3 ways to build engagement in STEM classrooms

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in awe of science, space, and the world around us. And, after watching Star Wars and Star Trek for the first time, I was hooked. I decided to become a teacher in part to share this passion–my dad, who taught chemistry at Phoenix Community College for 33 years, was my inspiration.

While many of my physics and astrophysics students at Chaparral High School here in Scottsdale Unified School District are already science enthusiasts, I understand how important it is to continue to find new ways to keep them inspired and engaged. The same is true—and arguably more important—for students who are less interested in science and STEM fields. Engagement, after all, is a critical contributing factor to students pursuing a STEM pathway in college and in the workforce.…Read More

GoldieBlox and Discovery Education Partner to Bring Chemistry to High School Classrooms Nationwide with New Immersive Learning Experience on Roblox 

Charlotte, NC – GoldieBlox and Discovery Education today announced a new education initiative – Maker High. Maker High offers an immersive learning experience hosted on Roblox for educators to teach chemistry in middle and high school classrooms.   

Maker High is a new experience on Roblox from the award-winning GoldieBlox team that leverages the power of gamified learning to deeply engage learners in chemistry. Maker High features Chem Lab Escape, a virtual escape room set in a chemistry lab where high school students explore core concepts of chemistry through dynamic gameplay. Chem Lab Escape empowers students to solve challenges such as combining elements and solutions to create chemical reactions and adding and removing heat energy to water to navigate an obstacle course. Accompanying student-driven activities and hands-on investigations are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and facilitate instruction around particle motion and the types of chemical reactions. Resources from Maker High, including the Chem Lab Escape, pair digital media with easy-to-follow instructions and are simple to incorporate into any lesson plan and learning environment.  

“GoldieBlox has over a decade’s worth of experience making STEM fun and inclusive, especially for girls who have been traditionally excluded from STEM fields. Maker High empowers students to understand and master STEM concepts. Maker High makes learning fun by meeting students where they already are: on Roblox. Every detail of these resources are thoughtfully designed to strike that hard-to-reach balance of entertainment and academic rigor, all while delivering the learning content in an accessible, inclusive way,” said Debbie Sterling, CEO and Founder of GoldieBlox. “We hope teachers and students come back to play again and again to build upon their STEM skills.” …Read More

New Lab Book Helps Educators Turn STEM Classrooms Into Forensic Labs

BEAVERTON, Oregon — Vernier Science Education recently released Forensic Chemistry Experiments to teach students fundamental chemistry concepts through engaging forensic investigations. The new lab book, which features 15 experiments specifically designed for introductory and advanced chemistry high school and college-level classes, immerses students in the excitement of solving crimes through hands-on experimentation using Vernier data-collection technology.

“When students are engaged in the learning process, they are more likely to think critically, master key concepts, and acquire new skills,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Science Education. “Turning students into forensic investigators to help them learn the science involved in solving crimes is an incredibly powerful way to foster engagement. With experiments corresponding directly to key chemistry topics, such as gas laws, atomic theory, and chemical equations, our new lab book is a must-have for any educator looking to immerse students in real-world science applications.”

Forensic Chemistry Experiments is ideal for educators seeking to boost student participation and enthusiasm in chemistry, including those teaching dedicated forensic science courses, high school chemistry, and college chemistry. Sample investigations include Unusually Cool Beverage, Cold Case for Carbon Dioxide, Secret Message, Mystery Powder, and Arson Analysis.…Read More

How to ignite the fire of student engagement

Recently, a co-worker of mine shared a story from when he was in high school. During one chemistry class his teacher happened to light a small fire within a dish and began stirring in different compounds. First the fire turned green, then purple, and then finally blue. The students, who normally struggled to engage with the coursework, were completely enthralled. They began asking questions, forming hypotheses, and started investigating the subject themselves. A fire had been lit in that classroom – both literally and metaphorically.

Stories like these remind educators about the power of student engagement. Teaching, in many ways, is like building a fire. You simply gather the kindling (tools and strategies), create a spark (curiosity), and then add some logs to the fire (content). Still, many of us can have trouble striking that match. All too often, our students’ attitudes can feel dampened by apathy or outside distractions.

Building the blaze …Read More

Savvas Learning Company’s Experience Chemistry Wins Gold Stevie Award, Its Fourth EdTech Industry Honor Since the Product’s Launch

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — May 16, 2022 — Savvas Learning Company, a K-12 next-generation learning solutions leader, is proud to announce that its new, innovative Experience Chemistry solution has received a Gold Stevie from the 20th annual American Business Awards (ABA) program, with the judges hailing its learning model as “a very innovative and exciting concept for teaching chemistry.”

“We would like to thank the American Business Awards for honoring Experience Chemistry as an exceptional science learning solution,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “Savvas developed Experience Chemistry to provide students with authentic, real-world learning experiences through the science of doing. By offering engaging student-centered activities that personalize learning, Experience Chemistry challenges and excites students to explore, question, and discover the hows and whys of chemistry.”

Experience Chemistry earned top honors in the “Science Instructional Solution” category, which recognizes the best science instructional materials that provide deep learning experiences for students, support standards alignment, and reflect current curriculum practice. More than 230 judges reviewed approximately 3,700 nominations to select the 2022 Stevie winners in the American Business Awards program.…Read More

Flinn Scientific Launches New Contest for STEM Educators in Celebration of Mole Day

In celebration of the upcoming Mole Day on October 23rd, Flinn Scientific is asking STEM educators to share their favorite way of teaching students about the size of a mole – a scientific unit that is often hard for students to conceptualize – for a chance to win up to $500 in Visa gift cards. All K-12 educators ages 21 and above are encouraged to apply by the October 23, 2021 deadline. 

 “One mole is officially defined as containing exactly 6.02214076 x 1023 elementary entities, which is an extremely large quantity of units,” said Alan Downward, Ph.D., senior staff scientist at Flinn Scientific. “With National Chemistry Week and Mole Day later this month, our new contest provides a fun way for teachers to share their best practices and tips for teaching students about this concept and how it relates to important chemistry concepts such as amount, mass, and concentration.”

To enter, educators create a short video of their favorite explanation, analogy, or demonstration showing how they teach students about the size of a mole. After uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, or TikTok with the hashtag #FlinnMoleDay, educators then share the video link on Flinn Scientific’s contest page. All videos must reference the SI unit known as a mole, as well as highlight educators’ original concept, method, or reasoning behind how they teach students the size of a mole.

Next, teachers will vote on their favorite submissions by October 31, 2021, and the three educators whose videos receive the most ‘likes’ will be named the winners. The first place winner will receive (2) $250 Visa gift cards, the second place winner will receive (1) $250 Visa gift card, and the third place winner will receive (1) $100 Visa gift card.

To learn more about the #FlinnMoleDay contest and to submit your entry, visit https://www.flinnsci.com/chemistry-week/mole-day-contest/.…Read More

Flinn Scientific Updates Science2Go to Further Engage High School Students in Science Exploration

New videos, labs, assessments, and more to support biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics teaching and learning

Batavia, Illinois, June 14, 2021 — Flinn Scientific, a flagship provider of science lab materials and safety and STEM solutions for the K-16 education market, is enhancing its award-winning Science2Go to further support high school biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics teaching and learning. Available for the 2021-22 school year, these updates include a number of new videos, labs, assessments, and more to provide a robust and engaging experience for students in any learning environment.

“This past school year, Science2Go has provided a safe and engaging way to teach students across a range of science disciplines, regardless if they were in-person, remote, or hybrid,” said Mike Lavelle, CEO of Flinn Scientific. “Now, with these new Back-To-School updates, high school teachers will have even more ways – and resources available to them – to deliver targeted content and enriching labs that immerse students in science learning.”…Read More

Vernier Software & Technology Uses Food Experiments to Engage Students in Chemistry Exploration

Vernier Software & Technology recently launched a new lab book that uses food as a means to help high school and college students explore important chemistry concepts. Food Chemistry Experiments, which is available in both electronic and print versions,includes 14 ready-to-use experiments utilizing Vernier technology such as the Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer, Go Direct Temperature Probe, and Go Direct CO2 Gas Sensor to help students investigate complex questions involving food.

“Students are more likely to engage with science when they can connect what they are learning to the real world,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Software & Technology. “Exploring chemistry concepts using common foods and drinks is a perfect example of this real-world application. From learning about food energy to measuring pH levels, the new lab book provides easy-to-implement investigations to help engage students in chemistry exploration.”

The new lab book features a range of investigations—including “Cooking Under Pressure,” “My Flat Soda Pop,” “True Colors: Separating Food Dyes,” and “Quantifying Iron in Cereal”—that all use easily accessible materials found in most homes and use affordable wireless sensors that can be used with any mobile device, Chromebook, or computer.…Read More

Vernier Software & Technology Launches New Wireless Probe for AP and College-Level Chemistry

Ideal for Advanced Placement® (AP) Chemistry and college-level general chemistry, the affordable and durable Go Direct Platinum-Cell Conductivity Probe from Vernier Software & Technology helps students determine a solution’s conductivity or the total ion concentration with high accuracy and chemical compatibility.

“Our new probe has an epoxy body and platinum-cell sensing element that notably provides greater chemical compatibility. This probe enables students to measure the conductivity of strong acids, strong bases, and non-aqueous solutions during experiments without any risk of damaging the sensor,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Software & Technology. “The durable Go Direct Platinum-Cell Conductivity Probe automatically adjusts its conductivity range in response to the concentration of the given solution to provide students with the most accurate readings possible.”

Go Direct Platinum-Cell Conductivity features a wide 0 to 20,000 μS/cm range that ensures optimal precision during various experiments, such as exploring the base hydrolysis of ethyl acetate under various conditions and other common environmental tests of aquatic samples.…Read More

Vernier Graphical Analysis Pro App Wins Top Education Awards

The Vernier Graphical Analysis™ Pro app, which engages students in advanced data analysis from biology, chemistry, and physics experiments, was recently recognized by two leading education awards. The app was named a winner of the Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTE 2020 Awards and the platinum winner in the STEM/STEAM App category of THE Journal’s 2020 New Product Awards.

“Graphical Analysis Pro provides the unique ability for students to delve into science concepts in new and unique ways, analyze experiments at their own pace as they learn remotely or in their classrooms, and create their own videos for scientific analysis, all while they are engaged in three-dimensional learning,” said John Wheeler, CEO of Vernier Software & Technology. “We are thrilled to be recognized by both Tech & Learning and THE Journal for this revolutionary app and the impact it has on providing students meaningful STEM learning experiences—regardless of whether they are in the classroom or learning remotely.”

The Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTE 2020 Awards recognize products that are transforming teaching and learning during the pandemic and beyond. The judges selected the winning products based on numerous factors, including value, uniqueness in the market, and the product’s ability to solve specific problems for educators and administrators.…Read More

Flinn Scientific adds New Labs to Science2Go

Flinn Scientific, a flagship provider of science lab materials and safety and STEM solutions for the K-16 education market, has added new digital labs to the award-winning Science2Go. This includes new lab series for high school chemistry and biology, which are being offered at an introductory price for schools and districts through the end of the year, as well as new individual labs for high school physics, middle school physical science, and middle school life science.

“Science2Go provides a safe and engaging way to teach middle and high school students important concepts across a range of science disciplines,” said Mike Lavelle, CEO of Flinn Scientific. “These new labs are part of our effort to continually enhance our program to further support teachers with their instruction and to provide students with more enriching lab experiences, regardless if they are in-person or learning remotely.”

The new lab series for both high school biology and high school chemistry – Biology Lab Series 2 and Chemistry Lab Series 2, respectively – are delivered using a new “Predict & Explain” format in which students predict results and then see how closely those results match the lab outcomes. Each new series covers new topics including energy from food,, plant growth, and ocean acidification for biology to gases, structure-property relationship, and equilibrium for chemistry.…Read More