National Conference on Science Education—Philadelphia 2010

I encourage BETF-Blog readers to check out what’s in store for science education next year, teachers and administrators can count on unmatched face-to-face professional development through NSTA’s annual event. The conference scheduled for March 18-21 in historic Philadelphia, program strands include:

• Meeting the Unique Needs of Urban and Rural Science Learners
  
• Connecting Content: Between, Within, and Among Subjects
  
• Closing the Digital Generation Gap Between Teachers and Students
  
• Rekindling the Fires of Science Teaching and Learning

The kickoff begins on Wednesday, March 17, with ten content-driven, in-depth institutes (PDIs) and their follow-on pathway sessions along with a research dissemination conference called Keeping Elementary Primary: Current Research and Best Practices for Quality Instruction.

Attendees can find symposia with follow-on web seminars and intensive short courses meant to build content knowledge in a wide range of topics critical to teachers in all science disciplines. Nearly 2,000 concurrent sessions are available for every grade band and for the newest preservice teacher to the career professional who writes curriculum or policy. Add to that, the NSTA conference offers terrific field trips, networking with peers and pros, and speakers like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Greg Marshall, a scientist, inventor, and filmmaker, who developed the Crittercam.

National Directory of STEM Learning Opportunities Now Available

Are you looking for an opportunity to promote and expand an after-school science or technology program ... such as the Student IT Education & Scholarship program?

The Coalition for Science After School, has teamed up with Time Warner Cable to create a national directory of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities. This resource is designed to help parents and young people access science and technology learning opportunities in their communities and will be widely marketed to increase the visibility of STEM after school and informal learning opportunities.

BETF-blog readers are encouraged to visit the website to learn more about it and spend a few moments entering information on your organization and its programs and events (where applicable). There is no cost to join or access the national directory.

Questions about the Directory, the Coalition, or informal STEM education should be directed to info@directory.scienceafterschool.org.

Toyota TAPESTRY Program Accepting Entries for the 20th Annual Science Grant Competition

The Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program, one of the largest science teacher grant programs in the United States, is now accepting entries for the 2009-2010 competition. Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, the program offers grants of up to $10,000 each to K-12 teachers for innovative science projects that enhance science education in their school or district over a one-year period.

Fifty large grants and a minimum of 20 mini-grants totaling $550,000 will be awarded this year. Individual science teachers or a team of up to five teachers can submit proposals in one of three categories: physical science application; environmental science education; and integrating literacy and science. A judging panel convened by the NSTA will select the award-winning projects based on several criteria, including their innovative approach in teaching science and ability to create a stimulating and hands-on learning environment.

Applicants must either be an elementary teacher who teaches science in the classroom or a middle or high school science teacher. Applicants must be residents of one of the 50 states or a resident of Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; or the U.S. territories including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information about the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program or to learn how to apply, visit the link to Complete RFP.