Send correspondence to:
Brad Parolin
East Education Office
140 Borough Drive, Level 2,
Toronto ON M1P 4N6
mailto:brad.parolin@tdsb.on.ca

 







Position Papers

Attend the SCCAO Conference, Nov 12, 2008 (pre-STAO 2008 conference)

Science Leaders should plan to attend this relevant and timely day.

Morning Session

The morning program features Dr. Doug Llewelyn (U Rochester), author of NSTA's Teaching High School Science Through Inquiry and Inquire Within.
His session will cover 2 topics:

1. Six Essential Steps in Becoming an Inquiry-Based Teacher

As teachers progress from non-inquiry to inquiry modes, they go through stages or levels of development. This session will describe six progressive steps in becoming an inquiry-based teacher:
1. Developing an Awareness of Scientific Inquiry
2. Building Understandings
3. Translating New Knowledge into Practice
4. Practicing New Strategies
5. Reflecting on Emerging Pedagogy
6. Creating a Classroom Culture of Inquiry

2. How Students Learn Science

Becoming an exemplary inquiry teacher necessitates an understanding of how children learn. This interactive presentation will bridge philosophy of constructivist theory with practice of inquiry-based instruction.

Afternoon Session

  • Business portion
  • PD Survey
  • Updates from the 'Visioning' Session
  • Sharing Best Practices, Implementation Strategies & Resource ( e.g. textbooks) Selection Criteria

 

5th  Annual STAN ( Science & Technology Awareness Network) Conference – November 5 and 6, 2008

National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON

The theme of the STAN conference is ““Building the Talent Pipeline – From Research to Practise”.

Canada’s future prosperity and quality of life are directly related to our ability to compete in a knowledge-based, global economy in which science, engineering and technology (SET) play a pivotal role. The 21st Century demands a highly skilled, well-educated workforce that welcomes change, is prepared to take measured risk, and creates and commercializes new ideas that drive innovation.

The fifth annual national conference of the Science & Technology Awareness Network will explore the opportunities and challenges that face Canada in our pursuit to build a ‘SET-based talent pipeline’.  We are particularly interested in discussing strategies to reverse the emerging trend of declining enrolment in postsecondary SET programs.

For more information about the conference, registration and accommodation, please visit the Science and Technology Awareness Network (STAN) website at: [ https://www.scienceandtechnologynetwork.ca/main/modules/news/ ]https://www.scienceandtechnologynetwork.ca/main/modules/news/  or contact Sheila Rhodes (info@scienceandtechnologynetwork.ca) 

Secure online registration is available at: [ https://www.scienceandtechnologynetwork.ca/main/conference_registration.php ] https://www.scienceandtechnologynetwork.ca/main/conference_registration.php
Student rates are available.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Lord Elgin Hotel for the STAN conference at a rate of $139 per night. Please mention the STAN conference when booking your room.

Tel: (613) 235-3333 Toll Free: 1-800-267-4298

 
Grad Student Program


Calling all high school science teachers located outside major city centres! Inspire your students with help from Let’s Talk Science’s Partnership Program rural and remote high school science outreach. Book us now! Graduate science students come to your high school or arrange a field-trip, providing hands-on science for your students. This program is sponsored by the Ministry of Ontario, and a unique opportunity for your students to interact directly with research scientists. To find out how we work with you and your class, please contact Nicole Kaiser at [ mailto:nkaiser@letstalkscience.ca ]nkaiser@letstalkscience.ca or call 519-474-4081 (toll-free 1-800-474-4081).
Elementary Revised Curriculum

The Ministry of Education has released the Revised Grades 1-8 Science Curriculum.It is to be implemented in all grades in September 2008.

The download link is http://www.edu.gov.on.ca

The document will be available in print in February.

posted Jan 16, 2008

Tap into Live Researchers speaking on topics in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics fields. Give your students the opportunity to learn and interact with researchers at NO cost to you or your school. Contact Virtual Researcher On Call (VROC) to find out how at info@vroc.ca or by calling 519-433-6668 x2

posted Nov 20, 2007
Ontario Putting Environmental Education Back Into The Curriculum

Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders To Tackle Environmental Issues

TORONTO, June 22 /CNW/ - By January 2008, all Ontario students will be learning more about the environment in the classroom, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced today following receipt of the report from the Curriculum Council and the Working Group on Environmental Education. "We need to prepare tomorrow's leaders to tackle environmental issues," said Wynne. "That's why we're giving them better environmental education at every grade level."

"I'm pleased that the government is acting immediately on our group's recommendations," said scientist and astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, chair of the Working Group on Environmental Education. "Ontario is taking important steps to help more students understand that their local actions affect the global community today and for generations to come." The McGuinty government is implementing the recommendations of the Curriculum Council to give students more environmental knowledge and give teachers the resources to build that knowledge.

To do this, the government is:

  • Integrating environmental education into all subjects in all grades
  • Developing a new optional Grade 11 course focussed on environmental education
  • Increasing experiential learning opportunities for students
  • Creating and publishing an environmental education policy by the fall to ensure high quality and relevant learning
  • Establishing environmental education standards to be applied to current and future reviews of curriculum
  • Working more closely with community partners and other government ministries to enhance environmental education
  • Providing training and resource guides to teachers.

The working group's report, Shaping Our Schools, Shaping Our Future, is available on the ministry website at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/curriculumcouncil/

Today's announcement is another example of how the McGuinty government is working with education and community partners to inspire students to fight climate change and become environmentally responsible citizens.

Other recent initiatives include:

  • Supporting and expanding the capacity of community organizations, including EcoSchools and Evergreen, that work with students on environmental issues
  • As part of the government's Student Success Strategy, high schools will be offering a new environment major that allows students to focus on a future environmental career by completing a bundle of classroom courses, workplace experiences and industry certifications
  • Launching two websites www.obviously.ca for secondary students and www.ontario.ca/ezone for elementary students that explain the challenges facing our planet and how to take action to protect the environment
  • Holding a Clean Air and Climate Change artwork and essay contest for students that received almost 3,500 submissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Current Happenings

SCCAO Meetings 2008-9
  • November 12, SCCAO Conference, Doubletree Hotel by Hilton-Toronto Airport, Toronto
  • February 2, 2009, TBA
  • May 25, Annual General Meeting, 207 Cherokee Drive, North York
 
 

Resources:
 

 
 

Direct all inquiries to brad.parolin@tdsb.on.ca