Science for the classroom and beyond
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 […]
Read more
In this installment of #ScientistOutLoud, we welcome research and teaching professor Prashant Sharma from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Using morphology and genomic data, Dr. Sharma and his lab recently challenged our understanding of arachnid classification by adding horseshoe crabs to the same class as spiders and scorpions. Dr. Sharma joins us to remind us how modern classification works, describe why […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
From the Learning Scientists podcast, cognitive psychologist Megan Sumeracki joins us to talk about the science of learning. With a goal to make scientific research on learning more accessible, the Learning Scientists started as a Twitter account that has now grown to a popular podcast aimed at teachers, students and other educators. Megan joins us to describe how scientists research […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
In this installment of #ScientistOutLoud, Dr. Carly Anne York joins us to talk about the growing importance of science communication, how she generates enthusiasm for science and the scientific process, and her efforts in making science accessible for students and the public. About Our Guest Dr. Carly Anne York is biology professor who studies animal behavior, physiology and biomechanics at […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
Laurie Wallmark returns to share two new stories celebrating women in STEM: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter (about Elizabeth Friedman) and Numbers in Motion (a story about Sophie Kowalevski). As we discover the fascinating stories of these important women, we also discuss the role of STEM in schools and realize the importance of exposing all kids to STEM learning opportunities. About […]
Read more
Sometimes surprising discoveries happen when scientists aren’t looking for them. While analyzing biological samples from California Condors as part of a conservation effort, a team at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance discovered an unusual phenomenon: two condors born in captivity that contained only maternal DNA. This startling observation confirmed a rare event known as facultative parthenogenesis – a form of […]
Read more
The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) was founded to provide teachers with content and engaging resources to teach evolution in an effective and respectful way. Now with downloadable units that meet every state’s evolution standards, TIES offers formidable resources for teaching evolution online. TIES Director and founder Bertha Vazquez joins us to discuss how science teachers can access their […]
Read more
To answer our questions about pumpkins, we connected with a pumpkin expert. From the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Rebecca Brown joins us to talk about growing pumpkins, the surprising results of pumpkin breeding, and the pumpkin industry in the United States. About Our Guest Rebecca Brown is an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island in the Department […]
Read more
Can all games provide learning activities? Is there a connection between scientific models and games? How can educators evaluate games and simulators as learning tools in the classroom? David Gagnon joins us to discuss designing and evaluating games for learning, and describes how his team integrates learning theory to create meaningful games that make personal connections to students. About Our […]
Read more
As schools transitioned to online learning in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Skype a Scientist saw a increased demand for their service. Boasting a database of thousands of scientists, SKYPE a Scientist uses readily available video chat tools to connect scientists to teachers, students and other groups around the world. Founder and Executive Director Sarah McAnulty joins us to tell […]
Read more
Erika Shugart joins us for our 250th episode to discuss her role as the NSTA Executive Director, share how the association can provide professional development and networking opportunities in a face to face world with digital demands, and explain her vision to provide equity and evidence in science education. About our Guest: A Ph.D. scientist and long-time leader in informal […]
Read more
What happens when scientists abandon ethical standards in the pursuit of science? Can we trust scientific discoveries learned with fraudulent practices? To answer some of these questions and more, science writer Sam Kean joins us to share from his new book, The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science. Listen to […]
Read more
We close out season 14 reflecting on our experiences last year educating and learning through a pandemic. We also re-connect with Fred Ende and his kids as they share their experiences learning science and communicating with others over the last year. About our Guest: Fred Ende is the Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services for a cooperative educational service in […]
Read more
For our latest installment of Scientist Out Loud, Dr. Terry McGlynn joins us to discuss his research with ants and other insects found in tropical rainforests. Since 1995, Terry has been working out of La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica studying ants as a model system. Instead of the boring ants we might find in North America, these tropical […]
Read more
In an attempt to help students make visible connections between science and sound, Dr. Victor Minces and his team have created Listening to Waves – a suite of online tools that allow students to easily view, manipulate and generate sound. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Listening to Waves freely provides an online oscilloscope, signal generator, and spectrogram. Dr. Minces […]
Read more
With a shift to online learning during the pandemic, students have relied on watching and creating more videos. But how has that impacted science education? To help answer that question, we invited Rhett Allain back to Lab Out Loud. Rhett shares some tips and suggestions for online learning – especially dealing with online math. Spoiler alert! He suggests that students […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more