Teacher Opportunities

 Open Resources and Materials 

The Oregon Opening Learning HUB

The Oregon Open Learning Hub is the place to find and share open educational resources (OER) that are curated and created for and by Oregon educators. Community is at the heart of OER, and the Oregon Open Learning Hub intends to bring together educator authors and curators to collaborate in a virtual space for the benefit of all students, educators, and communities across our state. We invite you to contribute to this community by using these resources, providing feedback, or joining a group below to create and share resources for use across Oregon!

Using OER benefits the education community in multiple ways:

• OER promote educational equity because all students can have access to high quality, up-to-date, and relevant learning materials.
• Investing in OER builds educator capacity through collaborative professional learning, and it empowers educators by giving them the freedom to adapt resources to fit their students' learning needs.
• OER can be freely distributed without concern about copyright violations.
• Many OER are licensed to allow remixing or adapting - meaning that you can change a resource to include differentiation for students, localize the content, or integrate it with other content.

This hub is sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education, whose mission is to foster equity and excellence for every learner through collaboration with educators, partners, and communities.

Chernaik v. Brown Curriculum

Use this three lesson plan to:

• Bring A Crucial Real Time Current Event To Your Students
• Highlight The Power Of Youth To Effect Change
• Underscore Government’s Duty To Preserve Natural Resources For All Oregonians.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, two young Oregonians had their climate change

lawsuit heard before the Oregon Supreme Court, on a critical issue for all Oregonians.

The youth argued, under the Public Trust Doctrine, that certain natural resources are so essential for human life and well-being that our government must hold them in trust for all citizens. The following curriculum explores this case through lessons on civics, science, law, and social movements.

Download the curriculum, or view in Google Drive.

Happening: A Clean Energy Film and Curriculum 

Watch as Robert Redford’s son James Redford explores the factors driving the transition to clean energy in his feature documentary HAPPENING. To further engage students, the Redford Center created TEACHING HAPPENING, an interdisciplinary, modular curriculum developed to work alongside HAPPENING. Click here to watch a short trailer.

Free to teachers, the classroom version of the film runs 50 minutes and the curriculum supports MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. To access your free HAPPENING streaming link and educational curriculum, click here.

 Online Professional Development

Learning Counsel Virtual Event - Hybrid Logistics & Digital Learning EXP - Feb 9 - Feb 10

Virtual/Webinar

02/09/2021 - 02/10/2021

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Register at: https://thelearningcounsel.com/virtual-event/oregon-hybrid-logistics-secrets-motivation-leading-thru-new-digital-learning 

Overview

This virtual event is free to all administrators and educators. The EduJedi Leadership Society and Learning Counsel News Media & Research are responding to School and District needs with regional virtual 2-day events to bring both nationally significant insights and foster togetherness with local leaders sharing. 

Over 27,000 educators from administrations in districts, schools, intermediate agencies, and DOE’s responding to Learning Counsel surveys nationwide are concerned about defining what’s normal now.  Concerns range from streamlining lesson planning to recapturing missing students to managing special needs remotely. The biggest two things were motivation and logistics.

85% of educators are concerned about Student Motivation as their key issue in hybrid or remote learning.

70% of administrators are concerned about the logistics of time and space in hybrid schooling and what that does to teaching. 

Learning Counsel has therefore put together special discussions centered around these two things primarily plus a much-needed new digital characteristics terms dictionary, and more.

 

Agenda

Tues. Feb 9 - 12:00-4:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

Day 1 - Hybrid Logistics & Secrets of Motivation

12:00 -12:30 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

12:30 -1:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:00 -1:30 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:30-2:00 p.m. 

Hybrid Logistics: Practices - LeiLani Cauthen, CEO & Publisher, Learning Counsel News Media & Research 

What are the best practices being used in moving to hybrid, the behind-the-scenes logistics? 

2:00 -2:30 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

2:30-3:00 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

3:00-4:00 p.m. - Motivation Discussion - Featured Educator & Attendees Open Discussion

Wed. Feb 10 - 12:00-4:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

Day 2 - Leading Digital Learning Experience

12:00-12:30 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

12:30-1:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:00-1:30 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:30-2:00 p.m.  Digital Experience Standards Workshop

Chris McMurray, VP EduJedi Leadership, Learning Counsel

2:00-2:30 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

2:30-3:00 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

3:00-4:00 p.m. - Local Panel of Administrators | Our Digital Transition

OSTA/WSTA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE RECORDINGS AND MATERIALS 

To access recordings and materials you must log in to your account. Only those who registered for the event can access recordings and materials.

DID YOU MISS THE CONFERENCE???

It is not to late to register and access over 14 hours of recordings and earn up to 15.5 PDU hours.

$ 10 for OSTA Members

$ 35 for Non-Members

To review the recordings offered visit our

Virtual Conference Page

OSTA Webcasts

OSTA is thrilled to offer monthly webcasts during the school year! To find out more about upcoming webcasts, check our Events page. We've asked our members for topics that matter and created our calendar to reflect that feedback. If you don't see a topic you're interested in, please reach out to communications@oregonscience.org to let us know!

Learning Counsel Virtual Event - Hybrid Logistics & Digital Learning EXP - Feb 9 - Feb 10

Virtual/Webinar

02/09/2021 - 02/10/2021

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Register at: https://thelearningcounsel.com/virtual-event/oregon-hybrid-logistics-secrets-motivation-leading-thru-new-digital-learning 

Overview

This virtual event is free to all administrators and educators. The EduJedi Leadership Society and Learning Counsel News Media & Research are responding to School and District needs with regional virtual 2-day events to bring both nationally significant insights and foster togetherness with local leaders sharing. 

Over 27,000 educators from administrations in districts, schools, intermediate agencies, and DOE’s responding to Learning Counsel surveys nationwide are concerned about defining what’s normal now.  Concerns range from streamlining lesson planning to recapturing missing students to managing special needs remotely. The biggest two things were motivation and logistics.

85% of educators are concerned about Student Motivation as their key issue in hybrid or remote learning.

70% of administrators are concerned about the logistics of time and space in hybrid schooling and what that does to teaching. 

Learning Counsel has therefore put together special discussions centered around these two things primarily plus a much-needed new digital characteristics terms dictionary, and more.

 

Agenda

Tues. Feb 9 - 12:00-4:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

Day 1 - Hybrid Logistics & Secrets of Motivation

12:00 -12:30 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

12:30 -1:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:00 -1:30 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:30-2:00 p.m. 

Hybrid Logistics: Practices - LeiLani Cauthen, CEO & Publisher, Learning Counsel News Media & Research 

What are the best practices being used in moving to hybrid, the behind-the-scenes logistics? 

2:00 -2:30 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

2:30-3:00 p.m. - Educator Session Hybrid Organizing

3:00-4:00 p.m. - Motivation Discussion - Featured Educator & Attendees Open Discussion

Wed. Feb 10 - 12:00-4:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

Day 2 - Leading Digital Learning Experience

12:00-12:30 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

12:30-1:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:00-1:30 p.m. - Lunch & Learn

1:30-2:00 p.m.  Digital Experience Standards Workshop

Chris McMurray, VP EduJedi Leadership, Learning Counsel

2:00-2:30 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

2:30-3:00 p.m. - Educator Session on Models & Practice

3:00-4:00 p.m. - Local Panel of Administrators | Our Digital Transition

The Cornell Lab - Free Professional Development

February - Inquiry Across the Ages: A Panel Discussion

Registration link:https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/february-webinar/  

Cornell Lab of Ornithology K-12 Zoom Room

02/23/2021@ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pmET

02/25/2021@ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pmET

Targeted grade levels: K-12

Targeted audience: Educators

This webinar is free and open to all educators.

Hear from K-12 teachers who have successfully inspired student-driven investigations with citizen science through Investigating Evidence. They’ll share the benefits of inquiry-based teaching and strategies they’ve used to overcome challenges. 

In this webinar, you will: Discover tips and techniques for engaging all learners in citizen science and inquiry. Learn how experienced K-12 teachers foster the scientific process through citizen-science observations. Have a chance to ask teachers your questions and for advice on application in your own classroom or program.

March - Life Cycles with Birds

Registration link:https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/march-webinar/ 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology K-12 Zoom Room

03/23/2021@ 6:00 pm -7:00 pmET

03/25/2021@ 8:00 pm -9:00 pmET

Targeted grade levels: K-8

Targeted audience: Educators

This webinar is free and open to all educators, but the content is targeted to K-8 grade educators.

Explore the world of nesting birds through observing wild nests, building nest boxes, and participating in citizen science. Then talk to an expert about the do’s and don’ts of observing nesting birds.

In this webinar, you will: Learn facts and myths about nesting birds. Explore the NestWatch citizen-science project and learn how to participate. Discover simple activities to do with youth that support nesting birds.

April - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Registration link:https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/april-webinar/ 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology K-12 Zoom Room

04/20/2021@ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pmET

4/22/2021@ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pmET

Targeted grade levels: K-12

Targeted audience: Educators

This webinar is free and open to all educators. Please be aware that the format is very different from our usual webinar and will involve open discussion among participants. Participants will be able to unmute and share video for discussions. All around the country, important conversations are happening around how to increase justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our society. As educators, we have a special responsibility to consider how our lessons and classrooms affect our students. This webinar will be different from our usual format, focussing on reading and discussing articles to help us build our understanding of how to support a more equitable future. 

Topics may include creating inclusive environments across gender, racial, and socio-economic intersections.

In this interactive webinar, you will: Read an article prior to the webinar. Discuss your article with other educators. Brainstorm strategies for building justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into science and nature-based education.

Because this webinar requires reading an article prior to the session, we will close registration a week in advance. 

May - Exploring Human Impacts and Solutions

Registration link:https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/may-webinar-2/ 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology K-12 Zoom Room

05/18/2021@ 6:00 pm -7:00 pmET

05/20/2021@ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pmET

Targeted grade levels: K-12

Targeted audience: Educators

This webinar is free and open to all educators.

Discover how to use eBird to take students outside and contribute data to citizen science, then analyze models to explore human impacts and global phenomena.  We’ll explore resources like real-world case studies about habitat loss and global climate change and data models that will help your students draw evidence-based conclusions about why specific bird populations are being impacted, and brainstorm potential solutions.

In this webinar, educators will: Discuss human impacts on birds like habitat loss and climate change. Discover citizen science data and models that explore human impacts. Share resources and free lessons to explore human impacts on birds.

June - Get Outside for Summer!

Registration link: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/june-webinar/

Cornell Lab of Ornithology K-12 Zoom Room

06/08/2021@ 6:00 pm -7:00 pmET

06/10/2021@ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pmET

Targeted grade levels: 3-8

Targeted audience: Educators

This webinar is free and open to all educators, but the content is targeted to 3-8 grade educators.

Get kids outside and ready for summer exploration! We’ll share simple activities that can connect kids to nature through birds. While being in nature has been shown to decrease stress and boost creativity, use your best judgment and follow local recommendations for being outside.

In this webinar, you will: Discuss the importance of outdoor learning. Discover fun and simple activities to implement outdoors.

Eastern Oregon REN Professional Development

This YouTube channel has been developed with videos on Zoom tips, virtual tools, and other tricks for distance learning. Check it out here and "subscribe"

NASA Education and Communications

Indigenous Star Knowledge Symposium – Winter Solstice, Stars and Storytelling

December 21^st, 3pm EST 

Adisokan is the Algonquin word for storytelling with special cultural meaning. Join us for stories about the stars from three Indigenous nations - Mapuche (Chile), Algonquin (Quebec), and Dene (Northwest Territories). Indigenous teachings, spirit, language, world views and an exploration of the word and role of stories in Indigenous culture.

Registration at: https://ingeniumcanada.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__VR4vFVOS1O43HBkKUKfKw

Two Eyed Seeing: NASA and Indigenous Astronomy – for the Benefit of All

https://nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-seeing-nasa.html

Next Live Show is January 29th @9:00 am PST

Join us!...For this eight month project that weaves together Indigenous Astronomy and NASA content in a way that will engage K-12 learners to participate in science and culture. Seven seasonal live (virtual) events will be produced and delivered each month Oct. 2020 to April 2021. Funded by NASA - Next Gen STEM, focus: Moon to Mars & STEM on Station.

Jhon Goes In Center and James Sanovia Winter Camp Presentation:  The Conjunction of Lakota Knowledge and Technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gju-0ZNqrYg 

The Racing Magpie Winter Camp program is reimagining the Lakota winter camp model of problem solving and community building in today’s world by examining the deeper reasons why Lakota people do things the way they do and why they interact with the universe around them. As plants and trees focus their energy on building strength and growing from the roots during the winter, our community will join to strengthen and grow together each year through sharing and learning. Watch for more events each month through the winter.

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust - Partners in Science

Free Webinars:

• Sifting Through the Outbreak :Information Literacy in the Time of COVID-19 
• The Science of COVID-19

Project Learning Tree

LT offers several online courses. Each online course provides a high-quality professional development experience. Each self-paced course is 3 to 6 hours long, and comprises several 20-30 minute “coursels”. Each coursel has been designed using best practices in online learning and teacher professional development (review The 5+ Guiding Principles for Professional Development for more information). The courses prepare educators to integrate environmental education materials into their instruction. Learn more here.

NOAA Webinar Series

The National Marine Sanctuary Webinar Series provides educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. This series targets formal and informal educators that are engaging students (elementary through college) in formal classroom settings, as well as members of the community in informal educational venues (e.g. after school programs, science centers, aquariums, etc.). Learn more and register here.

Climate Change: The Science and Global Impact

Climate change is arguably the greatest challenge of our time. Human activity has already warmed the planet by one degree Celsius relative to pre-industrial times, and we are feeling the effects through record heat waves, droughts, wildfires and flooding. If we continue to burn fossil fuels at the current rate, the planet will reach two degrees of warming by 2050 - the threshold that many scientists have identified as a dangerous tipping point. What is the science behind these projections?

Join climate scientist expert Michael Mann to learn about the basic scientific principles behind climate change and global warming. We need to understand the science in order to solve the broader environmental, societal and economic changes that climate change is bringing. Click here to learn more and register.

K-12 Earthquake Science Professional Development Opportunity

The University of Portland STEM Education and Outreach Center offers a self-paced on-line Cascadia Earthquake Education course. The course is organized into four modules that introduce plate tectonics and earthquake science then apply this general knowledge specifically to Cascadia Earthquakes and Tsunamis. Within each chapter, a video lecture (or series of video lectures) introduces the topic, along with additional videos and animations. Most chapters contain lesson plans for classroom activities and demonstrations. These lesson plans were designed for middle school students but can be adapted to elementary, high school, and college levels. Each lesson plan specifies the Next Generation Science Standards addressed. Most lesson plans have an accompanying set of supporting resources such as student worksheets and answer keys. It is estimated that it will take about 28 hours to complete the course, so successful completion of the course will result in receipt of a certificate for 28 PDUs (28 clock hours for WA teachers). If you have an interest and would like to register for the course, please send your preferred email address to: Bob Butler, University of Portland Professor Emeritus, butler@up.edu. You will then receive information on how to access this free on-line course!

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS IN THE NGSS CLASSROOM: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This course offering from the Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP) is designed to guide participants in exploring the role performance assessment can play in helping their students meet the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards. Participants will learn SNAP's strategies for analyzing what an assessment is evaluating, analyzing multidimensional student data, and making instructional decisions based on student evidence. Participants will have opportunities throughout the course to practice using these strategies with sample short performance assessments (20 minute tasks) and student data. To learn more and register, click here.

Teacher Opportunities

National STEM Scholar Program

Middle school science teachers are invited to apply to be a National STEM Scholar at the link below.  Please review and forward to middle school science teachers in your school or organization.  Thank you!

Applications are now open for middle school science teachers from across the nation to apply to participate in the National STEM Scholar Program, a unique professional development program that provides advanced training for the middle school teachers of aspiring scientists nationwide. 10 middle school science teachers will be selected for the 2021 Class of National STEM Scholars.

Created in partnership between the National Stem Cell Foundation and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University (WKU), the National STEM Scholar Program selects 10 teachers annually from a national pool of applicants to participate in a week of advanced science training and network building on the campus of WKU in Bowling Green, KY. In addition to training, STEM Scholars receive a generous stipend to develop individual Challenge Projects for classroom implementation and spend a day with a nationally or internationally known STEM speaker, receive all-expense paid registration for.

U of P Chemistry Position Open: Instructor and Lab Coordinator, Organic Chemistry

Position: Instructor and Lab Coordinator, Organic Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Portland invites applicants for an Instructor position to begin August 15, 2021. Primary teaching responsibilities will consist of three organic chemistry courses (laboratory and lecture) per semester. The successful candidate will also have administrative responsibilities to coordinate the organic chemistry laboratory courses, which includes curriculum development, supervision of laboratory preparation, ordering chemicals and supplies, compliance with waste disposal regulations, and hiring and supervision of adjunct instructors and student teaching assistants.

The position is open now; to receive full consideration, please submit a completed application by February 1, 2021.

For more information and to apply for this position: https://up.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobid=66190 

PLC Network for STEM Education Equity is launching soon!

East Metro STEAM Partnership (EMSP), Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP), and South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership (SMSP) are collaborating to convene and coordinate cross-sector, cross-region partners to explore and advise on critical issues in STE(A)M Education, P-20. We are inviting up to 75 partners, stakeholders, and others across our three regions to come together a few times to research, explore, and discuss how we might develop a P-20 Education system that supports high-quality STEM learning for all students. Our vision is that over the next 12 months, participants will form workgroups that will conduct short-term action research on critical topics of interest to them, such as policies and practices that support STE(A)M education, sustainable STEM education funding, educator preparation and development, etc. as well as identifying capacity-building opportunities aligned with current STEM Hub, Student Investment Account (SIA) and Regional Educator Network (REN) goals, in order to maximize impact toward a shared vision for equitable student outcomes. Learn more and apply here

EPA Calls for Nominations for the 2021 President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards

Applications due by February 19, 2021

WASHINGTON (October 28, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that EPA’s Office of Environmental Education is now accepting applications for the 2021 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE).

Established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, PEYA recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from Kindergarten through 12th grade by promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement. Also established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, PIAEE recognizes outstanding K-12 grade educators who integrate environmental, place-based experiential learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country. The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in partnership with EPA, administers the PIAEE awards program.

Additional Information on the 2020 Awards

• EPA is seeking 2020 PEYA and PIAEE award applications for projects on a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to):
• Reducing food waste and loss and excess food recovery efforts.
• Reducing contributions to ocean and marine litter.
• Solutions in recycling.
• Using science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to teach environmental education.
• Environmental sustainability.
• Sustainable agricultural practices.
• Healthy school environments.

For the PEYA awards, EPA will select up to two winners in each of the agency’s 10 Regions – one regional winner for grades K-5 and one regional winner for grades 6-12. The winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website. All student projects must be sponsored by at least one adult over the age of 21. And, if the sponsor is not a teacher, the project must have a teacher as a co-sponsor. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PEYA page.

Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive the PIAEE award. Teachers will receive a presidential plaque and an award of up to $2,500 to be used to further professional development in environmental education. Winning teachers’ local education agencies will also receive awards of up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Next year’s winners will be highlighted on EPA’s website. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PIAEE page

Applications for both awards programs are due no later than February 19, 2021.

For more information on the youth awards (PEYA), please contact: PEYA@epa.gov.

For more information on the teacher awards (PIAEE), please contact: PIAEE@epa.gov

SAVE THE DATE!

Oregon's 2021 Environmental Education Conference

July 30 - August 1

We are excited to announce our 2021 Environmental Education Conference. We are partnering with Southern Oregon University’s Environmental Education Graduate Programto bring you a hybrid conference with both virtual and in-person sessions. We are aware that social gatherings are not safe at this time and acknowledge that this may still be the case come summer 2021. Keeping that in mind we are working to organize a hybrid conference with the majority of sessions offered online with some in-person field trips and workshops at Southern Oregon University (SOU). We will be prepared to switch to an all-virtual conference if conditions warrant the change.

Proposals for presentations will open December 16, 2020. Stay tuned for more information!

Conference Strands

• Conference strands align with Oregon's Environmental Literacy Plan - system thinking; physical, human, and living systems; interconnections of people and the environment; personal and civic responsibility; and thinking and planning for a sustainable future.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) will be interwoven into each strand.

Interested in supporting the conference? Contact us to learn how you can volunteer your time or become a conference sponsor.

 Student/Classroom Opportunities