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LASER
eNewsletter December
2011
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When we think
about Washington State LASER, we think about impact. We hope you enjoy
reading the articles below as much as we enjoy sharing them with you.
In fact, we'd like to hear from you regarding our eNewsletter. Please
take a few moments to complete the survey below.
The holiday
season is often characterized by wish lists and giving. Here is our
holiday wish list.
- Be an advocate for LASER by telling one
acquaintance about the work we do.
- Connect us with one
"like-minded" person or organization with whom we should
be working with.
- Join us in giving the "best you've
got" to make high-quality science education in Washington
state a reality for all.
Best Wishes for
a Joyous Holiday Season,
Jeff and Sonia
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Did
You Know?
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Between August
and October of 2011, the LASER website had 45,851 visitors. The Science
Classroom Observation Protocol was the most downloaded document (703
downloads).
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What Do
You Think? Take Our Survey About LASER's eNewsletter
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We would like to
extend an invitation to you to share your opinions about Washington
State LASER's eNewsletter. Five lucky respondents will each receive two
tickets to either Mission:
Impossible-Ghost Protocol:The IMAX® Experience now
playing at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX® theater or two general
exhibits passes. Note: to be eligible for this drawing your response
must be received by December 19th at noon.
The goal of the
survey is to find out what you like about the eNewsletter and how we
can improve. Your feedback is vital in our review process. The survey
should take less than three minutes to complete. Your response is
voluntary and will be confidential. Responses will not be
identified by individuals. All responses will be compiled together and
analyzed as a group. Respondents will be selected at random for
IMAX passes or exhibit passes. We will share the results of the survey
in our next eNewsletter.
Thank you in
advance for completing the survey and helping us produce the best
possible eNewsletter for you. Complete the survey by
clicking on the below link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QW627FS
IMAX® is a
registered trademark of IMAX Corporation
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Science
Champions Makes a Difference
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 Karen
Rutherford, a 2011 recipient of a Science Champions Award for her work
as an advocate for science education in her region, generously donated
her monetary award to the North Central Education Foundation in
Wenatchee in support of teacher grants for math and science.
"Thanks to the contribution, teachers in our area will have the
funding available to help with the classroom projects in the year
ahead," said Jan Cetto, president, NCESD Educational Foundation.
Click here to learn more
about the work of the Foundation.
The deadline for
the 2012 Science Champions: Science Education Advocate Awards is
January 24, 2012. Click here for nomination
guidelines and materials. The Science Champions awards are sponsored
annually by Washington State LASER with support from The Boeing Company
and Battelle.
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Retreat
Influences Thinking and Leadership Practice
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 For
the 85 school administrators who attended the 2011 Principal Leadership
Retreat, their ideas about STEM have changed. "The retreat has
given me ideas about how to prioritize STEM in my school and it has
helped me understand what good STEM instruction is about," stated
one participant.
"I see that
STEM is really about high-quality teaching and learning - not just the
content of math or science or technology," reported another.
Opportunities to
work with "real" scientists, learn from other administrators,
and have the time to create a plan for their school were seen as
critical take-aways from the retreat. Read the full evaluation
report about this retreat sponsored by the Association of
Washington School Principals in partnership with the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Washington State LASER, Pacific Science Center and
Washington State University.
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Impacts
of Science Partnership Academy
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 Over the past two years,
Washington State LASER Alliance regional teams along with teams from
University of Washington's Mathematics Engineering Science
Achievement and Washington Science Teachers Association have
participated in five, 3-day academies using our logic model for
developing effective professional development. One of those
attending, Eric Magi, coordinator science, human growth and
development for Spokane Public Schools and a Northeast LASER Alliance
team member, recently talked about the impact of his participation in
this state-wide event.
Q: As
a district representative on the Northeast LASER Alliance team,
how did your participation support the regional work?
A: Since we
are a large district, partnering with Northeast Washington ESD 101 has
not always been an obvious way to address local challenges and support
teachers. As a result of Science Partnership Academy work, Spokane
Public Schools and Northeast Washington ESD 101 have provided joint
professional development for teachers, at both sites. We regularly
communicate as science partners, enjoy the collaboration and it's truly
a win-win for our region and for us as professionals.
Q: What was the benefit to your
district in having you participate on the regional Science Partnership
Academy team?
A:Academy
participation has also enabled our district science team to more
effectively plan for current needs as well as develop a strategic plan
for the future.
Q: Please cite one activity or
event that you were able to directly apply to your district work.
A: Using some of
the strategies from the work with Susan Mundry and her book Designing Professional
Development for Mathematics and Science Teachers has become
part of our practice as a district science program. The enhanced
intentionality is really key to professional development success and we
have had success as we employ these strategies.
Our next Academy
is in March 2012. The Academy is funded through a generous grant
from Battelle and the State of Washington. Results from our
2010-2011 Academy surveys are available here.
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Environmental
Protection Agency Grant Supports Washington's Environmental and
Sustainability Plan
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"It is more
important than ever that our young people know the stakes when it comes
to the environment. By giving them the opportunity to increase their
environmental literacy, we are making an investment in their lives,
their economic well-being and the planet they are inheriting,"
stated U.S. Senator Patty Murray at a recent school assembly to
announce the release of the Washington State Environmental and
Sustainability Plan.
 In support of this
work, Washington State LASER, in partnership with OSPI, has begun work
to embed environmental and sustainability concepts into some elementary
FOSS and STC science materials. Four LASER Alliances: Mountain to
Harbor, Northeast, North Central and Northwest, will be participating
in this unique opportunity to incorporate the Environmental Standards
into high use elementary materials and to provide professional
development for Washington teachers.
More information
on the grant can be found in the press release from
OSPI.
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The work of
Washington State LASER would not be possible without the major support
and funding of Pacific Science Center, Battelle, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, the Washington State Legislature, Office
of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Boeing, The Paul G. Allen
Family Foundation, K2 Communications and the Environmental Protection
Agency.
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