors.

They stayed because of a statement by the government official who mangled what he had been told by the scientists. What he characterized as no danger was not what the scientists had said: the tremors were cues of a risk but one that was not predictable (when, where, severity).

Several scientific journals have written editorials condemning the decision as have many Italian politicians. The case has been appealed and no sentences will be served unless they are confirmed in the first court of appeal.

Coincidentally, the day before the verdict, the journal Nature Geoscience published a paper showing that human activity—the removal of immense quantities of groundwater for irrigation—was the trigger for a deadly earthquake (5.1 Richter) in Lorca, Spain in 2011. The watertable dropped some 250 m

from 1960 to the time of the study. Nine people were killed and many were injured.

In the L’Aquila case what is good science and good public policy? How should the law treat scientific uncertainty?

Department of Conservation...continued from page 2

Childhood. Then the whining schoolboy…creeping like snail unwillingly to school.

Lover. Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad.

Soldier. Full of strange oaths…jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel.

Justice. In full round belly…with eyes severe…full of wise saws, he plays his part.

Senescence. A world too wide for his shrunk shank…pipes and whistles in his sound.

Death. Mere oblivion. Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

While grizzly country has “the power to radically alter our perception of the world around us,” there is the grizzly as individuals and in social groups. How do they spend their time? There are so many interactions that influence the bear: genes, phenotypes, abiotic and biotic factors, and time, each influenced by an underlying condition: variation.

Hessler is Executive Secretary of MnSTA President’s message..............................continued from page 2

plishments of Minnesota science teachers is through the Medtronic “Minnesota Teacher of The Year” award. Please consider nominating one of your colleagues for the 2013 Teacher of The Year award.

Nomination forms can be found on the MnSTA website (www.mnsta.org) and will be accepted until January 23rd. Of the teachers nominated, two teachers will be presented awards at the 2013 Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnCOSE) in February.

And of course, the highlight of 2013 will be MnSTA’s Minnesota Conference On Science Education (MnCOSE) held from February 22-23 at the Duluth Entertainment and Conference Center (the DECC). MnCOSE is MnSTA’s premiere professional development event each year bringing Minnesota science education professionals together for sharing and growth. See pages 10-11 for event details.

Most MnSTA members have one important thing in common - we love our profession! I hope to see you in Duluth this February for our 2013 Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnCOSE) and thank you for all the wonderful work you do.

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Department of Education time). www.scimathmn.org/stemtc · We began to use the national Framework for K-12 Science Education as a foundation for exploring science and engineering practices.

These practices expand our understanding of inquiry and communications skills for our students. Free download or purchase at www. nap.edu New Year Opportunities

John Olson is the science specialist for the Department of Education. He will keep us updated on science education in the MnSTA newsletter.

MnSTA Winter Newsletter 2012

2012 Celebrations and 2013 Opportunities As we leave 2012 and ring in 2013, we have much to celebrate in Minnesota science education and there are great things on the horizon. Here is just a sampling: Celebrations · Minnesota scored well on the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study). We participated as a mini-nation along with 45 countries and 9 US states in the science assessment at grades 4 and 8. Minnesota scored 6th highest in science. The scores put Minnesota in the top pack along with Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Massachusetts. The Minnesota scores increased by 3 percent over 1995 compared with the world average. The state sample included 55 schools and 2500 students. See http://nces.ed.gov/timss/results11_states11. asp · Minnesota teachers implemented new state science standards. This will continue to be an evolving process as teachers incorporate engineering into their instructional practices. · The MCA-III based on the new standards was inaugurated seamlessly. New features and methods of reporting data are described elsewhere in this newsletter. · The MN Frameworks for Minnesota Math and Science Standards website gained popularity, receiving up to 21,000 visits each month (with about 40% spending significant

· The Next Generation Science Standards will be published in March. The final public draft is available for feedback during January at www.nextgenscience.org While Minnesota is not scheduled to review standards until 201718, these standards will affect textbooks, professional development and instructional resources. · Schools are implementing the English Language Arts standards, including the Literacy Standards in Science. The increased focus on informational reading and writing will improve the ability of our students to reason and communicate in science. · There are many opportunities for teacher awards, student competitions and classroom projects. Look for announcements in the MDE Science Update and in this newsletter.

We hope that you return from the holiday break with renewed enthusiasm and full of new ideas for your classes and programs this year.

MDE Science-related staff: John Olson, Doug Paulson, Dawn Cameron, Jim Wood, Jeff Ledermann

Interpreting Science MCA-III Test Scores

by Dawn Cameron

The 2012 Science MCA-IIIs were the first administration of Minnesota science assessments based on the 2009 Science Minnesota Academic Standards.

Because these are new assessments aligned to new content standards, new achievement levels were determined in conjunction with Minnesota educators through a formal standard setting process. It is important to recognize that scores on the Science MCA-II and MCA-III assessments are not directly comparable, because they reflect different content and achievement standards. Moreover, there are some changes in how strand and substrand scores are reported that must be understood in order to correctly interpret those scores.

For Science MCA-III, all scores (overall, strand

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Department of Education and substrand) are reported as “scale scores”. The raw score point total earned on each scale is converted to a scale score. The conversion takes into account the number and difficulty of items scored.

A scale score has equivalent meaning and provides a basis for valid comparison from year to year for a given grade and reporting category. Both overall test scores and scores on strands and/or substrands (called sub-scores) are reported. For Science MCA-III, sub-scores are reported at the strand level for grades 5 and 8. Sub-scores are reported at the strand and substrand level for high school.

The school, district, and state averages for these results are available at the MDE website under Data Center > Data Reports and Analytics in the following locations: · Accountability and Assessment > Assessment and Growth Files (Excel and tab-delimited data download files) · Accountability and Assessment > Sub Score Report · MDE Secured Reports > Test Results Summary (login required to access) For more detailed information on reading scale scores and subscores for science MCA-III, go to: https://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/Testing/index.html

Scorable Item Samplers

As of this fall, online item samplers for Science MCA-III have a new feature that delivers the student’s score on the item sampler as they finish.

Just as a reminder, the online item samplers must be accessed either by using AIR’s secure browser or Mozilla Firefox. In order to use text-to-speech, the item samplers must be accessed through the secure browser. Instructions for accessing the online item samplers are available on the Item Samplers page of the Minnesota Assessments portal (www.mnstateassessments.org > Family/Student > Item Samplers).

Teacher guides for these item samplers were posted last May. The teacher guide includes a screenshot of the question along with the question’s benchmark alignment, cognitive level and correct answer. They are intended to be downloaded and used by teach-

ers in preparation for delivering the item samplers or when reviewing the item sampler scores with students.

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Test Specifications Finalized

Test Specifications for Science is the document that we use to inform both our test vendor and district staff how the current standards and benchmarks will be assessed in the Science MCA-III. Test specifications are always draft until we build the first operational test. During several years of reviewing test questions in teacher advisory panels, we have been able to clarify additional vocabulary or ways to assess the academic standards. These clarifications have been added to the June 1, 2010 version of the Test Specifications document. The final version of this document is now posted to the MDE website at this location https://education.state.mn.us/MDE/ EdExc/Testing/TestSpec/index.html . At that same location, we have posted a document that outlines all the changes that were made between the draft version in 2010 and the current final version dated October 12, 2012.

Text-to-Speech

Because of many requests during the past year’s administration of the math and science MCAs, AIR has entered into an agreement with NeoSpeech to provide the “Julie” voice pack for use in conjunction with AIR’s Online Testing System for Windows machines. This voice pack is available for download by all districts. If you were concerned about the text-tospeech voice capability of your Windows machines last spring, please check with your District Assessment Coordinator about downloading and installing this voice pack to your computer lab prior to testing this coming spring.

Please contact either of your Minnesota Department of Education Science Assessment Specialists with any questions!

Dawn Cameron dawn.cameron@state.mn.us 651-5828551 Jim Wood jim.wood@state.mn.us 651-582-8541

NGSS Public Draft Feedback in January

The second public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will be available for feedback beginning the first week in January.

Although Minnesota is not scheduled to consider changing science standards until 2018, the NGSS will have an impact on science teaching even sooner.

Publishers and other content providers will begin to align their materials to NGSS and professional development will use the vision of NGSS. It is important to provide feedback so the standards and related

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developments support provide quality science learning.

The draft and the online feedback survey will be posted at www.nextgenscience.org

We will have information webinars to provide background on the standards, explain the feedback process and hear feedback.

- Jan. 7 (Monday) 3:45 – 4:45 pm Introduction - Jan. 8 (Tuesday) 8 – 9 am, - Introduction - Jan. 15 (Tuesday) 3:30 – 4:30 pm, - brief introduction + feedback discussion

Register at: http://bit.ly/NGSSWebinar

More information about NGSS and Minnesota’s role is at www.scimathmn.org/stemtc under the Standards tab.

MCA Science Assessment Updates

The Science results for the 2012 Science MCA-III are posted on the MDE website. Since this was the first assessment based on the 2009 science standards new achievements were set. There are also some new ways to report the data. For details find the Science MCA-II Score Information document at http:// education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/Testing/index.html.

Online item samplers for the MCA-III will now deliver the student’s score on the item as they complete it.

Instructions for accessing the online item samplers are available on the Item Samplers page of the Minnesota

Assessments portal (www.mnstateassessments. org > Family/Student > Item Samplers).

Now that the MCA-III is operational, the Test Specifications are posted in their final version. This document gives directions to test developers and teachers concerning how the standards and benchmarks are to be assessed. It is available at https://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/Testing/TestSpec/index.html.

This year the sound quality of the text-tospeech feature will be greatly improved for Windows machines. Contact your District Assessment Coordinator about downloading and installing this voice package software onto the computers before testing this spring.

Contact Jim Wood or Dawn Cameron for more MCA information.

Implementing Science Graduation Requirements

To help schools who are struggling with designing courses to meet changes in the science graduation requirements, MDE will offer a webinar on Thursday Jan 10 3:00 – 4:00. Login and call-in information will be given in the January Science Update.

Resource documents are available from john.c.olson@ state.mn.us.

Events and Workshops

“Body Storming” ArtScience Workshop – Jan. 8

Perpich Center for Arts Education offers an

ArtScience workshop on “Bodystorming,” January 8, 2:00-4:00 pm with University of Minnesota Professors Carl Flink (Dance/Theater) and David Odde (Biochemical Engineering). Along with Black Label Movement, they will demonstrate how skilled dancers can test a scientist’s model of a cell’s inner life more quickly than a computer can. Bodystorming is a dance/movement creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific scientific problem by physically committing to ideas contributed by a  dance member(s) and scientific researcher(s).

More Information and registration: tory.peterson@ pcae.k12.mn.us  Teaching Outside the Box- Environmental

and Outdoor Education Workshop

The Minnesota Department of Education is coordinating a workshop for teachers and educators who are new to integrating environmental and outdoor education into classrooms. The workshop provides an overview of the benefits of environmental and outdoor education, how it can be integrated into multiple content areas to achieve academic standards, skills to take kids outside, and hands-on training on quality programs.

Wed., Jan. 23: 9 am – 4 pm North Mankato – South Central Service Cooperative The workshop costs $25/person and will include lunch and clock hour certificates. Space is limited.

For more information, contact Jeff Ledermann at jeff.ledermann@state.mn.us.

Earth Science Teachers Conference – Feb. 8, Plymouth

The Minnesota Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA) would like to invite all teachers to a new and exciting teachers’ conference! In this conference you will be introduced to things you can use in your classroom and it will make you an efficient and amazing teacher!! Presentations include:

*Role of Meteorites in World History

*Weather/Climate Impacts and Changes

Around Minnesota

*Earth Science Knowledge that People of

Minnesota Need

The brochure is at http://mnearthscienceteachersassociation.blogspot.com/

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Department of Education Minnesota Conference on Science Education, Feb. 22 – 23, Duluth

Plan to join us in Duluth, Minnesota for the annual Minnesota Conference On Science Education. MnCOSE is the premiere professional development event that brings Minnesota science education professionals together for sharing and growth! The program includes many sessions organized by content area strands and several Saturday field trips.

The Keynote speakers are:Mike Lynch, popular meteorologist at WCCO radio for over 30 years.

He is also an astronomy fanatic, offering classes and star parties in many locations. Stephen Pruitt, the leader for the development of the Next Generation Science Standards. He is an entertaining and practical presenter. Darci Harland, author of the NSTA book “STEM Student Research Handbook,” as well as the virtual space www.STEMmom.org.

She will present a Saturday workshop on using student lab notebooks and tips on how to redesign existing activities into higher-level inquiry labs, especially for K-8 classrooms.

Further information and registration are at www.mnsta.org.

Life Discovery – Doing Science Conference – March 15-16

Exploring Biology for a Changing World is the theme of this national conference being held this year in St. Paul. The conference will explore digital resources and new technologies for data exploration & curriculum design in biology education. It is sponsored by four biological societies and is targeted at both secondary and college teachers. www.esa.org/ldc

Engineering for Educators Course

Are you searching for a graduate course in engineering education? The University of St. Thomas, Center for Pre-Collegiate Engineering Education (CPCEE) is offering of EGED 531 Engineering Design. The class focuses on the engineering design process for PK-12 educators.

The course will connect innovative engineering design projects that you can use in your class with engineering design theory and real-world cuttingedge engineering design lessons.

The course is taught by professors in the schools of Engineering and Education and includes industry guest speakers and engineering industry field trip(s). The course days and times are set to ac-

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commodate the in-service educator and are limited to 4 weekends: Fri 4:30-8:30, Sat. 8:30-3:30. http://www. stthomas.edu/CPCEE/. Please contact Deb Besser at Deb.Besser@stthomas.edu with any questions.

Teacher and School Awards

MnSTA Science Teaching Awards

The Medtronic Foundation Science Teaching, Presented by the Minnesota Science Teachers Association provides $1000 for materials for a classroom project. This year there will be two awards – elementary and secondary. The awardees are recognized at the Minnesota Conference on Science Education. The deadline is Jan. 22. Application materials are posted at www.mnsta.org/awards.

Nominations are open for the Presidential Awards

This year secondary science and mathematics teachers are eligible to apply for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This is the most prestigious award in these fields and features receptions in Washington DC (including the White House) and a $10,000 cash award. www.paemst.org.

National Teacher Awards

The National Science Teacher Association administers several teacher awards programs. Often there are few applicants for several awards. Go to www.nsta.org for details.

Student Awards, Competitions and Programs

National Youth Science Camp

Minnesota will select two seniors as delegates for an all-expenses-paid experience at a facility in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, June 26 – July 20. The National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) is a residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state. Scientists from across the nation present lectures and hands-on science seminars and linger to interact informally with student delegates. Delegates are challenged to explore new areas in the biological and physical sciences, art, and music with resident staff members.

The NYSC experience includes overnight expeditions into the Monongahela National Forest featuring backpacking, rock-climbing, caving, mountain biking, or kayaking opportunities. A visit to Washington D.C. permits delegates to visit some of the nation’s premier

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scientific, governmental, and cultural facilities. More information is available online at www.nysc.org.

To apply for the award (due Feb. 15), contact john.c.olson@state.mn.us.

Dawn Cameron, Science Assessment Specialist, dawn.cameron@state.mn.us Jim Wood, Science Assessment Specialist, jim. wood@state.mn.us Scholars of Distinctions Doug Paulson, STEM Integration Specialist, doug.

The Minnesota Scholars of Distinction propaulson@state.mn.us gram nurtures and recognizes distinguished achieve- Jeff Ledermann, Environmental & Outdoor Ed. Spement by highly motivated self-directed students. Each cialist, jeff.ledermann@state.mn.us MDE Website: award area was developed through partnerships of http://education.state.mn.us . educators, the business community and others. To

Send submissions for the Science Update to earn this recognition, students must complete reJohn Olson quired work in the Minnesota Academic Standards, Other Minnesota Connections: demonstrate mastery of complex subject matter and Minn. Science Teachers Association http://www. apply their knowledge to challenging projects. mnsta.org Students may pursue one or more area of focus in any Frameworks for Science and Mathematics Standards or all years of their K-12 education. Scholars of Dis- http://scimathmn.org/stemtc Connections between tinction awards may be earned in the following areas: schools and businesses http://www.getstem-mn.com Leadership, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Environmental Education resources http://www.seek.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics state.mn.us (STEM), and Theater Arts. http://education.state.

Minnesota Academy of Science: http://www.mnmas. mn.us/MDE/StuSuc/ScholarRecog/ScholarsDistinc/ org” index.html

US Army’s eCYBERMISSION

eCYBERMISSION (eCM) is a free, webbased STEM competition for students in grades 6-9. eCM challenges students to think about real-world applications of STEM by working in teams to identify a problem in their community and use the scientific method, scientific inquiry or engineering design process to find a solution. Students compete for state, regional and national awards, with potential winnings of up to $8,000 (maturity value) in US Savings Bonds.

Teams of 3-4 students work with a team advisor to identify an issue in their community and apply scientific inquiry or engineering design processes to propose a solution. Each team then submits a mission folder, the official write-up of their project, via the program’s website, www.ecybermission.org The team registration deadline is January 15. MnSTA is a local sponsor of this program. Please select “NSTA: referred by NSTA State Chapter” during the registration process

Minnesota Science Competitions

Minnesota State Science Fair, www.mnmas.org Minnesota Science Bowl, www.mnmas.org Minnesota Science Olympiad www.minnesotaso.org

MDE Contacts:

John Olson, Science Content Specialist, john.c.olson@state.mn.us

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Eight Minnesota Science Teachers Selected For Fellowship Program in Prestigious NSTA New Science Teacher Academy

ST. PAUL, Minn. — December 12, 2012 — The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all, in collaboration with The Dow Chemical Company, the Amgen Foundation;Astellas Pharma US, Inc.; the American Honda Foundation; the Bayer USA Foundation; and Lockheed Martin, today announced that eight out of the 244 science teachers chosen as Fellows in the 2012-2013 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy are from Minnesota.

Selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide, the Fellows (listed below) will participate in a year-long professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.

Dow-NSTA Fellows • Angel Doughty, Dakota Hills Middle School, Eagan, Minn.

New Teacher Academy.......continued on page 13

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Opportunities

Time to Recognize Great Teachers Do you believe that classroom teachers should be rewarded for excellence?

Do you want our best teachers to represent our profession to the public?

Do you know exemplary science teachers; either in your school or district?

Then nominate a colleague (or yourself) for the

Medtronic Foundation Science Teaching Award Presented by MnSTA Award for Elementary Science Teaching Award for Secondary Science Teaching Each awardee will be recognized at the Minnesota Conference on Science Education, Feb 2224, 2013 in Duluth and will receive a $1,000 grant for use in his/her classroom. The deadline is January 22.

Nominations Form and Applications Packet at www.mnsta.org/awards (Teachers may submit an application without a nomination) Or the

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Award for Secondary Science Teaching (2013) Award for Secondary Mathematics Teaching (2013) (Elementary awards will be given in 2014)

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Opportunities-MNCOSE The Minnesota Science Teachers Association’s

MN Conference on Science Education: Putting the “E” in STEM February 22-­‐23, 2013

Reach for the best you can be and take advantage of our keynote speakers, strand speakers, workshops and sessions, with choices for teachers in every grade band and discipline.

Our professional development conference supports: • New learning • Better teaching • Fresh content • Strategies that build student performance.

Keynote Speakers

Supporting engagement with issues in science education Mike Lynch

WCCO Radio M eteorologist From eyeball weather observations to the advances in forecasting afforded by modern technology to global warming, Mike makes weather concepts understandable for people of all ages. Fans of Mike’s work at WCCO love his humor and connections between the science of weather and real life. Join Mike as he explores low tech forecasting techniques, modern weather forecasting and Minnesota’s notable and boast-­‐worthy weather phenomenon.

Stephen Pruitt

Vice-­‐President for Content, Research and Development, Achieve, Inc., Washington D. C.

What do the Next Generation Science Standards mean for Minnesota teachers of science? Stephen will be sharing the latest information about the NGSS, tentatively slated for release in the spring of 2013. A member of the committee that authored the Framework for K-­‐12 Science Education and p roject manager for the NGSS, Stephen i s articulate i n matters of both science education policy and the realities of classroom teaching. Join us for an entertaining and practical view of science teaching and the possibilities that the NGSS hold for impacting science education.

Program Highlights Friday

Continental Breakfast Keynote Speakers Stranded sessions Networking Luncheon Exhibits Evening social events

Saturday Morning

Continental Breakfast Hands-­‐on Workshops • Adding “TEM” to K-­‐8 Science, with Dr. Darci Harland, NSTA Press author. and Star Gazing with Mike Lynch, WCCO • Astronomy Radio Meteorologist

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Opportunities-MNCOSE Dicipline Strands: Strand Speakers and Highlights Supporting learning in the content areas

Physics

Tom KraMer, President Kablooe Design

Dr Heidi Manning, Earth Science Professor fo Physics,

Concordia College, Moorhead and Curiosity.

Mr KarMer will explore the role of creative thinking and a design-driven mentality in product development Investigating the rocks and atmosphere of Mars with Curiosity to assess a region of Mars as a potential habitat for life, past or present.

Chemistry Brian D. Gute, Instructor Surviving General Chemistry: Preparing

of Chemistry, UMD students for success in college-level science courses.

Life Sciences Dr. Janet Dubinsky, Dept. of Neuroscience,

U of M (tentative) Elementary

TBA

Saturday Workshops

Supporting best practices in teaching

Dr. Darci Harland NSTA Press Author of STEM Students Research Handbook

Mike Lynch

WCC) Meterologist

Incorporating inquiry, technology, engineering and math in the K-8 science curriculum

Viewing the night sky, even in town, using telescopes and binoculars for viewing.

Conference

Fees Early Regular Until 1/31/13 After 1/31/13 Conference Presenter Registration

Student/Retired Registration

$100.00

$100.00

$ 75.00

$ 75.00

Conference Registration

$175.00

$200.00

Do you have ideas about a lesson you would like to share with your colleagues?

Consider giving a presentation at the conference. Visit our website for more information including hotel accomodations. www.MnSTA.org.

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Teacher Feature Innovative Sibley Physics Teacher’s Video Used in TED Initiative

The process of animating Sibley teacher Peter Bohacek’s video on the physics principle of work took almost a year.

By Zac Farber, Mendota Heights Patch

A video made by Henry Sibley teacher Peter Bohacek that uses a grandfather clock to demonstrate the physics principles of work and power was recently chosen by the non-profit TED-Ed to be professionally animated for other teachers to use in classroom lesson plans.

It’s one of only 149 such videos produced by TED, the group famous for its 18-minute Big Picture lectures, and so far 20 teachers from around the country have made lesson plans from Bohacek’s video.

It’s not Bohacek’s first foray into using videos in the classroom. The former electrical engineer has partnered with Carleton College and University of Wisconsin-River Falls on a series of what he calls Direct Measurement Videos.

The videos show a creative take on a “classic physics problem”—a Toyota Prius sliding on an ice rink, a disk accelerated by rocket propulsion—and superimpose the images with a ruler and a frame counter, allowing students to extrapoloate the physics problem from what they see on the screen.

“Video brings right to the fore the fact that you’re talking about a thing moving in the world, that’s what you’re doing the physics on,” he said.

We spoke with Bohacek about TED, his videos and how Sibley science teachers use the Internet in their classrooms:

How did you get involved with TED?

They had a thing on their website when they started the TED-Ed project that said, “Nominate an instructor.” I had just finished making a video of a grandfather clock, a time-lapse video that I took of a real life grandfather clock—it’s a fascinating video and I thought, ‘Well, this is the kind of thing that I think they would like.’

So I sent a submission in and they sent a note back saying, ‘We get so many responses, don’t expect us to get back to you,’ but then they did, and it started this almost year-long process where I wrote a script, sent them a script, and they wrote back and said, ‘We liked it,’ and they worked on editing it. Once the editing was done, they sent a little portable sound recording studio, a really slick little set-up. They kind of coached me on how to narrate it, and then they sent

it to an animator. It was a neat, interactive process, where my idea, we went back and forth and they kind of shaped it into how they like it to be, and then the animation completely brought it to life.

Why did you want to work with video?

I’d been working on another related project, using video to teach physics—it’s something I’ve been working really hard on for the last three or four years. The idea is to go through the physics curriculum and find all those classic problems and film a video of them in such a way that rather than reading, ‘Oh, the ball is going this velocity in this direction,’ you can actually see and make measurements off the video. You’re actually solving a problem by measuring things.

One of the things that’s kind of cool is that in a word problem they always tell you what values you’re going to need—‘the car is going this fast and it’s going this long’ but in a video problem it doesn’t say that. Students’ first step has to be: What do I actually need to solve this?

These videos are absolutely essential to how I teach because physics is about real life events. The traditional way of teaching physics is to turn real life events into a text description, and then you begin the

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MnSTA Newsletter

analysis, and I’ve always thought that that’s artificial. What you really want is to be analyzing the event without the text in between. Video brings right to the fore the fact that you’re talking about a thing moving in the world, that’s what you’re doing the physics on, and I think the videos make that much more obvious.

How did you decide to teach science?

I studied electrical engineering, and I worked in industry for about 15 years before I decided to teach. About 12 years ago I quit my previous job and went back to get my teaching license and got my teaching license and got a job at Sibley and loved every day of it—best choice I ever made.

What else is new with the physics curriculum at Sibley?

The other type of major part of our curriculum is using online instruction and online assessment. Most of the work that my students do—the problems or the information, whether it’s video or texts or images or graphs—are presented to them on the computer, and then there are questions that are written. When they answer the questions, they type their answers into a box on the computer, it’s all on a web-based system. As soon as they hit enter, it tells them whether their answer is right or wrong.

There’re two things about that that revolutionize how we teach. One, the fact that the student gets feedback right away: Before they go to the next part, they know (and I know) whether they got that part right. The second thing is that it’s randomized so that two students that are working side-by-side have the same problem but with none of the same information given to them on the problem. I can go into class and say, ‘I’m not going to do anything today. You have the whole class period to work on things that are online.’ And they immediately say to the other students, ‘How did you do that? How did you figure that out?’ because they can’t just say, ‘Well, what did you get?’ It immediately drives them to collaborate, share ideas and teach each other. We started that about five years with just one AP Physics class and now we have five separate students that are using that.

The school district has been incredibly supportive of our efforts to innovate. Since I’ve been there, they’ve been incredibly important. They’ve completely backed us in time and money.

For the complete article and links see http:// mendotaheights.patch.com/articles/innovative-sibley-physics-teacher-s-video-used-in-ted-initiative

New Teacher Academy.......continued from page 8

• Andrew “Andy” Hegdahl, Dassel-Cokato High School and Dassel-Cokato Area Learning Center, Cokato, Minn.

• MaryJo Hess, North Branch Area Middle School, North Branch, Minn.

• Peter Johnson, Minneapolis Academy, Minneapolis, Minn.

• Elizabeth Mulville, East View Academy, Little Canada, Minn.

• Annemarie Peterson, Lionsgate Academy, Crystal, Minn.

• Daniel Pryor, Minnesota Math and Science Academy, Woodbury, Minn.

• Renee Schley, St. Peter Claver School, St. Paul, Minn.

“We are thrilled to provide these teachers with the resources and support needed to help them feel confident and passionate about the critical work they do in inspiring today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leading STEM professionals,” said Gerry Wheeler, interim executive director, NSTA. “Dow believes the future of successful STEM related careers for our youth is heavily influenced by passionate science teachers who are encouraged and mentored in their profession,” said Bo Miller, president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “The New Science Teacher Academy engages early career teachers in an impactful way and Dow is proud to support them as they develop their teaching skills.”

The 2012 Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria, including showing evidence of a solid science background and displaying a strong interest in growing as a professional science educator. Each Fellow will receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2013 National Conference on Science Education in San Antonio.

For a list of the 2012-2013 Fellows or to learn more about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, please visit www.nsta.org/academy.

Winter 2013

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MnSTA Board Directory

MnSTA Phone# (651)-523-2945

Below, you will find information about your MnSTA Board Members. The listing includes the board member’s school (or organization), mailing address, work phone, FAX number, and e-mail address. The board wishes to make itself as accessible as possible for our members. Please feel free to contact your discipline representative, regional representative, or executive board members if you have ideas, concerns, or wish to help with the mission or operation of MnSTA. We are always looking for members who wish to serve MnSTA as Board Members, Non-Board Service Chairs or Members, and as Committee Chairs or Members.

Executive Board: Exec. Secretary

Ed Hessler

Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave. MS-A1760,

W: 651-523-2945

F: 651-523-3041

e: ehessler01@hamline.edu

President

Steve Walvig

The Bakken

3537 Zenith Ave. S

W-612-926-3837X202

Past President

Mary Colson W: 218-284-7300

Horizon MS F: 218-284-7333

3601 12th Ave. So. Moorhead, MN 56560 mcolson@moorhead.k12.mn.us

Treasurer

Joe Reymann

Retired

e: joereymann@comcast.net

DOE Science Specialist

John Olson

Dept.of Education

john.c.olson@state.mn.us 651-582-8673

F: 612-927-7265

St. Paul, MN 55104 Minneapolis, MN 55416

e:walvig@thebakken.org

Discipline Directors: Biology

Nancy Johnson

Humboldt Secondary 30 E. Baker St.

St. Paul, MN 55107

W:763-242-4649 nancy.orr@spps.org Chemistry

Earth Science

Charles Handlon

Century High School

2525 Viola Rd NE

W:507-287-7997 X 3120

F:507-285-8595

Dana Smith W:507-232-3461X4114

Nicolette Public School 1 Pine St. e: dana.smith@isd507.k12.mn.us

Rochester, MN 55906

chhandlon@rochester.K12.mn.us

Elementary/Greater MN Nicole Christofferson-Weston Menahga Public Schools

Nicollet, MN 56047

216 Aspen Ave;

Mehanga, MN 56464

218-564-4141X477 e:nchristofferson@menahga.k12.mn.us Elementary/Metro

Polly Saatzer Garlough Environmental Magnet 1740 Charlton St. W:651-552-0094 paulette.saatzer@isd197.org

Higher Ed

Michele Koomen

W507-933-6057 F507-933-6020 mkoomen@gac.edu

Informal Ed

Larry Thomas

West St. Paul, MN 55118

Gustavus Adolphus College 800 West College Ave. St. Peter, MN 56082 SMM

120 W. Kellogg Blvd

St. Paul, MN 55102

W: 651-221-4507

e: lthomas@smm.org

Newsletter

Jerry Wenzel

Retired

e: jerrywenzel@brainerd.net

Physics

Paul Lulai

St. Anthony Village High School 3303 33rd Ave

St. Anthony, MN 55418

W:612-964-5374 plulai@stanthony.12.mn.us Private Schools

Rand Harrington 55403W: 952-988-3615

The Blake School randalh@gmail.com

511 Kenwood Parkway

Webmaster

Eric Koser 507-387-3461 x 322

Mankato West H.S. F: 507-345-1502

1351 S. Riverfront Dr. e: ekoser@chartermi.net

Minneapolis, MN

Mankato, MN 56001 W:

Region Representatives: Region 1&2: North

Laurie Arnason

Southpoint Elementary 1900 13th St. SE

East Grand Forks, MN 56721

W:218-773-1149 larnason@egf.k12.mn.us Region 1&2: North

Dr. John Truedson

Bemidji State University 1500 Birchmont Dr. NE

W:218-775-2796

F: 218-755-4107

Region 3: Northeast

Margie Menzies

Harbor City Int. School 332 W. Michigan St.

218-722-7574 X 417

Bemidji, MN 56601

e:jtruedson@bemidjistate.edu Duluth, MN 55802

e:mmenzies@harborcityschool.org

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MnSTA Newsletter

Region 4: Westcentral Vacant Region 5: Northcentral Marie Zettel

Aitkin High School

306 2nd St. SW

W 218-927-2115 X 3313

Region 6: Southcentral Philip Sinner

Aitkin, MN 56431

e:mariezettel@yahoo.com Renville County West

301 NE 3rd St. PO Box 338

W320-329-8368 F320-329-8191 psinner@rcw.k12.mn.us

Region 7: Eastcentral

Kari Dombrovski

Talahi Community School 1321 University Dr. SE

W:320-251-7551X5127

F:320-529-4339

Region 8: Southcentral Philip Sinner

Renville, MN 56284 St. Cloud, MN 56304

kari.dombrovski@isd742.org

Renville County West

301 NE 3rd St. PO Box 338

Renville, MN 56284

W320-329-8368 F320-329-8191 psinner@rcw.k12.mn.us

Region 9: South Vacant Region 10: Southeast

Sharie Furst

Kasson-Mantorville Elemementary .604 16th St. NE

507-319-4781 s.furst@komets.k12.mn.us

Region 11: Metro

Peter Anderson

Science Museum of Minnesota

Kasson, MN 55944

120 W Kellogg St. Paul, MN 55101

ande4082@umn.edu

Ancillary Positions: Database

Mark Lex 55416

Historian/Parlimentarian Fred Riehm

Benilde-St. Margaret’s 2501 Hwy 100 S W: 952-927-4176 F: 952-920-8889 Retired ‘91

frriehm@ties2.net

NSTA Dist. IX Director Ramona Lundberg Deuel High School e: ramona.lundberg@k12.sd.us

410 5th St. West 605-874-2163

Conference Coordinator Jean Tushie

Eden Prairie High School

F 952-975-8020

W 952-975-4347

St. Louis Park, MN e: marklex@umn.edu

Clear Lake, SD 57226-2102

17185 Valley View Rd Eden Prairie, N 55346

e jtushie@edenpr.org

jtushie@comcast.net

Events Calendar If you have events you want placed on the calendar, send them to the editor - see page 2 for deadlines, address, etc.

Conferences / Workshops

MnCOSE Minnesota Conference on Science Education Feb 21-23 Duluth at DECC MnCOSE Minnesota Conference on Science Education 2014 and 2015 Mankato NSTA 2013 national conference, April 11–14, San Antonio, Texas

Winter 2013

15

Minnesota Science Teachers Association, Inc. Hamline University MS MS-A1760 1536 Hewitt Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104

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Join the Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA), the professional organization whose primary goal is the advancement of science education. Mail this form along with your check to: MnSTA, Hamline University MS - A1760, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

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Rates (Check one):  Basic Membership ........................ $25  First Year Teacher........................ $15  Retired Teacher............................ $15  Pre-service Student ...................... $10  Life Membership: to age 35...... $400 age 36-50 .... $300 over 50......... $200 Indicate the grade level you work with: level:  Elementary (K-6)  College/University  Middle/Jr. High School (6-9)  Informal Ed  High School (9-12)

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