MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program seeks high-school math and biology teachers to pilot The Radix Endeavor, an immersive virtual learning experience to support math and biology instruction.  The game incorporates a play-anytime web-based design, quest-based learning aligned with current standards in biology (Genetics, Ecosystems, Evolution, and Human Body Systems) and math (Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics), and optional lesson plans and support materials.  Interested teachers may enroll online or email radix-info@mit.edu for more information.

The Radix team holds virtual office hours each Wednesday at 3:30PM EDT and will host a workshop at MIT on June 26 (9AM-3:30PM) for high school math, biology and technology teachers interested in using multi-player games in their classrooms. Register online ($22.09).  It has also posted videos and recordings of webinars to explain Radix.

Amplify AP CS is a free, two-semester course for anyone interested in Java programming, and it’s aimed specifically toward high-school students who want to take the AP Computer Science Exam in Spring 2015.  It’s taught by Rebecca Dovi, a Google Trailblazer Fellow in computer science education, an education advisor to Code.org, and one of ten teachers selected nationwide to pilot the new AP CS Principles course.  The course requires about 5 to 7 hours per week for 16 weeks each semester (August 29-December 19 and January 2-May 7).  You can sign up now for Fall 2014.  Course highlights:

• Learn problem-solving strategies that can be applied to real-world problems.
• Design and implement solutions to problems by writing, running and debugging computer programs.
• Code fluently in Java using the standard Java library classes from the AP Java subset.
• Explore and use common algorithms and data structures to solve problems.
• Read, understand and manipulate large programs consisting of several classes and interacting objects.
• Recognize and consider ethical and social implications of computer use.

Amplify AP CS Plus extends this online course to provide high schools with training, support, and other resources to accredit and support students in this course.  The fee is $85 per student or $1750 per school.

Boston’s Museum of Science has a new drop-in program, Design Challenges, for grades 4-10 as well as for small family groups.  The program has already received national recognition for creating an environment that encourages girls to explore STEM.  It offers hands-on activities to introduce the engineering design cycle — to design, build, and test a prototype solution to a problem.  Design Challenges are offered daily 10:30AM-12:30PM in the museum’s Gordon Current Science & Technology Center.  The cost is included in the cost of museum admission.  For group visits, contact designchallenges@mos.org or 617 589-0328.