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Science education news and updates from around the state and region.  


April 21, 2021 Earth Day!

 

The purpose of the Science Matters newsletter is to provide the Olympic ESD 114 region educators with resources and updates to support improved student learning in science. During the COVID-19 pandemic emphasis will be placed on resources that provide information to support teachers with distance learning. This will include information about professional learning opportunities, quality science instructional materials for use in the virtual environment, and opportunities to be involved in science leadership within Washington State. 

Islandwood 

Community Science Workshop
 

When | May 15 from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

Who | 6-12 Grade Teachers

Clock Hours | Teachers who complete this workshop can earn up to 4.5 STEM clock hours.

During this course, you will explore with IslandWood staff and other teachers how local phenomena and investigations in YOUR community can be centered in a Next Generation Science Standards storyline to connect to the interests and identities of your students and support understanding of the impact of climate change. We will use an example phenomenon storyline to explore possibilities during our large group session on May 15. An optional follow up session on May 25th will provide the opportunity to continue discussing and developing with other teachers what a local storyline approach could look like for your students.

 

By the end of this course participants will…

  • Understand how local phenomena interact with the Next Generation Science Standards, climate change, ecosystems and people in a community.
  • Experience how local phenomena and field investigations can build scientific understanding.
  • Understand how centering local phenomena in curriculum increases learning equity and supports student engagement.
  • Work together to develop and implement ideas for incorporating local phenomena and their communities as a part of NGSS curriculum.
  • Develop tools to increase students’ understanding of climate change and capacity to think about climate change solutions.

The course includes: An online session on Saturday, May 15th from 10:00 am-2:30 pm (includes an hour break for lunch); and an optional follow up session on Tuesday, May 25th from 3:30-5:00pm to develop, adapt and discuss implementation of activities.

Register Here

OpenSciEd Open Source Materials 

Entire MS Scope and Sequence by 2021-2022

 

Too many teachers know the reality of the opportunity gap, and too many students live that reality. In addition to existing and systemic educational inequities, COVID-19 has exacerbated the crisis disproportionately affecting Black and Brown students as well as traditionally marginalized populations. OpenSciEd exists to change the status quo and remove the predictability about who succeeds and shows affection for the STEM fields.

The high cost of quality science materials often prevents districts from adopting the best curricula, and those who invest in good programs do it at the expense of adequate professional learning that helps teachers make necessary instructional shifts. Being freely available, OpenSciEd creates an environment where districts don’t need to make this compromise.

We believe that the best materials are rooted in the standards; created, reviewed, and approved by the science educator community; and field-tested to ensure their equity, efficacy, and usability. Our materials carry a creative commons license, which helps foster equal access to excellent, flexible materials that teachers can customize and adapt to meet the needs of their students. Our work is guided by the vision for science literacy described in the Next Generation Science Standards and supported by 10 partner states in the development of the materials. 

Explore the released units here

Are you interested in trying out one of the released units? 
Contact Jeff Ryan for more details
jryan@oesd114.org

Professional Development Opportunities 

Climate Science 3.0: Modeling and Student Explanations

 

Teachers from around Washington State have expressed a need for more asynchronous professional development. Coursework that can be completed at your pace. Your nine Regional Science Coordinators have responded to your request. Please consider registering for the May Cohort Climate Science 3.0: Modeling and Student Explanations Canvas Course. 
 
Yes, there is focus on climate science. However, the Science and Engineering Practices of Developing and Using Models and Constructing Explanations can be applied to all science disciplines. 
 

K-2 Registration [LINK]
 
3-5 Registration [LINK]
 
6-8 Registration [LINK]
 
9-12 Registration [LINK]
 
 

Good News Charts

Beautiful News- Online Resource

A collection of good news, positive trends, uplifting statistics and facts — all beautifully visualized by Information is Beautiful.

We’ll be releasing a chart every day for a year to move our attention beyond dramatic news headlines to the slow developments and quiet trends that go unseen, uncelebrated.

Amazing things are happening in the world, thanks to human ingenuity, endeavour and collaboration.

OpenSciEd High School Pilot Project

OpenSciEd begins a two year development cycle to create a complete high school learning sequence for biology, chemistry and physics.  The Earth/space performance expectations will be integrated throughout these units.  Washington state is a partner is this work and a number of teachers in our region have applied to be field test teachers as new units come on line.  Watch this space for more information as it becomes available. 

Contact Jeff Ryan for more details 
jryan@oesd114.org


OpenSciEd High School Development  (Link)

sFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

 

Science Education Partnership Summer Program
Summer 2021

The Science Education Partnership (SEP) provides Washington State secondary science teachers with mentored research experiences, professional development, access to resources, and a collaborative learning community.  This year the SEP will be hosting a virtual (or virtual-hybrid) program that focuses on cancer biology, biotechnology, and scientific mentorship. They are particularly looking for teachers that are teaching Cell Cycle and Growth & Development in Winter or Spring Quarter this school year to participate in a paid research study.

  • A 4-week virtual (or virtual-hybrid) summer session
  • Direct experience working with research scientists 
  • Kit Loan Program of molecular biology resources 
  • Stipend: $1,500, 
  • WA STEM Clock Hours and UW Credit Available
  • Summer & school year sessions July 8-Aug 6, 2021 (With Opening Day workshop May 19, 2021, Fall Kickoff on Sept 18, 2021, and Reflection Day on May 1, 2022) 

Application and Information
 
Questions? - Email 
rwu@fredhutch.org 



 
New Tools to Support Climate Science Teaching and Learning 
The header image for STEM Teaching Tool 68, which shows a multigenerational group in an urban garden
Teaching and learning about climate change, its impacts, and how to take action can be difficult. But it is also vitally important. Young people have the right to know about the intersecting environmental impacts and solutions that affect them, especially if they are from communities of color and poverty-impacted communities that are being disproportionately affected.
 
Students need to be learning in science class about how to meaningfully take action on climate change in solutions-focused ways. This helps deliver on the NRC Framework vision: “A major goal for science education should be to provide all students with the background to systematically investigate issues related to their personal and community priorities.”  

To support educators in this work, we are developing many new STEM Teaching Tools on justice-centered approaches to climate science and environmental science education. This spring, we published the following tools: 
Learn about Care, Justice, and Climate Education 
a screenshot of the UW Climate and environmental justice in education website









How can we learn to create a more just world where all humans and other creatures can thrive?

This winter, team members Philip Bell and Nancy Price taught a course at the University of Washington on climate and environmental justice in education. They shared the course descriptionreadingsresources, and more on their site, which you can access for free.

Explore how themes of ecological care, multispecies wellbeing, and equity relate to climate and environmental education. Check out the graduate seminar online here, and join the inquiry on Twitter at #UWClimateEd
Climate and Environmental Justice in Education Resources

Looking for Teacher Partners

Partner to Author a STEM Teach Tool

Puget Sound ESD is partnering with the University of Washington to craft four additional STEM Teaching Tools related to Climate Science.  We hope these tools will add to conversations about climate science for you and your colleagues.  

As you may know, these tools are produced in partnership with teachers who receive professional learning on the topic and then assist with the writing.  

We invite you to consider applying to co-author a STEM Teaching Tool should you experience with the possible topics listed below.

  • Addressing the “political” in climate change teaching and learning
  • Designing climate change learning for action
  • Equity and teaching climate change
  • Promoting agency in climate change communication/learning
  • Collaborations between community learning and classroom learning
  • Other topics of interest to participants defined during initial workshop

 

This linked flyer provides more information about the project. 

 

Accepted participants will receive project information including Zoom links from the team at the University of Washington.

 

Each co-author receives a $400 stipend upon completion of their STEM Teaching Tool.

 

Please review the flyer and let me know if you have any questions.

 

 

 

Science Matters Newsletter Archives


Explore over three years of the Science Matters Newsletter archives.

Relevant and timely news and notes from around the state and region related to science education teaching and learning.

View back issues here
For more information regarding these updates please contact Jeff Ryan at jryan@oesd.wednet.edu











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Olympic Educational Service District 114 · 2530 West 19th Street · Port Angeles, WA 98363 · USA

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