June 21, 2015 � News from the Southeastern MA STEM Network  http://www.connectsemass.org/stem

               Save the Date!

     SE MA STEM Resource Fair

 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Bridgewater State University

Rondileau Campus Center, 19 Park Avenue

Bridgewater, MA

 

Save the date for the third annual STEM Resource Fair sponsored by the SE MA Regional STEM Network. On July 24, regional STEM stakeholders including parents, prek-16 educators, and representatives of business, government and community organizations will gather to share resources, connect with potential STEM partners, walk away with hands-on lesson plans, and learn about promising practices and network. Activities and information will focus on aligning workforce and education; integrating STEM, arts, humanities, and fitness; community STEM initiatives; career and college readiness; STEM content professional development; and STEM literacy for all students.
  

Registration opens at the end of June but space is limited for this FREE event. Petri Dish subscribers will receive a registration notification at the end of June via email, or visit http://www.connectsemass.org/stem/  on July 1st to register.  

Explore Envision the Future Model at the STEM Resource Fair

 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Bridgewater State University

Rondileau Campus Center, 19 Park Avenue

Bridgewater, MA

 

Interested in closing the STEM gap for underrepresented groups in STEM fields?  Learn more about the Envision the Future Model and meet the girls who participated in this year's program at the July 24 STEM Resource Fair at Bridgewater State University.  Read more here.

 

Congratulations to

Kerri Murphy

MA STEM Educator

of the Year!

 

Congratulations to Kerri Murphy from the SE MA STEM Network for being selected as the STEM Teacher of the Year by The Hall at Patriots Place, sponsored by Raytheon.
 

"I first met Kerri in the fall of 2012, at a STEM meeting and experienced her boundless enthusiasm for all things STEM," notes Katherine Honey, SE MA STEM Network coordinator.  "Along with continually adding to her arsenal of math challenges for her students at Oliver Ames high School - Easton Public Schools, I have seen how she has focused her energy on collaborating with community members in Easton in order to create a team of individuals with a common vision to advance STEM education for all students. Being selected STEM Teacher of the Year is well deserved and recognizes Kerri's significant contributions to STEM education."


The Hall at Patriot Place, sponsored by Raytheon, is committed to promoting STEM education in Massachusetts and provides STEM-themed education programs for more than 18,000 school visitors per year. The Hall started the Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year program during the 2012-2013 school year to honor STEM educators for the vital work they do in and out of the classroom.



News From the State 

Your Input is Needed for the Science & Technology/Engineering MCAS 

 

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is conducting a survey to collect input for upcoming revisions to the current Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS assessments.  The survey is expected to take 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available until Friday, July 10th. Questions?  Contact Darin LaSota at [email protected].

 

Take the survey here. 

Mark Your Calendars- 

Massachusetts Project Lead The Way STEM Conference

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015
8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Salisbury Laboratories

Worcester, MA

 

Mark your calendars for an exciting professional development conference designed to prepare students for the global economy.  Open to all school counselors, curriculum specialists, principals, teachers, district administrators, and interested business and industry professionals, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) K-12 Curriculum Programs integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), providing opportunties for districts to develop a STEM pathway from kindergarten to grade 12. These programs are aligned with the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

 

Conference details and registration will be available by late September, but click here to learn more about the conference.  Explore PLTW by visiting www.pltw.org.
 


News and Events
From the Region

BCC Moves from STEM to STEAM

 

Bristol Community College/Attleboro held its third annual STEM Workshops for area middle school students on May 28, 2015. The goal of the event was to inspire middle school students to learn about the great opportunities available in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math to get them excited about pursuing further education in math and science-related fields. Bristol Community College is trying to connect with students prior to entering high school by introducing them to jobs of the future.

 

155 middle school students, including their faculty from both Norton Middle School and Wamsutta Middle School,  Attleboro attended workshops at Bristol Community College's Attleboro Campus on: Programming Games with Kodu; CSI Crime Scene Technology; Analyzing O wl Pellets; Exploring DNA; Seeing Sound: Visualizing Sound Waves; Engineering and Wind Power; Introduction to Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services. 

 

Bristol Community College, a SE MA STEM Network Partner, is invested in increasing the number of students interested and prepared for STEAM-based careers. For further questions or participation in BCC Attleboro's planned 2016 workshops, please contact BCC Attleboro Dean Rodney Clark or BCC Attleboro Director of Campus Services, Joseph Yasaian at 508-226-2484.

 

 

Regional Marine Life Center

Summer Workshops

    

Looking for new and innovative ways to incorporate STEM, marine science and technology into your lessons? There still may be open spots for a number of regional professional workshops being offered by The Marine Life Center and their partner organizations. These hybrid online/onsite workshops are open to individuals ($350) or teams of two or more teachers from the same district ($325) for PDP's (40) or graduate credit for an additional fee.

 

To learn more about the workshops in your region and check out availability, click here.

 

Weymouth Public School STEM Community Compact

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Weymouth High School

Mary Jo Livingstone Humanities Center

1 Wildcat Way, Weymouth, MA  02190


All are welcome to attend WPS STEM Community Compact which will spotlight STEM information and programs from students, teachers, higher education institutions, community organizations, and businesses.  If you are interested in showcasing your own program or materials, exhibit tables are still available. 

 

Offered as part of WPS STEM, College & Career Readiness, Family and Community Engagement Initiatives, the night will begin with exhibits and refreshments, followed by the STEM Community Compact meeting featuring keynote speaker Katherine Honey, STEM Network Coordinator, SE MA STEM Network.

 

For more information, contact: Betsy Harris, Community Relations Liaison, Weymouth Public Schools at [email protected].  Click here to register.


 

STEAM Summer Programs for Students at Sacred Heart

  

Sacred Heart STEAM Summer Program is the place to be for those students in grades 7-12 looking to attend fun, summer enrichment programs. Encourage your students to take to the sea on a research vessel with Woods Hole scientists, solve a crime using forensic science kits, build and program their own robot, or get a chance to use a 3D printer. One week electives will run all summer from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will incorporate field trips, teambuilding, guest speakers, and daily recreational activities. Click here to view the brochure. 

 

For more information, visit sacredheartkingston.com or contact Dylan Collins, Program Director at [email protected]

 

High-Tech Tools and Toys Laboratory Summer PD Opportunity

 

Monday - Thursday, July 13 - 23

Northeastern University, Boston, MA


Applications are being accepted for the High-Tech Tools and Toys Laboratory (HTT&TL) summer professional development opportunity for secondary STEM teachers and community college faculty. The two week workshop will introduce participants to the High Tech Tools and Toys course offered at Northeastern University, while providing guidance and support to implement the course or components at their own schools.

 

Participants will be provided a stipend totaling $2,000 for their participation and classroom implementation.

Applicants should forward their resume and letter of support from their Dean/Principal and/or Department Head to Claire J. Duggan, Director for Programs and Operations, The Center for STEM Education, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, or email [email protected] for more information. Learn more about HTT & TL hereTo complete an application online, click here. 

 

Five Summer Workshops to get Your Computer Science Classes Humming!
 

Interested in learning innovative ways to bring computer science to your students?  The Commonwealth Alliance for Information Technology Education (CAITE) and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance (ECEP), with the support of the National Science Foundation, has partnered with MA computing educators to offer five summer workshops. Click on the individual workshop to learn more.
 

Project GUTS Teacher Workshop

July 13-15

Framingham State University
  

FIRST LEGO League Coaches Connect

July 16

Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, Holyoke
 

Bio-Simulation
July 14-18
Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Tower Hill Botanical Garden

 

Data Science with iSENSE

July 28 - August 1
UMass Lowell  
 

Massachusetts Summer Bootstrap Workshop   
August 10-12

Framingham State University
 

Harvard Forest Offering Summer

Schoolyard Ecology Institute

 

Thursday, August 20, 2015

 

Are you a teacher in grades 2-12 who would like to learn how to implement field studies of local ecosystems in your school's own backyard? The Harvard Forest is excited to offer a forest ecology training institute that will help you do just that.

 

Educators from across the state are invited to take advantage of a one day orientation to Harvard's year-long "Schoolyard Ecology" program. The program is aligned with state and federal science and math standards, and offers instruction on how to implement field studies about local ecosystems, invasive species and climate change. Optional follow-up workshops will be offered throughout school year to support and enhance your individual program. The cost is only $50 which includes project materials, year-long phone/email support from the Schoolyard Ecology Coordinator, follow-up workshops, and PDP's.  

 

To learn more about the program or to register, visit their website here  or email Pamela Snow at:  [email protected]

  

Boston University Offers New Model for AP Physics 1 Instruction

 

Boston University (BU) is offering a new model of Advanced Placement (AP) Physics instruction for underserved high school students, as well as professional development in AP physics for novice and underprepared high school instructors by using a massive open online course (MOOC) as the content source.

 

The program is aimed at delivering AP Physics I to the following three specific groups with a special focus on high needs districts; students whose schools do not offer AP Physics I, novice teachers or teachers without strong physics backgrounds, and veteran teachers who are looking for innovative ways to deliver content.

 

Teachers participating from schools that offer AP Physics 1 will be eligible to receive a stipend and PDP's for their full involvement. Students fully participating from schools that do not offer AP Physics 1 will also receive a stipend and no cost tutoring at the Boston University campus.

 

For more information about this innovative program, contact Mark D. Greenman, Project Director, Boston University Physics Department at [email protected].
 

Explore Additional Summer

Learning Opportunities for

Teachers and Students

 

Learn more about additional professional development workshops in your area  here.

 

Looking for computer science learning opportunities for students, click here.

 

"Dish" About the Ways You Have Implemented STEM Initiatives

 

The SE MA STEM Network invites educators and administrators to share how they have successfully implemented the MA STEM goals this academic year.  We will share your experiences in upcoming Petri Dish issues in our ongoing effort to foster and promote dialogue and collaboration with STEM programs and initiatives. For more information or to submit your story, email Dr. Stacey Kaminski at [email protected]

 

Don't be shy..we would love to hear your success stories!

 


Career Opportunities
& Internships

Obtain a Ph.D. for free?

 

You read that right. Three of our country's top universities offer doctorate programs that provide fully funded financial aid packages, including generous stipend allowances.  Click here to learn more about these exciting programs offered at Boston University, Brown University, and Cornell University. 

 

MIT Office of Engineering

Outreach Programs

 

The MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs is seeking staff to support science and engineering enrichment programs for middle and high school students. Immediate positions include: Manager of Programs; Program Coordinator, STEM Program; Program Coordinator, MITES and E2@MIT programs; Consultant for Student Support. For more information click here.

 

MIT is also seeking 2015 summer instructional staff with a wide variety of backgrounds in science, engineering, math, and humanities disciplines, ranging from undergraduates to experienced professionals. Learn more here. 

 

Internship Challenge Program

 

The Massachusetts Life Science Center's Internship Challenge is a workforce development program focused on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in life sciences. The program facilitates the placement of students and recent graduates in paid internships across the state. Internship opportunities are available year round. For more information, click here.

 


Share Your News!

 

The Petri Dish now has over 2300 subscribers. So, if you have news or events to share, or are looking to connect to the STEM community in Southeastern Massachusetts, this is the place! Email your news, events, and other interesting tidbits to: 

[email protected]

 

Plus, don't forget to register your organization in the SE MA STEM directory so that people seeking your STEM services can find you: 

http://www.connectsemass.org/stem/directory.php 

  

And be sure to check out the network website at: 

Our mission is to connect Southeastern Massachusetts students, educators, employers, and STEM advocates to resources and to each other.
 

 

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