NSDL Highlights http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights Highlights are weekly information nuggets that are published at http://NSDL.org. Topics include information about new library resources, as well as stories about discoveries, events, activities and current news. The Highights archive may be found at http://NSDL.org/index.php?highlight_archive=1. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:33:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Follow the NSDL Annual Meeting, November 16th - 19th http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/18/follow-the-nsdl-annual-meeting-november-16th-19th/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/18/follow-the-nsdl-annual-meeting-november-16th-19th/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:59:42 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/18/follow-the-nsdl-annual-meeting-november-16th-19th/ Learn about the latest discussions, trends, and current happenings within the NSDL community by following the NSDL Annual Meeting in Washington DC, November 16-19, on Twitter. Sessions include a panel focused on cyberlearning, updates on NSDL projects, as well as showcasing new NSDL Pathways such as SMILE (informal science education) and ENSEMBLE (computing education).

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/18/follow-the-nsdl-annual-meeting-november-16th-19th/feed/ Engineering Simulation Environment One of This Year’s Premier Award Winners http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/16/engineering-simulation-environment-one-of-this-years-premier-award-winners/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/16/engineering-simulation-environment-one-of-this-years-premier-award-winners/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:33:24 +0000 nsdl projects http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/16/engineering-simulation-environment-one-of-this-years-premier-award-winners/ Last month, SimSE was awarded one of the 2009 Premier Awards for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware. SimSE is a game-based educational software engineering simulation environment that allows students to practice “virtual” software engineering processes in a graphical, interactive and fun setting. The direct, graphical feedback enables students to learn the complex cause and effect relationships underlying software engineering processes. During the game, the student takes on the role of the project manager and directs engineers to perform typical process tasks. SimSE helps bridge the gap between the conceptual knowledge about software engineering that is presented in lecture but that often times is not fully explored or practiced in assignments or projects. CATME/Team-Maker, a peer evaluation instrument, was also recognized in this year’s Premier Awards.

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/16/engineering-simulation-environment-one-of-this-years-premier-award-winners/feed/ November 11th Web Seminar: Knowing Nano http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/04/november-11th-web-seminar-knowing-nano/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/04/november-11th-web-seminar-knowing-nano/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:55:42 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/04/november-11th-web-seminar-knowing-nano/ Spark your students’ curiosity and hone their inquiry skills with free DragonflyTV Nano educational resources. Sign up for this free NSDL/NSTA Web Seminar, Thursday, November 11th at 6:30pm Eastern Time to learn more about nanotechnology and how to incorporate related online materials into your teaching. Dragonfly TV features six half-hour episodes dedicated entirely to nanoscale science and technology. These videos feature captivating scientist profiles, nanoscale zooms into common objects, and real kids doing inquiry-based investigations at science centers and universities nationwide.

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/11/04/november-11th-web-seminar-knowing-nano/feed/ Climate and Energy Awareness: A New NSDL Pathway Begins Planning in 2010 http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/23/climate-and-energy-awareness-a-new-nsdl-pathway-begins-planning-in-2010/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/23/climate-and-energy-awareness-a-new-nsdl-pathway-begins-planning-in-2010/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:28:11 +0000 nsdl projects http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/23/climate-and-energy-awareness-a-new-nsdl-pathway-begins-planning-in-2010/ The Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) Pathway will steward a broad collection of educational resources that facilitate students, teachers, and citizens becoming climate literate and informed about “the climate’s influence on you and society and your influence on climate.” The CLEAN Pathway will integrate the effective use of the resources across all educational levels – with a particular focus on the middle-school through undergraduate levels (grades 6-16) as well as to citizens through formal and informal education venues and communities. Learn more about the plans for this new NSDL Pathway.

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/23/climate-and-energy-awareness-a-new-nsdl-pathway-begins-planning-in-2010/feed/ Einstein Fellowships for K-12 Educators http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/14/einstein-fellowships-for-k-12-educators/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/14/einstein-fellowships-for-k-12-educators/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:30:53 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/14/einstein-fellowships-for-k-12-educators/ Applications for next year’s Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program are now available online. Spend a year in Washington D.C. working in a professional staff position for congress or within a federal agency. You can view the current list of Einstein Fellows on the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education website.

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]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/14/einstein-fellowships-for-k-12-educators/feed/ Shining a Light on Physics: Fiber Optics and Digital Photography http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/06/shining-a-light-on-physics-fiber-optics-and-digital-photography/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/06/shining-a-light-on-physics-fiber-optics-and-digital-photography/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:03:49 +0000 Eileen McIlvain http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/06/shining-a-light-on-physics-fiber-optics-and-digital-photography/ Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle, George E. Smith - Nobel prize winners in Physics for 2009. This week’s announcement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honors these scientists for their foundational work in areas that have revolutionized modern life: information technology, and digital photography. It’s a great opportunity to utilize NSDL’s ComPADRE Physics & Astronomy digital library to locate resources from multiple collections in the areas of fiber optics, lasers, and photoelectric effect, including Physics Classroom (tutorials for students), Physical Sciences Resource Center (PSRC), Physics Source introductory physics course materials, Physics to Go (self exploration of physics topics) and many more.

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/10/06/shining-a-light-on-physics-fiber-optics-and-digital-photography/feed/ A New Year of NSDL/NSTA Web Seminars Begins on Oct 15th http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/28/a-new-year-of-nsdlnsta-web-seminars-begins-oct-15th/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/28/a-new-year-of-nsdlnsta-web-seminars-begins-oct-15th/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:05:00 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/28/a-new-year-of-nsdlnsta-web-seminars-begins-oct-15th/ Participate in free professional development straight from your desktop through NSDL’s web seminar series with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The first seminar for this school year begins on October 15th: Chemistry Comes Alive IV: Oxidation/Reduction. This seminar is for educators at high school and lower undergraduate levels. Register through the NSTA Learning Center for this seminar and others from NSTA, NASA, and more.

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]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/28/a-new-year-of-nsdlnsta-web-seminars-begins-oct-15th/feed/ Get ready for National Chemistry and National Earth Science Weeks in October http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/21/get-ready-for-national-chemistry-and-national-earth-science-weeks-in-october/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/21/get-ready-for-national-chemistry-and-national-earth-science-weeks-in-october/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:29:07 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/21/get-ready-for-national-chemistry-and-national-earth-science-weeks-in-october/ October will be a busy month with opportunities to participate in National Earth Science Week, October 11-17 and National Chemistry Week, October 18-24. Both weeks consist of national and local events, speakers, activities for the classroom, and additional materials for the educator. Earth Science Week is sponsored by the American Geological Institute. This year’s earth science theme will be “Understanding Climate”. Chemistry Week is sponsored by the American Chemical Society with the theme, “Chemistry—It’s Elemental!”

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/21/get-ready-for-national-chemistry-and-national-earth-science-weeks-in-october/feed/ Test Out the New NSDL K-12 Audience Pages http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/14/test-out-the-new-nsdl-k-12-audience-pages/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/14/test-out-the-new-nsdl-k-12-audience-pages/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:36:07 +0000 Robert Payo http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/14/test-out-the-new-nsdl-k-12-audience-pages/ The K-12 audience pages have a new look to them. Try out the audience tabs to find more specific information at the grade level you teach, watch for resource highlights with a new topic each month (this month it’s on careers and the scientific process), and learn simple ways to incorporate more digital materials in your teaching. Be sure to give us your feedback so we can continue to make these pages more useful to you.

]]> http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/14/test-out-the-new-nsdl-k-12-audience-pages/feed/ Stay Tuned for Digital Learning Assets From Nation’s Museums This Fall http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-digital-learning-assets-from-nations-museums-this-fall/ http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-digital-learning-assets-from-nations-museums-this-fall/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:52:55 +0000 Carol Minton Morris http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/highlights/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-digital-learning-assets-from-nations-museums-this-fall/ The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will be the site of the launch of the NSDL SMILE Pathway featuring resources from the nation’s leading science museums on Nov. 1, 2009 at a panel discussion to be presented during the Association for Science-Technology Centers Annual Meeting.

SMILE logo

The lighthearted SMILE logo can be seen in action at http://www.howtosmile.org.

The National Science Foundation’s NSDL program has funded a consortium of museums to aggregate the best learning activities offered by museums into a single repository to support informal science and mathematics education called SMILE – the Science Mathematics Informal Educator’s Pathway (www.howtosmile.org). SMILE is supporting informal educators and different-sized museums with varying backgrounds, experience, and infrastructure to easily contribute and share digital assets. Given its cost-effective strategy, SMILE is leveraging free and open source tools into its architecture, including NSDL EduPak components, as well as developing widgets that enable museums to customize SMILE tools and services into their own local websites. SMILE is testing a new metadata scheme to reflect diverse audiences served by museums who value fun, engagement, quality activities, and intergenerational learning in non-classroom settings.

The SMILE and NSDL panel, Sherry Hsi, Darrell Porcello, Scott Randol, and Susan Van Gundy, will share different aspects of the SMILE process that also have practical implications including distributed metadata development, online community contributions, digital library architecture, visual search, user interface design, and formative evaluation results. Panelists will discuss SMILE’s implementation, unveil post-launch plans, and solicit input. A presentation about the current organizational structure of the National Science Digital Library, how NSDL Pathways are supported, and seed grant opportunities will also be explained.

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