I’m working on an abstract for the AAPT.  What do people think about this idea?

Facing Facebook:  Social media in and out of the classroom

Your students are already using tools like Facebook and Twitter.  In fact, they’re often using them when you’d rather they’d be doing something else (like paying attention in class). How can we turn the potential obstacles of Web 2.0 and social media into an opportunity for effective teaching and learning?  I’ll share some techniques instructors are using for communicating with their students and each other, including class blogs, real-time aggregated conversations in class, tweeted answers to student questions, dedicated YouTube channels, wiki-based class contracts, and more.  Through these tools, we may choose to leverage social media to promote conversation about things that we care about, using platforms that students find familiar and fun.

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

And now I have visual proof…  (that’s me in pink)

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

Our PhET interactive simulation project was just featured on Voice of America. It’s a nice short piece that gives information about PhET and why it’s helpful for student learning. Kudos to my boss Kathy Perkins who was succinct and clear — not always an easy task.

Below is the text from the VOA site

And here is the audio MP3

Website features interactive science experiments

You won’t need a one-gig internet connection to check out our Website of the Week.

This time it’s an educational site where principles of physics are illustrated with interactive animated experiments that you can perform on your own computer.

PERKINS: “The PhET website is a collection of 85 simulations for teaching and learning science. So our main goal is to help students better understand the science of the world around them, but instead of telling students how something works, our simulations let them discover important science concepts for themselves and really learn and engage through scientist-like exploration.”

Kathy Perkins is co-director of the Physics Education Technology, or PhET Interactive Simulations website, at phet.colorado.edu.

Despite the name, the site also includes animated simulations in biology, chemistry, and other disciplines, as well as physics. You can build your own solar system, model the hydrogen atom, or explore the properties of a gas as you change its temperature and other variables.

Another simulation allows you to design and modify a simple electrical circuit.

PERKINS: “So when you open up, you can drag out wires and batteries and bulbs. And as you connect them, as soon as you complete a circuit, you’ll see the light bulb light up and the electrons shown in the wires circulate around the circuit.”

The simulations look like entertainment, but Perkins says the design of each has been tested for its educational value and can be used in the classroom, or you can just run the sims yourself and learn by doing online at phet.colorado.edu, or get the link from our site, VOAnews.com.

MUSIC: Michel Petrucciani – “Laws Of Physics”

You’re listening to Our World, the weekly science and technology magazine from VOA News. I’m Art Chimes in Washington.

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

Project Tomorrow (which does really good work) is creating a new survey of teachers, to get the lay of the land in teacher prep.  This one is the first one, I believe, in which they’re including aspiring teachers.  Here is the blurb — if you’re seeking your credentials, consider contributing your voice to the survey!  Due February 19th.

Wanted: Aspiring Teachers to join the National Dialogue about Teacher Education!

Project Tomorrow is seeking Aspiring Teachers who are currently pursuing a degree or credential to participate in its nationally recognized Speak Up project.  The Speak Up for Aspiring Teacher survey is the newest in Project Tomorrow’s suite of Speak Up surveys and provides aspiring teachers with the opportunity to contribute to the national dialogue about teacher preparation.  This online survey asks participants questions about how they use technology in and out of the classroom for personal and academic reasons, how they are learning to use technology to facilitate learning or for professional tasks, and their aspirations for your future classrooms.

The national findings will be released during a Congressional Briefing in May 2010 and used to inform national, state, and local policymakers about key issues related to teacher preparation and training.  Your voice matters!  The survey responses are 100% anonymous, so let us know what’s important to you and your future teaching career.

It’s easy to share your ideas – all you have to do is take the survey on our website!

For additional information, please contact June Pai at june@tomorrow.org or 949/609-4660 Ext. 12 or visit Project Tomorrow’s website.

Remember, the survey closes on February 19th, 2010!

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

I don’t usually post job listings on the blog, but I *love* the local NSDL office and would be so happy to see someone excellent in this job opening.  See below — it’s a really great opportunity for someone qualified.

The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) (http://nsdl.org), based at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, CO is seeking candidates for an Outreach and Professional Development Specialist.  The full position announcement and application procedures can be found on the UCAR website at:

http://bit.ly/cKNwYq

This position is responsible for leading efforts that inform and engage NSDL’s stakeholder and user communities. Assists the Director of Education and Strategic Partnerships in developing and implementing strategies to build significant use of the library and ensure that the NSDL is educationally beneficial across all science, technology, engineering and mathematics education communities. Leverages the use of online tools and social media as new outreach and engagement mechanisms for NSDL. Measures and analyzes an array of metrics to interpret progress toward goals for NSDL’s usage and impact. Sets direction for, designs and delivers professional development programming for NSDL’s educational users that also helps to inform audience needs, practices and incentives for engagement. This position includes responsibilities for representing NSDL in a variety of public and professional venues.

Minimum requirements include:
* Bachelor’s degree in education or a science/mathematics field; and
* at least three years of experience in K-16 and/or public education in formal or informal settings; and
* at least three years of experience in teacher/faculty professional development design, delivery, and evaluation.

This is a full-time replacement position. Initial consideration will be given to applications received prior to Friday, February 12, 2010. Thereafter, applications will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

Got a geek in your life who’s aching for something cool?  Here are a few ideas:

Giant Microbes are always a hit.  Many  years ago, my housemate gave me the common cold.  I eventually gave it to my boyfriend (now my ex).  No word yet on whether he’s recovered.  At least I didn’t give him ebola.  Now Giant Microbes even has bird flu and swine flu…

Made with Molecules This is the business of a wonderful science writer, Raven Hanna — silver jewelry in the shape of molecules .  She’ll send you caffeine (for the coffee addict), serotonin (when you’re feeling blue), oxytocin (for valentine’s day)… they’re really lovely!  If anybody’s looking for a gift for me, I love the serotonin necklace or earrings…

Trilobite For the bio-inspired, this site has clothing centered on evolution and paleontology.

XKCD.com has wonderful stuff inspired by the comic – posters, t-shirts, a tie, and more.  The shirt to the left is one of my favorite items in my closet.  Deadline for holiday orders is Dec 14!

There are also a couple of good geek-oriented stores, like ThinkGeek and X-Treme Geek.

Got a geek reader?  Try a subscription to Isotope (a journal of literary nature and science writing) or Science News (all the news from the science world you could ever want in succinct well-written form).

For those of you who are both geeky and patriotic, here is a patriotic periodic table t-shirt.

And Sarah over at Schooner of Science beat me to the punch with her own geek shopping list, which is suitable for biologists, like cool lab coats and a tie, and my favorite, a cute bacteria wall clock.

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

While there are usually fewer spots than physicists interested in filling them, for once, Adopt a Physicist needs more physicists to step up to the plate! Registration is open through October 4th (this Sunday). Details are below. I’ve done this several years in a row and it’s pretty fun!

Help high school students explore what it’s really like to be a physicist – consider participating in Adopt-a-Physicist! In this program, people with physics degrees (at any level) are “adopted” by high school classes interested in finding out about the careers, educational backgrounds, and lives of real physicists.

Physicists are responsible for creating a profile (takes 10-20 minutes) and hosting one online discussion forum for a 3-week period (estimated to take 2-4 hours per week). All communication will take place on the forum Oct. 12-30.

Registration will remain open until October 4th. For more information and to register, visit www.adoptaphysicist.org . Please direct any questions to Kendra Rand, krand@aip.org.

Physicists in traditional careers AND “hidden physicists” welcome!

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

And for those of you who have read me for a while, you know what that means….

Liveblogging!

I really like to write out nice summaries of the good talks and sessions I go to at conferences — it helps me remember and digest what I’ve learned.  So stay tuned, I hope, for a series of posts on the best stuff on physics education.

And if you’re in Ann Arbor, say hi!

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

Hey all,

I think sometimes I overuse my wonderful readers for their great ideas but, well, if you didn’t have such good ideas, then I wouldn’t be asking you questions all the time!  Ah, the burden of greatness.

So, here’s the question of the day.  I’m working on a book proposal for a survival guide for young women in science, grades 10-14.  I’m working on a title.  The subtitle right now, which I like, is

Stories and Practical Tips for Young Women Who (Might Be) in Love with Science.

I want something catchy and hip and simple as a title.

One person recommended a riff on a romance novel, like “Love in the Age of Neutron Stars,” which I actually really like.  Another friend recommended “Two X Chromosomes” but I’m veering away from that because of the genetic connotations. “Creating a Curvy Path” could work with some cover graphic of a woman’s form and an integral sign.  “Geek Girl” or “GirlScience” or something straightforward could work, but might turn off girls who don’t see themselves as geeky.

“The Color of Clouds” or something that refers to science and dreams might be fun, but it’s a bit enigmatic.  Dear lord don’t let me end up with some goddawful title like “A Quantum of Solace.”

Something suggesting the linking of femininity and science, like “High Heel Science” or “Lipstick Science” or “Gorgeous Geeks” or “Stars Don’t Wear Skirts” or “Darling Amoebas” could be fun but it has to be a clear and catchy connection.

A riff off a science topic could work, like “The Non-Standard Model” or “Inflation Theory” or “Solve for X” (or “solve for XX”) or “Calculus of Variations” or “Let X=X” or something simple like “Momentum”. (hmm, kind of like that one).   “Differential Equations?”  “What’s your Sine?”

Something related to women’s struggles could work if it’s not a downer, like “What are YOU doing here?”, or “Round peg in a square hole”, or “How it Works” or something related to building women’s confidence, like “Shoot for the Stars” or “Success in Science”.

Ideas anyone?  Thoughts?

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.

For those of you who use or know of our PhET interactive simulations site, we’re trying to roll out a redesign of the site that’s geared for grades 4-8.  But we’re struggling with a name.  Any ideas?

1. PhET Kids was deemed “too baby-ish” by some actual kids
2. PhETmania (so far our favorite)
3. Fresh Science by PhET
4. Sim Science Playground

Update:  here’s a couple more options:

PhET X –not good name
PhETbox – another weird name.

1. PhET4PhUN – maybe
2. PhET.Awesome – too young?
3. PhETastic -too young?
4. PhETlabs – maybe
5. PhETmania – good

I am a science education and communications consultant -- view my website for my full range of services.