NASSMC Debuts New Brochure

NASSMC is pleased to announce that it has a new brochure. Designed to help tell the organization's story, the brochure provides information about NASSMC's vision and mission; the knowledge gap in STEM education; member coalitions and programs; the kind of work the coalitions do; NASSMC's history, leadership, and supporters; and contact information.

We believe that this brochure accurately and beautifully represents the goals, mission, and message of NASSMC and its member coalitions and reinforces the idea that what we are trying to do is unique, vital, and important to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education reform.

To view and download the brochure, go to www.nassmc.org/brochure.html.

NSRC to Host National Symposium on Science Education for Business Leaders, September 2005

On September 7-9 in Washington, D.C., the National Science Resources Center (NSRC) is hosting the first annual National Symposium on Science Education for Business Leaders. While advances have been made in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, the pace of improvement must increase substantially to meet the economic, scientific, and national security challenges that lie ahead. This symposium is an opportunty to strengthen the strategic collaboration between business leaders, science and engineering leaders, and researchers.

The registration deadline is August 15. The brochure and registration form can be found at www.nsrconline.org/index.html.

The mission of the NSRC is to improve the learning and teaching of science in school districts in the United States and throughout the world. The NSRC employs strategies that are informed by research, incorporate best practices, and leverage change through the development of strategic partnerships. The NSRC was formed by the Smithsonian Institution (www.si.edu) and the National Academies (www.nas.edu) in 1985. Through its parent institutions, the NSRC has actively engaged the scientific, engineering, and education communities in all of its programs.

NRC Report: Science Assessments

The National Research Council (NRC) has published a report that offers guidance to states designing the science tests required under federal law as of 2007. Recommendations include building tests around major scientific concepts instead of isolated facts; promoting a broader understanding of science through the assessment systems; creating a stronger federal role in helping states devise tests and standards; and establishing teacher education in science testing.

According to an Education Week analysis, 22 states had science tests aligned with state standards during the last school year.

For more information about this NRC report entitled "Systems for State Science Assessment" and the July 13 Education Week article entitled "NRC Weighs In on States' Science Assessments" visit the following:

• www.nationalacademies.org/nrc/
• www.edweek.org

The Nation's Report Card: 2004 Long-Term Trend Assessment Results

According to the 2004 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend assessment report entitled "NAEP 2004 Trends in Academic Progress," reading and mathematics scores have improved for many student groups.The National Center for Educational Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education, conducted the study. Results indicate that the average reading and mathematics scores for 17-year-olds have been relatively consistent.

NAEP long-term trend assessments are administered nationally and report student performance at ages 9, 13, and 17 in mathematics and reading. Performance results in the NAEP long-term trend assessment in mathematics are reported in three ways: as average scale scores, as percentile scores, and as percentages of students reaching predetermined performance levels.

Visit nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to view results, sample questions, statements about the results, findings in brief, and to download the entire report.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

The following upcoming events may be of interest to your coalition:

NASSMC Executive Director Jim McMurtray will be a featured speaker at the Leadership Conference on Aviation and Space Education (LCASE), September 28, 2005 in Washington, D.C. The conference theme is "Aerospace Education - Meeting Today's Challenges." Visit www.lcase.info/ for further information.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citzenship is hosting a Business-Education Network Summit, October 5-7, 2005 in Washington, D.C. The 2005 Business-Education Summit's focus is to build support for business education partnerships at the state, and local level. The Summit will help business and education leaders make connections and learn from each other, and identify goals and issues that they have in common and can pursue jointly. Visit www.uschamber.com/events/ViewEvent.htm?eventID=409 for further information.

Conventions 2005 - 2006: NSTA regional conventions: www.nsta.org/conventions; NCTM regional conventions: www.nctm.org/meetings/index.htm#regionals; ITEA 2006 annual conference: www.iteaconnect.org/; AAAS annual meeting: www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/

The Organization of Black Airline Pilots

The Organization of Black Airline Pilots' (OBAP) mission is to motivate our youth to become educationally prepared for life, to increase minority participation in aviation through exposure, training, mentoring, and scholarships; to encourage networking among minority pilots; to increase the number of minority pilots hired by airlines; and to assist the minority airline pilot with special needs and concerns. In cooperation with with several airlines, government agencies, and other private organizations, OBAP has three basic programs: the Aviation Career Enhancement (ACE) Program, the Professional Pilot Development Program (PPDP), and the Type Rating Scholarship Program. OBAP divides it work into five geographical regions:

• Southeast: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi

• Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia

• Midwest: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska

• Southwest: Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma

• West: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada

NASSMC featured the ACE program in the September 2004 Bulletin. Learn more about OBAP's programs and regional/in-state activities at www.obap.org/.

Getting to Know the Periodic Table of Elements: Hydrogen

Etymology
From the Greek hydro (water) and genes (forming)

What it is
Hydrogen is the simplest, most abundant, and lightest of the elements. It is colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, highly flammable (think Hindenberg), and able to react chemically with most other elements. It is present in all organic compounds and living organisms ... and, oh yeah, in water.

Why it is so popular right now
Perhaps you have noticed the increasing atmospheric problems and rising fuel costs these past several months and thought to yourself that there must be cleaner, cheaper energy source. You're not alone. The hydrogen fuel cell is one option being explored. For more information about this technology go here.

Atomic Number: 1
Atomic Symbol: H
Atomic Mass: ~1

Of Interest...

+ Google Moon Maps: In honor of the first manned Moon landing (July 20, 1969) Google has added some NASA imagery to the Google Maps interface: moon.google.com/. Be sure to read the FAQs.

+ Earth and Life Studies at the National Academies: The Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) enlists the nation's experts to address issues of local and national importance where policy meets the geo-, life-, and chemical sciences. The division's 15 units conduct a wide range of activities that facilitate communication among the research community, policy makers, industry, and the public. dels.nas.edu/dels/

+ Science News for Kids: Science News for Kids is a new Website devoted to science news for children of ages 9 to 13. The goal is to offer timely items of interest to kids, accompanied by suggestions for hands-on activities, books, articles, Web resources, and other useful materials. The site features six specific zones of interest: PuzzleZone, GameZone, SciFiZone, SciFair Zone, LabZone, and TeacherZone. www.sciencenewsforkids.org/

+ NSF's Language and Linguistics, A Special Report: Language is common to all humans; we seem to be “hard-wired” for it. Many social scientists and philosophers say it’s this ability to use language symbolically that makes us “human.” Though it may be a universal human attribute, language is hardly simple. For decades, linguists’ main task was to track and record languages. But, like so many areas of science, the field of linguistics has evolved dramatically over the past 50 years or so. This site investigates language learning, language change, endangered languages, dialects, sign languages, and the physical and mental aspects of speech. www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/linguistics/intro.jsp

+ The Museum of Science, Boston: Established in 1830 as the New England Museum of Natural History, the Boston Museum of Science develops innovative and interactive exhibits and programs that both entertain and educate. Current and upcoming exhibits focus on the human brain, tamarins, Star Wars, a butterly garden, and medical imaging technology. www.mos.org/

+ A Crash Course in Comet Composition: NASA's Deep Impact Mission has already yielded a wealth of date about what lies beneath the surface of a comet, where material from the solar system's formation remains relatively unchanged. On July 4, the "coffee table-sized" probe crashed into Comet Tempel 1 after separating from the "Volkswagon Beetle-sized" spacecraft. Bckground, images, animation, and data can be found at the Deep Impact Mission's home page. www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html