Chemistry Storylines RELEASE Dates and Professional Development

The University of Colorado, Boulder has recently announced the release date of their storylines for High School Chemistry. They are also offering several high quality professional developments for high school teachers this summer. Keep your eye out for more information on their units and find information about their professional development offerings here: (Link). Please let me know if you have questions regarding this opportunity and I am happy to support you.

Storylines

As you may have noticed several of the upcoming professional development opportunities center around the topic of storylines. Storylines are a way (not the only way) to bundle our standards and teach them in a cohesive manner. I will be sharing more about storylines in the coming months; but, in the interim here is an article from NSTA that shares a little background (Link).

AP Courses and PBL

A recent study (Link) was shared about gains on the AP Environmental Exam in courses that utilized a Project Based Learning, or Phenomena Based Learning, model and the College Board is offering a new professional development opportunity this summer to examine the integration. Learn more about the professional development here: (Link). How could this model help us to address learning loss while also supporting student-led investigations at the AP level? If interested I would encourage you to have the conversation with your administration and see if this might be a nice connection for ESSR funds coming your way.

Another Consideration for Vertical Alignment

Did you know that there is a crosswalk for AP courses and our Next Generation Science Standards? They can be found here: (Link) Other bundles for Middle School and High School can be found here (Link) and consider the appendices as a tool for vertical alignment. Check out the appendices here: (Link)

Kansas NSF EPSCoR is going to hold its annual Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute this summer for Kansas High School Biology and Environmental Science Teachers June 7-11, 2021 at the University of Kansas Field Station Station (https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station).

Teacher participants will earn a stipend of $750 for actively participating in the week’s activities and writing curriculum. In addition, a travel allowance will be provided for those living more than 1 hour away from the field station along with room and board.

While attending the institute, teachers will participate in a variety of activities from carrying out investigations and learning about current university-level research, to exploring diverse outdoor environments. Early in the week participants will be divided into groups based upon their areas of interest to work with University of Kansas researchers. These groups will spend time developing NGSS inquiry-based curriculum for their own high school classrooms. The Institute is directed by Dr. Peggy Schultz, Associate Specialist with the Kansas Biological Survey and the Environmental Studies Program (https://biosurvey.ku.edu/directory/peggy-schultz ). All KU COVID 19 protocols will be followed and masks are required.

For more info: http://s.12ab.pw/l/08e-2

To apply: http://s.12ab.pw/l/c42-1

To help spark teachers’ interest, here is video from the 2018 institute for you to share with them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpgw3POGZpQ

The Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute is part of the education and outreach initiatives proposed in the Kansas NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1: Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Systems across Kansas award #1656006 (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1656006).

The Kansas Association of Education Service Agencies (KAESA) along with the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) are excited to announce the Kansas Teaching and Leading Project. This project, which includes a comprehensive website with on-demand professional development and supporting resources, as well as live just-in-time webinars will support educators through this school year and beyond.

CLICK HERE to access the website for information in the areas of Understanding the Navigating Change Document, Social and Emotional Learning, Competency-Based and Personalized Learning, Remote and Hybrid Teaching and Learning, Teaching with Instructional Technology, Leadership and Communication, Community and Family Engagement, and Facilities and Operations.

Rural STEM Educator Professional Development Program: The University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Engineering and the East Central University (ECU) College of Education, through a grant from the National Science Foundation, operate the Rural STEM Educator Professional Development Program. This year, they are opening the program to rural STEM educators from neighboring states. As part of this program, educators work directly with engineering research faculty from OU and ECU on real-world sustainable energy research while developing relevant, guided-inquiry curricula for their classroom.

A few of the benefits:

- $5,200 stipend for participating in the year-long program

- Engage in cutting-edge sustainable energy research

- Room and board provided during summer research

- Grant (up to $1,000) for classroom supplies

Application deadline is April 15, 2021. Apply at https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3V4OATlgN7up0mp?Q_DL=CGUt2GqWLmDakLG_3V4OATlgN7up0mp_MLRP_1FB8hXV5lp5W6rP&Q_CHL=email

Call the Kansas Energy Program at 785-532-6029 or e-mail at ksenergyprog@ksu.edu for more information

Rural STEM webinars: OU and ECU are also providing monthly rural STEM webinars January through April 2021. I’ve attached the flier for those as well. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-energy-industry-resources-available-to-k12-teachers-tickets-135415366005?fbclid=IwAR3je4ab3WuFwZgKsUma_LMfSqYIMJMThUT1e707iQbD_upUKim9gwUSHec.

Saturday, April 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. - Bringing Research Into your Classroom: Panel Discussion with RET Teachers

Register for the MOSAiC Arctic research expedition teacher workshop!

Who: MS/HS science teachers, spots are limited

What: FREE summer PD to engage with the MOSAiC-inspired "Arctic Feedbacks" storyline curriculum

When: June 29-30, 2021 from 10 am - 2 pm MT each day

Grad Credit: Participants will receive a certificate for 10 PD hours AND 1 credit from the University of Colorado Boulder paid for by MOSAiC scientist Dr. Jen Kay!

About: The Arctic is currently warming at a rate much faster than the rest of the world which has important implications for the global climate system. In this FREE teacher workshop, participants will engage with curriculum developers from the University of Colorado Boulder and Arctic scientists as they lead you through, "Arctic Feedbacks: Not all warming is equal", a storyline curriculum tied to NGSS Earth's Systems standards in which students explore important science concepts (e.g., Earth's energy budget, greenhouse effect, feedback loops)to model and explain the Arctic amplification phenomenon. Engage with immersive 360° virtual tours, authentic Arctic datasets, and app-based labs in this interactive two-day online workshop!

Register for the June 29-30 Arctic Feedbacks workshop Today!

Testimonials from past workshop participants

"I want to give my students relevant and up-to-date learning. I want to be able to show the kids that this is something that is really happening in the world today and is something that will affect their future. This curriculum gives me the means to do this."

"I really liked the virtual format of this workshop. It was an opportunity to meet people from different states and countries that I probably wouldn't have met otherwise. The breakout rooms really helped to focus on a portion of the unit and to allow time to talk through the different activities. Overall, I liked it!"

"I love the hands on where we participate as students! Working with other teachers is very valuable."

Questions? Email Jon Griffith at jonathan.griffith@colorado.edu

Now more than ever teachers need our support. Don’t miss your chance to recognize an outstanding physics educator for all of their hard work during this past year by nominating them for the PhysTEC Teacher of the Year! https://go.aps.org/3pYEBaw DUE APRIL 9th