Welcome to Your Home for Science Education in Alaska |
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF OUR ASSOCIATION |
Dear ASTA Members, I looked out the window this morning and noticed that for the first time in what seems like far too long, the light of the sun beamed down as the first school bell of the day went off. It reminded me of the short time we have with our students every year, but the lasting impact of our work. Unfortunately, it seems science is continually being belittled or ignored in our current society and this brings a new urgency to our work. Add in the rampant growth of standardization in so many of our schools that pushes science to the sidelines and limits our youngest citizens from an experiential science education, and it could be argued we, as science teachers, are warriors on the front line to keep science at the forefront of our society. While this sounds like a daunting task, it is one we do every day through inquiry-based, experiential science teaching for all students, regardless of background or geographic location. And for this, I say thanks and keep up the good fight. The 2019 Alaska Cross Content Conference will be coming to Anchorage this fall, October 25, 26, 27, 2019. Exact details are being worked out, but stay tuned for more information and how to register for this weekend filled with national speakers, presenters, and vendors. I hope to see you all there! Thank you. Ben Walker President, ASTA 2017-2019 |
It's Science Fair Season! |
Alaska Science and Engineering Fair March 29-31 at the Northway Mall in Anchorage
Attend or even consider expanding your professional experience by volunteering! https://alaskasciencefair.org/ | Interior Alaska Science Fair March 27-30 at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks
Don't miss the fun and a chance to learn from students! https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/2969 |
ARE YOU A MEMBER of ASTA? If
you are, or if you join now, you can apply for a professional
development travel grant OR a classroom project grant worth up to $500.
Deadline March 31. Apply here Classroom Project or Professional Development Travel | SOME PAST CLASSROOM PROJECT GRANTS AWARDED Cindy Fabbri in Fairbanks: Hydroponics as a model for inquiry Rebecca Watts in Juneau: Trail camera to monitor wildlife movement Michelle Ganoza: Building and programming robots |
BIENNIAL CROSS-CONTENT CONFERENCE COMING IN THE FALL to Anchorage Science, Math, Literacy, World Languages |
|
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EVENTS, RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO STEM EDUCATION IN ALASKA. If you know of any of those we should tell educators and partners about, please contact ASTA by clicking on the logo below.
|
USEFUL LINKS FOR TEACHING RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT SCIENCE IN ALASKA |
K-12 Energy Lessons |
the Alaska Science Curricular Initiative from years back. |
Standards-based Curriculum for teaching about our aquatic resources in grades K-8. |
|
Excellent collection of lessons centered around rural Alaskan life. |
|
Alaska Science Forum by Ned Rozell--short written pieces explaining Alaska phenomena
| Materials assembled by Andy Hope through the Alaska Native Knowledge Network at UAF. |
CONSIDER ATTENDING A NATIONAL CONFERENCE OR WORKSHOP THIS SPRING OR SUMMER! |
|
PROUD OF OUR PRESIDENTIAL AWARDEES! As announced on June 25, 2018 |
For more information on how to apply for the PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING or nominate someone else, go to PAEMST or contact Joey Jigliotti for science or Sandy Schoff for math. The 2019 nomination period is for secondary teachers, grades 7-12, is now open. The process of applying is itself professional development in its purest form, away from the oversight of administrators or actual instructors. It is a time for self-reflection and celebrating your intrinsic gifts as a teacher. Keep science and math education moving forward and in the news! |
Ms HEATHER WOLLRICH of Anchorage School District earns the PAEMST award for Elementary Science for 2016. | Ms. JENNIFER KUETER of Anchorage School District earns the PAEMST award for Elementary Mathematics for 2016. |
|
MAKE PLANS TO GO TO AN AREA CONFERENCE THIS FALL!
2019 Area ConferencesSalt Lake City, Utah: October 24–26
Cincinnati, Ohio: November 14–16 Seattle, Washington: December 12–14 |
OUR MISSION To inspire, promote and support excellence in science education. Goals
|
Summer Student OpportunitiesStudent Competitions
| Professional Development
|
Earth & Space Science Links | Elementary EngineeringEngineering is Elementary developed by the Museum of Boston City Technology K-5 Designers of the Future provided by City College of New York Design it! NPASS2 National Partnerships for Afterschool science |
Message from ASTA PresidentWow! What an amazing cross-content conference. Thank you to the conference committee and everyone involved for such a transformative professional development experience. Anchorage will have big shoes to fill in 2019! As we go through the holidays and into the new year there are exciting times ahead for STEM education in Alaska. Commissioner Johnson announced at the conference that DEED will begin a review of state science standards, most probably in January. This will be a busy time for ASTA as we advocate for the science education of ALL Alaskan students and ensure that not only are all student receiving rigorous and performance based science education, but also in a culturally responsive way. As educators in and around the classroom, we know what is best for our students and need to make this known at the state level. Please stay tuned for opportunities to get involved. I hope everyone is having a good school year. As usual, we are feeling the effects of decisions often made without our input, but I have the utmost confidence that Alaskan educators continue to do what is best for all Alaskan students day in and day out and know we can continue to be a force for positive science education reform. Please do not hesitate to contact ASTA with questions or concerns. Sincerely, Ben Walker President | Free Stuff
Make Connections Open Group for any Science Teachers |
