Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Images from the NYSTEEA Conference














Paul Mizer Recognized at NYSTEEA Conference


Regents Discuss New Requirements:

The board of regents want feedback as they considers creating two new pathways to graduation: one in career and technical education, and the other in science, technology, engineering and math. Education Department staff members presented a proposal that would add the two options and make the Regents Global History and Geography exam optional. The policy, if adopted, would take effect for the 2013-14 school year.                            http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20120423/NEWS10/204230362/Regents-consider-change-graduation-requirements?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Local%20News

Monday, April 9, 2012

VIDEO of our tour at AQUA VITA Aquaponic Farms

Check out this video of our tour!
http://youtu.be/doD34_fWpbY
Enjoy!

Short video on Ray Middle School's Baby Crawdads

Here is a short video that I shot of one of my 6th Grade "Hydroponic & Aquaponic"
student helpers watching the newly hatched baby Crawdads. Taking our Region's Vice President's advice (Mike Barbieri) we decided to use 12 Australian Red Clawed Crawdads as part of our Aquaponic system instead of Tilapia fish. There was certainly a learning curve as far as the care for these fierce creatures, but the student helpers certainly do not have to clean the filters as much.

NYSTEEA Spring Conference Presentations - It's on NEXT WEEK!

2012 NYSTEEA Conference 
Sheraton Syracuse University April 18th, 19th, 20th 
Wednesday Presentations: 
Jason Web– Adobe After Effects: Demonstration of different uses of Adobe After Effects for text or video effects 
Thursday Presentations: 
David Hardy/ Curtis Helt– Principles of Engineering and STEM 
Mike Fry– Engineering by Design Comes to NY 
Mark Leonard– Laser Technology in the MS/HS Fab Lab: This seminar will introduce laser cutting/ engraving technol- 
ogy as one format for student applications in a STEM based curriculum.  
Karin Dykeman/ Todd Dischinger-  Teaching elements and principles of design through product and graphic design: 
Incorporate the elements and principles of design in your curriculum! Intrinsic to the design process, these concepts and 
activities are tailored for teachers of DDP, but applicable to other courses. Walk away with ideas to use next week! 
Richard Bush/ Dan Tryon/ Mark Hardy– Technology Education at SUNY Oswego New Program– New Facilities: 
SUNY Oswego is undergoing significant updates with their facilities and teacher preparation program. Undergraduate 
program updates, new course offerings, and new facilities will be presented that address current need for technology and 
engineering educators. Promotional materials will be provided to participants. 
Dave Buckley/ Gerry O’Connor– HP in STEM Education: The HP presentation will discuss how high performance 
computing can enhance a student’s STEM experience. 
Steven Giglio-Successful Pre-Engineering Projects R/C Heli-Missile Launcher: Short HOD of a Pre Engineering project 
Robert Tufte: Don’t be overwhelmed trying to integrate Common Core: Introductory presentation on how to integrate 
common core standards into your technology education lessons. 
Craig Clark/ Kent Johnson– Zero Energy Home and Alternative Fuels Program: The presentation will highlight the zero 
energy home that was built by students and has geothermal, solar thermal, solar electric and small wind all integrated 
into a Gold Green NAHB Home. Our alternative fules program will explain all the current hybrid operations and our 
Green Grand Prix winner at 89.6 MPG 
Thomas Kubicki– Embedding Common Core Standards in Secondary Technology Curriculums: Presentation will focus 
on how to identify the Common Core Standards that can be linked to the Technology Education Curriculums and 
strategies to include them in the classroom activities, how to assess them and how to document them for administrative 
review. 
Chuck Goodwin– Time to Articulate and Build a Sequence: The times are a changing and technology education pro- 
grams now need to set up articulation agreements with regional community colleges and assemble your high school 
courses into a program of study sequence. 
Thursday Presentations: 
Graham Baughman– Cloud-Based Virtual Modeling: WhiteBox Learning is a complete standards-based STEM learning 
system. The worlds only truly “Clou”-based 3D virtual modeling STEM learning system. Flight 2.0, Structures 2.0, 
Green Car 2.0, Rockets 2.0, and Dragster 2..0 allow students to simulate their designs  and compete virtually 24/7 all 
around the world. 
Alta Jo Longware– Geometry and Packaging Design: Teaching cardboard packaging design is an inexpensive way to inte- 
grate the Common Core for Math standards into DDP or the WoT curriculum. This workshop will provide participants 
with hands-on experience in developing nets for common geometric shapes. The knowledge will be used to design an 
insert fusing only oak tag, that will hold and protect a raw egg drop challenge. Participants will receive an electronic copy 
of all lesson plans and resource material. 
Michael Hacker– A Research Study to Identify Overarching Themes and Instructional Contexts in Secondary Engineer- 
ing and Technology Education: This research study, Concepts and Context in Engineering and Technology  Education 
(CCETE) was an international effort to define the most salient themes (or big ideas) that cut across domains and thus 
give insight into the holistic nature of engineering and technology. The study was conducted jointly by researchers from 
Hofstra University (NY) and Delfty University (in the Netherlands). 
Lawrence Kassan– Rod Sterling Video Festival: This session will showcase award winning K-12 student videos from 
across NYS, a discussion on  the creative process, and festival information. Educators will learn how to team with the 
Rod Sterling Video Festival to initiate or compliment any video programs at your school. 
Steve Hughes– Build and Program a LEGO NXT Robot: BRING YOUR LAPTOP to this session to program the NXT 
robot you will build. We will load the MINDSTORMS software on your laptop; you can keep the copy. This is an ex- 
tended session limited to 24 participants WITH LAPTOPS. Laptops ARE required. (Offered again Friday) 
Friday Presentations 
Jason Wanek-Maximize your Interactive Whiteboard.: Your students want to use the SMART board or whichever IWB 
you have in your classroom. Learn easy ways to create opportunities for your students to be actively engaged  with the 
content you provide. We will be using a SMART Board during this session, but many concepts will transcend the brand. 
Jon Santiago– One 3D Printer per Child: MakerBots are low-cost 3-D Printers that allow people to physically make their 
own digital creations. MakerBot Industries believes that our tools can help “re-make” education by creating more ways to 
teach STEM in engaging, hands-on ways. Participants will be taught the basics of 3-D modeling for the MakerBot, using 
the free, web-based TinkerCad software to design their own buttons. 
Gwendolyn Maturo– Grasson– School Pad: “Touch it 2” The electronic playgrounds of our media-centric-digital-native 
students, become the virtual desk space where students work in collaboration to complete presentation or competition 
ready STEM commong Core based assignments connecting their classroom to the digital world and increasing HW re- 
turn rates! 
Friday Presentations 
Jason Wanek-Maximize your Interactive Whiteboard.: Your students want to use the SMART board or whichever IWB 
you have in your classroom. Learn easy ways to create opportunities for your students to be actively engaged  with the 
content you provide. We will be using a SMART Board during this session, but many concepts will transcend the brand. 
Jon Santiago– One 3D Printer per Child: MakerBots are low-cost 3-D Printers that allow people to physically make their 
own digital creations. MakerBot Industries believes that our tools can help “re-make” education by creating more ways to 
teach STEM in engaging, hands-on ways. Participants will be taught the basics of 3-D modeling for the MakerBot, using 
the free, web-based TinkerCad software to design their own buttons. 
Gwendolyn Maturo– Grasson– School Pad: “Touch it 2” The electronic playgrounds of our media-centric-digital-native 
students, become the virtual desk space where students work in collaboration to complete presentation or competition 
ready STEM commong Core based assignments connecting their classroom to the digital world and increasing HW re- 
turn rates! 
Steve Hughes– Build and Program a LEGO NXT Robot: BRING YOUR LAPTOP to this session to program the NXT 
robot you will build. We will load the MINDSTORMS software on your laptop; you can keep the copy. This is an ex- 
tended session limited to 24 participants WITH LAPTOPS. Laptops ARE required. (Offered again Friday) 
Jefferey Stevens– RE Training for you and curriculum for your classroom: Renewable Energy (RE) Education 4U. RE- 
NEW your skills– train at the Alfred State RE center. In 2011, we hosted and taught teachers (4free). See what they ex- 
perienced/ gained for their classroom & how you can too. Funding/ equipment available. 
Jason Wanek– Learning, Creating and Sharing with IPads: Particpants will be introduced to multiple ways that the IPad 
can be used to inspire students. This fast-paced session will introduce ways that students are able to learn new concepts, 
create products, and share what they have learned. Participants will be encouraged to help create a learning product. 
Altal Jo Longware/ Karin Dykeman– Exploring Biomimicry– Design Inspired by nature: “Biomimicry is the science and 
art of emulation Nature’s best biological ideas to solve human problems.”(Biomimicry institute.org) The bullet train, 
Shark Skin Swimwear and the Ultra Cane are a few examples of new products inspired by nature. In this workshop, par- 
ticipants will learn how engineers use biomimicry to enhance designs using techniques of observation, reverse engineer- 
ing and brainstorming. 
Mike Fry– Engineering by Design Comes to NY 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Aqua Vita Farms ~ A can't miss tour ~ Wednesday, April 4th @ 4:30 pm



At Aqua Vita Farms, we’re passionate about growing delicious, safe, and sustainable produce and seafood. And because our farm is indoors, we can provide crops to Central New York at a steady, reasonable price – all year long.

How do we do it? We use a growing method called Aquaponics which combines fish farming with hydroponic farming. The fish provide nutrients for the plants and the plants naturally refresh the water where the fish live. Our growing methods replicate systems and relationships found in nature to create a healthy environment where both our produce and fish can thrive. The result is some of the freshest, tastiest, safest, and most environmentally friendly produce and seafood you can find in Syracuse, Utica, or anywhere in between.


Here is a great YouTube video from the Utica based Television show ~ Mohawk Valley Living.

http://youtu.be/k7iCG2QRfj0

More on the Common Core

Rick Kulibert sent me tidbit the other day... The Pre-K Foundation Skills document for the Common Core 
 lists Technology Foundation Skills on page 37.  

These look very similar to many of our Introduction to Technology curricula and standards. Plus, it provides us with a direct link to Common Core, rather than just working on integration of literacy skills among our courses, which many of us already do.

The Story of the Honeybees ~ April TACNY Jr. Cafe Scientifique


April TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique
 

"The Story of Honeybees"

Saturday, April 21, 9:30-11:00am

Peter W. Plumley, PhD, exhibits project manager at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, will present The Story of Honeybees, a talk about honeybees, as part of TACNY’s 2011-2012 Junior Cafe Scientifique lecture series.

People interested in learning more about honeybees are invited to attend the free Junior Cafe presentation on Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse’s Armory Square. Walk-ins are welcome, but we ask that people RSVP by emailing jrcafe@tacny.org by April 19, 2012.

Plumley is an earth scientist with an extensive background in computers and technology, and he is a research associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Syracuse University. His research has been in the areas of plate tectonics and application of paleomagnetic techniques to regional tectonics. His most recent research is focused on motivating high school students to learn, and he developed and implemented a K-12 outreach program for the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. Plumley has raised honeybees since he was 10 years old and currently manages a small bee farm, called Plumley Farms, in LaFayette. He was named TACNY’s 2003 College Educator of the Year and honored as a recipient of the 2011 Post-Standard Achievement Award.

Honeybees are one of the most important insects on the planet, yet frequently maligned. This talk introduces participants to gentle honeybees, their life as a social insect, their contribution to our food, and how they differ from the other bees in the world. The talk will examine the current parasites and maladies affecting them in Upstate New York and around the world, and how the distressed colonies are an indication of the health of our environment.

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique, a program for middle-school students, features discussions between scientists and students about topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an informal atmosphere and seeks to encourage students to consider careers in these areas. Students must be accompanied by an adult and can explore the MOST at no cost after the event.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org