Learn Chemistry with Ninjas in Games and Graphic Novels!

Nathan Schreiber returns to the show to talk about his newest project using a series of graphic novels designed to teach chemistry concepts. Building off of the popular game, Valence uses science ninjas in an action packed adventure that teaches foundational chemistry about what makes up the universe, how it’s measured, and how it’s transformed. Nathan joins us to discuss […]

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How to Cultivate the Next Generation of Science Teachers

Our guest this week is Dr. Meenakshi Sharma. From her unique perspective as a professor of science education who trains pre-service teachers, Dr. Sharma recently wrote an article detailing characteristics of elementary teachers who effectively implement the Next Generation Science Standards. Dr. Sharma joins us to discuss these characteristics, explain how they are grounded in using real-world phenomena, and describe […]

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Using Phenomena to Help Students Explain the World

What are phenomena and how can science teachers use these events to engage students in science? Professor of Science Education Todd Campbell joins us to help start a series about using phenemona in science education. Listen to hear about new strategies in how pre-service science educators are being prepared, where to start if you are beginning a journey to adopt […]

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Bringing Science Home with Science Buddies

As schooling has expanded into our homes during the pandemic, it’s no surprise that online resources geared towards learning at home have been extremely valuable. That’s why our exploration into science at home connects us with Ben Finio and Svenja Lohner, both senior staff scientists at Science Buddies. With an emphasis on providing kid-friendly, bite-sized STEM learning activities for students […]

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Learn About Simple Machines with a Graphic Novel

Nathan Schreiber returns this week to talk about his newest project using a graphic novel to teach physics concepts.  In Big Trouble with Simple Machines, Schreiber’s characters solve problems using their knowledge of simple machines, with each chapter providing a new challenge with ramps, wedges, screws, levers, pulleys, wheels, and axles.  There is even an illustrated appendix guiding readers to […]

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Are Insects Disappearing from your Biology Textbook?

  Are you noticing less insects in your biology textbook?  You’re not alone. Jennifer Landin, with student and co-author Kiran Gangwani, recently decided to quantify the coverage of insects in college-level introductory biology textbooks over time.  By exploring the coverage of insect diversity concepts, the visual representation of insects, and conducting a text analysis of keywords, they discovered a significant […]

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Learn the Science, Live the Book with STEM Read

Gillian King-Cargile and Dr. Kristin Brynteson join us this week to talk about STEM Read – a program from Northern Illinois University that uses live and online programs to inspire a broad range of readers in order to learn more about the science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in popular fiction. Listen to the show to learn more about STEM Read […]

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Supporting Science Education with Out of Pocket Teacher Expenses

As science teachers are preparing for the summer, many will be planning lessons and purchasing supplies for their classes next year.  But just how much do science teachers spend on their classes from their own personal funds?  After conducting a nationwide survey of middle and high school science teachers, a research team at North Carolina State University has an answer […]

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Exploring Place Based Education in Science

Lab Out Loud is proud to present a three-part series on place-based education in science. To kickoff this series, we welcome Ethan Lowenstein, Ph.D. (Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Eastern Michigan University and Director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) and Greg Smith (emeritus professor of education from the Lewis & Clark College Graduate School of Education and Counseling) […]

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Making New Knowledge with Citizen Science

Our guest this week is ecologist & author Caren Cooper.  As an Associate Professor at North Carolina State university, Dr. Cooper also works with the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program on Leadership in Public Science.  She is an advocate of citizen science, believing that anyone, anywhere at any time, can help conduct genuine scientific research. In her new book, Citizen Science: How Ordinary People are […]

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Invention-Based Learning with littleBits STEAM Set

At SXSWedu, we were fortunate to see littleBits founder and CEO Ayah Bdeir unveil the new littleBits STEAM set (watch here).  In fact, we were quite impressed to hear about their gender neutral design and see examples of students using the sets to solve real problems. We immediately knew that we had to find out more about this invention-based learning tool, so we are proud to welcome littleBits’ […]

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Propose a Solution for a Real Problem with eCYBERMISSION

  Our guest this week is Matt Hartman, the content manager for eCYBERMISSION. Sponsored by the Army and administered by NSTA, eCYBERMISSION is a web-based STEM competition for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade teams tasked with proposing a solution to a real problem in their community.  Matt joins us to tell us about the competition and its alignment to the Next Generation Science […]

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Follow #NGSSChat on Twitter

Have you wanted to reach out to other science teachers with your questions about NGSS?  Our guests this week can help.  Using Twitter, Fred Ende and Tricia Shelton moderate #NGSSchat – an online forum to learn and share around the Next Generation Science Standards and great science teaching.  Listen to the show to find out how you can “lurk”, learn and […]

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Episode 110 – An Elementary Journey to the NGSS

Elementary science has been on our minds recently.  So it is fitting that our guest this week has been working hard helping elementary teachers tackle the Next Generation Science Standards.  As Coordinator for Elementary Science in Baltimore County Schools, Eric Cromwell has the task of moving a large number of schools and teachers into an NGSS based curriculum.  Listen to the […]

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Episode 89 – NGSS Second Draft: What to Know

http://traffic.libsyn.com/wsst/LOL89.mp3 With the recent release of the the Next Generation Science Standards second draft, we caught up with Ted Willard, Program Director for NSTA.  In his role at NSTA, Ted supports teachers in the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards.  Ted guides us on the important points of the second draft, where to find more resources, and how to […]

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