NSTA Learning Center Professional Development Tools

Web Seminar: Higher than a Sea-Bird's Eye View: Coral Reef Remote Sensing using Satellites, December 15, 2009

11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Coral reef ecosystems are already being impacted by climate change and this problem is expected to become more severe in future decades. While these remarkable systems are robust enough to create structures like the Great Barrier Reef, visible from space, they can be damaged and destroyed by even small changes in the Earth's climate. In the fourth installment of the climate change web seminars, the presenters will focus on how NOAA satellites monitor the temperature conditions that lead to coral bleaching. Major concepts include climate change, coral bleaching, cutting edge satellite technology, and ocean ecology in the context of coral ecosystems. The presenters (Dr. Mark Eakin, along with a number of NOAA colleagues) will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide web sites and tools that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12.

Web Seminar: A Century of Cosmic Surprises December 8, 2009

10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join Dr. James Lochner of the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology for a historical overview with cosmic significance. Over the past century, the model we use to describe the universe has changed from static to expanding to accelerating. In this workshop we trace some of the questions scientists have asked about the universe, and describe the tools they used to answer those questions. We show how in many cases, these led to surprising, unforeseen answers which have shaped our current understanding of the nature of the universe.

Web Seminar: From Sound Waves to Microwaves: "Listening" to the Oldest Light of the Universe with the Planck Mission December 16, 2009

10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join Jatila van der Veen, Ph.D. Education and Public Outreach Coordinator for the Planck Mission, JPL/NASA Visiting Project Scientist, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara in exploring the Cosmic Microwave Background - the oldest light we can observe - and the Planck Mission, a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency to map this primeval light with unprecedented detail. Learn how we use the physics of music to derive information about the early universe from the signal strength of the Cosmic Microwave Background at different frequencies.

Web Seminar: Applications of Nanotechnology in Cosmetics and Foods, November 24, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the second of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These seminars are related to the FDA Symposium that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The seminar will focus on food microbiology, food processing, food epidemiology, nutrition, and the public health impact of food safety. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. Topics could include disease, outbreaks, nutrition, personal hygiene, as well as cosmetic and food safety. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Web Seminar: Introduction to FDA Food Recalls, December 9, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the first of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These seminars are related to the FDA Symposium that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The seminar will focus on food microbiology, food processing, food epidemiology, nutrition, and the public health impact of food safety. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. Topics could include disease, outbreaks, nutrition, personal hygiene, as well as food safety. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Web Seminar Tattoos and Permanent Makeup: Marketplace and Chemistry, December 17, 2009

10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join us for this unique program, the final of four free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These web seminars are related to the FDA Symposia that will take place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This presentation will cover the regulatory status of tattoo inks and pigments in the U.S., the marketplace for tattoos and permanent makeup, and the chemistry of tattoo pigments. Some problems with tattoos and permanent makeup will be discussed. This Web Seminar is designed for educators of grades 5-12. An archive of this program and related PowerPoint presentation will be available at the end of the program.

Web Seminar: Relevance of Climate Change for the Arctic Marine Biological System, December 3, 2009

9/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

The environmental conditions in the Arctic have been changing over the last decades both on land and in the ocean. Temperatures are increasing and coverage by ice and snow has decreased, specifically in summer. This web seminar will outline some of the recent findings regarding the unique properties of the Arctic marine food web and the implications of Arctic warming on its structure. Scenarios will be discussed outlining the relevance of sea ice changes, temperature increases and altered precipitation patterns. A holistic approach will be used, covering a very broad range of taxa and processes including phytoplankton, zooplankton, life at the sea floor as well as marine mammals. We will also discuss the implications of increased ship traffic, resource exploration, as well as implications of Arctic warming for the connectivity between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Join Dr. Rolf Gradinger, polar ecologist at the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks for this presentation directed toward middle and high school teachers.

Web Seminar: Thinking Like a Scientist: Teaching and Learning with Current Science Issues, January 12, 2010

8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Can issue-based activities make science come alive? Can the process of science work in concert with the context of science through issues? In the first part of the webinar, you will explore how to use ActionBioscience.org to incorporate issues into your teaching and extend its resources to activities that illustrate 'thinking like a scientist.' In part two, our discussion will examine how to use historical cases to illustrate their application to lessons on current issues. In the final hands-on component, participants will learn how to teach students to evaluate web resources using the 5Ws strategy and discuss ways to use this and other strategies for thinking critically about online resources. Join Oksana Hlodan, Editor-in-chief of ActionBioscience.org, a free access, bilingual (English/Spanish) education resource of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, who along with a guest classroom teacher, will guide this reflection on teaching and learning with issues and facilitate the interactive components. Worksheets and resource lists will be provided. This webinar is designed for high school and undergraduate educators of introductory science courses.

Web Seminar: Timely Teachings: Seasons and the Cycles of Night and Day, December 10, 2009

8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Join Jessica Fries-Gaither, science resource specialist at Ohio State University, as we discuss two challenging topics in the elementary and middle school curriculum-Day and Night and Seasons-from both science and literacy perspectives. We'll review scientific principles, examine common misconceptions and formative assessment strategies, and discuss how to approach these topics by integrating science and literacy. We'll share resources from /Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears/, the National Science Digital Libraries' Middle School Portal, and other high-quality content providers.