Hey, coach! How's your SECME? EOY 2011

Seasons Greetings, PLC Members!

I need to hear from you in the next ten days, by December 10th. But it will take less then 10 minutes to answer 10 questions and complete the mid-year survey. The information is vital to the SECME National Office.

As you know, most school districts are data-driven and the more data the National Office can share the better. This is your time to have a sounding board to share your thoughts and feelings. So please share what's working and what's not working! I promise it will drive and guide future professional development and funding!

Please know you are valued and your hard work is appreciated. Thanks for your time and assistance!

Click here to take survey

20 years, and less than 20 points...

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1863 (j) (1) requires the biennial Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI) report to the President and to the Congress by January 15 of every even-numbered year. Since the next report is due out in six weeks, let's review the indicators in the last report (2010).

U.S. data show that the public's level of factual knowledge about science has not changed much over time. Figure 7-8 shows average numbers of correct answers to a series of mostly true-false science questions in different years for which fully comparable data were collected (appendix table 7-8 ).^[10] Although performance on individual questions varies somewhat over time (appendix table 7-9 ), overall scores are relatively similar.

CITATION
National Science Board. 2010. Science and Engineering Indicators 2010. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation (NSB 10-01).

Ah, geez. Over twenty years from 1988 to 2008, we haven't risen twenty percent above the gathering storm. Look at the learning gains - they are mostly small, between 5-10%.

Remember, SEI is factual and policy-neutral; it neither offers policy options nor makes policy recommendations. The indicators included in the report are intended to contribute to the understanding of the current science and engineering environment. The SEI digest draws attention to disturbing trends....

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/c7/c7s.htm#sb4

Mars Rover Curiosity Takes Off

NASA's biggest and most capable Mars rover ever left Earth on Saturday morning in a picture perfect launch from Cape Canaveral. The new rover, named "Curiosity", is due to reach the Red Planet in August 2012.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26nov_msllaunch/

For women and minorities, STEM is the best equal opportunity employer

NEW REPORT FINDS THAT 63 PERCENT OF ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES IN STEM EARN MORE THAN BACHELOR’S DEGREES IN NON-STEM OCCUPATIONS

Study also finds that STEM jobs are among the nation’s most highly-paid and fastest-growing

(Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 2011) – A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that 65 percent of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM (science, engineering, technology and mathematics) occupations earn more than Master’s degrees in non-STEM occupations. Similarly, 47 percent of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations. Furthermore, even people with only STEM certificates can earn more than people with non-STEM degrees; for instance certificate holders in engineering earn more than Associate’s degree-holders in business and more than Bachelor’s degree-holders in education.

STEM will grow to only 5 percent of all jobs by 2018 and demand for STEM talent is growing even faster outside of traditional STEM occupations. This increasing demand for STEM knowledge, skills and abilities allows many individuals with STEM talent to leave STEM occupations. Students and workers divert from STEM jobs because, while STEM is high-paying, STEM students have access to higher-paying career options.

The report finds that of out of every 100 students with a Bachelor’s degree, 19 graduate with a STEM degree but only eight are working in STEM occupations ten years after graduation.

But it’s not only about money—a major conclusion of the report is that STEM talent winds up outside of STEM occupations because STEM jobs often do not fully satisfy individual social and entrepreneurial interests.

“STEM provides choice for people both immediately after school and at mid-career, allowing people to transition to different and oftentimes more lucrative career pathways, including management and healthcare that provide long-term stability and excellent wages.” says Anthony P. Carnevale, the Center’s director and the report’s lead author.

The report details STEM earnings by occupation, race, sex, and education level, and finds:

For women and minorities, STEM is the best equal opportunity employer.
• For women and minorities, STEM is a good news/bad news story. Women and minorities are underrepresented in STEM.
• But for those who do persist, the pay gap in STEM between women and minorities and white men is smaller in STEM than in any other occupation.

STEM pays more than most jobs at each level of education, and at the graduate level is exceeded only by a small sliver of managerial and healthcare occupations.
• Over 70 percent of STEM workers at the high school or some college level make more than the average for workers in all other occupations at the same education level.

More than two-thirds of Associate’s degree-holders in STEM make more than the average for all Associate’s degree-holders.
• STEM training pays more even if you don’t work in a STEM occupation.
• Workers majoring in STEM in college earn more than all other majors over their lifetimes, even if they work in non-STEM occupations.

Apart from the full national report, STEM contains a state-level analysis of STEM jobs. STEM is available online at http://cew.georgetown.edu/STEM.

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce is an independent, nonprofit research and policy institute that studies the link between individual goals, education and training curricula, and career pathways.

Seminole Ridge 2011 Pathfinder Nominees

Seminole Ridge High School is pleased to announce the 2012 Palm Beach Post Pathfinder Scholarship nominees. Students are nominated in 18 academic, vocational, and athletic categories and ddemonstrate outstanding achievement. The following Pathfinder nominees have also participated in Seminole SECME (or if not in SECME, have been science students of Seminole Ridge SECME school coordinator Mr. Landstrom and have been in a SECME-tized classroom)

Again, congratulations to our Seminole Ridge Seniors who have been nominated for this prestigious award. Please wish them luck and encouragement as they continue through the nomination process.

Art Ronit Liberman

Business Robert Botkin

Forensics/Speech Cash Galko

History/Political Science Julia Frate

Literature Taylor Godfrey

Mathematics Michael Canlas

Reach for Excellence Patrick Eden

Figure This! On the 12th+11th+10th Day of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sends to me a partridge in a pear tree. On the 2nd day, my love sends two turtle doves and a partridge in pear tree. On the 3rd day, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in pear tree. This pattern continues for nine more days. The remaining gifts, in order of appearance, include colly birds, gold rings, geese, swans, maids, ladies, lords, pipers, and drummers. Figure this! After 12 days, which gift did my true love send the most?

Hint: How many of each gift did I receive on each day?
Get Started: Make a table to organize this information.


Answer in the comments!

Seminole SECME Spotlight: Caitlin Nicole Miller

Senior Caitlin Nicole Miller is the captain of this year’s Seminole SECME team. She is setting a standard for the theme “Plan It—Build It—Live It!” Last year she was a part of the Seminole SECME Brain Bowl team. Her decision to enrich her education was immediately noticed. Her classmates talked about how committed she was, displaying her dedication and great intelligence at every meeting. She felt like she could make a difference in the club and be a great leader when offered the position as captain. Her priorities were organization and focusing in a more systematic way of doing things. Caitlin has a hands-on approach: she checks in with everybody and makes sure she knows her stuff so her teammates get the best advice she can give. That’s no surprise given how she spends her time off from school and SECME. She said, “I’ve always been good at math. And the hands-on science stuff — I’ve always liked knowing why things happen and how things work.” Caitlin enjoys watching “CSI” and “Lie to Me” because “I like how they go about solving crimes and I like guessing how the show is going to end. I do that all the time.” Caitlin’s plans for the future look for fall admission to the College of Engineering at Florida Atlantic University. Watch this Hawk become an Owl!

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2011

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In the Fall 2011 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk'  newsletter
- "Hawk"-tober at the Ridge: brainstorming bridges, bots, and bottle rockets
- Discover "E" and Create Something Cool with Jim Kunard, professional engineer.
- Engineering Family Fun Day recap by Kim Seager, PE and EF2D event chair
- Figure This! On the 12th + 11th + 10th day of Christmas
- Save the Dates: February 25th and April 29th
- SECME Spotlight on our captain, Caitlin Nicole Miller
- Robot Carnival at the Children's Science Explorium in Boca Raton
- Hawks guard the Miami VEX Gateway with "The Iron Dragon"
- Adopt Seminole SECME online: thank you to our sponsors

PAGE 1

Click here to download the attached PDF copy of our Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2011 issue

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Engineering Family Fun Day 2011 Recap

“On behalf of the Southeast Florida Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), we would like to thank Seminole Ridge SECME for your support of the 4th Annual Engineering Family Fun Day (EF2D). We are grateful for you donating your time and resources to participate in this great event. EF2D is a free annual event that the SWE hosts for Palm Beach County students. The objective of the program is to educate the community on engineering and spark an interest in math, science and engineering for students. EF2D informs students and their parents of the qualifications and achievements of engineers and the opportunities available though engineering.

"The 4th Annual EF2D event offered ten activities that provided hands on learning about engineering and science. The activities included Popfly Launcher, Wind Energy, Lemon Battery, Bottle Rocket Launch, Gumdrop Dome, Survey, Lego Tower, Eat Your Science, Egg Bungee and Meet an Engineer. At every location, students had the opportunity to meet and talk to engineers about where they work, what they do, and how to become an engineer. By the end of the day, both students and volunteers learned some of the basic concepts that are used by engineers and scientists every day.

“Seminole Ridge SECME played a huge role in helping to make the 4th Annual EF2D event a success. Without your participation, our event would not have been so successful. We were able to provide a day of fun and learning to over 100 students in Palm Beach County. I hope you will continue to support our event in years to come. Through the loyal support of members and friends we are making great strides towards our goal of supporting women of all ages in their quest for successful careers in engineering.

- Kim Seager
(SEFL SWE President/EF2D Event Chair)

LBST Gotta Regatta

Let's Build Something Together challenge
PROTOTYPE
Raingutter Regatta challenge

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A boat is a watercraft design to float. Types of boats range from canoes to catamarans to cargo carriers. We challenge your team to make a boat that can ferry a Ping-Pong passenger!

MATERIALS PER TEAM
• Masking tape
• 3–5 paint stirrers
• 3 playing cards
• 1 plastic sandwich bags
• 2 rubber bands
• 2 drinking straws
• 1 Ping—Pong ball
• 3 oz paper cup

BRAINSTORM AND DESIGN
Look at your Materials and think about the questions below. Then sketch your ideas on a piece of paper or in your design notebook.

1.How will you make a boat that floats well enough to support a heavy load without sinking?
2.Should your boat be a platform (e.g., a raft or barge) or an open boat (e.g., a rowboat or canoe)?
3.What's the best way to make your boat waterproof?
4.How big do you need to make your boat?

Build, Test, Evaluate & Redesign
Use the Materials to build your boat. Then test it by floating it in a container of water and adding washers, one at a time. When you test, your design may not work as planned. When engineers solve a problem, they try different ideas, learn from mistakes, and try again. The steps they use to arrive at a solution is called the design process. Study the problems and then redesign. For example, if the boat:
•sinks easily—Increase its ability to float. When you set your boat in water, notice how it sinks down a bit, pushing aside some water. The water pushes right back, pressing on the boat's bottom and sides. The force from these pushes is called buoyancy. To change your boat's buoyancy, experiment with the boat's width and the height of its sides.
•leaks a lot—See if the straws are filling with water or if the plastic wrap is separating.
•tips easily—Check how near the weights are to each other. A boat can get tippy when one part is heavier than another.

EngineerGirl! Essay Contest 2012 - Food Engineering

Dear EngineerGirl! Visitor:

We are pleased to announce the National Academy of Engineering’s EngineerGirl! website’s 12th annual Essay Contest. Students are asked to write about the role of engineering in providing safe and nutritious food.

Shopping at your local supermarket is a different experience today than it was even 50 years ago. Today the food we eat comes from around the world and is often already prepared in a wonderful variety of ways. Engineers are actively involved in every step of the process—they design the specialized machines used to plant and harvest crops and develop unique manufacturing processes to prepare, package, and transport foods in safe and secure ways.

Consider these popular foods:
- Applesauce
- Ice cream
- Peanut butter
- Potato chips
- Sandwich bread
- Spaghetti sauce

Grades 3-5: (No more than 500 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Describe how engineers are involved in different steps of the process.

Grades 6-8: (No more than 750 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Choose a technology critical to one or more steps in the process and explain how it works. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the design of the technology as well as key elements of that design.

Grades 9-12: (No more than 1500 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Choose a technology critical to one or more steps in that process and explain how it works. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the design of the technology as well as key elements of that design. Talk about what engineers are currently doing to improve this technology. Be sure to include your references.

Details and rules can be found on the EngineerGirl! website: http://www.engineergirl.org/CMS/Contest/food2012.aspx. Participation is open to both girls and boys in grades 3-12 and submissions must be entered by 6:00 pm (EST) on March 1, 2012. All winning entries will be published on the EngineerGirl! website and winners will receive cash prizes: first place winners $500, second place winners $250, third place winners $100. The 2012 EngineerGirl! Essay Contest was made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

The EngineerGirl! website is designed to spark the curiosity of young people, girls in particular, and encourage them to consider careers in engineering. EngineerGirl! provides career descriptions, profiles of successful women engineers, information about exciting engineering projects, and interactive tools for girls, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors, all designed to encourage girls to pursue an engineering education and career. Launched in 2001, the site is visited by more than 18,000 unique visitors a month and has been featured by the Girl Scouts of America, the Society of Women Engineers, and local and national media in the United States and around the world. The #1 website on Google for “girls + engineering,” Engineer Girl! is a trusted and entertaining resource for young girls, parents, educators, and volunteer engineers involved in student outreach. In a 2011 poll, girls’ reported that viewing the EngineerGirl! website or participating in its annual essay contest caused 63% of them to consider a career in engineering and 81% to consider studying engineering in college. Please visit www.engineergirl.org to learn more.

We look forward to reading some exciting and creative essays and we hope you will help us to spread contest announcement. If you have questions, or seek clarification, please contact the EngineerGirl! team at engineergirl[at]nae[dot]edu.
Best,
Vickie
Victoria Gunderson, Ph.D.
Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow
National Academy of Engineering
vgunderson[at]nae[dot]edu

Engineering Family Fun Day 2011

(Click on the first picture to flip through the photostream)


Seminole Ridge SECME inspired an interest in the areas of math and science in young students in Palm Beach County during the 4th annual “Engineering Family Fun Day” November 5 from 10AM – 2PM at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach.

Sponsored by the non-profit educational and service organization The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) - Southeast Florida Section, the intent is to increase the students’ as well as their parents’, teachers’, and counselors’ knowledge of engineering and other technical fields. SECME senior Caitlin Miller, and sophomores Sam Smith and Jarret Rimel assisted boys and girls during EF2D as they challenged children like cub scouts from Pack 147 to build a popfly launcher with paint stirrers, a PVC pipe coupler and a ping pong ball. The minicatapults were sponsored in part by Lowe's Home Improvement of Royal Palm Beach, store #0654.

Registration now open for Moody’s Mega Math Challenge 2012

Moody’s Mega Math Challenge is an Internet-based, applied math competition for high school students. The contest is free and open to high school juniors and seniors in 29 states in the Eastern United States.

Working in teams of three to five, participants must solve an open-ended, applied math-modeling problem focused on a realistic issue—in 14 hours. Scholarships totaling $115,000 toward the pursuit of higher education are awarded to the top teams. The real-world focus of the competition introduces students to applied math as a powerful problem-solving tool and, potentially, as a viable and exciting profession.

Challenge weekend is set for March 3 and 4, 2012. Register at the website below.

Complete details, sample problems, and archives of previous Challenges are available at: http://M3Challenge.siam.org

[Please feel free to include the above blurb in your e-newsletters, listserv messages, and/or websites] Karthika Muthukumaraswamy, Project Public Awareness
Moody's Mega Math Challenge http://M3Challenge.siam.org m3challenge[at]siam[dot]org

Coming Soon to a T-shirt Near You!