Copy
Don't miss this special Maker-rific edition of STEMCentric! Newsletter!
View this email in your browser
San Mateo County Office of Education STEMCENTRIC Newsletter

April 2016

Every month, the STEM Center at the San Mateo County Office of Education is pleased to share opportunities to learn and connect on the topic of integrated STEM education.


Our Make/Learn Celebration Is Around the Corner!

June 4 | 10am – 1pm
San Mateo County Office of Education

Come play, create, and learn—all for free—at the San Mateo County Office of Education STEM Center's first Make/Learn Celebration! Educators, parents and children are invited to experience making activities including 3D design and printing (the TechShop Inside! trailer will be on site providing 3D demos), LED Throwie art, paper circuitry, robotics, and more! Explore the nexus of making and learning, the growth of makerspaces in schools, and the value of making for engaged learning.

We'd like to thank our event partners, Autodesk and TechShop, for their active participation in this event. We'd also like to acknowledge and thank Oracle Giving for their sponsorship and support of this event.

Visit our Eventbrite page to register for SMCOE's Make/Learn Celebration on June 4.

We hope to see you there!


Sign Up for Maker Faire 2016!

Friday, May 20 – Sunday, May 22
San Mateo County Event Center

There are Maker Faires all over the world now, but the original and biggest of them all is right here in San Mateo County! SMCOE STEM Center staff are going, and we invite San Mateo County students, educators, and families to attend.

For educators looking to bring groups of students, Friday@MakerFaire is a great option with discounted education pricing. Details can be found here.

If you can't attend on Friday, bring your group over the weekend! Ticket discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Teachers may request additional discounts, if needed, through our scholarship program.

Want to spend a full day, or even the entire weekend at Maker Faire? Check out the packages and ticket options available!

@ The STEM Center
 

Arduino/Raspberry Pi

Saturday, May 7 | 8:30am – 3:30pm

This professional learning experience is geared toward grades 4-12 teachers. Learn the basics about the very popular and versatile Arduino circuit boards and Raspberry Pi microprocessors and how to use them as a jumping-off point for the myriad of projects that students could do to enhance their own learning. Teachers in San Mateo County are eligible for a $100 stipend through our Oracle Impact Grant for full participation. Sign up here.

 


StarLogo Nova/SciSim

Saturday, June 4 | 8:30am – 3:30pm

This professional learning experience is geared toward grades 6-8 teachers and K-8 science TOSAs. Go deeper with the NGSS Science and Engineering Practice of "Developing and Using Models" by teaching your students how to create their own models and simulations using the free, online programming environment called StarLogo Nova. Teachers in San Mateo County are eligible for a $200 stipend through our Oracle Impact Grant for full participation. Sign up here.
 

CMSESMC Retreat

Wednesday, June 15 | 9am – 12pm

The Council of Math/Science Educators of San Mateo County (CMSESMC) invites math and science educators to take a leadership role in math and science education in San Mateo County. The annual retreat provides an opportunity to welcome new members to the CMSESMC. Nominations are accepted for individuals to run for for the board (President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer). Events from the past year are reflected upon as the upcoming year's events are planned. 

For registration information, please visit the CMSESMC website.
 

Project-Based Learning

June 15 – June 16 | 8am – 5pm

July 25 – July 26 | 8am – 5pm

Learn how to deeply engage your students in relevant, purposeful learning through the planning and development of a robust project. Hone your skills in managing a lively, student-driven classroom, designing instruction that is grounded in standards and meaningful in the world.

These two-day introductory experiences are followed by customized support and are ideal for those new to PBL. PBL is a multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary methodology that is best implemented in teams. To register and for more information, please visit our website.
 

Regional Opportunities and Events

 

 

CSTA-SMC Monthly Meetings

Second Thursday of Every Month
4:30pm – 6pm
Burlingame High School, Room C106

All K-12 educators who are interested in computer science education are invited to join us at the next meeting of the San Mateo Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA-SMC). For more information, or to join the CSTA-SMC news group, please contact us.


Can't Wait for the Summer? Take a Design Thinking Burst

Thursday, April 28 | 6pm – 8pm
Stanford d.school

The Stanford d.school invites you for a brief introduction to the design thinking process. This crash course is open to all educators who are curious about the design thinking process and want a quick experience working on a design challenge.

Space is limited, so apply today.
 

KQED Learning Day for Teachers @ KQED

Saturday, April 30

Geared toward middle and high school educators, KQED will host a full day of learning in the KQED studio. Explore free public media resources, and get hands-on training in new media storytelling tools, youth participation integration, and building media-rich interactive learning experiences. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The day will conclude with a student media showcase from 2-3 pm. Cost: $10, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Registration is required.
 

Project ASTRO is recruiting teachers!

Application Deadline: August 22, 2016
College of San Mateo

Bring an astronomer into your class to help implement the Next Generation Science Standards in Space Science! Astronomy is a great vehicle to engage your students in Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts. Project ASTRO is looking for 3rd–9th grade teachers to work with volunteer astronomers who have a keen interest in sharing the wonders of astronomy with students. Together, teachers and their astronomer partner attend a free 1.5-day fall workshop to learn hands-on, inquiry-based astronomy activities designed to involve students in the excitement of scientific discovery. The Friday evening session will showcase observational astronomy, and you will learn how to find your way around the night sky in the CSM Planetarium and engage in actual stargazing through telescopes in the college observatory (weather permitting). Saturday sessions will highlight classroom activities and team building. Astronomers then visit your classroom four times during the school year. Apply here.

"Children should engage in tinkering and making because they are powerful ways to learn."
-Sylvia Libow Martinez

QUESTION:


Spell the word RADAR.

  • Start on any R. 
  • Advance in any direction, forwards or backwards.
  • Follow the lines from letter to letter.
  • You cannot skip letters.
How many different ways can you spell RADAR?
 

ANSWER:

(Use your cursor to highlight below): 

There are eighty (80) different ways to spell RADAR. There are twenty ways to connect the letters R-A-D-A-R from each of the four identical corner R's, and 20 x 4 = 80.

Welcome, Marcus Tessier!

PETALS Project Coordinator

The SMCOE STEM Center is excited to introduce Marcus Tessier as our new Coordinator of the PETALS Project, our California Math & Science Partnership (CaMSP) grant program. Marcus joins us from the Benicia Unified School District where he taught Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to middle school students; he has also taught biology at the Central Texas Institute Junior College. In addition to his classroom teaching credentials, Marcus has served as both a middle and high school science resource teacher. His experience includes curriculum development and presentations for the Benicia Unified School District, Twin Rivers Unified School District and the Solano County Office of Education. He presently sits on the Board of Directors for the California Science Teachers Association.

Prior to Marcus’ work in the education field, he served as both an Academics Officer and an Operations Officer in the Marine Corps. His varied knowledge and experience will prove invaluable to the success of the PETALS Project. 

The PETALS Project (Partnership for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in STEM) is an intensive three-year coaching and professional learning program designed to help San Mateo County teachers bring quality, NGSS-aligned science education to their students.



We envision a world filled with passionate learners who are empathic problem-solvers, adept risk-takers, and confident creatives.

What We Do

 

We collaboratively design and facilitate learner-centered experiences that nurture innate human curiosity.

   

We catalyze innovative, research-validated educational strategies to support student success.

build

We build educator capacity through a range of professional learning opportunities.

We connect
schools, networks, communities, industries and government to create synergy and support innovation.

 

Who We Are

 

Rebecca VydunaRebecca Vyduna

Director

 

Doron MarkusDoron Markus

Science & Engineering

 

Bruce DuncanBruce Duncan

Instructional Technology

 

Katie RehhLaRita Williams

Mathematics

 

Kim BambaoKim Bambao

Early Learning Mathematics

 

 

Marcus TessierMarcus Tessier

PETALS Project Coordinator

 

Michelle KolotaMichelle Kolota

Administrative Support

 

Zackery JonesZackery Jones

Media Technician

 
Twitter
Twitter
Facebook
Facebook
Website
Website
Share
Tweet
Share
+1
Forward
The San Mateo County Office of Education STEM Center wishes to acknowledge the Oracle Foundation for its foundational support of our launch and continued funding for computer science professional learning for local educators.
Copyright © 2016 San Mateo County Office of Education, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp