Building Big - great STEM projects and labs from PBS

Building Big is a great site from PBS that has lesson plans, projects, labs, and activities for teachers to use in their classrooms. The topics are on buildings and structures, including Bridges, Domes, Skyscrapers, Dams and Tunnels. It's based on the PBS television series Building Big.

There are interactive labs, educator's guides, challenges, data on the world's structures, and information about engineering and engineers.

The labs are flash-based interactive activities that let students explore forces, materials, loads, and shapes and get information about each topic.

The activities are fun and educational and the resources can be scaffolded for any level.



Related:

STEM Resources for Educators

Project Based Learning resources for Educators

Little Shop of Physics - great program and resources for education

Little Shop of Physics is a great resource on Physics. It's an outreach program from Colorado State University that won a Google RISE Award. The program teams is a group of science educators and science students based at Colorado State University that help students do science in creative ways.

The site has some great links, experiment and activity ideas and more, including some webinars.

It's great for any science teacher to get some great, creative ideas for teaching science.

Related:

Great Physics Resources for Students and Educators

Google RISE Awards - awards to organizations working with K-12+ students in STEM

  Google RISE Awards

The Google RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) Awards 2012 are here. The Google RISE awards promote and support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and CS (Computer Science) education initiatives by awarding grants to organizations working with K-12 and Higher Ed students to provide enrichment programs in STEM and CS.

Awards range from $10,000 - $25,000 in the US and Canada and 500-10,000 EUR in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Ideal K-12 & university STEM programs and projects should:

• Inspire excitement in STEM and CS
• Improve, advance and enrich students' STEM and/or CS education
• Include hands-on learning activities in STEM and/or CS education

Program Guidelines

• Google RISE Awards are specific to STEM and CS educational and outreach programs
• Applications are encouraged from organizations and educational institutions regardless of the socio-economic status of the students they serve
• Please note that the RISE team is not able to provide one on one consultations during the review process (both prior to applying and after applications have been submitted) to ensure no bias is given to specific organizations
• We will be asking for feedback and updates from the successful awardees to help us shape and develop the RISE Awards for future years

Here are the award recipients for 2012: http://www.google.com/edu/rise/recipients.html
These are some great groups and programs. Check them out and see if they can help your students.

This is a great opportunity for groups that help students in STEM and CS topics to get additional funding to continue their work.

Share this with others and with any organizations that may be eligible to enter.  Interested groups can sign up to be notified of the 2013 awards here: http://www.google.com/edu/rise/application.html

Tinkercad - web based, free CAD app

Tinkercad is a free, web based, CAD app that runs in your browser (need webGL enabled). It's easy to use and has some great features. Many CAD systems that engineers use are very complicated with thousands of features (I've used CATIA, ProEngineer, AutoCad, Cadkey) that students won't need.

Tinkercad allows you to create 3D models of pretty much anything, and even export them to 3D printers. The site has a getting started page that walks you through how to use it.

There is also a community of users for support and help.

This is a great resource for students and teachers to use in STEM Classes, or any class for that matter, to draw 3D models.




Related:

Google Sells SketchUp 3D modeling software - promises free educational version to continue
SketchUp for Education Site

Google Resources for Education

STEM Resources for Students and Educators

LibreCAD - free, 2D CAD Software for Windows, OSX, and Linux

Free Academic Program (incl CAD software) from PTC

STEM Connector - one stop shop for STEM resources and information

STEM Connector is a website that has a huge amount of resources, information, links and news about STEM in education. There are STEM organizations (national, state, local) listed by subject, area, groups, programs, and much more.

It's a great site to go to for STEM resources, news, ideas and more. You can search the different STEM organizations to find more resources, student projects, and more. There is also STEM daily news and a blog with more information and resources.

Related:

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

Tested by Jamie and Adam - science, technology, engineering, nature news and topics

Jamie and Adam TESTED is a site from Mythbusters Jaime and Adam. The site explores new breakthroughs and topics in science and engineering, exploration, nature, emerging technologies and new products. They explore these topics in depth, including the hows and whys about them.

There are articles, links, videos and much more about all these topics. It's a great resource for STEM classes to get topic ideas, research, news, and to learn some cool things. There are even some pretty cool how-to videos and articles to do some pretty interesting things.

I've found some great things to use with my Physics classes and gotten some great ideas for projects.

Check it out and share it with your students and colleagues. http://www.tested.com



Related:

STEM Resources for Educators

Head Rush - fun science show from Discovery with great website

TinkerBox - free physics puzzle educational game on iOS

TinkerBox is a free physics puzzle game for iOS. It has interesting science facts and teachers basic engineering concepts, in a fun game. You can create machines and share them with others as well as trying to solve the physics-based puzzles and mechanical concepts. It takes creativity and problem solving skills to be successful.

It is from Autodesk, creators of the CAD software AutoCad.

This is a great app for students in physics or engineering, or anyone who likes problem solving and puzzles.

Share it with your students and colleagues.

App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=415722219&mt=8

Related:

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

STEM and our Planet - Environmental issues in STEM Education

National Environmental Education Week is next week, April 15-21, 2012, right before Earth Day. The site for it has some great resources for teachers, including lesson ideas and resources.

One resource that I like is an infographic entitled "STEM and Our Planet" that has information, data, and resources for relating STEM Topics to the Environment.

The infographic and the site are great ways to incorporate Environmental issues and science into STEM topics.

Related:

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

Great Earth Day Resources for Educators
Glogster Earth Day Contest - great education project with prizes

EIC S.E.T. Project - media initiative to raise importance of STEM fields in our youth

EIC S.E.T. Project Ready on the Set is a very cool initiative that is trying to raise the awareness and importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in today's youth. 

The project works to make STEM careers and topics more exciting and engaging to students by sharing some of the great things these people do, along with using information and resources from writers, producers, broadcasters and print journalists to strengthen how engineers and scientists are portrayed in entertainment and media. The site also has an education forum and other resources and links. 

Did you know…
Engineers are responsible for the slippery, whirling, whooshing fun of waterslides?! Engineers control water pressure, control, and speed of the water slide.
“Smart” clothing can change your mood?! Biosensors, small speakers, and other devices can connect wirelessly to a smart phone. Text messages and noises through the small speakers communicate with the individual about his or her mood and send inspirational messages throughout the week. 

There are some great shows out there now that make scientists and engineers look cool. One of my favorites is NCIS and the character of Abby, the really cool, goth, forensic scientist. 

Here's a video of Abby (actress Pauley Perrette) promoting S.E.T. fields in this public service announcement. 

This is another great resource for educators and a great project to help promote STEM subjects and careers. http://www.eiconline.org/topic-areas/readyontheset/


Thanks to the DEN Blog Network for sharing this project.

Related:

NCIS - another great show to get students interested in science

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

Curiosity in the Classroom - free resources for educators to get their students curious

Curiosity in the Classroom is a new site from Discovery Education that I really like.

There are lesson plans and resources for teachers, organized by grade level (6-8, 9-12), along with videos and webinars. There are some great resources here to help teachers get their students engaged in science and inquiry. The site was designed to "bring teachers, students and families on a journey through life's biggest questions."

There are also parent and student activities, including quizzes, links to the Curiosity TV show, and much more.

This is a great resource to help teachers spark curiosity in their students.

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Top 10 Resources from Discovery Education - all free

Training Resources for Discovery Education tools and apps

Web 20.11 - Web 2.0 for 2011 - resources, tips, ideas from Discovery Education

DEN Blog Network - great resource for all educators

Discovery Education STEM resources

Microsoft Flight Simulator now Free! Great STEM Resources

Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available for free. The free version includes tutorials, online and offline play, aircraft, missions on Hawaii. You can pay to get more aircraft, missions, scenery, and other content.

The tutorials are great and it is easy to get started.

I took pilot lessons in college (almost got license too and then instructor graduated. Will try again soon!) and Flight Simulator was a great way to practice and train.

This is a great resource to have students explore the science of flight and aircraft while having fun.

Aerodynamics, Forces and Newton's Laws, Lift, Drag/Friction, Thrust, Controls.

Free Academic Program (incl CAD software) from PTC

PTC, makers of Pro-Engineer professional CAD software, MathCad, and more, has an Academic Program for Schools. This program provides Free 3D Design and Engineering software, Free Online Training, Cutting edge industry Design Competitions, Online Communities for collaboration and learning, and Support from their engineers and educators.

This free program is a great way to engage students in STEM skills and teach them technology skills (CAD) through the competitions and project based learning. They will also learn valuable skills for the future through these kinds of programs.

Contact them for more information: http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/forms/index.jsp?&im_dbkey=121302&icg_dbkey=482


Check out FREE CAD videos, design competitions, and so much more on the PTC Academic Program Facebook Page.

I've used Pro-Engineer as an engineer. It is an excellent program and PTC provides excellent support.

About PTC

PTC is the leading technology provider in product development software. We provide Product Lifecycle Management solutions to over 27,000 companies in the Industrial, High Tech, Automotive, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer, and Medical Device industries. 

Passionate about Education
For more than ten years, our team of engineers and educators have been working with schools to enhance the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. PTC believes that the sustained success of our company, our customers, and society depends on empowering each generation to solve real world economic, social, and environmental challenges.

(Thanks to Dolores Gende, @dgende, for the tip)




Related:

STEM Resources for Educators

LibreCAD - free, 2D CAD Software for Windows, OSX, and Linux
My Top 10 Free Google Resources for Education - includes Google Sketchup 3D modeling software.

NASA 3D Resources - fun and educational - includes downloadable models to use in CAD.

10 Important Skills Students need for the Future

Technology in use in Engineering

Some More Ideas for getting students engaged in STEM subjects

Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge - great STEM opportunity

How to Turn a Teen Into an Engineer

TryEngineering - engineering simulations and info on engineering

Project Based Learning resources for Educators

LibreCAD - free, 2D CAD Software for Windows, OSX, and Linux

LibreCAD is a free, open source, CAD application that is available for Windows, Apple, and Linux.

LibreCAD is a 2D Computer Aided Design application that has all the features you would expect in a 2D CAD system. It is available in over 20 different languages and for Windows, Mac, and multiple Linux distributions.

It is easy to use, with an intuitive menu and user interface.

This is a great resource for students and teachers to use. Some of my students used it to design their bridges for our bridge project.

Related/Similar:


My Top 10 Free Google Resources for Education - includes Google Sketchup 3D modeling software.

NASA 3D Resources - fun and educational - includes downloadable models to use in CAD.

Free Aerospace Simulation App - made by educator

Stephen Hall, and educator and aerospace enthusiast, participated in NASA's Aerospace Professional Development program and then created Aeroplans, a free Android app. The app includes aerospace simulations and instructions for different activities, along with links and information about aerospace topics.

I've been using it for a day or so and it's a fun app and educational.

Get Aeroplans from the Android Market.


Related:

NASA Simulation based Aerospace Resources for Educators

More great educational resources from NASA

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

Android - Apps, Resources, and more for education

NASA Simulation based Aerospace Resources for Educators

NASA's Simulation Based Aerospace Engineering Teacher Professional Development Program is a program geared towards helping educators become skilled in teaching engineering concepts. The program includes education materials, teacher internships, and industry and higher education partnerships. The program offers US STEM teachers the opportunity to work beside NASA engineers and mentors. It is focused on aeronautics modeling and simulation and teachers explore cutting-edge technology, aerospace engineering concepts, and develop hands-on lessons.

The site has lessons from previous sessions that teachers can download and use. The lessons include the simulation and lesson plan. The resource section has downloads, information on simulations, more lesson examples, and other STEM resources and links.


Related:

More great educational resources from NASA

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

NASA Aspire to Inspire - women encouraging girls to enter STEM careers

NASA, a source of great resources for educators, has another great site. Aspire 2 Inspire is a part of the Women at NASA site and includes resources to help encourage girls to get interested in STEM careers. There are videos and stories about women in different science, engineering and technology careers and career information for students. Videos include real women NASA scientists and engineers. Students can also interact with these women via Twitter.

This is a great way for girls to find out more about STEM careers from women in those careers.

Related:

More great educational resources from NASA

STEM Resources for Educators and Students

TryEngineering - engineering simulations and info on engineering

TryEngineering is a great site about engineering. It has information on engineering careers, what engineers do, engineering colleges and more.

There are resources for students, teachers, counselors and parents about engineering careers, how to prepare, colleges and more. Students can explore what it takes to become an engineer, find a college, ask questions and get answers from engineers and engineering students, get news about engineering and technology and more.

The coolest part of the site though is the "Games" section. In this section, students can select from 27 different resources where they can design, model, and test products and solutions to problems, simulate engineering projects, answer engineering trivia questions and more. Projects include bionic arms, parachutes, solar cars, roller coasters, bridges and more. Some are hosted/created by TryEngineering and others are links to other sites. There are links to more information about each topic also. Some of the games are Flash Based, some Shockwave based, other HTML.

These "games" and simulations are a great way for students to learn about engineering and apply math, science, and problem solving skills to an authentic problem.

Related:

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Resources for students and Teachers.

(collection of resources, links, and more on science, technology, engineering and math lessons, careers and more)

10 Important Skills Students need for the Future

Wouldn't It Be Cool If...Great invention contest for 10-15 year olds

Wouldn't It Be Cool If... is a contest for kids, ages 10-15, sponsored by Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds, and i.am FIRST. There are two age categories, 10-12 and 13-15. The challenge is to dream up the "coolest invention idea to make their lives, communities, and even the world more AWESOME."

Students can enter the contest now through March 28th as an individual or teams of 2 or 3 people. The submission is the invention idea and how math and science can make it real.

Winners will be selected by an expert panel of judges and then finalists in each age group will be invited to pitch their ideas, live, to will.i.am, Dean Kamen (master inventor) and other judges at the FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis, MO. One grand prize winner may even have their idea developed by innovation firm Fahrenheit 212.

This is a great way to have students apply math and science concepts, creativity, and innovation in a project.

Details on how to enter and official rules are available at the site: http://www.wouldntitbecoolif.com/



Related:

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Resources for Educators

Project Based Learning Resources for Educators

WPI Plan - a great educational model for all schools

10 Important Skills Students need for the Future

STEM Career information resources for educators to share with students

Choosing a career is a tough thing for students. The more exposure they have to information about different career fields and what they do, the more informed decision they can make. Career shadowing, field trips, and guest speakers are great ways to expose them to these things.

The CBIA (Connecticut Business and Industry Association) has a great site with education resources. One part of it is called "Career Pathways." In this section, there are videos and teacher's guides for helping students learn about different careers. I've used them and the resources are excellent. For the engineering career one, they have interviews with engineers and follow them on their daily work. The teacher guides have lesson ideas and student resources that make these very easy to use.

I recommend them to career teachers and counselors as well as class room teachers. You can use these to connect what you are teaching to real world careers.

The career areas are: Energy and Green Technology, Engineering, Health and Biosciences, and Manufacturing. Even though it is geared towards Connecticut, anyone can use these resources.

Related:

CTEduOnline - career and technical education resources

3 Ways to Fix U.S. Science Education

Popular Mechanics has an article about MythBuster Adam Savage's 3 Ways to Fix U.S. Science Education.

I agree with him that these 3 ways are needed in science education and can help students learn, and be more engaged. The 3 Ways are his, the explanations are mine. Read the article for his explanations.

"1. Let students get their hands dirty". Students have to explore in science with hands-on labs and activities. They can not truly learn science just from lectures, or videos. They have to experience it. Let them just explore things.

"2. Yes, spend more money on science." Students have to explore and experiment in science. They have to be hands on. To do that, they need equipment and supplies. We can't keep cutting budgets. 90% of what I have in my Physics classroom was funded by outside sources, such as Donors Choose. That's not the way it should be. Schools should be supplying the resources we need.

"3. Celebrate mistakes." I was an engineer for 10 years before becoming an educator. We rarely got a design "right" the first time. The design process takes lots of time and iterations. Same with science. So, we should let students make mistakes, learn from the mistakes, and then do it again.

Read more: MythBuster Adam Savage: 3 Ways to Fix U.S. Science Education - Popular Mechanics


Related:

Experiments and Exploration are vital to science education!

STEM Resources for Educators

Project Based Learning Resources for Educators