15
May

April in Review

TEDxFoggyBottom 2017

On Saturday, April 22nd Dr. Carol O’Donnell spoke at TEDxFoggyBottom 2017: In Metamorphosis!. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience, and TEDxFoggyBottom has become one of the largest student-organized TEDx events in the United States and around the world. This year’s annual conference brought together brilliant innovators and unconventional change-makers in a full-day experience featuring live presenters, and interactive exhibits centered around the 2017 theme: In Metamorphosis, discussing the current changes in our world and the implications these changes have for our society. O’Donnell’s talk reflected on her past experiences with science education, and focused on the importance of tactile experiences with physical objects in a science classroom in an age where digital learning is rapidly taking over.

 

George Washington University’s (GWU) The Rival interviewed O'Donnell, ahead of her TEDx talk. The Rival identified O'Donnell as the speaker to highlight out of the 20 TEDx speakers slated to speak at the event. The profile focuses on the role that O'Donnell and the Smithsonian Science Education Center have played in science education reform over the past 34 years, as science learning has shifted from textbook-based learning, to object-driven learning, to phenomenon-based learning. For a copy of the full article, go to: https://gw.therival.news/a/58f3a0040bd3d30685e89d68/profile-of-tedx-speaker-dr-carol-odonnell

 

 

 

 

 

 

100Kin10 Summit 2017

 

O’Donnell, attended the 100Kin10 Partner Summit at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York, NY April 25th – 26th. Smithsonian Science Education Center is the Smithsonian representative for 100Kin10, which unites the nation’s top academic institutions, nonprofits, foundations, companies, and government agencies in order to train and retain 100,000 excellent STEM teachers so that we can educate the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. Through 100Kin10 SSEC directly impacts 16 school districts. This year’s Summit featured a full day of learning sessions. O'Donnell was invited by 100kin10 to serve as one of the discussants and provided constructive feedback to other 100kin10 partners' project ideas. President Bill Clinton made closing remarks. Smithsonian Science Education Center is a recipient of a 100kin10 grant, which allows the Smithsonian to bring professional learning opportunities in engineering education to K-3 teachers in 25 school districts in New York. Additional information is featured here: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/04/_high-quality_stem_teachers_bill_clinton.html?cmp=eml-contshr-shr

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 2 images courtesy of TEDxFoggyBottom; Image of President Clinton by C. O'Donnell

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About the Author

Kate Echevarria
Human Resources Liaison

202-633-2959

EchevarriaK@si.edu

Kate Echevarria is the Human Resources Liaison for the Smithsonian Science Education Center. She is responsible for handling recruitment, internships, performance management, and all aspects of human resources at the Center. She was previously the Executive Office Manager at SSEC for 10 years. Prior to SSEC, Kate was in human resource management having worked for an international hotel chain, the U.S. Government, and a science non-profit.