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SciGuide

Nutrition: Grades 9-12 Grade Level: College, High School, Informal Education, Middle School SciGuides are a collection of thematically aligned lesson plans, simulations, and web-based resources for teachers to use with their students centered on standards-aligned science concepts. Nutrition can be defined quite simply as the science of how the body uses food. But what is food? How does food transform into substances that nourish the body? What do those substances do, and what foods provide them? And how do we make informed food...  [view full summary] SciGuides are a collection of thematically aligned lesson plans, simulations, and web-based resources for teachers to use with their students centered on standards-aligned science concepts. Nutrition can be defined quite simply as the science of how the body uses food. But what is food? How does food transform into substances that nourish the body? What do those substances do, and what foods provide them? And how do we make informed food choices to sustain life? [hide full abstract] Member Price: $4.95      Nonmember Price: $5.95

NSTA Press Book

Exemplary Science: Best Practices in Professional Development, Revised 2nd Edition Edited by: Susan B. Koba, Brenda S. Wojnowski, and With Robert E. Yager Grade Level: College, Elementary School, High School, Middle School “This book will help the reader to design and evaluate varying professional development options, thereby making better and more efficient use of limited professional development dollars.” —The editors of Exemplary Science: Best Practices in Professional Development If you want to make the most of your precious professional development budget—and who doesn’t?—look for inspiration in this updated edition from the Exemplary...  [view full summary] “This book will help the reader to design and evaluate varying professional development options, thereby making better and more efficient use of limited professional development dollars.” —The editors of Exemplary Science: Best Practices in Professional Development If you want to make the most of your precious professional development budget—and who doesn’t?—look for inspiration in this updated edition from the Exemplary Science series. This essay collection is designed to spark new ideas while encouraging high-quality learning opportunities for teachers at all grade levels. The book features: • An overview of current research on quality professional development and how it aligns with the National Science Education Standards. • Fourteen professional development programs that provide real-life models of how to train current or future teachers to carry out the constructivist, inquiry-based approach recommended by the Standards. End-of-chapter questions help you relate the material to your own situation. • A reader’s guide that includes suggestions for using the book in professional learning communities and other collaborative settings. Some of the collection’s authors contributed to the first edition and have updated their chapters to share additional data and communicate what they’ve learned that might support your work. Additional chapters describe programs and approaches new to this edition. Whether you’re a teacher, staff development provider, administrator, or preservice science methods instructor, you’ll find this collection to be a fresh and highly useful professional learning tool. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $23.96      Nonmember Price: $29.95

NSTA Press Book

Exemplary Science for Building Interest in STEM Careers Edited by: Robert E. Yager Grade Level: College, Elementary School, High School, Middle School National standards encourage science teachers to help “increase student economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understandings, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.” Exemplary Science for Building Interest in STEM Careers provides the examples and inspiration to accelerate the trend toward steering students to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. This book explores 16 examples...  [view full summary] National standards encourage science teachers to help “increase student economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understandings, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.” Exemplary Science for Building Interest in STEM Careers provides the examples and inspiration to accelerate the trend toward steering students to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. This book explores 16 examples of ideas and experiences representing a large number of career areas; they include scientists, engineers, inventors, and education reformers. Many of the authors have enlisted the help of community members and business and industry representatives, emphasizing the more current view of what science is and the importance of collaborative learning. Science is the act of humans trying to make sense of objects and events found in the natural world. It is exciting to engage students in resolving problems and issues using their own ideas. If science is personally experienced, it will attract many more to STEM careers! When teachers change their teaching, student interest increases—and more students aspire to science-related careers as well. Changes in teaching must occur and typical courses must change to focus more on student efforts with projects, activities, and problem-solving. This is the best plan for getting more students interested in pursuing STEM careers after high school. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $23.96      Nonmember Price: $29.95

NSTA Press Book

The Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities By: Rodger W. Bybee Grade Level: College, Elementary School, High School, Middle School If you’re an education leader concerned with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, this book will help you both understand and implement STEM action plans. The book starts by putting STEM in context, as the early chapters outline the challenges facing STEM education, draw lessons from the Sputnik moment of the 1950s and 1960s, and contrast contemporary STEM with other education reforms. The author then explores appropriate...  [view full summary] If you’re an education leader concerned with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, this book will help you both understand and implement STEM action plans. The book starts by putting STEM in context, as the early chapters outline the challenges facing STEM education, draw lessons from the Sputnik moment of the 1950s and 1960s, and contrast contemporary STEM with other education reforms. The author then explores appropriate roles for the federal government as well as states, districts, and individual schools. Finally, the book offers several ideas you can use to develop actual action plans for STEM. Throughout the book, author Rodger W. Bybee puts an emphasis on both thinking and acting. That’s why The Case for STEM Education is a must-read for leaders at all levels: national and state policy makers, state-level educators responsible for STEM initiatives, college and university faculty who educate future STEM teachers, local administrators who make decisions about district and school programs, and teachers who represent STEM disciplines. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $22.36      Nonmember Price: $27.95

NSTA Press Book

Science Stories: Using Case Studies to Teach Critical Thinking By: Clyde Freeman Herreid, Nancy A. Schiller, and Ky F. Herreid Grade Level: College Stories give life and substance to scientific methods and provide an inside look at scientists in action. Case studies deepen scientific understanding, sharpen critical-thinking skills, and help students see how science relates to their lives. In Science Stories, Clyde Freeman Herreid, Nancy Schiller, and Ky Herreid have organized case studies into categories such as historical cases, science and the media, and ethics and the scientific process....  [view full summary] Stories give life and substance to scientific methods and provide an inside look at scientists in action. Case studies deepen scientific understanding, sharpen critical-thinking skills, and help students see how science relates to their lives. In Science Stories, Clyde Freeman Herreid, Nancy Schiller, and Ky Herreid have organized case studies into categories such as historical cases, science and the media, and ethics and the scientific process. Each case study comprises a story, classroom discussion questions, teaching notes and background information, objectives, and common misconceptions about the topic, as well as helpful references. College-level educators and high school teachers will find that this compilation of case studies will allow students to make connections between the classroom and everyday life. Science Stories is sure to make science engaging and enlightening for both students and teachers. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $27.96      Nonmember Price: $34.95

NSTA Press Book

Favorite Demonstrations for College Science Edited by: Brian R. Shmaefsky Grade Level: College Peer-reviewed, classroom-tested, and tailored specifically for introductory science courses, Favorite Demonstrations is an essential complement to every college instructor’s lesson plans. The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching. The collection begins with a chapter...  [view full summary] Peer-reviewed, classroom-tested, and tailored specifically for introductory science courses, Favorite Demonstrations is an essential complement to every college instructor’s lesson plans. The book is an all-in-one compilation of 36 popular classroom demonstrations published since 1993 in the “Favorite Demonstration” column of NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching. The collection begins with a chapter on safety, “The Rules of Research.” From there, chapters emphasize conveying scientific principles while making them memorable. The demonstrations cover general science, biology, chemistry, Earth science, and physics while many illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of science by showing how the various subjects contribute to each other’s knowledge base. Most are simple to prepare; use low-cost, readily available materials; and can be repeated throughout the day for back-to-back classes. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $13.95      Nonmember Price: $16.95

NSTA Press Book

Innovative Techniques for Large-Group Instruction Grade Level: College Size does matter. When you're faced with a class of 50, 150, or even 250 college students, it's tough to head off boredom - much less promote higher-order thinking and inquiry skills. But it's not impossible, thanks to the professor-tested techniques in this collection of 14 articles from the Journal of College Science Teaching. The book starts by examining what research shows about the effectiveness of popular teaching...  [view full summary] Size does matter. When you're faced with a class of 50, 150, or even 250 college students, it's tough to head off boredom - much less promote higher-order thinking and inquiry skills. But it's not impossible, thanks to the professor-tested techniques in this collection of 14 articles from the Journal of College Science Teaching. The book starts by examining what research shows about the effectiveness of popular teaching styles. (Surprise: Lectures don't stimulate active learning.) From there, the authors offer proven alternatives that range from small-scale innovations to completely revamped teaching methods. Suggested strategies include using quizzes in place of midterms and finals, student forums, interactive lectures, collaborative groups, group facilitators, and e-mail and computer technology. The contributors write in first person, making the book as readable as it is practical. One of the most thought-provoking chapters is called, "Are We Cultivating Couch Potatoes in Our College Science Lectures?" With this book's help, you can answer that question with a definitive no. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $8.76      Nonmember Price: $10.95

NSTA Press Book

Climate Change From Pole to Pole: Biology Investigations By: Juanita Constible, Luke Sandro, and Richard E. Lee, Jr. Grade Level: College, High School Climate Change From Pole to Pole: Biology Investigations offers timely, relevant, biology-based case studies and background information on how to teach the science of climate change. The six painstakingly researched and field-tested activities, which build on four content chapters, give students the opportunity to solve real-life scientific problems using guiding questions, graphs and data tables, short reading assignments, and independent...  [view full summary] Climate Change From Pole to Pole: Biology Investigations offers timely, relevant, biology-based case studies and background information on how to teach the science of climate change. The six painstakingly researched and field-tested activities, which build on four content chapters, give students the opportunity to solve real-life scientific problems using guiding questions, graphs and data tables, short reading assignments, and independent research. This volume provides an authentic and rigorous way to engage students in science and environmental issues—scientific methods, evidence, climate, and biological effects of climate change—and is a unique and essential resource for your high school or college-level classroom. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $15.96      Nonmember Price: $19.95

NSTA Press Book

Teaching Science in the Two-Year College: An NSTA Press Journals Collection Edited by: Timothy M. Cooney Grade Level: College Two-year colleges are critical to science education’s future—in fact, some data indicate that half of future science teachers will take their first years of science at a two-year school. To address the unique challenges of this special setting, Teaching Science in the Two-Year College presents 24 articles featuring the most useful and relevant insights and advice from NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching. The collection is divided into...  [view full summary] Two-year colleges are critical to science education’s future—in fact, some data indicate that half of future science teachers will take their first years of science at a two-year school. To address the unique challenges of this special setting, Teaching Science in the Two-Year College presents 24 articles featuring the most useful and relevant insights and advice from NSTA’s Journal of College Science Teaching. The collection is divided into four sections, all written from the two-year college perspective: •An Overview of the Uniqueness of Teaching Science in a Two-Year College examines the isolation faculty members experience, the science anxiety many students feel, the special issues of part-time faculty, staffing crises, and the value of forming a partnership with the counseling department. •Curricular Issues includes the importance of the National Science Education Standards; fresh approaches to designing courses for nonscience majors; key methodological and content-oriented ingredients; teaching strategies for adult learners; and case studies about a community-oriented science-learning activity and an integrated science course for nonscience majors. •Teaching Strategies covers the hazards of lecture courses, the challenges and rewards of student-centered instruction, and case studies for teaching everything from biology to the value of science. •Using Information and Communication Technologies looks at computerized quizzes in the classroom and developing, adapting, and evaluating distance learning for science students. [hide full abstract] Member Price: $3.96      Nonmember Price: $4.95

NSTA Press Book

College Science Teachers Guide to Assessment Edited by: Thomas R. Lord, Donald P. French, and Linda W. Crow Grade Level: College What is assessment? How do you assess your students’ progress? How do they assess themselves and their peers? How do you assess the effectiveness of your own teaching? College Science Teachers Guide to Assessment provides busy professors with a quick reference for promoting student reflection after exams, encouraging student-led teaching models, and looking at exam corrections from both instructor and student...  [view full summary] What is assessment? How do you assess your students’ progress? How do they assess themselves and their peers? How do you assess the effectiveness of your own teaching? College Science Teachers Guide to Assessment provides busy professors with a quick reference for promoting student reflection after exams, encouraging student-led teaching models, and looking at exam corrections from both instructor and student perspectives. This guide is divided into four sections, comprising 28 peer-reviewed chapters, and covers general assessment topics (such as validation of survey instruments) and traditional and alternative assessment techniques in both science and science education classrooms. A series of how-to assessment practices that have been successfully utilized in the field and practical tips to enhance assessment in the college science classroom are also included. For college science professors, this handy reference will help you: • Use multiple choice questions to assess comprehension and expose faulty thinking • Gain an intrinsic understanding of assessment techniques in a variety of settings, including the laboratory, online classes, and large undergraduate science courses • Learn ways to teach assessment techniques to preservice teachers • Explore alternative assessment techniques such as electronic portfolios, scientific posters, and Wetscience • Realize the value of peer assessment, student reflection, exam corrections as a means of assessment, and student-led teaching models • Avoid the practices that jeopardize meaningful student assessment • Determine sensible and fair ways of assessing students [hide full abstract] Member Price: $7.96      Nonmember Price: $9.95