Fun Ways to Travel and Learn

Besides Fund for Teachers here are a few other educator travel opportunities

GEEO Summer Travel Program for Educators
www.geeo.org

Project Dragonfly's Earth Expeditions
www.earthexpeditions.org

Earthwatch Educator Fellowships
http://bit.ly/cR74Vp

reprinted from an e-mail sent by the Rice Lab REMSL

Region IV February Science Conference

Region 4 is holding a Science Conference on February 18, 2012 from 7:45 am – 3:00 pm. It will attract over 300 teachers and 20 vendors. Each year they look to improve the conference and attract more teachers and diversify the pool of presenters.

More details can be found at: http://www.esc4.net/default.aspx?name=sci.conference
I have attached a “Call for Presenters” application for the Region 4 Science Conference.

Presenters will receive a waiver for the registration fee however, co-presenters will not receive a fee waiver. It is our pleasure to support you in presenting at this conference, so please let us know if you apply.

reprinted from an e-mail sent by the Rice Lab REMSL

Flip the Learning

At my school, we are beginning to embark on a new concept: Flip the Learning. This is when a video is presented online that "pre-teaches" a concept to students. The students respond via a web 2.0 tool to questions posted by the teacher. The teacher can then evaluate if the students know the concept, know the concept but have a a few misconceptions, or have truly mastered the concept. In addition, the data can help the teacher differentiate his/her class. For example, if 90% of the class knows the concept of density, the teacher can use research, Problem-Based Learning project to have the students go "deeper" into the learning. The problem-based model is good to show how the concept of density addresses a real-world problem; it gives relevancy to learning.

We are in the infancy stages, but we're voraciously gathering information. Stay tuned.

Electronic Skin

On the website, www.sciencefriday.com, an engineer as designed an "electronic skin". The skin looks like a tattoo and can transmit signals from the body to a remote source. It could monitor heart and other organ functions, brain waves, and speech. The medical uses are numerous, and the "tattoo" can be easily sealed. What if they could match it to your skin tone so that no one could see.

Check out the full article at www.sciencefriday.com or download the app to your iPhone or iPad.

U of H STEP

I am attending the U of H STEP program summer institute. It is a hands-on institute that allows teachers to learn new technology, literature and research to use with students and fellow staff. It also broadens your professional development by increasing your science content. The classes are comprised of teachers from various districts in the Houston area: Alvin, Spring Branch, Aldine, Galveston and Pasadena.

The exchange of ideas is one of the best outcomes of the institute along with the resources; i.e. iPad2.

SlideShare.net

I just learned about a resource that will "shrink" your powerpoint presentation. The site, http://www.slideshare.net/, allows you to take an existing powerpoint and shrink it. You will lose any slide transitions, but it will smaller and faster to download. The site also has a library of presentations that you can download/change for your needs. The presentation below is from slideshare.net.

Landforms

View more presentations from Joel Yuvienco

Alan November

We are moving into a new age in Spring Branch. We are now consulting with Alan November to bring back the self-directed, global communcating, collaborative student. Schools are now commissioned with the task of "growing" these students by releasing control. It's a paradigm shift that while require patience and flexibility.

Build Your Wild Self

http://www.buildyourwildself.com

If you are looking for a new way to learn about adaptations, go to www.buildyourwildself.com. It's a site that allows students to build a wild self, and you can add a writing or presentation component.

NOVA

NOVA, on PBS, has had some really interesting episodes. The latest was an expose on the powerful forces of earthquakes. It chronicled the devastation and strength of the nation of Haiti along with other countries. If you have a chance, catch NOVA on PBS.