Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Nebraskamath March 2010 Newsletter

NebraskaMATH Materials

Table of Contents

New developments in state standards

Happy Pi Day!

Highlight on Action Research

Resources: Paper Pool

Call for technology journal articles

NMSSI: Registration open

Harlem academy founder: ‘Invest in teachers’

Getting involved with MATHCOUNTS

NebraskaMATH Summer Calendar

Common Core Standards released to public

Summit on Math Education video

Statistics doctoral student wins award

Pembangunan Modul Pedagogi Berasaskan Teknologi Dan Gaya Pembelajaran Felder-Silverman Kurikulum Fizik Sekolah Menengah., Norlidah Alias

Student Works (2010-2019)

Physics has always been thought of as the most difficult subject as it involves abstract concepts. Previous research shows that matching learning style strategy with certain technology will be able to increase students learning experience. This study is based on the Felder Silverman Model (1988) which comprises four dimensions (visual/verbal, active/reflective, sequential/global, sensing/intuitive). The objective of this study is to develop a pedagogical module based on technology and Felder-Silverman’s learning style for secondary school Physics curriculum. This research is done in three phases: need analysis, design & development, and usability evaluation. Data in the first phase was collected through semi-structured …

Elementary Electronic Kits & Interactive Web Database, Anne Racquel Bacani

Computer Engineering

The Elementary Electronic Kit and Interactive Web Database (E-Kit) project will focus on bridging the gap between Cal Poly students and local elementary schools to raise interests in engineering. Its main purpose is to expose local elementary school students to basic engineering concepts through simple interactive engineering experiments and lessons. The initial idea and proposal for this project was introduced by John Oliver, senior project advisor, whose main goal is to provide a service that would allow local elementary school teachers to bring in Cal Poly student volunteers to teach basic engineering lessons to their class. Lessons will focus on …

Education In The Environment: A Strategy For Continued Interagency Outdoor Education Programming: Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending February 28, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Reports (PLI Education)

Highlights of the university’s focused efforts during the past three months include the following:

• A total of 56 people participated in a Families in Nature event at the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
• More than 225 people are expected to attend the Our Places Tell Stories Conference, February 24 -27, 2010
• Forever Earth was scheduled for 19 days this quarter and benefited 622 individuals.
• Nine Discover Mojave Outdoor World events were conducted for 199 participants.

Ensuring Success With Program Reflection, Daphne Sewing

Our Places to Tell Stories

• Present a framework for program reflection
• Share ideas and tools
• Provide an opportunity to adapt for your program

Ists E-Newsletter, February 15, 2010, Iowa Academy Of Science

ISTS Newsletter

In this issue:

--Message from the ISTS Chair, De Anna Tibben

--Message from the Fall Conference Chair, Morgan Masters

--Message from the Vice Chair, Kathy Megivern

--Announcements

--Opportunities

--Activities

--News

--Your ISTS Leadership Team

Losing The Lake: Designing An Educational Computer Game On Water Resources In Southern Nevada, Michael Nussbaum, Gale Sinatra, Frederick C. Harris, Sergiu Dascalu, Sajjad Ahmad, Kent J. Crippen, Marissa Owens

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

30 PowerPoint slides Convener: Nick Lancaster, DRI Session 6: Bridging the Gap- Interdisciplinary Science to Connect Biophysical and Social Dimensions of Climate Change Abstract: To design and test an educationally useful computer game to educate middle- and high-school students, and the general public, about water and sustainability + effect of climate change on those

Research Poster: Trends In Climate Change Education In Nevada's System Of Higher Education, Amy Northrup

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

Research poster

Climate Change Education For Nevada, David M. Hassenzahl, Michael Collopy, John W. Farley, Paul Buck, Jacque Ewing-Taylor, Shama Perveen

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

42 PowerPoint slides Session 1: Education Convener: David Hassenzahl, UNLV Abstract: -Five Year Strategic Plan -Goal 6 - Create a scholarly environment to promote research skills and intellectual development for Nevada educators and students (K-12, undergraduate undergraduate, and graduate) -Primary Strategy - Develop educational infrastructure to train students at all levels and provide public outreach in climate change issues

Nebraskamath February 2010 Newsletter

NebraskaMATH Materials

NebraskaMATH February 2010 Newsletter

Table of Contents:

Study advocates charter schools

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)

Confidence, not gender, affects math abilities

Girls affected by female teachers’ math anxiety

Highlight on Action Research

Resources: Faster Isn’t Smarter

NMSSI Web site updated

NebraskaMATH Summer Calendar

NCTM president advises math in early childhood

Two advisory board members visit campus

Switzerland's Nation Branding Initiative To Foster Science And Technology, Higher Education And Innovation: A Case Study, Marc Fetscherin, Pascal Marmier

Faculty Publications

This article presents a case study about Switzerland's initiative to promote its science and technology, higher education and innovation environment. This is accomplished through a worldwide network of science and technology outposts run by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research in cooperation with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. In this article, we specifically discuss the outpost located in Boston. swissnex Boston acts as a physical and virtual environment to foster closer ties between Switzerland and the Boston region in various fields of interest to academia, industry, business and society. We present the history and mission of swissnex …

Robots, Gps/Gis, And Programming Technologies: The Power Of "Digital Manipulatives" In Youth Extension Experiences, Bradley S. Barker, Neal Grandgenett, Gwen Nugent, Viacheslav I. Adamchuk

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

The study reported here examined the effectiveness of educational robotics combined with GPS/GIS technologies used as "digital manipulatives" in the teaching of concepts in science, engineering, and technology. Based on the success of previous summer camps, the study also examined a scaling-up of the intervention from 38 participants to 147. The 147 youth (ages 10-15) participated in one of six summer camps held in Nebraska during 2008. Results indicate that participants scored higher on the content posttest than the pretest. The study further examined the differential results. The article makes recommendations for further studies, while acknowledging the potential power of …

Addressing Impulsive Disposition: Using Non-Proportional Problems To Overcome Overgeneralization Of Proportionality, Kien Lim, Osvaldo Morera

Departmental Papers (Math)

Impulsive disposition is an undesirable way of thinking where one spontaneously applies the first idea that comes to mind without checking its relevance. In this research, we explore (a) the possibility of helping pre-service teachers improve their disposition, from being impulsive to being analytic, in one semester, and (b) the effect of using non-proportional situations. This study involves two sections of a mathematics course for pre-service teachers for Grades 4-8. The lessons were designed whenever possible to elicit students’ impulsive disposition so that they could become cognizant of it and make conscious attempts to overcome it. Some test items were …

Ncuwm Poster Abstracts 2010

Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics

Twelfth Annual Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics

Poster Abstracts

January 29-31, 2010

Holly Arrowood, Furman University

Kristen Bretney, Loyola Marymount University

Suzanne Carter, University of Iowa

Nicole Casella, Ithaca College

Morgan Chatham, University of Montevallo

Lilith Ciccarelli, Bellarmine University

Amber Clinton, Clarkson University

Jalonda Coats, Tougaloo College

Natalie Coston, Northern Arizona University

Belinda Cruz, University of Texas Pan American

Anita Doerfler, Northern Arizona University

Clarice Dziak, Clarkson University

Terra Fox, Hope College

Samantha Fuller, Penn State University

April Harry, Xavier University of Louisiana

Anne Ho, Regis University

Rachel Keyser, Bellarmine University

Hannah Kolb, Illinois Institute of Technology

Lauren …

Ncuwm Talk Abstracts 2010

Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics

Dr. Bryna Kra, Northwestern University

“From Ramsey Theory to Dynamical

Systems and Back”

Dr. Karen Vogtmann, Cornell University

“Ping-Pong in Outer Space”

Lindsay Baun, College of St. Benedict

Danica Belanus, University of North Dakota

Hayley Belli, University of Oregon

Tiffany Bradford, Saint Francis University

Kathryn Bryant, Northern Arizona University

Laura Buggy, College of St. Benedict

Katharina Carella, Ithaca College

Kathleen Carroll, Wheaton College

Elizabeth Collins-Wildman, Carleton College

Rebecca Dorff, Brigham Young University

Melisa Emory, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Avis Foster, George Mason University

Xiaojing Fu, Clarkson University

Jennifer Garbett, Kenyon College

Nicki Gaswick, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Rita Gnizak, Fort …

Ncuwm Abstracts Brochure

Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics

12th Annual

Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics

January 29-31, 2010

A national showcase for research projects of undergraduate women in the mathematical sciences

Cryptography: A History In Mathematics, An Application In The Classroom, Brian Olmanson

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Evolution And The Second Law Of Thermodynamics: Effectively Communicating To Non-Technicians, Alexander Schreiber, Steven Gimbel

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Given the degree of disbelief in the theory of evolution by the wider public, scientists need to develop a collection of clear explanations and metaphors that demonstrate the working of the theory and the flaws in antievolutionist arguments. This paper presents tools of this sort for countering the anti-evolutionist claim that evolutionary mechanisms are inconsistent with the second law of thermodynamics. Images are provided to replace the traditional misunderstanding of the law, i.e., “everything always gets more disordered over time,” with a more clear sense of the way in which entropy tends to increase allowing a thermally isolated system access …

Re-Imagining Specialized Stem Academies: Igniting And Nurturing ‘Decidedly Different Minds,’ By Design, Stephanie Pace Marshall

Publications & Research

This article offers a personal vision and conceptual design for reimagining specialized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academies designed to nurture decidedly different STEM minds and ignite a new generation of global STEM talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership. This design enables students to engage actively in the authentic work, modes of inquiry, and practices that distinguish four STEM learning cultures, environments, and communities: (a) Inquiry and Research Laboratory and Interdisciplinary Learning Center—develops disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and inquiry-based thinking; (b) Innovation Incubator and Design Studio—ignites innovative and design-based thinking; (c) Global Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Institute—nurtures change leadership and systems-based thinking; …

Stem Talent: Moving Beyond Traditional Boundaries, Stephanie Pace Marshall

Publications & Research

The future well-being, prosperity and sustainability of our nation, the global community and our planet resides in igniting and nurturing decidedly different STEM minds that can advance both the new STEM frontier and the human future.

Existing Specialty Schools As Leverage For Behavioral Sciences Research On Teaching And Learning In Stem Fields, Christopher G. Kolar, Heather Sondel

Publications & Research

The National Science Foundation has requested comments and proposals that outline challenge questions for the next decade in behavioral sciences research. At the same time, the NSF has joined the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology as well as the National Academy of Sciences in issuing reports first identifying the need for specialized STEM education as a strategic necessity and then proposing the establishment of an additional 1000 specialized STEM schools. A common theme in these reports is that foundational work must be conducted to establish effective organizational and instructional practices for these schools. The authors of this …

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

A Balancing Act: Helping Students Understand The Mole Relationship For Balancing Equations, Karl Goldsmith, Matt Jaschen

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Stoichiometry can be one of the more challenging topics to teach in high school chemistry. Students often struggle until they realize the ratio from the balanced chemical equation represents mole ratios rather than the mass of each component. The activity presented here provides students with an inquiry based experience with a chemical reaction. During the activity, students seek evidence as to what the coefficients in a balanced chemical equation mean. With teacher guidance, these activities help students (1) connect chemical equations to observations, (2) gain evidence that mass ratios are not useful, and (3) understand the relationship between moles and …

Exploring The Depths: Inquiry To Apply And Deepen Students’ Understanding Of Density, James M. Sleep, Lee Johnson

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This activity is designed to deepen students' understanding of the concept of density through scientific inquiry. Students devise procedures to determine the relative and absolute (qualitative and quantitative) densities of several solutions of salt water, and establish a class consensus on their results. Students then apply their findings to estimate the density of an unknown solution. The targeted grade-level for this activity is 8 grade physical science. However, because we know students at all grade levels struggle to understand density, this activity could also be useful in high school Earth science and chemistry. This activity promotes National Science Education Content …

Keeping It Green: Using A Compost To Improve Student Learning, Spencer Mesick, Kayla Hendrix

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article discusses ways in which composting might be used to mentally engage students with science content. Incorporating a compost pile in the classroom provides ample connections to future science content (e.g., conditions necessary for the life of organisms in a well running aerobic compost, what decomposition means in a biological sense, aerobic vs. anaerobic decomposition, food webs, respiration, recycling of nutrients, landfill issues, etc.). Also, reflecting the complexities of effective science teaching, the article makes clear the crucial role of the teacher during the activity. The science content and activity addressed in this article are appropriate for 9th - …

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.

Conceptual Change: It’S Not Just For Teaching Science, Michael P. Clough, Jerrid Kruse

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Mark Twain is often given credit for saying, “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” Science teachers likely resonate with this quote because we know our students come to class confidently holding many ideas about the natural world that “just ain't so.”

The Effectiveness Of Active And Traditional Teaching Techniques In The Orthopedic Assessment Laboratory, Sara Nottingham

Athletic Training Faculty Articles and Research

Active learning is a teaching methodology with a focus on student-centered learning that engages students in the educational process. This study implemented active learning techniques in an orthopedic assessment laboratory, and the effects of these teaching techniques. Mean scores from written exams, practical exams, and final course evaluations were compared for 79 human physiology students. One- and two-way analyses of variance were used to evaluate the effect of teaching methodology on test scores and evaluation responses. No significant differences were found for course evaluation responses and written and practical exam scores between the two learning groups. This study suggests that …

Nebraskamath January 2010 Newsletter

NebraskaMATH Materials

NebraskaMATH January 2010 Newsletter

Table of Contents:

Obama expands STEM campaign

NMSSI courses for Summer 2010

Larson elected to NCTM board

Andrews nominated A+ Educator of Week

NebraskaMATH Summer Calendar

Math Challenge Corner

Resources: Math education for preschoolers

NMSSI Summer Calendar

Nominate K-6 teachers for presidential award

Primarily Math Magazine 2010

NebraskaMATH Materials

Bright and early: Primarily Math overview, pg. 3

Furthering the mission: Susie Katt, pg. 7

Growing to love math: Danielle Inserra, pg. 8-9

Ready for a challenge: Jane McGill, pg. 10

Refining her new role: Molly Orton, pg. 12

A word from Jim Lewis, pg. 13

Primarily Math Cohort 1 Teachers, pg. 14

Primarily Math Cohort 1 Group Photo, pg. 26-27

Primarily Math Cohort 2 Teachers, pg. 28

Primarily Math Cohort 2 Group Photo, pg. 32

Primarily Math Instructors & Coordinators, pg. 33