The Transit of Venus will be here in 6 days!
Wahoo! I’m EXCITED to see the solar system move before my very eyes!

If you’re sitting around thinking:

“Man, I don’t know what all the fuss is about…“

GOOD NEWS! There’s a YouTube page to help!
Everyone loves watching videos, especially awesome ones…

Transit of Venus has it’s ownYouTubeSite!

My personal recommendation is to check out this 4-minute video ALL about the transit.

Predict a Transit of Venus: 2-minute explanation…

Transit of Venus: 2-Minute Explanation to predict it.

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

How are YOU planning to view the Transit of Venus on June 5th ?

One thing’s for sure, you BETTER NOT TRYwith sunglasses, binoculars,
or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

Do YOU need and/or want SOLAR SHADES!?!?

There’s a Treasure Hunt in Michiana that YOU can do to get you and your WHOLE Family FREE Solar Shades!

The TROVE ADVENTURE Treasure Hunt!

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

I had a great time with some 40 middle school students from South Bend Community School Corporation’s Navarre Intermediate Center this morning: they created close to 40 astroimages using the Aladin applet after an exploration of the cosmos in Google Sky. Orienting to Google Earth and Sky, all the way through creation and publication of astroimages, was a pretty big challenge for 5th graders, but they proved up to the task. (The procedure they used can be found here.) Thanks to Deb Notestine and JINA for the invitation to spend time with these students, part of a much larger group that came to campus to explore a variety of topics in astronomy; thanks to the astrophysics graduate students who put research aside for a time to assist; thanks also to the teachers from Navarre who helped make this trip work.

2 people like this post.

Like

Unlike

From Chuck Bueter:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NASA Astronomer Launches Transit of Venus (TROVE) Celebration in Michiana

Who: Dr. Steven H. Williams of NASA Science Mission Directorate, on assignment from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
What: You Can Learn a Lot From a Dot, a talk on the upcoming transit of Venus and other discoveries from celestial alignments
When: Thursday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. EDT
Where: Penn-Harris-Madison (PHM) Digital Video Theater (map), Mishawaka, IN

For more fun, find out about the TROVE Adventure!

Please see http://www.transitofvenus.org/misc/358-you-can-learn-a-lot-from-a-dot for a detailed press release about 2012 Transit of Venus (TROVE) events in Michiana that are now underway or are imminent. Thank you.

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

Click the link above to register for the conference. An updated speakers list is just below; more details can be found in an earlier blog. See you on June 12!

1 person likes this post.

Like

Unlike

I received an email today from the American Geophysical Union education group which I felt others may be interested in seeing so I’ve copied it below.

“Dear AGU Members,

The first public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is now available at www.nextgenscience.org. Feedback on the standards is sought from individuals who have a stake in science education—including the K-12, higher education, and research communities.

There is no doubt that science—and, therefore, science education—is central to the lives of all Americans.  To that end, we must ensure that all students have a solid education in science.  The recent NAEP science scores show we have a long way to go to ensure all of our students have the science education they will need for college, careers and life.  That’s why 26 states are working together to develop the NGSS—internationally-benchmarked and rigorous state science education standards.  As part of that development process, there will be two public comment periods where all interested parties are invited to give feedback. The first one began 11 May 2012.

NGSS have been written as student performance expectations grouped by topics and can be viewed in the topical groupings or individually. The draft performance expectations are composed of the three dimensions from the NRC’s Framework for K–12 Science Education. These draft performance expectations describe how students will demonstrate their understanding.

To review the draft standards, go to www.nextgenscience.org.  Comments can be provided by clicking on any of the links that say “Go to the NGSS Survey.”  The deadline for comments is 1 June.

We hope that you will consider sending your feedback on these standards,

AGU Education Staff”

1 person likes this post.

Like

Unlike

Last night, I attended a town hall meeting in South Bend held at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. (This center is the newest addition to the city. Click on link to learn more about it). The town hall meeting was called by former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps in response to a series of gun shootings that have happened in the past week. Some of these shootings were unfortunately fatal, and members of the community have become super frustrated and saddened with the violence. Here is the link for today’s article on the meeting: South Bend Tribune Article

In all of my years in South Bend, I have never been to a town hall meeting. This meeting was held in the auditorium of the Kroc Center, and it was super packed…standing room only if you were late. This was apparently the talk of the town. I expected that people would get the microphone and offer real solutions to ending the youth violence. But, instead there was already an agenda with a planned list of speakers from different organizations to give a two min speech on what they were doing for the youth. There were some personal speeches from concerned individuals too.

It was formal, and the atmosphere to me was not action planning. I say that because these services offered had existed for some time. We (the audience) knew about these organizations, because most in attendance were either part of those organizations or were city officials. (And, yes I didn’t know everyone in the room, but this comes from me recognizing faces of a lot of those I knew who I have seen at other community events). This meeting was sort of “preaching to the choir” in a way.

However, four things did intrigue me:

1. There are efforts to recruit 500 mentors for at-risk youth. There were mentoring applications on every seat. I believe in mentoring. I have mentored quite a few students over the years. Youth appreciate having someone to look up to, especially those who do not have positive role models in their lives.

2. Those who were formally prison or jail inmates were offering their help to speak to the youth about not taking the same road they did. I remember one time in high school when inmates on a work-release program came to speak to our class. The class was dead silent as they really spoke the truth and “horrors” of making poor decisions. Individuals with a criminal background and who have changed their ways could really connect to those who are struggling with violent behavior (i.e., in and out of juvenile jail).

3. One of the youth who spoke in the meeting said that there needs to be more job opportunities for the youth. You can read his comments in the South Bend Tribune article. This is so true…because when the youth have something to do and are getting paid, they are so much more less distracted from getting into trouble. And, with summer around the corner, no or little employment opportunities plus no school can unfortunately equal a rise in juvenile crime.

4. Coach Phelps mentioned that South Bend should raise their rankings in math and science studies, possibly competing with Shanghai (China).

Ok, so the last point on math and science left me a little confused. I definitely understand the importance of doing well in math and science. But how will this end or slow down youth violence?  Are there math and science opportunities for youth in this city? Outside of school? I know that students can improve in test scores and learning in school…but does a student who excels in math/science also choose not to do violence? Maybe so because they are more focused and thinking about their future…but couldn’t this be true for those who excel in other fields (english, history,etc)?

Here is what I am imagining as an immediate solution to this community using math and science. What if there were programs for math and science (outside of school) that involved at-risk youth (not just those who can do the subjects well). The programs will be outside of the school environment during the school year (after-school?), and have to be some-what fun in addition to being educational. Hands on activities and projects. And, maybe in the summer there can be paid “internships” for these students….or a student stipend for them attending a math-science course. Maybe a stipend during the year too. (Money is an incentive.) This program could welcome students who have a history at the juvenile justice center or who have no positive role models or have been struggling in math and science. Does anyone know if such programs exist here or somewhere?

In high school, I was selected a couple times to be a math tutor and teacher assistant. I was paid to tutor struggling math students during study hall (as part of a school grant). I was also a teacher assistant to help struggling students in remedial math (pre-algebra; think I received some course credit for this).  The remedial class had the most difficult students (in regards to behavior)…but the class did help them in math. I do have a heart for the youth in the city…it grieves me to hear about shootings or youth funerals. If there was a math and science program for the youth as a solution to end the violence, I would offer to help….there has to be something done…maybe I should contact the mayor’s office ….I’m just thinking out loud……..

1 person likes this post.

Like

Unlike

Notre Dame Forum: Conference on STEM Education

June 12^th, 2012

Jordan Hall of Science (on Notre Dame’s campus)

Leading experts in STEM education from around the country will join with local practitioners for a one-day event focusing on recent developments in K-20 pedagogy in these fields. There will be special attention to K-12 contexts. The morning will consist of two panel discussions featuring international experts in science and math education, respectively, as well as award-winning local teachers. The afternoon will consist of break-out discussions focused on relevant issues and practical applications in science and math education. This ND Forum event will be relevant for many audiences as it explores the impact of recent policy, research in science and math education, and the practical aspects of teaching these disciplines. Professional Growth Points can be earned by attendees (1 PGP per hour of attendance). Boxed lunches will be provided and a reception will close out this 9-to-5 day.

You may learn more here: http://forum.nd.edu. There is a link to register (no cost) through the Forum page, or just click on the image at the beginning of this post. If you have further questions, please contact Drew Clary from Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives at clary.9@nd.edu.

1 person likes this post.

Like

Unlike

Slashdot. If you don’t know what that is you may not be a nerd…
Its tag line is honest in its purpose: “News for Nerds.  Stuff that Matters.”

+ = awesome!

Transit of Venus was featured today on the /. Science page: science.slashdot.org

Not ONLY was it about Transit of Venus (nicknamed TROVE), but Chuck Bueter‘s website transitofvenus.org was highlighted in THIS post!

Specifically transitofvenus.org was linked as the place to find out about the safety of watching the transit!

/. is a fun place  to peruse for random info, geeky news stories, and in general a better way to spend down time than checking out the unintelligent garble filling other social sites.

Way to go /. , thanks for keeping the science good, the facts fun, and the nerds cool!

34 DAYS UNTIL THE TRANSIT OF VENUS!!!!!

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike