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Table of Contents

• No Test Tubes? Questions Arise On Virtual High School Science
• Happy, Confident Students Do Worse in Math, Says Brookings Study
• Advance Registration Discount Deadline for NSTA’s Western Conference in Salt Lake City is October 27
• Call for Papers: 2007 World Conference on Science and Technology
• Want to Host International Visitors at Your School?

No Test Tubes? Questions Arise On Virtual High School Science

An October 20 New York Times article explores online laboratory experiences and “a dispute with potentially far-reaching consequences.” As the College Board works to audit Advanced Placement (AP) science courses, college professors and online educators are discussing whether internet-based laboratories are an acceptable substitute “for the hands-on culturing of gels and peering through microscopes that have long been essential ingredients of American laboratory science.” The College Board has appointed three special panels that will determine whether high schools can apply the A.P. designation to online science courses starting next fall on the transcripts of students applying to colleges. Read the New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/education/20online.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) and the NSTA position statement on Laboratory Science (http://www.nsta.org/positionstatement&psid=16).

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Happy, Confident Students Do Worse in Math, Says Brookings Study

“Kids who are turned off by math often say they don't enjoy it, they aren't good at it and they see little point in it. Who knew that could be a formula for success? The nations with the best scores have the least happy, least confident math students, says a study by the Brookings Institution's Brown Center on Education Policy.

Countries reporting higher levels of enjoyment and confidence among math students don't do as well in the subject, the study suggests. The results for the United States hover around the middle of the pack, both in terms of enjoyment and in test scores.” Read more of the Associated Press article at http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/15786184.htm) or the full Brookings Institute Brown Center on Education Policy study at http://www.brook.edu/gs/brown/bc_report/2006/2006report.htm.

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Advance Registration Discount Deadline for NSTA’s Western Conference in Salt Lake City is October 27!

The dates for NSTA's Area Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, are fast approaching; join colleagues from across the states this December 7-9, 2006 for

• Workshops filled with great science ideas for your class
• Exhibits loaded with the latest materials and resources
• Speakers to inspire
• Sessions to engage and enlighten
• Professional development opportunities designed for growth; and
• Science enthusiasm to share with your students and colleagues

More details are available on our website at http://www.nsta.org/saltlakecity. Advance registration ends October 27! After that you can still register, but will pay the onsite rate, so register today.

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New Book from NSTA Press Answers the Question: “What Can You Do With Science?”

Perfect for the teacher who has run out of ways to explain the need for students to do well in science, All in a Day’s Work: Careers Using Science explores the many careers that require a solid science foundation. The book highlights so many different careers, there’s sure to be something for everyone!

• The Expected—high school science teacher, microbiologist, and forensics technician
• The Unexpected—firefighter, landscape architect, and historical archaeologist
• The Adventurous—astronaut, deep-cave explorer, and oceanographer
• The Offbeat—roller coaster designer, perfumer, and sport biomechanist

By the end of All in a Day’s Work students will be asking “What can’t I do with science?”

To browse sample pages and order, visit http://store.nsta.org/showItem.asp?product=PB207X.

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Call for Papers: 2007 World Conference on Science and Technology Education

The World Conference on Science and Technology Education, hosted by the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), will be held in Perth, Western Australia from July 8 -13, 2007. The conference themes are:

• Education for sustainable development, as part of the UNESCO World Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2015);
• World health (including AIDS, malaria, other diseases, and health challenges, such as clean water);
• Science for life and citizenship; and
• The Way Forward (educational directions and priorities established by ICASE)

Science educators at all levels are urged to submit papers and workshops. Peer-reviewed papers and non-refereed workshops, seminars, group presentations, and papers are choices open to presenters and can be submitted electronically at http://www.worldste2007.asn.au/icase2007_2ndlayer/Papersubmissions.htm. The closing date for abstracts and summaries is November 17.

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Want to Host International Visitors at Your School?

NSTA gets a number of requests each year from international groups of educators and others interested in education who are planning to travel to the United States. They want to visit science classrooms and schools and meet with teachers and students to learn more about science education in America. If you are interested in possibly hosting an international delegation, let us know by answering the questions at http://science.nsta.org/survey_international_visitor.

And Don't Forget…

• The latest Web Seminars!” Visit http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp.
• The NSTA Science Store for an outstanding array of bestselling books and teaching resources: http://store.nsta.org. This month’s featured book special is Science Fairs Plus: Reinventing an Old Favorite. For 30% off, visit http://www.nsta.org/onlinespecial!
• Your Membership—We want you back, and we’ll give you 15 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12! Look at the top of this e-mail. If, next to “member status” it says “LAPSED,” then we want you back! Re-join NSTA now, and you’ll receive an EXTRA 3 MONTHS FREE! To learn how, visit http://science.nsta.org/nstaexpress/membership2.pdf.

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Professional development courses in your future?
Online options give you a world of choice.
Take a look at these institutions offering courses for science educators!
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