Monthly Archives: December 2014

TEALS Partnerships for Computer Science: Schools Apply by Jan. 26

Opportunities, Resources

Technology Education And Literacy in Schools recruits, trains, and places volunteer teaching assistants in high-school classrooms to support partner schools and teachers in offering computer-science courses on a sustainable basis.  In Massachusetts last year, TEALS worked with Billerica, Boston, Cambridge, Medford, Revere, and Watertown.  Schools must apply by January 26 for TEALS partnerships for the 2015-16 school year.  Schools will be selected by mid-February.  Volunteers will be recruited February-May and trained June-August.  The TEALS mission:

  • Help high schools build sustainable computer science programs so that they will be able to offer CS programs on their own
  • Increase the number of AP Computer Science test-takers nationwide and across all demographics
  • Represent students of all demographics and backgrounds with a specific focus on engaging underrepresented populations
  • Provide access and exposure to computer science courses for students who otherwise do not have a pathway to study CS

Form a Botball Team Before the Jan. 23-24 New England Workshop

Opportunities

Botball is a worldwide, team-oriented robotics program for middle- and high-school students.  Teams build and program autonomous robots using Botball-provided kits including an iRobot Create robot base, Lego pieces, and other parts — without the need of a machine shop.  Botball staff trains team leaders and mentors starting in January.  A 7-week build period follows, culminating in a regional tournament on March 28.  Teams must be registered by January 9 — two weeks prior to the New England Botball Workshop, which will be held January 23-24, 8AM-5PM, at UMass Lowell.  Massachusetts teams signed up so far for 2015 are from Arlington, Ashland, Chelmsford, Everett, Lowell, Hanover, Haverhill, Malden, Martha’s Vineyard, Pembroke, Roxbury, and Wellesley.

Summer Programs for Mathematically Talented Middle/High School Students

Opportunities, Summer

The American Mathematical Society maintains a list of summer math camps and programs for talented and highly motivated mathematics students of all ages, but mainly middle and high school.  AMS also offers its Epsilon Awards to help support a range of these summer programs each year.  The 2015 Epsilon awards will be announced in March, but in the meantime the 2014 Epsilon awards highlight programs of potential interest for students thinking about next summer.

WPI Hosts ‘Super Saturday’ STEM Educator Workshops, Jan. 24

Opportunities

The Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science at WPI will host a morning of workshops on Saturday, January 24, 7:30AM-12:30PM for elementary school teachers interested in these topics:

  • Robotics for Elementary School Students
  • Introduction to NGSS
  • Genetics is Elementary  Teaching the Principles of Genetics to Early Elementary Students
  • Engineering the Story
  • Integrating Technology with Data Collection

The cost is $25.  Pre-registration is requested — by emailing Jackie Bonneau (bonneau@wpi.edu) or Shari Weaver (sweaver@wpi.edu).  Walk-ins will also be welcome.

FSU Teacher Workshop: Here, There and Everywhere, Jan. 28

Opportunities

Middle- and high-school teachers — as well as informal science educators — are invited to register for a workshop on demonstrating the universality of physical laws and the connection between the everyday world and the universe as a whole.  It will be held January 28, 4:30-8PM at Framingham State University’s Christa McAuliffe Center, 100 State Street in Framingham.  Cost is $10.  The workshop is supported by NASA and was developed by the Chandra X-ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge.

Register Now for Free ‘Code Studio’ Workshop for Teachers, Feb. 17

Resources

Teachers in Grades K-5 — as well as school librarians and tech-ed specialists — are invited to register now for Code.org’s free workshop on computer science for elementary school on February 17, 8:30AM-4:30PM at Education Development Center, 43 Foundry Avenue in Waltham.  Participants will learn about the 20-unit Code Studio curriculum for Grades K-5.  Bring a computer.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.  After the workshop, code.org will send each attendee a set of classroom supplies to use for teaching the code curriculum.

Help Teens Exercise STEM Skills with Chess at the Library

Opportunities

The Newton Free Library seeks a volunteer with chess knowledge and enthusiasm to lead a new Chess Club for teens.  Regular meetings will be loosely structured to allow for multiple games between club members, basic instruction for beginners covering the rules of the game and tournament play, and guidance on chess play as needed.  Game sets will be provided by the library.  Scheduling is flexible — once a week or every other week.  If interested, contact Liz Rowland at teens@newtonfreelibrary.net.

Nominations Open for Mass. STEM Teacher of the Year

Recommendations

Each year, The Hall at Patriot Place and Raytheon together recognize a full-time, certified, K-12 STEM teacher in public or private school as their Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year.  Anyone may nominate a teacher by February 28, and nominated teachers must submit their part of the application by March 17.  The winner’s school will receive $5,000 for STEM education, and the schools of the four other finalists will each receive $1,000.  See details here (PDF).

Registration is Open for Moody’s Mega Math Challenge

Events, Opportunities

In the Moody’s Mega Math Challenge, teams of high-school students work intensely for one day (7AM-9PM) to solve an open-ended, real-world problem using applied mathematical modeling.  Each high school may register up to two teams, each consisting of 3 to 5 Junior/Senior students and one teacher-coach.  Registration closes February 20, and the challenge may be undertaken on February 28 or March 1.  Students who register will have year-long access to Wolfram Research’s Mathematica and Alpha Pro, and they are encouraged to download the handbook, Math Modeling: Getting Started and Getting Solutions.  The contest is sponsored by The Moody’s Foundation and organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

‘DuPont Challenge’ STEM Writing Competitions: Grades K-5 and 6-12

Opportunities

DuPont hosts various DuPont Challenge STEM writing competitions:

Grades K-5 Science Story:  Teacher-led, grade-specific, classroom projects to create a storybook about the impact of science in the world.  Submissions are due March 1.

Grades 6-12 Science Essay:  A writing competition for individual students sponsored by science teachers to address an issue in Food, Energy, Protection, or Innovation.  Review the rules and submit an essay of 700-1,000 words by January 31.