COMPASS for Kids has just released its 2013-2014 professional development training calendar and its workshops are open for registration! There are many new and fun topics this year, so we encourage you to visit their website at www.compassforkids.org to view the schedule and topics, and to register online!
Information Sessions on Building Stronger Centers
(CIF) is looking for providers planning to improve, expand or replace their program space. The Mass. Legislature recently passed a bill authorizing bond financing for capital improvements to nonprofit ECE and OST centers. While they continue working with a coalition of supporters to get the bill through the conference committee, signed and eventually funded, they want to help get projects ready for funding.
Join CIF at an information session to learn more about the potential of the bond bill and Building Stronger Centers (BSC), a unique training program on capital planning for ECE and OST facilities.The information sessions will cover the selection criteria for the training, describe the program and answer your questions. CIF plans to select up to 20 providers to participate in 3½ days of training on how to design, finance and manage a major capital project. BSC training is designed for organizations that plan to improve their program site within the next 2 to 3 years.
- September 19, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at United Way of Mass Bay & Merrimack Valley, Boston
- September 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at United Way of Pioneer Valley, Springfield
- September 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at United Way of Central Mass, Worcester
Click here to see the flyer for more details on dates and locations for the info sessions and more info on the BSC training. If you have questions, please call Mav Pardee at 617-727-5944.
SAVE THE DATE2013 Clean Energy Curriculum Conference
Friday, October 11: 8:30AM - 12PM, McCarthy Center, Framingham State University
Framingham State University and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center would like to invite you to a Clean Energy Curriculum Conference for middle and high school STEM faculty. Teachers who have developed clean energy curricula through the LIFT Program will be presenting and sharing their clean energy curriculum units. Along with teacher presentations, members of industry will be discussing clean energy careers and the skills needed for success in these careers. The Clean Energy Curriculum Conference has been designed to increase the awareness of a critical mass of teachers, administrators and guidance counselors in: high quality clean energy curriculum; state and national clean energy workforce projections and necessary skills; and strategies for engaging students in exploring clean energy careers.
College and Career Readiness in Science and Technology/Engineering
Friday, October 11: 1:30PM - 4:30PM, Venue TBD
What knowledge and skills do students need in order to be considered college and career ready in science? Are the academic tracks for students entering science and engineering fields different from those who are not?
Please join K-12, college and career representatives for a discussion of College and Career Readiness (CCR) in science and technology/engineering. Discussions of CCR relative to mathematics and English Language Arts (literacy) were critical in defining learning standards to provide all students a preparation for post-secondary success. A similar conversation is needed to inform the revision of the state's Science and Technology/Engineering standards to ensure that all students are prepared for the scientific and technologic aspects of our state's post-secondary opportunities that provide productive and economically viable careers.
Participating in this discussion, hosted by the regional Readiness Center, will help Massachusetts ensure that learning expectations for science and technology/engineering reflect key knowledge and skills that all students should have to be successful in your college or career path. Please contribute!
State Education Funding NewsThe Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies as well as economic issues that affect low- and moderate-income people in Massachusetts.
Interested in the FY14 Budget and where funds are being expended in education? Visit the Budget and Policy Center web site for their Budget Monitor, and get the latest news.
Other STEM-related programs
NASA Night Rover Energy Challenge
Registration is open for teams seeking to compete in the $1.5 million energy storage competition known as the Night Rover Challenge, sponsored by NASA and the Cleantech Open of Palo Alto, Calif.
To win, a team must demonstrate a stored-energy system that can power a simulated solar-powered exploration vehicle that can operate through multiple cycles of daylight and extended periods of darkness.
During the Night Rover Challenge, energy storage systems will receive electrical energy from a simulated solar collector during daylight hours. During darkness, the stored energy will be used for simulated thermal management, scientific experimentation, communications and rover movement. A winning system must exceed the performance of an existing state-of-the-art system by a predetermined margin. The winning system will be the one that has the highest energy-storage density.
The challenge is extended to individuals, groups and companies working outside the traditional aerospace industry. Unlike most contracts or grants, awards will be made only after solutions are demonstrated successfully.
Regular registration closes on Oct. 25, 2013. For information about the Night Rover Challenge and how to register a team, visit http://www.nightrover.org.
Exploration Design Challenge
In March, NASA launched an exciting new partnership with Lockheed Martin to engage students in America's next phase of human space exploration. The Exploration Design Challenge (EDC) invites students from kindergarten through 12th grade to learn more about one of the biggest challenges NASA faces before sending humans beyond low-Earth orbit: space radiation. Through a series of age-appropriate activities, participants will learn about radiation and its effects on humans and hardware destined for asteroids, Mars or other deep space locations. Orion is the vehicle for these space destinations and will make its maiden test flight in 2014.
The youngest explorers (K-4) will complete NASA education activities related to radiation. Upon completion, a teacher or other adult may submit the students' names to be flown on the 2014 Orion flight as honorary virtual crewmembers.
Those same opportunities are open to students in grades 5-8, but they also will design and develop a radiation shield prototype. Instructions, guidebooks and related content are provided on the EDC website.
High school participants have an even greater challenge - and opportunity! In addition to the activities listed above, teams of students will design a radiation shield prototype that meets established criteria and constraints. Teams will submit their designs, and the top five designs selected will be tested in a virtual radiation simulator. The winning team will travel to Florida for Orion's launch and have its design flown aboard the spacecraft!
This is an exciting, hands-on way to get students inspired and interested in what NASA does now and the grand plans ahead! All the details for the EDC are here: http://www.nasa.gov/education/edc.
Massachusetts STEM Summit 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013. 8 AM - 5 PM. Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
This year's event will be the tenth, and thus far the largest Massachusetts STEM Summit, with more than 1,000 attendees expected. Throughout the day, panel presentations and the lunchtime plenary session will address the goals, plans and progress of STEM education, bringing leaders and practitioners from the state's education, business and government sectors together to share information and ideas. Sessions will cover the entire education spectrum, workforce development, economic development, and other key policy issues faced by the Commonwealth.
Hosted by:
Massachusetts Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
University of Massachusetts / UMass Donahue Institute
For questions and general information about the event, please contact Karen Wilson or visit our website at www.mass-stem-summit.org
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