Calendar
Join staff from Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve for a look at how to use iNaturalist to participate in a BioBlitz.
Then participate in a Bird Count Feb. 12 – 15 and the BioBlitz March 13-21 in any of the parks.
Contact Jerrel Geisler with any questions: jgeisler@hcp4.net.
February 11 – 22, 2021
Web-based: Cvent
Extraordinary Solutions for Extraordinary Times
The Texas STEM Conference brings together over 1,100 STEM educators to learn about introducting STEM best practices; equity and inclusion in STEM; and transformative teaching and learning.
The Texas STEM Coalition works to prepare all students to contribute to and thrive in the 21st century global economy through leveraging its extensive network of expertise, partnership, and resources in order to:
- drive transformation and advancement in teaching and learning
- promote PBL and support blended and online learning
- promote the implementation of innovative, research- and standards-based STEM practices that align with College and Career Readiness objectives, and
- inspire teachers throughout Texas and the Southwest to continue to encourage excellence in their students
The Texas STEM Conference accentuates the importance of and facilitates collaboration among educators and stakeholders in supporting student success in the STEM classroom.
Breakout sessions will include hand-picked presentations that apply to Kinder through secondary classrooms. We strive to present sessions that will benefit all students.
Registration will take place in a two-step process. Attendees will register here in E-Campus and then will receive a code in early January 2021 to complete a brief registration in the Cvent site where the Conference will be held.
All individuals from anywhere are welcome to attend this conference.
Location:
This conference will be completely web-based, taking place through Cvent.
Join ISEA’s first ever virtual annual conference as ISEA continue to inspire, connect, and support diverse informal science across Texas.
ISEA is excited to welcome a variety of learning, communication, and science professionals from across Texas, and around the country, as our featured speakers this year. In addition to the speaker-driven sessions, we will be hosting participatory and audience driven sessions that bring our key topics into our practice, community, and institutions.
Here is a sneak peak of a few of our featured speakers,
- T’Noya Thompson being born and raised in the Bahamas fostered a deep connection to the ocean that inspired a career path at an early age. She has worked for Moody Gardens, Galveston Bay Foundation and now is the Environmental Education Specialist for NAAEE
- Jordan Veasley, known on social media as Jungle Jordan, is a wildlife educator and content creator whose mission is to make it fun to learn about the animal world. His passion for wildlife education and conservation is contagious and he hopes to inspire younger generations to be participants in conserving and repairing the natural world. Through his educational and often comedic videos, he advocates not only for the conservation of wildlife, but also for diverse audiences to get involved in animal care and conservation. Jordan hopes his voice will inspire more diversity and inclusivity in the animal world.
- Andrés Ruzo is the founder and director of the Boiling River Project, a non-profit organization, as well as a geoscientist, science communicator, author, and educator. Andrés originally heard about the Boiling River as a detail in a childhood legend and now returns to the Amazon every year to continue the scientific research and conservation work in the Boiling River area
- Morgan Lee Richardson is an artist, experiential designer, wildlife conservationist, educator, and ardent champion for creative people. He uses his art and design expertise to bridge humans and animals through extraordinary, life-altering experiences. He believes artists have a voice that can be used to inspire others to care about the planet and its wildlife
- And other amazing speakers to be announced on our website!
In keeping with ISEA conference tradition, ISEA is making space for social networking and fun time during the virtual conference. Each evening you can join a social engagement, such as our Auction & Award Ceremony on Thursday!
Check out ISEA’s website for conference updates, downloads, and other information, https://www.texasinformalscience.org/conference.
Texas Education Agency CEP credits will be available upon request. Please email texasinformalscience@gmail.com to request information and a form.
This free, monthly workshop addresses the basics on how to install and operate a solar system. It covers topics such as solar array types, costs of equipment and labor, permitting, energy savings, and reliability. The instructor, Bill Swann, is an expert in solar energy and has built many of his own solar systems. This workshop is ideal for all people; Bill can answer the simplest and most technical of questions. If you want to learn more about solar, this is the workshop for you. For more information, contact Bill Swann at william.swann2@gmail.com.
Street parking available. This workshop occurs on the last friday of every month, except December.
About this Event
Join Texas Children in Nature as we explore several Texas based statewide environmental education curriculums. Presenters from Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Project WET, Texas Aquatic Science and the Texas Wildlife Association will be sharing information about their curriculums and why it might be a good fit for you and your program. This workshop will feature some great free activity ideas and how to explore more on each of these topics.
Who: Teachers and Librarians
1 CPE credit will be offered
Greater Houston Area Virtual STEM Conference: “STEM Innovations and Impact on Educational Communities”
UHCL’s College of Education would like to invite you to join us at our STEM Virtual conference, “STEM Innovations and Impact on Educational Communities” on Saturday, March 6, 2021, via Zoom. This conference will bring together leading experts and researchers from around the Greater Houston Area to focus on topics that impact K–12 STEM education. Educators will present what they are doing including hands-on activities, research, and programs as each relates to STEM. Participants will attend break-out sessions and tour some of the research facilities located at University of Houston-Clear Lake, along with earning 6 CPEs for attendance
Cost
General Registration
The fee for an attendee is $20. *Register before January 31st for our early bird rate of $15.
Student Registration
The fee for students is $15. *Register before January 31st for our early bird rate of $10.
Presenter Registration
The fee for a presenter is $15. Please note if there are additional presenters, each presenter needs to register for the event.
*Please note the discount is applied during the checkout process.
For additional information contact stemconference@uhcl.edu.
Nature & Structure
Play is an essential activity across the lifespan, for all people. Active outdoor play in and with nature has benefits for our physical and emotional well-being, and also helps us to strengthen our relationships with nature and the planet we call home. With increases in urbanization, concerns with safety, and changes in the climate and environmental conditions in the US and globally, people are spending more time indoors. Educators have responded with renewed focus and determination to support nature-based play and learning in the outdoors. In this session we will discuss the historic roots of ‘nature play’ in Froebel’s kindergarten, and the contemporary movements that support nature play (Nature Based Learning Initiative; Louv, 2019). We will review the current research on the benefits of nature for health, wellness, and a connectedness to nature (Bratman et al, 2012; Cosco, Moore & Smith, 2014; Hughes, Richardson & Lumber, 2018; Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989; Schweighardt, 2015; Ulrich, 1993; Zylestra et al, 2014) and share ideas on how to design a built environment that works with nature to support the benefits of active outdoor play & learning using Universal Design principles to support children of all abilities. The session will cover an assessment tool for outdoor learning environments (POEMS: Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale, 2005/2014, DeBord, Hestenes, Moore, Cosco & McGinnis) and feature case studies of successful design features of outdoor play and learning environments for all ages & abilities. This interactive session will involve active participation and dialogue among participants.
This free, monthly workshop addresses the basics on how to install and operate a solar system. It covers topics such as solar array types, costs of equipment and labor, permitting, energy savings, and reliability. The instructor, Bill Swann, is an expert in solar energy and has built many of his own solar systems. This workshop is ideal for all people; Bill can answer the simplest and most technical of questions. If you want to learn more about solar, this is the workshop for you. For more information, contact Bill Swann at william.swann2@gmail.com.
Street parking available. This workshop occurs on the last friday of every month, except December.
This free, monthly workshop addresses the basics on how to install and operate a solar system. It covers topics such as solar array types, costs of equipment and labor, permitting, energy savings, and reliability. The instructor, Bill Swann, is an expert in solar energy and has built many of his own solar systems. This workshop is ideal for all people; Bill can answer the simplest and most technical of questions. If you want to learn more about solar, this is the workshop for you. For more information, contact Bill Swann at william.swann2@gmail.com.
Street parking available. This workshop occurs on the last friday of every month, except December.
This free, monthly workshop addresses the basics on how to install and operate a solar system. It covers topics such as solar array types, costs of equipment and labor, permitting, energy savings, and reliability. The instructor, Bill Swann, is an expert in solar energy and has built many of his own solar systems. This workshop is ideal for all people; Bill can answer the simplest and most technical of questions. If you want to learn more about solar, this is the workshop for you. For more information, contact Bill Swann at william.swann2@gmail.com.