Computer Science Education Week is once again encouraging tens of millions of students in over 180 countries to try their hand at computer coding. Through the support of coalition partners like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, the Girls and Boys Club of America and more, the Hour of Code offers an introduction to computer science designed to demystify "code" and show that anyone can learn the basics. There will be a variety of hour-long introductory tutorials that can be completed online, on a smartphone, or even unplugged.

Click here to learn more or to sign up for the event.

The Cambridge Science Festival  is offering a special initiative, Einstein in the Classroom, as part of their effort  to honor the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Theory of General Relativity. 

Their Einstein in the Classroom program will bring together college physics students and professors with high school and 7th & 8th grade students for two classroom visits filled with engaging activities about Einstein's work. Organizers are seeking volunteers for this program and are holding an information session about the Einstein in the Classroom program Tuesday, December 9 at 5:30 at the MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. Learn more about the program here.

Don't Forget! The Cambridge Festival's call for entries deadline is December 5th...register here. 

For more information on these events, contact Peg Legendre, K-12 coordinator for Cambridge Science Festival and Science on the Street, at plegendre@gmail.com.

Old Colony RVT High School is celebrating Computer Science Week this year with a collaboration between the Computer Information Systems (CIS), Electronics, and Mathematics departments. CIS teacher Ryan Robidoux and his students have organized a number of workshops as part of the Hour of Code initiative. During the week, CIS and Electronics students will take over math classes throughout Old Colony and help their peers solve programming puzzles and create apps that can run on Android phones.

Visit code.org to learn about activities you can run in your own classroom.

The Center for the Advancement of STEM Education at Bridgewater State University, is pleased to announce Games Teachers Play Workshops for the 2014-2015 academic year.  All Workshops are open to PreK-12 Educators.  All games are easy to learn; many have language free entry, and can be easily differentiated for learners' age and current performance.  All workshops will be held on BSU campus.  The cost for each is $15.   

Round and Round We Go

January 28, 2015

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Explore mathematical games and puzzles which push students' limits in rotating objects in the world around them.
 

What are the Odds?

May 5, 2015

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
This workshop will look at mathematical games and puzzles which are engaging and fun, but require extensive use of probability to win.

Register for a workshop here.  

AccuRounds Hosts Attleboro Educators

Attleboro Public Schools, in conjunction with AccuRounds, developed a professional development opportunity for Attleboro educators to learn more about the role advanced manufacturing plays in the economy and the skills students need to secure jobs in manufacturing.  On November 10th, educators from Attleboro visited AccuRounds and engaged in hands-on activities, spoke with employees, and toured the facility.

Embracing the cooperative opportunity, Michael Tamasi, president and CEO of AccuRounds, pointed out, "Teacher externships are an excellent way for industry and education to collaborate on the soft skills and technical knowledge needed in the workplace today."

For more information about introducing advanced manufacturing to educators, contact Katherine Honey at khoney@comcast.net.   

Educators Sharing STEM Initiatives Monday, November 17, 2014

Hosted by Markman Children's Program in Attleboro, Educators Sharing STEM Initiatives brought together afterschool and out-of-school time (ASOST) providers to share STEM initiatives.  ASOST educators displayed student STEM activities including those focused on mechanical engineering, clinical sciences and health professionals, oceanography, and astronomy and space.  The session was supported by the Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST-Q) grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

As part of Markman's effort to advance STEM education, they will work with ASOST providers to plan a community STEM event on October 26, 2015.

For more information, contact Debbie Roux at markmandebbie@yahoo.com.