H i g h S c h o o l E d i t i o n
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (STS)An emerging field of academic study in itself, STS is interdisciplinary in nature, as it examines science and technology as social and cultural phenomena. Researchers make important new discoveries almost daily—in such areas as genetic engineering, the environment, emergent diseases, computers and the internet, nuclear waste, and international agriculture—that lead to ethical considerations that today's students will have to face; many of these issues have never been addressed before because they arose from new scientific knowledge and technological innovation. Steve Metz, field editor of The Science Teacher, explains in his December editorial that "when interconnections among science, technology, and society are made part of science teaching, we empower students with skills that allow them to become active, responsible, and thoughtful citizens.” This issue of Science Class explores how STS can engage your students and help answer the question "Why do we have to learn this?" STS in the News Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Digest (visit http://www.nsta.org/mainnews for national news for science educators). This month’s news stories, which discuss both research studies and specific scientific and educational technologies, highlight the connection among science, technology, and society. Visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2005-12/news_stories_high.htm to learn more. STS on the Web In this month's high school journal, The Science Teacher, NSTA members can read "A Partnership for Problem-Based Learning." The link to that article is http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=tst&n=51263. SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online content chosen to augment printed articles and books. It does so through keywords; the keywords for this issue are Science and Technology: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=92635699112210551011 NSTA Journal Articles on STS The archives of The Science Teacher provide several articles that highlight the importance of the connections among science, technology, and society. Click here to read more: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2005-12/high_school.htm Books, Books, Books To read about STS in NSTA Press and NSTA Recommends books, visit: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2005-12/books_high.htm Click here for the newest titles from NSTA Press: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2005-12/newbookshigh.htm To receive the latest NSTA catalog for your specific grade level, visit http://ecommerce.nsta.org/catalog_signup Professional Development Building a Presence for Science Building a Presence for Science is the largest networking initiative of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The award-winning program is designed to improve the teaching and learning of science from kindergarten through 12th grade. The mission of Building a Presence for Science is to end the isolation of classroom science teachers and to provide them with professional development opportunities and science teaching resources. Major funding for Building a Presence for Science is provided by the ExxonMobil Foundation. To learn more about Building a Presence for Science, visit http://ecommerce.nsta.org/bap/mission.asp. NSTA Web Seminars These 90-minute live professional development experiences use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts; NSTA Press authors; and scientists, engineers, and education specialists from NSTA government partners, such as NASA and NOAA—all from the convenience of your desktop! Educators use online tools that allow them to markup and annotate presenters' slides, share desktop applications, or engage in chat, survey, and poll questions with others online. Seminars may be archived and are available for viewing after the live event has occurred. Be sure to check out the fall schedule for these exciting learning opportunities and to register by going to http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp. Global Science Teaching A new report says the United Kingdom’s (U.K.) scientific competitiveness could be threatened by a lack of practical science teaching. The U.K.’s National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts says that science experiments inspire young scientists. But the organization’s survey of 510 science teachers found that two-thirds of educators lacked time for conducting experiments, while many said safety rules deterred them from doing so. A previous survey found that fear about students’ misbehavior was the main reason why many schools canceled hands-on science activities. Government officials say a new curriculum in 2006 will address concerns about a lack of classroom time for experiments. To read more, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4470148.stm. NSTA Opportunities NSTA Treasurer Post Open NSTA seeks applicants for the NSTA Treasurer position. Responsibilities include oversight of the association’s financial and budgetary matters. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors for a three-year term of office, which may be renewed for another three-year term. Appointees will be expected to devote 10-12 days of service a year for this nonstaff position. An honorarium will be provided, as well as reimbursement for required meeting attendance (travel and per diem). For additional information about the position’s responsibilities, visit http://careers.nsta.org/job_detail.asp?jobid=308. Application deadline: January 15, 2006. Interested individuals are invited to submit their resume, along with a cover letter that specifies interest in being considered for appointment, to NSTA Executive Director, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3092. Next Month's Theme Informal Science If your colleagues would like to subscribe
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