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HIGHLIGHTS AT A
GLANCE
1. FEATURED PROJECT: The Rice
University Mathematics Leadership Institute
A. "Strengthening
Mathematics Teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Through Collaborative Investigations in Combinatorics," by Anne
McCoy,
et al., presented at PME-NA, October, 2007.
B. "Boosting Student
Achievement in Math and Science," by Susan Feinberg, The
Greentree Gazette, December 4, 2007.
C. "Building Bridges
Between Rice Research and Houston's Teaching Communites," by
Charlie Burrus, Rice at Large, Spring 2007.
2. FOCUS ON EVOLUTION
A. New in Library: "Science,
Evolution, and Creationism," Steering
Committee on Science and Creationism, National Academies Press, January
2008.
B. New in Library: "Evolution
and Its Discontents: A Role for
Scientists in Science Education," Coalition of Scientific
Societies,
The FASEB Journal (22:1-4), January 2008.
C. New in Resources: Evolution
Resources From the National Academies
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Nominations Sought: Presidential
Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
B. Nominations Sought: AAAS Prize
Honors a High School Science Teacher
DETAILS BELOW
1.
FEATURED PROJECT: The Rice University Mathematics
Leadership Institute
A. "Strengthening
Mathematics Teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Through Collaborative Investigations in Combinatorics," by Anne
McCoy,
et al., presented at PME-NA, October, 2007.
"The NSF-funded Rice University Mathematics Leadership Institute
immersed high school lead teachers in collaborative, combinatorics
problem-solving experiences during an intensive four week summer
institute. The program challenged participants' pedagogical content
knowledge and their views about collaborative problem solving as
evidenced by statistically significant gains in test scores, their
self-reported ratings on content and problem-solving abilities, and
excerpts from journal writings."
MSPnet Location: PROJECT SHOWCASE>>Project Highlights
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/15010
B. "Boosting Student
Achievement in Math and Science," by Susan Feinberg, The
Greentree Gazette, December 4, 2007.
An article that highlights the increases in student achievement by
students taught by participants in Rice University's Mathematics
Leadership Institute.
MSPnet Location: PROJECT SHOWCASE>>Project Highlights
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/15007
C. "Building Bridges Between
Rice Research and Houston's Teaching Communites," by Charlie
Burrus, Rice at Large, Spring 2007.
"Rice University's Beyond Traditional Borders, a multidisciplinary,
biomedical education initiative, has designed a new science elective
for middle and high school students to address current issues in global
health. ..."
MSPnet Location: PROJECT SHOWCASE>>Project
Highlights
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/15005
2.
FOCUS ON EVOLUTION
A. New in Library: "Science,
Evolution, and Creationism," Steering
Committee on Science and Creationism, National Academies Press, January
2008.
"In the book, Science,
Evolution, and Creationism, a group of experts assembled by the
National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine explain the
fundamental methods of science, document the overwhelming evidence in
support of biological evolution, and evaluate the alternative
perspectives offered by advocates of various kinds of creationism,
including "intelligent design." The book explores the many fascinating
inquiries being pursued that put the science of evolution to work in
preventing and treating human disease, developing new agricultural
products, and fostering industrial innovations. The book also presents
the scientific and legal reasons for not teaching creationist ideas in
public school science classes."
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Ed Change & Policy
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/14995
B. New in Library: "Evolution and Its
Discontents: A Role for
Scientists in Science Education," Coalition of Scientific
Societies,
The FASEB Journal (22:1-4), January 2008.
"A coalition of
scientific societies and science teachers has conducted a national
survey of likely U.S. voters to examine acceptance of evolution,
attitudes toward science and scientists, and opportunities for
promoting science education. Most of these folk who responded to the
survey accepted that life evolved, many accepted that it evolved
through natural processes, and more favored teaching evolution than
creationism or intelligent design in science classes. The majority
ranked "developing medicines" and "curing diseases" as the most
important contributions of science to society. They also found that
"promoting understanding of evolutionary science's contribution to
medicine" was a convincing reason to teach evolution. The respondents
viewed scientists, teachers, and medical professionals favorably, and
most were interested in hearing from these groups about science,
including evolution. These data suggest that the scientific community
has an important role to play in encouraging public support for science
education."
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Ed Change &
Policy
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/15011
C. New in
Resources: Evolution
Resources From the National Academies
This Web page is designed to provide easy access to books, position
statements, and additional resources on evolution education and
research. These materials have been produced by the National Academies
and other sources. The site will be updated and expanded periodically.
MSPnet Location: RESOURCES>>Useful Websites
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/14996
3.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Nominations Sought: Presidential
Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
The Presidential Award
for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) award
honors exemplary K-12 mathematics and science teachers for their
contributions to improving teaching and learning. This year elementary
teachers (kindergarten through sixth grade) are invited to apply
(secondary teachers will be honored next year).
Recipients of the award receive: * A $10,000 award from the National
Science Foundation. * A citation signed by the President of the United
States. * A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a weeklong
series of recognition events and professional development
opportunities. * Gifts from program sponsors from around the country.
To receive award, the teacher must be nominated and then fill out the
application. Both the nomination and the application are submitted
online. Deadline for nomination is March 1, and the deadline for the
application is May 1.
MSPnet Location: CALENDAR>>Announcements
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/msp_cork/id-86
B. Nominations
Sought: AAAS
Prize Honors a High School Science Teacher
Help spread the word
about an outstanding science teacher in your state or district. AAAS is
now accepting nominations for the 2008 AAAS Leadership in Science
Education Prize for High School Teachers. The $1,000 prize honors a
high school science teacher who has contributed to the AAAS goal of
advancing science education by developing an innovative and effective
strategy, activity, or program. The 2007 winner was veteran chemistry
teacher Chris Kennedy of Hiram, Georgia.
All nominations must be received by AAAS no later than 2 March 2008.
For full details about the prize and to download the nomination and
application forms, please visit
http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/hs_scied_leadership.
For more
information, contact AAAS Project 2061's Lester Matlock at
lmatlock@aaas.org.
MSPnet Location: CALENDAR>>Announcements
http://hub.mspnet.org/entry.cfm/msp_cork/id-87
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