From the STEM - MSiC E-Zine #2

Dear education, community, and business partners.
We are excited to share our latest newsletter with you.
Enjoy "From the STEM" in a new e-zine format!

Best for the PC: View the e-magazine version

Best for the iPad: Download and view as a PDF

Best for Printing (white background): Download PDF file

Spinning Spiders in 3D!

On March 2, 2013 middle school students at our Let’s Innovate! Student Conference got up close and personal with tarantulas, beetles, and hissing cockroaches as they participated in a 360 product photography & 3D virtual imagery workshop with Dr. Michael Holroyd of Arqspin and Rhonda Hawley, our very own Spider Woman. Using a little spider/insect know-how from the session, digital cameras, tripods, and turntables, students created interactive 360 photography displays of these amazing creatures on their iPads. At the end of the conference, one student remarked, "I especially enjoyed the Spinning Spiders class, because I got to see and look at real live creatures."

High School Students Take on Technology!

Team Edison2 roared onto the MathScience Innovation Center campus on February 15, 2013, demonstrating their Very Light Car, winner of the $5 million X-Prize international competition. Brad Jaeger, race car driver and mechanical engineer, was the keynote speaker for our high school Let’s Innovate! / GRCTM Student Conference. Students and their teachers explored changes in oceanic biodiversity, augmented reality, math perspectives in art, forensics, innovations in earthquake prediction techniques, and mathematical applications to tracking disease in workshops presented by a host of scientists and mathematicians from Virginia Commonwealth University, the College of William & Mary, and the MathScience Innovation Center. When asked what they thought of the day, one student explained," I liked how we all explored different aspects of math and science as it could be applied to everyday lives and jobs" Another student added, "It was fun, educational and helped me really see behind the scenes of modern mathematics and science."

NASA celebrates Aerospace Days at the MSiC

4th-8th Grade Educators put the engineering design model to the test on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 as they were challenged to build "satellites" and "rocket launchers" from paper cups, tape, tongue depressors, and pipe cleaners.
Col. Brandon Hargis used guided inquiry techniques to demonstrate how to engage students in critical thinking and problem solving skills through engineering activities. Our Center Director, Hollee Freeman, NASA Langley's Director Lesa Roe, and Senator Tim Kaine joined us in our "Out of This World" day of professional development.

In Demand - High Needs Areas

Is your academic or professional experience in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or healthcare? If it is, you are well on your way to using these skills in the classroom.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Healthcare ( STEM-H) have continued to be highly sought after fields in the workforce. Supporting the nationwide emphasis on STEM-H related careers, teachers have become an even more valuable asset in developing the talent and skills of students through their own expertise in these areas. Teachers with a background in STEM and STEM-H related fields should highlight these experiences and skills during the job interview process.

Minecraft© at the Center - Join the fun!

Here at the MSIC we recently decided to have a class on the video game Minecraft. Why a class about a game? Most videogames involve achieving objectives before moving on to the next goal until you win. Minecraft is not like that, at all. The creation of the class first stemmed from how this game models a real world situation of survival. In Minecraft, you use your imagination and creativity to construct a world block by block that is your own. It shows children how they can engineer their own environment by managing their resources. Minecraft enables you to adapt and overcome obstacles and challenges that are constantly presented to you.

I had a lot of fun creating this class for the student. Having been a Minecraft player for years, it was exciting to think about the concepts I wanted to convey to get the children interested and involved. For this class, I first had to create a curriculum so I could plan out exactly what the class would cover. I also created a PowerPoint presentation that explains the Minecraft world and the options available. The PowerPoint is used as a visual aid to help students understand what a unique experience they are a part of.

The Minecraft world also allows the students to play online with each other and interact. This experience will allow them to manipulate the world with the help of the other children in the class. They will take away a newly found understanding of the Minecraft world to go home and start their own. Check out our Student Programs where we are going to be offering Minecraft several times this year.

"Ross Cruikshank, VCU Mechanical Engineering Student"

MSiC Collaborates with Henrico High School on Lesson Makeover

A common thread in science and in education is collaboration. Earlier this spring, Vonita Giddings, an IB Biology Teacher at Henrico High School, contacted educators Steve Oden and Aron Fristoe at the MathScience Innovation Center (MSiC) for ideas on incorporating data logging into a biology lesson. Data logging devices, also known as "probeware," are used for gathering scientific data over time and utilizing technology that allows students to collect specific, real time data.

News Channel 8: Showcase Richmond Va - MSiC

Haley Buick GMC's Barry Moore recently invited MSiC Director Dr. Hollee Freeman to speak about the Center on News Channel 8's televised news feature Showcase Richmond Virginia.

Member Video Submission: Fall Field Trips