T C E B TRIANGLE COALITION ELECTRONIC BULLETIN APRIL 19, 2001 VOL. 7, NO. 16 _____________________________________________________ Published by the TRIANGLE COALITION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION _____________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S TOPICS: GLOBAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WEEK: MAY 6-12, 2001 NEW PANEL REPORT SHOWS MATH UP, WHILE GAP IN READING PERFORMANCE GROWS TRIANGLE COALITION MEMBER PROFILE: POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION REWARDS QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING COUNCIL RECEIVES $2.3 MILLION GRANT TO COMBAT SHORTAGE OF WOMEN, MINORITIES IN TECHNOLOGY JOBS CLASSROOM CONNECT, INC. NAMES INTERNET EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 2001 BRINGING NASA'S SPACE SCIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH ONLINE TELESCOPES ____________________________________________________ GLOBAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WEEK: MAY 6-12, 2001 The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State are working with private and public organizations, including the Triangle Coaltion, to develop outreach activities for Global Science and Technology Week (GSTW). The week is scheduled for May 6-12, 2001, and will highlight the international nature of science and underscore the importance of math and science education in today's era of globalization. During GSTW, the United States will also be hosting the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), bringing together more than 1,200 high school students from 40 nations for a prestigious international science competition. It is hoped that the ISEF and other activities taking place throughout the week will not only infuse an appreciation for global perspectives into the training of young scientists and technologists, but will also stress the importance of math and science education in today's global economy and the benefits of international scientific collaboration to public citizens and K-12 students. For more information, visit www.triangle-coalition.org/gstw.htm, or www.ostp.gov. ************************************ NEW PANEL REPORT SHOWS MATH UP, WHILE GAP IN READING PERFORMANCE GROWS The National Education Goals Panel has released a new analysis showing that states are making more progress in mathematics achievement than in reading. The new Goals Panel report, titled "Raising Achievement and Reducing Gaps: Reporting Progress Toward Goals for Achievement," provides a new analysis of student achievement scores for states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The same report shows that good readers are getting better at the same time weak readers are losing ground. The report finds that only a handful of states have been successful in reducing the achievement gap between white and minority students. It also highlights the significant achievement gap between the highest and lowest scoring students that is, in fourth grade reading, growing larger. With regard to mathematics, the major findings of the report were that states are making more progress in mathematics achievement than in reading. Between 1990 and 1996, the average student achievement score improved in 28 out of 32 states in 8th grade mathematics, and none declined. Meanwhile, in 4th grade reading from 1992 to 1998, only seven out of 32 states improved their scores and four states actually declined. In mathematics, eight states reduced the gap between the top and bottom quartiles at 4th grade and five did so at 8th grade. Also, in mathematics, only two states reduced the gap between white and minority students at 4th grade, and one did so at 8th grade. Created in July 1990, the National Education Goals Panel is a bipartisan body consisting of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats from the federal and state levels of government. The Panel is made up of eight governors, four members of Congress, four state legislators, and two members appointed by the President. The eight National Education Goals call for greater levels of: student achievement; high school completion; teacher education and professional development; parental participation in the schools; adult literacy and lifelong learning; and safe, disciplined, and alcohol-and-drug-free schools. The Goals also call for all children to be ready to learn by the time they start school and for US students to be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement. For copies of "Raising Achievement and Reducing Gaps," please contact the National Education Goals Panel at 202-842-3600 x 222 or download from www.negp.gov. ************************************ TRIANGLE COALITION MEMBER PROFILE: POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER Triangle Coalition member, The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and is a special place for students, teachers, families, Scouts, birders, botanists, photographers, hikers, and everyone else interested in learning about the natural world in a beautiful and informal setting. The study of nature and natural systems is the focus at PEEC, and their proximity to a quarter of a million acres of public lands, including the National Recreation Area and numerous state parks, forests, and game lands offers a world of natural opportunities to explore. The Visitor Education Center is the hub of activity at PEEC. The building houses three classrooms, a library, craft center, darkroom, store, indoor pool, offices, educational displays, and meeting areas for presentations and dances. PEEC is the largest residential center for environment education in the Western Hemisphere. Over its 25 years, half a million people have stayed and studied at PEEC. For more information, visit www.peec.org. ************************************ THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION REWARDS QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) paid tribute to more than 20 science educators in the 2001 Teacher Award program during its 49th National Convention in St. Louis. NSTA and its sponsors presented teachers with nearly $100,000 in prizes and awards for their exemplary teaching practices and commitment to quality science education. NSTA presented one of its most prestigious awards, the Distinguished Service to Science Education Award, to three outstanding educators: JoAnne Vasquez, a science consultant from Gilbert, AZ; Richard F. Duncan, a teacher education associate from Beaverton, OR; and Mitchell E. Batoff, a professor from New Jersey City University, NJ. The award recognizes NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching. The Science Teaching Award, sponsored by the Shell Oil Company, is another prestigious award that grants $10,000 to a science classroom teacher who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and community through exceptional teaching practices. This year's winner, George Wolfe, is a teacher at Wilson Magnet High School in Rochester, NY. Other awards recognize teachers for their development and implementation of unique science programs and curricula. A few of this year's award-winning lesson plans include a hands-on, inquiry-based project where students conduct archeological digs to solve a 150-year-old mystery; a virtual classroom experience where students evolve into pilots, doctors, and astronomers; and a program that helps students explore the wonders of space travel through weekly mission simulations. In addition to well-deserved recognition, many of the awards given to the teachers include funding to enhance or expand outstanding science projects. For a list of winners, general information about the NSTA Teacher Awards Program, or to enter, visit www.nsta.org/programs. Deadline for most of this year's programs is November 15, 2001. ************************************ COUNCIL RECEIVES $2.3 MILLION GRANT TO COMBAT SHORTAGE OF WOMEN, MINORITIES IN TECHNOLOGY JOBS The Council on Competitiveness has received a $2.3 million grant to support the establishment of BEST (Building Engineering and Science Talent), a new nonprofit organization designed to turn around the critical shortage of women and minorities in the high technology workforce, U.S. Representatives Connie Morella (R-MD) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) have announced. The National Science Foundation awarded the grant, which includes funds from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce-NIST, Defense, and Energy. Speaking live via satellite from Washington, D.C. at the Council's Second National Innovation Summit at the University of California, San Diego, Congresswomen Morella and Johnson said that BEST will implement the recommendations of the Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development. The bipartisan commission, which conducted a 16-month assessment of gender, racial, and ethnic imbalance in the nation's technological workforce, was established by legislation introduced by Congresswoman Morella. Congresswoman Johnson, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, pointed out, "We could largely end the shortage of skilled American workers in the technology field if women, underrepresented minorities, and those with disabilities were infused in and successfully navigate the math and science pipeline on a par with their representation in the U.S. workforce. Instead, they are discouraged from the early grades and through college and graduate school." Once fully incorporated, BEST will spearhead a three-year, $10 million initiative to broaden the demographic base of the technical workforce by increasing public awareness and private financial support, and launching new policy initiatives. Eventually, one-third of the agency's funding will come from federal agencies and two-thirds from the private sector. Its work will initially focus on identifying and benchmarking practices in high performance regions with a high demand for technically skilled workers. BEST will develop action plans addressing barriers to placing women and minorities in science and math education at the K-12 and higher levels as well as in the workplace. For more information, visit www.compete.org, call 202-682-4292, or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************ CLASSROOM CONNECT, INC. NAMES INTERNET EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 2001 Classroom Connect, Inc. has announced the 2nd Annual Internet Educator of the Year award winner. Kindergarten teacher, Mary Kohl of Perry Lake, Ohio, received the award for her leadership and inspiration in using the Internet with her students, as well as engaging the rest of her school in Internet learning. Kohl developed a site (www.perry-lake.k12.oh.us/pes/gradelevelwebsites/kindergarten/kindex.htm) that was simple enough for her kindergarten students to navigate, and built curriculum pages that match the exact goals and objectives for student to practice at school or at home. Kohl's project was selected from more than 100 nominations received from nine countries and 34 states. Kohl's web site has also inspired parents to become more involved with their children's learning. One of her student's parents said this about Kohl: "Not only has Mrs. Kohl's site provided practice in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies concepts for students, she has also provided the parents with a gift as well. Photos and detailed documentation of special events and field trips can also be found on the site. As working parents, we do not get the opportunity to help out at school or accompany our children on field trips. The site allows us to experience the trips and events with our child and provides a sounding board for discussions." Classroom Connect also announced that beginning in 2002, the Internet Educator of the Year award program will honor four regional winners -- West, Northeast/International, South, and Central -- who will then be evaluated as finalists for the national Internet Educator of the Year award. Nominations for the 2002 award will be accepted from June 1, 2001 through September 30, 2001. Regional winners will be announced in November 15, 2001. For more information, visit www.classroom.com or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************ BRINGING NASA'S SPACE SCIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH ONLINE TELESCOPES How to include the excitement of frontier space science into an already crowded classroom schedule? One approach, taken by the Universe Education Forum at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, is to partner space science missions with innovative new curricula that are already transforming the way science is taught. In the "From the Ground Up!" curriculum, middle and high school students carry out authentic investigations by directly controlling a network of five online educational telescopes, called the MicroObservatory. MicroObservatory is a network of five automated telescopes that can be controlled over the Internet. The telescopes were developed at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and were designed to enable students and teachers nationwide to investigate the wonders of the deep sky from their classrooms. The project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation with additional in-kind contributions from Eastman Kodak Company and Apple Computer. In their investigations on light, color, size and scale, motion, and other topics in physical science, students combine their own images of the sky with complementary images and data from NASA's space science missions. This summer, for example, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory's Mike Garcia and Kathy Lestition worked with a nationally selected group of teachers to develop an investigation on color and temperature. Three modules currently in production will be field-tested by teachers. Thanks to NASA, the installation of a telescope this summer in the Southern Hemisphere now allows students to image the full range of objects imaged by space-based telescopes. Students' optical images of the galaxy Centaurus A come alive when married with Chandra's x-ray view of the galaxy's enormous black-hole-produced jets. For more information about how teachers can enroll, visit: http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory. _____________________________________________________ This TCEB is made possible by a grant from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Please visit their web site at www.dupont.com for more information about their educational support programs. The TCEB is a newsletter provided to members of the Triangle Coalition. Members may forward individual articles or the issue in its entirety providing that credit is given to the Triangle Coalition, and all of the following contact information is included in any republication. For TCEB subscription or membership information, contact: Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005 phone: 800-582-0115 fax: 202-289-1303 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.triangle-coalition.org To submit information for possible inclusion in TCEB, contact: Joanne Van Voorhis, Target Marketing, Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************ THE MISSION OF THE TRIANGLE COALITION IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG LEADERS IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS, AND GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. The Triangle Coalition membership includes business, labor, education, science, mathematics, technology and engineering organizations, and community and state-based alliances. ************************************ -- This is the ISTA-talk mailing list. 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