Category Archives: Virtual/Online

TeleTutor: Local, Online Tutoring Service, by HS Students for Elementary Students

Resources, Virtual/Online

Two high-school juniors in Newton, Talia Raffel and Emi Lundberg, have co-founded Teletutor, an online tutoring service for elementary students. They have recruited five other high-school students as additional teachers. They offer 40-minute virtual, one-session classes — STEM and other — with a maximum of six elementary students per session. Classes vary each week and are announced at 9PM each Saturday. Parents sign their kids up by 9PM the night before a class, paying online. Per-student costs are $15 for a 40-minute class, $10 for a 20-minute class. TeleTutor is offering two special deals now:  $40 for a pass to any four classes; or bring a friend, and both you and your friend get a 50% discount. Classes are free for kids of healthcare workers and first responders, as well as in cases of financial hardship of any kind, no questions asked. For more information, email teletutor123@gmail.com. STEM-related classes this week:

  • Light and Sound Waves
  • The Octopus
  • Bees and Honey
  • Giraffes
  • Introduction to Genetics
  • Aquarium Tour
  • Genetics: Mechanics

Innovation Institute: Evolutionary Biology Seminar, Grades 6-8 & 9-12

Virtual/Online

The Innovation Institute (Ti2) will offer a new online course — Evolutionary Biology & Development: An Exploration of Genes versus the Environment from Darwin to Genomics — in two sections: Grades 6-8 (8AM-9AM) and Grades 9-12 (9:30AM-10:30AM) on Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays, May 11 – June 19. The course will be in a seminar format with Mondays and Wednesdays focused on introductory material, interactive presentations, and video explorations, and Fridays dedicated to instructor-facilitated discussion. Register here. Weekly topics are: What is Evolution?, Origin of Life Problem, Diversity of Life – Classification and Phylogeny, What About the Fossil Record?, Origin of Variation (Where Evolution Begins), Selection, Speciation, Co-Evolution, Life History Strategies, Role of Biogeography in Evolution, Extinction, and What About Humans?

Rainstorm: Virtual Splash! Two-Day Programs for HS Students

Opportunities, Virtual/Online

Because the Splash! programs usually offered by various colleges and universities have been canceled during the shutdown, the sponsor of Splash! is offering Rainstorm — a free, two-day program of online courses for high-school students taught by undergraduates over the May 30-31 weekend, noon-5PM each day. Registration is open until May 13, and classes will be filled on a lottery basis if there is not room for all. For more information, email cloud@learningu.org. STEM-related courses in the catalog include:

  • It’s Just Rocket Science
  • Glass is Cool: Innovation, Manufacturing and Recycle
  • Code like a pro – Java and BDD
  • Why is Oxygen So Special?
  • Identifying Good Research
  • Computers and Ethics

Puddlestompers: Virtual Classes in Nature Exploration, Ages 3-7

Virtual/Online

Puddlestompers Nature Exploration is a Newton-based company offering classes for young children to explore nature. During this #StayAtHome time, Puddlestompers is offering virtual nature classes for ages 3-7. The lessons are $15 each and are pre-recorded so they can be watched at any time. Each has a STEM activity sheet, an outdoor activity, a handout, a coloring sheet, and a related story. Recent topics are Signs of Spring, Birds:Nesting, Soil, Seed Growth, Worms!, and Robins.

Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center: Online Programs

Events, Virtual/Online

The Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center offers multiple online programs each week.  They are password-protected, so email dmccasland@bluehill.org (mentioning the titles of the programs you want to attend) for details about how to log on. This week’s programs are:

  • The Variety and History of Precipitation Measuring at Blue Hill Observatory: May 4, 1-2PM
  • Solar Eclipse Basics and How to View and Photograph Them Safely: May 6, 1-2PM
  • Significant Nor’easters in New England: May 8, 1-2PM

Subscribe to the observatory’s Sky Mail newsletter for all information about all programs, including how to log on.

LigerBots Seek Additional High-School Mentors for Elementary Students

Opportunities, Virtual/Online

Last week, the Newton LigerBots high-school robotics team launched its “Awesome Mentorship Project 2877” to match high-school student mentors with elementary students by common interests for weekly online mentoring sessions. Based on the great reception seen in the interest forms sent in by parents of elementary students, the LigerBots see high demand for this program and seek additional high-school student mentors for it. High-school students are invited to apply via this form. All mentors are vetted and trained by the LigerBots. Each mentor-student pair will spend an hour each week over a video call doing science experiments, tutoring in school subjects, or simply drawing and chatting — whatever the elementary student needs. Another example of the LigerBots serving the Newton community! #MoreThanRobots

Museum of Science: Online Town Hall — Citizen Science, Apr. 27

Events, Virtual/Online

Boston’s Museum of Science will hold a free online session, Town Hall: Citizen Science on April 27, 2-2:45PM, to provide information and training about how families, teachers, and STEM professionals can be involved and make a difference even from home or in their neighborhoods. Register here to receive the online link. It’s part of Citizen Science Month (April 2020). This program is one of many #MOSatHome live online events.

Yale Society of Women Engineers: Ask a Scientist, via Zoom, Apr. 28

Events, Virtual/Online

Researchers from Yale’s Society of Women Engineers will hold a Zoom conference on April 28, 5-6PM, for ages 10-18 as well as parents and educators. They’ll explore how cells glow green, what’s the matter with antimatter, and how we see color. They’ll offer demonstrations related to their research, discuss a new STEM educational kit, and answer questions. Register here to get the link and the required parental permission form.