February 20, 2020
Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, joined Axios Co-Founder Mike Allen for conversations on the Future of "STEM Education and Digital Learning" on Tuesday February 18th at AJAX in Washington, DC. Other speakers included Dr. Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts USA; Major General Charles Bolden, USMC and Former Administrator of NASA; and Tom Davidson, CEO of EVERFI.
February 20, 2020
The Well News interviewed Smithsonian Science Education Center Director Dr. Carol O'Donnell and other speakers following an Axios event in Washington, DC. The focus of the event was on the "Future of Science Education" and the clear theme from the various speakers was that the future is "experiential, digital, and sustainable." Environmental activist Greta Thunberg was a recurring topic of conversation. Educators and other industry stakeholders were in the audience, joined by a faction of Fridays for Future volunteers--members of a youth movement that began in August 2018 after then-15-year-old Greta Thunberg protested the lack of climate action in front of the Swedish parliament. “What can we learn from Greta?” asked O’Donnell. “The voice of youth really matters.”
February 24, 2020
The Smithsonian Magazine published "Diverse Voices, New Narratives: Education at the Smithsonian," which highlights the work of Maria Marable-Bunch, Associate Director for Museum Learning and Programs at the National Museum of the American Indian, and Amy D'Amico, Division Director of Professional Services at the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Smithsonian museums, education centers, and research centers are bringing more diverse voices and perspectives to educational programs. In this article, two Smithsonian educators talk about presenting new narratives, challenging stereotypes and creating role models. To learn more about the work of the Smithsonian Science Education Center's diversity initiative, see: https://ssec.si.edu/event/stem-education-summit-building-coalition-attracting-and-retaining-diverse-stem-teaching
February 28, 2020
Enterra Solutions, a leading provider of cognitive computing solutions and artificial intelligence, used its supply chain brief to address "The Continuing STEM Imperative" (by Stephen DeAngelis). He sites the work of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) and explains that we live in a technologically-advanced world that is becoming even more technical. To navigate this world, up and coming generations need a firm foundation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) on which to build. All children need this foundation because STEM is vital to the future of our workforce. SSEC works to equip all children with the tools they need to succeed in a competitive economy.
March 2, 2020
Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, was invited to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian's InterConnected Health Initiative, which advances transdisciplinary research to improve human and wildlife health through catalyzing research and action globally. Leveraging Smithsonian expertise, resources, facilities, and partnerships around the world, the pan-institutional initiative aims to promote healthy people, wildlife, and environments. Through the Smithsonian's museums and digital assets, the initiative develops and disseminates educational materials and content so that the results of the Smithsonian's research can be transformed into global actions. For one example, see the "Smithsonian Science for Global Goals" project: www.ssec.si.edu/global-goals
March 4, 2020
SSEC Graphic Designer, Sofia Elian, is featured in the "One Smithsonian" Interpretive Lounge at the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the "Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature and Culture" exhibition. The Interpretive Lounge is at the conclusion of the exhibition and demonstrates the connection of Humboldt's work to the work being done across the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition is on display until August 16. Learn more about the exhibition here: https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/humboldt
March 4, 2020
In an effort to confront the underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teaching and leadership, the Smithsonian Science Education Center will host a STEM Education Summit March 6–8 at Xavier University of Louisiana.
This summit is the fourth of its kind to be offered by Smithsonian and the second to be held in New Orleans. At the summit, 20 teams of educators from diverse regions across the nation will embrace their roles as change agents to create plans for attracting and retaining STEM teachers from underrepresented populations in their schools or districts. Research shows that by increasing the diversity of the STEM teacher workforce, students from underrepresented populations are more likely to become interested in STEM and ultimately the career opportunities available to them.
March 11, 2020
Teresa Huber--President and CEO of Intervala and author of "Closing the Gender Gap in STEM Begins with Education"--knows that experts say the way to beat the STEM gender gap is to encourage girls to explore their STEM options and interests at an early age. Huber explains that the classroom is one of the biggest environments with the potential to influence a passion in STEM and educators can be role models who guide and support girls in this area. She points out that there are enormous resources to help educators drive this evolution, including from the Smithsonian Science Education Center. This article is published by EMSNOW which provides the Electronics Manufacturing Sector, and its supporting supplier and customer bases, with a single, real-time information and analysis source covering the global aspects of this critical industry.
March 11, 2020
Teresa Huber, an engineer and now CEO and President of InterVala, notes in her article "Closing the Gender Gap in STEM Begins with Education", that the number of women completing STEM degrees and working in related fields has grown considerably. In fact, the number of women in STEM careers has been increasing since the early 1990s, but the overall growth has been slow and inconsistent. She points out, "Experts say the way to beat the STEM gender gap is to encourage girls to explore their STEM options and interests at an early age. The classroom is one of the biggest environments with the potential to influence a passion in STEM and educators can be role models who guide and support girls in this area. And they don’t have to do it alone. Today, there are enormous resources to help educators drive this evolution, including the National Education Association, American Association of University Women, Smithsonian Science Education Center, and many others."
March 12, 2020
Jennifer Javornik of Filament Games will highlight the power of digital games provided by the Smithsonian Science Education Center to promote awareness, empathy and change in her session, "How Nonprofits Can Harness the Power of Games for Impact".
March 16, 2020
To help support his 8th grade students' science learning at home, Mr. Efird, a teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Cabarrus County Schools in NC, provided useful links to free resources from the Smithsonian Science Education Center for long-term school closures. He shared SSEC's free games, apps, eBooks and simulations, such as: (1) Habitats, (2) Light Up the Cave, (3) Home on the Range, (4) Expedition: Insects, (5) Weather Lab, (6) Pick Your Plate! A Global Guide to Nutrition, (7) Tami's Tower: Let's Think About Engineering, (8) Showbiz Safari, (9) Bumper Ducks, (10) Shutterbugs: Wiggle and Stomp, (11) Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game, (12) Disaster Detector, (13) Morphy, (14) Glider Guide, and (15) Sugar Simulation. To access these games, go to: ScienceEducation.si.edu/game-center. Thank you, Mr. Efird!
March 16, 2020
As more districts have started closing, STEAM Cafe has had a lot of parents and educators looking for “home STEM” distance learning ideas. To address this need, they compiled 15 of the top STEM resources, gathered by the STEAM Café team and from their Facebook group that parents, teachers, and students can use, including from the Smithsonian Science Education Center.
Meteorological spring arrived on March 1, and the first blossoms in the Smithsonian Gardens are starting to greet the passersby.
Trees are in bloom in the Smithsonian's Enid A. Haupt Garden.
March 17, 2020
How can you support your children's science learning at home during the coronavirus crisis? Parade magazine put together a list of 125 ideas for students to engage in at home. Four of the resources are from the Smithsonian Science Education Center (see #77-80). Parade highlighted four ways parents and children can engage with our free STEM games, simulations, eBooks and apps for learning, including topics such as: insects, land and water patterns shown through our virtual glider, sugar, and weather.
We offer free Smithsonian STEM games online or for download! Our games are designed with clear learning objectives, vetted by our team of curriculum experts, and are used by students around the world!
Lions! Pandas! Naked mole rats? Come visit them all at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. We are on the lookout for animals that are swimming, running, wiggling, and stomping. Grab a camera and take some pictures of animals on the move! Shutterbugs teaches students how to describe movement and motion while visiting rare animals at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Each animal has coloring-page printouts, so you can print and color your favorite critter.
March 23, 2020
The Gelfand Center of Carnegie Mellon University is compiling resources that can be used to help children continue to learn while they are out of school because of COVID-19. The list includes "Tami's Tower: Let's Think about Engineering" from the Smithsonian Science Education Center.
March 23, 2020
The Clarkston Community Schools (CCS) created an easy to use Digital Learning Dashboard for its K-12 students' Home-based Student Enrichment. In the Science category, the Smithsonian Science Education Center Game Center is included as one of several digital resources to support students' at-home science learning. See: ScienceEducation.si.edu/game-center.
March 23, 2020
SSEC's Weather Lab was highlighted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service as a top STEM resource for parents and students to use at home.
March 23, 2020
Villa Esperanza Services, which serves intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, provided several Smithsonian STEM resources for its students to use during science learning at home.
March 23, 2020
The issue surrounding the lack of women in STEM careers is best spoken about by those in the field. That’s why Reviews.com sought out two of the leading experts--Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center and member of the Broadband Commission Working Group on School Connectivity; and Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts USA--for the article: "Bridging the Gender Divide: A Guide to Overcoming Broadband Access to be a Female Leader in STEM."
