In this issue of Science
Class, the high school edition will focus on Safety
in the Science Classroom.
Each theme will be supported by a range of NSTA-approved teaching
resources: news stories, Internet "SciLinks®," books,
and NSTA journal articles.
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SAFETY IN THE SCIENCE
Safety in the science classroom has become an
increasingly complex issue in recent years. While teachers have
advocated more hands-on experiments to make science attractive to
students, educators have had to factor in state budget cuts, overcrowded
classrooms, and the threat of parental lawsuits resulting from lab
mishaps into their teaching practices. According to the NSTA's position
paper on Safety and School Science Instruction (http://www.nsta.org/pssafety),
"Inherent in many instructional settings including science
is the potential for injury and possible litigation. These issues
can be avoided or reduced by the proper application of a safety
Safety experts note that creating a safe science classroom need
not be a daunting task if teachers have the right tools and knowledge.
For full text of the American Chemical Society's 32-page safety
guide, visit: http://membership.acs.org/c/ccs/pubs/chemical_safety_manual.pdf.
In this issue of Science Class, you will find various resourcesnews
and journal articles, books, and websitesto help you turn
your science classroom into a safe learning environment. Read on
to learn how these resources can help you teach science safely!
Classroom Safety in the News
Science educators reading today's headlines will notice news stories
about science safety focus on lab mishaps, but safety experts say
such accidents can be avoided. Read two articles from Education
Week and The Christian Science Monitor that offer a wealth
of suggestions and resources for creating a safe science classroom
as well as an in-depth look at science safety through a study conducted
by researchers at Drake University in Iowa.
Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Service.
Click here to read the latest:
Safety on the Net
is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online content
chosen for selected keywords. This month's SciLink keyword is:
Safety in the Science Classroom: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=9263569910661033
Safety in NSTA Journal Articles
The following journal articles provide you with ideas for classroom
lessons and activities related to safety in the science classroom
From The Science Teacher archives:: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-06/high_school.htm
NSTA journal articles feature safety guidelines to ensure successful
teaching in the classroom; these tips are embedded in each article.
The safety symbols appearing beside the suggested safety tips are
useful for students and teachers alike.
To learn what the symbols are and what they mean, click here:
on Classroom Safety
Check out these titles from NSTA Recommends:
JASON Opens New Online Courses: Teaching Science Safely
Starting June 23, the JASON Academy will offer four new online
Teaching Science Safely in the Elementary School and Teaching Science
Safely in the Middle School.
These online safety courses lead teachers and administrators to
investigate best practices in classroom and school safety and discuss
criteria for making important decisions in the selection of methods
and materials. The legal implications of classroom practice are
Click here to learn more or to register:
AAAS Project 2061 Offering New Professional Development Workshops
on Atlas of Science Literacy
In 2001, Project 2061 and NSTA published the Atlas of Science
Literacy, a collection of conceptual strand maps for nearly
50 key topics in science, mathematics, and technology. This three-day
Atlas workshop demonstrates how you can use the Atlas
maps (and related Project 2061 resources) to enhance your own understanding
of literacy and to improve your curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Click here to learn more or to register:
Field Editors Sought for NSTA
NSTA is seeking field editors for The Science Teacher and
for the Journal of College Science Teaching. Click below
to learn more:
The Science Teacher: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-06/tstfead.pdf
Journal of College Science Teaching: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-05/jcst.htm
Write for NSTA's Journals
NSTA needs your expertise. To find out how, visit:
The Science Teacher (Grades 912) http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2003-06/tst.htm
NSTA's WebNews Analysis
NSTA's WebNews Analysis is a monthly feature to help you stay abreast
of the latest issues in education and science, offering a digest
of online news articles focusing on a particular issue of importance
to science educators. Don't forget to look for NSTA's WebNews Analysis
on the last Friday of every month!
Click here to read more:
Free Opportunities for Teachers
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