Webinar: Spark Talented Minority Girls' Interest in Engineering

Female Recruits Explore Engineering - FREE is a collaborative research and
outreach program conducted by researchers and educators from three
Universities.

In school and afterschool programs for high achieving 10th grade Latina,
African-American, Native American, Asian American, and a few Caucasian girls
were conducted to explore career possibilities in engineering. Two-thirds of
the girls lived in families that qualify for free or reduced lunch at school
and very few had considered engineering as a college or career choice. In
addition to a variety of activities, the project developed a secure website
for the girls to share their explorations, and each girl had a Blackberry
smartphone to communicate with other FREE participants.

Goals: During the webinar participants will:

1. Become aware of FREE as an intervention strategy to increase the
participation of girls in STEM courses and careers.

2. Learn about implementing the project with an on-line tool kit.

3. Understand data focused on research questions related to girls
pursing engineering careers.

Register here

FYI - PLTW Engineering Teachers.

Dear Colleague,
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 2011 Gateway
Academy Summer Youth Program. All PLTW Gateway To Technology (GTT) programs can take part in this summer day camp, designed to recruit middle school students into your PLTW programs. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation (SME-EF)
Gateway Academy Summer Youth Program is a hands-on, project-based course designed to
introduce middle school students to the fundamentals of STEM and recruit them into
PLTW GTT coursework at the middle school level. Certified PLTW instructors provide expert instruction in small group settings. Students work together in a fun, exciting
environment using leading-edge technologies to sample such disciplines as: robotics,
aeronautics, rockets, eco-design and manufacturing, and alternative energy.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GATEWAY ACADEMY

Approximate total cost to deliver a one-week Gateway Academy is $2,000.
This total is based on one instructor hired for the week at your district's rate-of-pay and $500 to $700 of consumable materials, based on the projects you
choose from the curriculum. Additionally if funding allows we would encourage you
to hire an additional instructor or a high school volunteer to assist.

The costs associated with the Gateway Academy may be offset by student
tuition, funding from your school district, or any other grants or funding sources
available.

The Gateway Academy uses the same software and equipment as the PLTW GTT middle school course and is designed to take place in the same classroom.

Enrollment in a Gateway Academy is generally 20-25 students per session.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR GATEWAY ACADEMY

To register, your school must currently offer PLTW. Only
PLTW certified teachers may teach a Gateway Academy.

Complete the registration form by clicking on the link below by May 1st,
2011 and email to gatewayacademy@pltw.org [mailto:gatewayacademy@pltw.org] .

Registered Gateway Academies will be sent a key to the PLTW Virtual Academy
to access the curriculum and accompanying documents needed for planning and implementation

If you have any questions, or need more information about the Gateway
Academy Summer Youth Program, please email gatewayacademy@pltw.org
[mailto:gatewayacademy@pltw.org]

Don't miss this opportunity to introduce students to your PLTW program!

Gateway Academy Registration Form

Engineering Go For It! News For Teachers

The eGFI Teacher Newsletter

Delivered each week to your email inbox, our newsletter is packed
with lesson plans and activities, resources, feature stories, and the
latest developments in K-12 engineering education. eGFI is part of
the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), a non-profit
organization committed to enhancing efforts to improve STEM and
engineering education.

Lesson Plans - http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/lessons/
Class Activities - http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/activities/
Resources - http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/web_resources/
Feature Stories - http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/special-features/
K12 Engineering Education -
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/k-12-education-news/
ASEE - http://www.asee.org/

American Society for Engineering Education
1818 N Street, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, DC, District of Columbia 20036

First Robotics Kickoff

SAVE THE DATE: First Robotics Kickoff, January 8, 2011, 9:00 a.m. at Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater.

POE teachers

We understand that some classrooms are experiencing a failure with a
Condor power supply (PLTW part no. 30173-RB) that was included in the
POE kits sold before January, 2010, when the power supply is used
with the 9V outputs on the Intelligent interface or fischertechnik
Robo interface to perform activities 1.23 and 1.25 in the POE
curriculum. If these activities are not completed as described in the
POE materials, then students may create a short in their circuit and
the power supply may heat up and fail.

POE kits sold after January, 2010 include an updated Condorpower
supply (PLTW part no. 30173-TX), which has a protective mechanism
that will shut down the power supply so there is no damage to the
power supply unit. Also, as of April, 2008, PLTW updated to a
fischertechnik Robo TX controller which includes a similar protective
mechanism.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE POE
CURRICULUM WHEN PERFORMING ACTIVITIES 1.23 AND 1.25 TO AVOID THE UNIT
HEATING UP.

If you have any comments or questions, please let us know as your
input is helpful and appreciated. You should direct any comments or
questions to: Shannon Kete, Chief Operating Officer, skete@pltw.org

Fleming Scholarship

Teachers,

Please share this wonderful opportunity with your students. Jana Greetings Oklahoma Science Educators, Applications are now being accepted for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s (OMRF) Fleming Scholar Program.

If you know any scientifically passionate students, will you please encourage them to apply ([ http://www.omrf.org/fleming ]www.omrf.org/fleming)? This program grants selected students an opportunity to work side-by-side with real life research scientists for eight weeks during the summer. Scholars also get paid and housing is provided for those who qualify. Applicants do NOT need to have any prior science experience or formal education. The application deadline is February 1, and forms are available at [ http://www.omrf.org/fleming ]www.omrf.org/fleming.

Requirements: · Submit application packets by February 1 · Possess strong enthusiasm for science · Be a high school senior or college freshman, sophomore or junior · Be a graduate or soon-to-be graduate from an Oklahoma high school Flyers for the fantastic Fleming Scholar Program are on the way to your school now. Will you please post them in your area and help us spread the word?

If you need extra flyers or additional information, please feel free to contact me directly (405-271-7434, 800-522-0211, 405-919-3437 cell, [ mailto:courtney-stevens@omrf.org ]courtney-stevens@omrf.org). Thank you!
Courtney Stevens, SPHR Human Resources Advisor OMRF
825 NE 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104
(800)522-0211 toll free (405)271-7434 office
(405)919-3437 cell (405)271-7016 fax
[ mailto:stevensc@omrf.org ]courtney-stevens@omrf.org

SAVE THE DATE: March 4 & 5, 2011 – Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Dear Science Teachers,

Oklahoma State University is pleased to announce the 9th Annual (Kansas,
Nebraska, Oklahoma) Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
(JSHS). JSHS is designed to challenge, engage, and support students
(Grades 9-12) who participate in STEM research. Individual students will
compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of
their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience
of their peers. Please see the attached SAVE THE DATE flier for
information on application deadlines, competition dates, and event
location. For additional information about JSHS visit: [
http://www.jshs.org ]http://www.jshs.org.