Category Archives: Science & Technology

First draft of science standards released; feedback welcomed

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A first public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards has been released.

Educators and others now have a chance to review the draft standards. They can offer their feedback through an online survey until June 1.

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Posted in Dispatches, Featured, News & Views, Science & Technology, Standards, Teachers

Maine science performance among top in nation

Posted on May 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

But NAEP results still point to need for more rigorous standards, commissioner says

AUGUSTA – Eighth graders in Maine scored higher than much of the nation in the most recent national science test, the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the state was one of only 16 to show improvement since 2009.

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Posted in Assessment, Press Releases, Science & Technology

STEM service-learning guide released

Posted on May 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A newly released publication from the KIDS Consortium, a Maine non-profit organization, is designed to help educators integrate service-learning into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) content areas.

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Posted in Featured, Instruction, Mathematics, Science & Technology

Falmouth, Cape students compete in national science challenges

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Teams from Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth high schools recently participated in national science competitions in Washington, D.C.

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Posted in Cumberland County, Featured, High School, Mathematics, Science & Technology, Students

Literacy conference emphasizes Common Core planning

Posted on April 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Maine Department of Education’s Summer Literacy Institute will bring together teams of educators to work on school and district plans for implementing the Common Core State Standards for English language arts, as well as the Common Core’s literacy standards for social studies, science and technical subjects.

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Posted in Conferences, English Language Arts, Featured, Kennebec County, Science & Technology, Social Studies, Standards, Teachers

Aroostook teachers make classrooms inquiry-based

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment
Two teachers work together in a science lab.

Melissa Perley, a Fort Fairfield Middle High School chemistry and physics teacher, works with Jennifer Morin, an agricultural science teacher at Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School in Mars Hill, during a recent training on inquiry-based learning at Washburn District High School.

Science teachers, agricultural science teachers and student-teachers from the middle- and high-school levels used chemicals, metals and a motor to develop a functioning battery; creatively presented the steps of photosynthesis; and simulated antibiotic treatments, collecting data on their effectiveness in the process.

The activities were part of a training in inquiry-based instruction recently at Washburn District High School, and exercises the teachers could deploy in their classroom.

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Posted in Aroostook County, Continuous Learning, Featured, Image Galleries, Science & Technology, Teachers

UMaine invites teachers to campus for a day

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Teachers of students in grades K-12 are invited to the University of Maine on April 18 to learn about Maine workforce development needs and how to bring STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) innovation back to their classrooms.

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Posted in Featured, Penobscot County, Science & Technology, Teachers

Draft of new science standards expected this month

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A first public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards is expected later this month, and Maine science teachers will have the chance to weigh in with feedback and suggestions.

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Posted in Featured, Science & Technology, Standards, Teachers

2012 STEM Summit: Closing the Skills Gap an Economic Imperative

Posted on March 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The following is a news release from the Maine STEM Collaborative, of which the Maine Department of Education is a member.

WATERVILLE – From precision manufacturing to environmental science and information technology, Maine will see thousands of highly paid jobs created across the state in the next 10 years. But mounting evidence shows that Maine continues to do a poor job producing enough workers with the skills necessary to work in these high-paying industries.

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Posted in Instruction, Mathematics, News & Views, Press Releases, Science & Technology

Feedback opportunities coming for new science standards

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science teachers and other across Maine are becoming familiar with “A Framework for K-12 Science Education,” the National Research Council publication that is serving as the basis for the Next Generation Science Standards.

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Posted in Featured, Instruction, Science & Technology, Standards, Teachers