A new consensus report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine finds PreK-12 teachers of engineering lack preparation, support, and professional development. (Links to PD options and other resources included at end of this post.)

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Filed under: K-12 Education News, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Report: K-12 Engineering Teachers Lack Support

Tags: American Society for Engineering Education, and Medicine, Building Capacity for Teaching Engineering in K-12 Education, Education Policy, Engineering, National Academies of Sciences, Professional Development, Research on Learning, STEM education, teacher preparation, Teacher Training

A major new consensus study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, underscores the vital role of teachers in creating the hands-on, multidisciplinary STEM education for every student envisioned by the Next Generation Science Standards. The report also calls for more creation and sharing of free educational materials so teachers no longer have to spend hours each week searching for curriculum.

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Filed under: For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, K-12 Education News, Special Features | Comments Off on STEM Ed. Report: Teachers Key to Reform

Tags: Education Policy, Engineering Design, National Academies of Sciences, NGSS, Public Policy, Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center, STEM education, STEM equity

“It started out as a beautiful day, but in a disaster, anything can happen at any time…” So begins Extreme Event, a free, hour-long role-playing game from the National Academy of Sciences’ Marian Koshland Science Museum. The game is latest addition to teacher resources designed to help students and communities use science to address climate change, health, and other problems.

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Filed under: K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Extreme Event: Free STEM Games

Tags: chlimate change, Class Activities, Environmental Engineering, Environmental science, game, Health, Internet Resources, Koshland Science Museum, National Academies of Sciences, natural disasters, Public Policy, Resources for Teachers, role playing, Web Resources

The Marian Koshland Science Museum, of the National Academies of Sciences in Washington, DC, aims to engage the general public in current scientific issues that impact their lives. The museum’s exhibits, public events, and educational programs provide information that stimulates discussion and provides insight into how science supports decision-making. Teachers cna visit the Teach and Learn section to find Web quests and class activities for middle and high school students on global warming, infectious diseases, the HIV pandemic, and genetics.

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Filed under: K-12 Outreach Programs, Web Resources | Comments Off on Museum: National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.

Tags: Grades 6-12, National Academies of Sciences, Science museum

The National Academies Press has published a several hundred-page paper called “Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits” (2009). It explores the various facets of science learning outside the classroom and uses research to determine which approaches are most effective. The Committee on Learning Science in Informal Environments was established to examine the potential of non-school settings for science learning.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Publication: Research on Informal Learning

Tags: Internet Resources, Museums, National Academies of Sciences, Publication, Research on Learning, Web Resources

The National Academies of Sciences Evolution Resources Web page features a collection of books, reports, statements, papers, and articles about evolution, as well as provide an excellent list of scientific definitions.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Website: Evolution Resources

Tags: Biology, Darwin, Evolution, National Academies of Sciences, Science, Web Resources