Contra Costa County Office of Education

                     
                  December 2015

STEAM Masthead
Featured Sections
California Standards in Science
Teacher Opportunities and Professional Development
Educator Grants and Awards
Classroom Resources and Websites
Student and Family Opportunities
Join Our Mailing List
STEAM News and Events 



Greetings! 

Join us on January 28 for the inaugural California Conditions of Learning Symposium: Engage, Teach, and Lead. The informative day includes keynote presentations, breakout strands and breakout sessions about engaging all students in learning. Strands include Next Generation Science Standards and Project-Based Learning. Sessions include Design Thinking and Integrated Learning. Visit our Eventbrite link to register.

The DRAFT Science Framework for California Public Schools has been released for public review. Comments will be open for 60 daysk from November 17, 2015 to January 19, 2016. Take time with your science leaders to review the framework and make comments. 
 
Visit our website to view resources, link to standards, and stay up-to-date with events. Feel free to contact Hilary Dito with questions, comments, and professional learning opportunities about integrating STEAM into your PreK-12 classrooms.
California Standards in Science
Framework Draft for Public Review
The first draft of the California Science Framework is now available for public review. The draft will be open to public comment for 60 days. Download the Framework and submit your comments directly to the California Department of Education. The survey is open until January 19.
Attend a Local Framework Review Session
Explore the NGSS Framework with local educators, by attending a Local Framework Review Session, at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, San Jose, on December 3, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at this link. There will also be a session at the Oakland Unified School District, on December 16, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. RSVP to Claudio Vargas.
 
California Science Teachers Association has an outline on the review process. Read the article, and host your own review session. Follow California's Department of Education updates by joining the NGSS electronic mailing list. Send a blank email to this address. 
Next Generation Science Standards Resources 
Teacher Opportunities and Professional Development
CCCOE Distinguished Speaker Series: La Cucina Matematica
Registration is now open for the CCCOE's Distinguished Speaker Series with Matt Vaudrey and John Stevens. Join educators on January 27, "To Cook UP Tasty Math Lessons."  Join Google Certified educators, Matt and John, as they stock up your mathematical kitchen with resources to engage your students in California's Standards for Mathematics. Space is limited.

For more information and to register, visit the program's Eventbrite posting. 
California Conditions of Learning Symposium: Engage, Teach, and Lead

This year, the CCCOE is excited to announce the inaugural California Conditions of Learning Symposium: Engage, Teach, and Lead on January 28. As educators move forward with meeting the demands of the California Standards, CCCOE's Symposium will enhance and strengthen best practices for all teachers and their students. This inaugural event will highlight and showcase Literacy, Science, Early Learning, Technology, English Language Development, Mathematics, and Integrated Learning. 

For more information and to register visit their website. 
CCCOE Distinguished Speaker Series: Implementing the NGSS: A Hands-On Workshop
Registration is now open for CCCOE's Distinguished Speaker Series with Dr. Cary Sneider. Join Dr. Sneider, on March 22, to take a deep dive with the NGSS. Dr. Sneider helped author both a Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. Attendees will learn about the instructional shifts of NGSS, engage in NGSS activities, and ascertain how to integrate engineering into the classroom. 
For more information and to register, visit this link.
East Bay CUE's Cool Tools 2016
The upcoming annual Cool Tools' topics will focus on integrating technology in teaching and learning. There will be two one-hour sessions and one 90-minute workshop. Presentation proposals are currently being accepted. 

Cool Tools 2016 will be held on January 23, at Carondelet High School, in Concord. To learn more, visit their website.
Design Challenge Learning Institute at The Tech
Every student is an inventor at heart. InventionX Challenge recognizes and rewards students for their curiosity and problem-solving-prowess. Educators can learn how to engage students in STEM, receive a guidebook that includes activities, and learn to create Invention Challenges.
This program will be held on Saturday, January 9, or Saturday, March 12. Both dates will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will be held at the Design Challenge Learning Institute at The Tech. Cost to register is $90. Contact Allison Wilhelm for registration and additional info.
Argument-Driven Inquiry: Promoting Science Proficiency by Transforming Lab Activities

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is pleased to announce this workshop led by Dr. Victor Sampson from the University of Texas at Austin. The workshops will introduce participants to Argument-Driven Inquiry, and how it will help implement the Next Generation Science Standards though active engagement of students in three-dimensional investigations.

The workshop is offered on two dates, and will be held at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, in San Francisco. The first workshop - for middle and high school administrators and science curriculum coordinators of biology, chemistry, physical science, life science, and physics - will be held on Friday, January 22, 1:00-4:30 p.m. The cost is $50. 

The second program is for middle and high school science teachers, and will be held on Saturday, January 23, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cost is $60 (lunch is included). 

Visit their website for more information about these two workshops and to register.
2016 MDUSD Area STEM and EdTech Symposium

Collaborate with educators around STEM and Educational Technology integration. Keynote speakers will include Adam Welcome and Todd Nesloney. 

The Symposium will be held Saturday, February 20, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at Valley View Middle School, in Pleasant Hill. For more information visit their Web page.
California Math Council (CMC) North Conference: Getting at the Core of Mathematical Practices
Take time to explore mathematics and teaching for understanding. Keynote Speakers include: Lee Stiff, Grace Kelemanik and Steve Leinwand.

This program will be held December 11-13, in Pacific Grove, CA. For more information and to register visit their website.
Educator Grants and Awards
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Grants
AIAA advances the state of aerospace, engineering, and technical leadership, and they would like to bring STEM into your classroom. These classroom grants will be considered twice a year in the amount of $250 for science and math programs. For more information, visit their website. AIAA wants to make STEM "real in your classroom."
Making Education Relevant and Interactive through Technology (MERIT)
MERIT applications are now available. Hosted at the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College, in Los Altos Hills, participants will engage in opportunities to integrate innovative technology tools to enhance student learning. Teachers can earn a stipend after completing the summer institute. For more information and to apply, visit their website. 
IISME Summer Fellowship Program For Teachers

Are you ready to experience a summer of innovation, collaboration, renewed energy, and professional growth? Apply for an IISME Summer Fellowship! The IISME Summer Fellowship Program places eligible K-16 teachers from all disciplines into high-performance corporate and research environments for the summer. 

For more information about the IISME Summer Fellowship Program and to apply, visit their website. Applications open this month and educators are encouraged to apply by mid-February to increase their chances of being selected in this competitive process. 
San Francisco Exploratorium - Free Visit for Teachers  

Are you looking for ways to explore your creativity over the winter break? California Teachers can visit the San Francisco Exploratorium at no charge, but be sure to request your free admission at this website. 
Classroom Resources and Websites
Engineering Is (e-book series) 
See how scientists and engineers have worked together to diagnose diseases using origami link, help fish survive link, and even cleaning poop from drinking water link.
Holiday Lecture 2015: Patterns and Processes in Ecology
Each autumn, leading scientists come to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) headquarters, where they speak to an audience of high school students from around the greater Washington, D.C., region. The annual two-day event is an energetic celebration of science, with hands-on activities, lectures, discussion, and lively exchanges between students, teachers, and scientists.  

Leading scientists describe their efforts to understand the patterns and processes that organize and regulate natural ecosystems. To stream the series, visit HHMI's website. 
Engineers Week
Join the National Engineers Week Foundation for 2015 Engineers Week. From February 21-27 celebrate the positive contributions engineers make to society. Log on to their website to order your free Engineers Week Volunteer kit today, to get activities and posters.
Link Engineering
Link Engineering is an online community of educators looking to provide meaningful engineering experience to PreK-12 students and connect with educators throughout the country.
Hour of Code
Join Code.org's challenge to promote computer science education for all students by participating in an Hour of Code. The initiative asks schools, teachers, and parents across the county to help introduce students of all ages to computer programing during Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13. For resources, tutorials, and information, visit their website.
Student and Family Opportunities
Microsoft's Imagine Cup 2016

High school students will use their imagination and passion to create a technology solution in one of the competitions or challenges. For more information and to register, go to their website. 
Engineer That! 
The world is full of interesting problems to solve. KQED is inviting youth, ages 11-18, to share ideas for solving a problem at school, at home or in your community. Identify a problem at school, at home, or in your community that can be solved or improved through engineering. Create a piece of media that clearly explains the problem and why it needs to be solved, constraints and solution. 

Share your submission using hashtag #EngineerThat. Submissions will be accepted October 21 through January 8. For full rules and information visit their website.
MathCounts Competition Series
Registration for the 2015-2016 MathCounts Competition Series is currently open. Students, grades six-eight, are eligible to participate in the MathCounts competitions. Students engage in a "bee-style" contest and earn scholarships and prizes. Visit their website for details.
Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair
The Contra Costa County 2016 Science and Engineering Fair (CCCSEF) will be held March 17-19, at Los Medanos College, in Pittsburg. Students can begin submitting their projects.

The CCCSEF Organizing committee is also recruiting for judges and members for the Scientific Review Committee. If you are interested, you may go to the Contra Costa Science Fair website. Please mark your calendar today for 2016's Science Fair judging day, March 18. 
It Takes a Community! Education Summit

Students in 7-12th grades are invited to It Takes a Community! Education Summit. This FREE event is for first-generation African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander students and their families. The program will include workshops on STEM careers, preparing for college, financial aid, and more. 

The Summit will be held on Saturday, February 13, from 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m., at California State University East Bay, Hayward. Attendees can register on their website. Applications for bus scholarships are due by December 11.
The 2015 Brain Bee

The Brain Bees are local qualifying rounds of the International Brain Bee (IBB), a neuroscience competition exclusively for high school students, ages 14-18. The Brain Bee involves both a written component and a live oral Q&A session. No previous neuroscience knowledge required! Contestants should study the 2012 edition of Brain Facts, a 96-page primer available for free at this website. Answers to ALL test questions can be found in this booklet, with the exception of questions that are reserved for tiebreakers. Registration closes on December 27.
 
The Stanford Brain Bee will be held on Saturday, January 9, click here for more info. The East Bay Brain Bee will take place on Saturday, January 16, at Cal State East Bay, Hayward. For more info, click here. 
CODEGIRL, a documentary about girls who code

Join high school-aged girls from around the world as they try to better their community through technology and collaboration. From rural Moldova to urban Brazil to suburban Massachusettes, CODEGIRL follows teams in the Technovation Challenge as they look to develop apps. The winning team gets $10K to complete and release their app, but every girl discovers something valuable along the way.

Visit the CODEGIRL website for information about the film, hosting a screening, and coding. 

The CCCOE STEAM Enews is published regularly, highlighting news, events, and resources that enhance STEAM education for all students. If you received the STEAM enews from a colleague, please join our mailing list to continue receiving updates. This publication does not signify that the Contra Costa County Office of Education endorses the event or program mentioned.

 

For more information regarding CCCOE STEAM, please visit our website.

Sincerely,

 

Hilary Haugen Dito
CCCOE STEAM Coordinator

 

CCCOE Logo

 

Associate Superintendent, Pamela Comfort, Ed.D.

925-942-3358


 

STEAM Coordinator, Hilary Haugen Dito

925-942-3396


 

Published by the Communications Office of the Contra Costa County Office of Education

Layout/Design, Diane Morrell; Web Developer, June Stephens;
Writer/Editor/Media Relations, Jonathan Lance