Did you get all of your School Supplies?

Pencils. Notebooks. Glue sticks. Dry erase markers. Safety goggles. Tissues. As students returned to school this fall, they were asked to obtain numerous school supplies for their own use and sometimes for the entire classroom. When are school supplies necessary and when are they excessive? Dale and Brian discuss the topic of school supplies for all classrooms, but particularly for […]

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Fostering Stewardship in Science Education

Stephen Pompea joins the show to discuss how scientists can support science education in both formal and informal settings. About Our Guest: Stephen Pompea is Observatory Scientist Emeritus at NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory and served for two decades as the leader of its renowned education and public outreach programs. He is a Visiting Professor at Leiden University, the […]

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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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Addressing Alternative Conceptions when Teaching Science

Our guest this week is Tim Hartelt from the Department of Biology Education at the University of Kassel in Germany. With colleagues Helge Martens and Nina Minkley, Tim recently published a study investigating if science teachers were able to diagnose the alternative conceptions they may hold when teaching biology concepts. Tim joins us to discuss the study and its findings, […]

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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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A New Digital First, Learning First Opportunity from NSTA

Trish Shelton joins us to highlight a new learning initiative from NSTA called the Professional Learning Unit (PLU). Designed as an asynchronous mini-course, a PLU is a bite-sized learning experience available on demand when a teacher, department or district needs it most. Listen to the show to hear more about this exciting new learning opportunity and find out how you […]

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Using Art to Bring Science Out of the Lab

For over a decade, the Bioart Scientific Image and Video Competition has provided an artistic vehicle for biological scientists to share their research beyond the confines of their lab and professional circles. Chris Curran, one of the Bioart judges, joins us to talk about the Bioart competition, the intersection of art and science, and how teachers might use stunning visuals […]

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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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We Believe in Dinosaurs: Exploring America’s Relationship with Science

To conclude our segment on video in science education, we are joined this week by filmmakers Clayton Brown and Monica Long from 137 Films. This Chicago-based documentary production company promotes science through storytelling by exploring how its search for answers impacts our cultural, political, and personal lives. Directed by Clayton and Monica, We Believe in Dinosaurs  follows the building of […]

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Making Sense of Science and Religion: Strategies for Science Teaching

Kicking off a new decade, we are happy to welcome Joe Shane (Professor of Chemistry and Science Education at Shippensburg University) and Lee Meadows (science educator at the School of Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham) to the show. Joe and Lee (in addition to Ronald Hermann and Ian Binns) are co-authors of a new book from NSTA […]

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A New NSTA Position Statement on Teaching Climate Science

For this week’s episode, we invite Eric Pyle to the show to discuss NSTA’s recent adoption of a position statement on the teaching of climate science. In addition to helping write the position statement, Eric is a Professor in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science and the Coordinator of Science Teacher Preparation at James Madison University in Virginia. Listen […]

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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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Minecraft with Chemistry featured

Minecraft Education: Chemistry Update

Our guest this week is Neal Manegold, director of Minecraft Education. Many listeners are probably familiar with Minecraft, and a few might even know about Minecraft Education Edition, which builds on the open-world game while promoting creativity, collaboration and problem solving in a teacher supervised environment. Now students can learn some science in the Minecraft world with the recent Chemistry update of […]

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The Socioscientific Issues Approach: Addressing Controversial Issues in the Science Classroom

How do you address controversial science issues in your classroom instruction? Our guests this week are the co-authors of a recent Phi Delta Kappan publication (read below) that might give you some insight in how to help prepare students to become scientifically literate citizens by incorporating socioscientific issues in the classroom. David Owens (College of Education, University of Missouri), Troy Sadler […]

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PocketLab: Better Sensors, Now Measuring Air Quality

A few years ago, we showcased Clifton Roozeboom’s PocketLab – a small, rugged wireless sensor platform that could easily collect a suite of common measurements while simultaneously reporting to a device for data visualization and analysis. A few years later, with newer and less expensive sensors, PocketLab has developed a novel product that can now measure air quality. Called PocketLab Air, this wireless […]

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Learn About Everyday Chemicals with The Organic Coloring Book #kidcreated #teachercreated

We have had many different guests on Lab Out Loud, from scientists to teachers, authors to celebrities, Nobel Laureates, and even a couple Knights! But this week we are proud to introduce our youngest guest ever on the show. Ten year old Elaina Garg and her younger sister Kaylie wrote The Organic Coloring Book with the help of their father Neil, […]

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It’s Mole Day! How do you Celebrate?

It’s Mole Day! Celebrated on October 23, Mole Day recognizes Avogadro’s number (6.02 x 10^23), which is a basic unit of measurement in chemistry. We discuss mole day, reminisce on how we have celebrated it, and celebrate the founder of the National Mole Day Foundation: Maurice Oehler (a Wisconsin Science Teacher).  How do you celebrate Mole Day?  Leave a comment, […]

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STEM Education in the Every Student Succeeds Act

As the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) takes full effect this fall, educators might be curious to know how this new legislation affects STEM education. To help us navigate through ESSA, we welcome James Brown to the show. As executive director of the STEM Education Coalition, James works with the Coalition to raise awareness in Congress, the Administration, and other organizations about […]

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Using Pop Culture to Teach Science

Our guest this week is Matt Brady.  Along with his wife Shari, these two high school science teachers have been working to bring pop culture into the classroom to increase student engagement and understanding of science.  Their website The Science Of helps broadcast these ideas and strategies with the goal of providing a place for popular culture to act as a springboard to […]

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