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Pennsylvania Science TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

The mission of PSTA is to connect, inform, support, and advocate for science educators and students in Pennsylvania.

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  • 27 Apr 2023 8:09 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    We're excited to announce our theme for PSTA 2023: The Wonder of Science! Do your students ask questions? Do they explain their ideas? PSTA 2023 is about networking with other teachers as we dive into the new STEELS standards!


  • 28 Mar 2023 11:04 AM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    This spring PSTA is offering many different webinars surrounding the new STEELS standards and teaching strategies for your classroom! See the full list below and register at pascience.org/events!

    Upcoming Webinars:

    April 4 at 7 pm: FOSS Pathways: Using local phenomena to support 3D science learning on your journey to science understanding

    April 6 at 7 pm: Starting Early: The New STEELS standards in K-5

    April 11 at 7 pm: Achieving STEELS through Defined Learning

    April 20 at 7 pm: Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) Webinar Series: AST and Phenomenon-Based Units - An Example Unit

    April 25 at 7 pm: Creating an NGSS Ready Classroom for All Students

    May 4 at 7 pm: Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) Webinar Series: How to Develop an AST Unit Using Materials You Already Have

    May 23 at 7 pm: Creating an NGSS Ready School Environment for All Students


  • 27 Mar 2023 12:06 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    Award nominations are now open for our five awards: The Donald Keys Excellence in Science Teaching Award, The PSTA Science Administrator of the Year Award, The William B. McIlwaine Science Teaching Award, The Leadership in Science Education Award, and the PSTA Fellows Award. Only PSTA members can nominate for the awards, but the applicants DO NOT have to be PSTA members. To fill out the nomination form, please complete this form: bit.ly/PSTAawards. For more information about each award, see the Awards pageNominations for awards are due by June 1, 2023. The awards committee will then reach out to the applicants to complete their application. 

  • 20 Mar 2023 2:34 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    If you have questions about the new standards and implementation, check out our FAQ document: https://bit.ly/STEELSfaq

    We worked with PDE to create this document for teachers across the state. 

  • 9 Feb 2023 6:26 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    We are in the process of scheduling webinars for the spring and summer months! Be sure to check our Events page for the links to register via Zoom! 

    Tuesday, February 21st at 7 pm: Conservation Science: A Hands-On STEM Curriculum

    Come learn about how Conservation Science can be used in your classroom. Teachers have stated "This is a really good application based curriculum." Check out how you can use Conservation Science in your specific discipline! The Conservation Science curriculum engages students in doing science and developing important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, data collection, etc.

    Tuesday, February 28th at 7 pm: Skype a Scientist

    Skype a Scientist is a free program that matches teachers with scientists for Q&A sessions! Join Skype a Scientist's founder, Sarah McAnulty, for a practical guide on how to use the program with your classroom.

    Tuesday, April 11th at 7 pm: Achieving STEELS through Defined Learning

    Explore how to drive student engagement and achievement through real-world project-based learning. Explore how Defined Learning provide teachers with the tools that align with STEELS for the  implementation of high-quality PBL that builds future-ready skills.

  • 2 Apr 2022 11:44 AM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    Award nominations are now open for our five awards: The Donald Keys Excellence in Science Teaching Award, The PSTA Science Administrator of the Year Award, The William B. McIlwaine Science Teaching Award, The Leadership in Science Education Award, and the PSTA Fellows Award. Only PSTA members can nominate for the awards, but the applicants DO NOT have to be PSTA members. To fill out the nomination form, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/M4jRcjtrb5a2CttH9 For more information about each award, see below. Nominations for awards are due by June 30, 2022. The awards committee will then reach out to the applicants to complete their application. 

    For more information about each of these awards and the application requirements, see: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CLZzcMb0rgSfbMLxOVOe4e9uxkz4-yGD?usp=sharing

  • 18 Jan 2021 10:02 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    Join two PA science educators on Monday, January 25th for a free webinar and panel discussion. All science educators are welcome to attend as most of the strategies can be transferred across science disciplines. This webinar is not only for chemistry educators! 

    During the webinar, we will share labs that students can do at home, labs with virtual lab partners and discuss evidence-based strategies that work (and those that don't). We will show you how to use programs like Nearpod®, PearDeck®, Edpuzzle® and others, to check for understanding as well as sharing and viewing student data in a socially distanced way. We are also excited to hear about the great things you are doing in your class to maintain the rigor of a college chemistry course in these challenging times.

    REGISTER FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR AT

    https://bit.ly/3sCyQSj

    Presenters: 

    Samantha Ramaswamy, AP Chemistry Teacher


    Michele Whitecraft, Science Education Professor




  • 4 Jan 2021 2:17 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    Based on the new structure of the board, we have some openings and would love to have other science educators join us! Please consider running for one of the following positions that are currently vacant on the PSTA Board of Directors:

    • Vice President
    • Region 1 Representative - composed of IU 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 

    • Region 3 Representative - composed of IU 18 and 19 

    • Region 4 Representative - composed of IU 9, 16, and 17 

    • Region 5 Representative - composed of IU 12, 13, and 15 (special election - only a 1 year term)

    • Western College Representative (open to college and university faculty only) - composed of Regions 7 and 8 (IUs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 27, and 28).

    **For more information about the open positions and the responsibilities, please see this informational document. You must either live or work in the region of which you are applying. See the informational document for a map of the IUs if you are not sure.  

    If you are interested in running for any of these positions or have questions regarding a position, please email our Board of Directors at pstaboard@gmail.com

    When you reply, please include the following and your bio will be added to the ballot:

    1. indicate the position that you are interested in

    2. your school/institution affiliation

    3. your school's county, your county of residence

    4. a short bio about your qualifications

    5. that you are a PSTA member in good standing

    Nominations must be submitted by January 11, 2021.


  • 10 Feb 2020 3:55 PM | Samantha Ramaswamy (Administrator)

    In September 2019, the State Board of Education directed the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to begin the process of updating Pennsylvania’s science standards to align them with current research and best practices, including a review of Next Generation Science Standards. The State Board of Education’s current regulations include two sets of science standards – Science and Technology, and, Environment and Ecology – which serve as the basis for curriculum development and instruction in schools. Both sets of standards took effect on January 5, 2002.

    PDE will examine the state’s current standards, outline the various components that must be addressed when changing regulations, and develop a proposed timeline for making the changes – with the overall goal being to provide the best framework possible to prepare all students to be productive citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PDE’s examination of the current standards includes input from the public. A series of stakeholder engagement sessions will be held across the state and virtually – the public is invited to attend and provide input. The stakeholder session dates, times, and locations appears below.

    Register to attend a stakeholder session

    PSTA understands the complication of these sessions being during the day since most of the stakeholders are teachers. We highly recommend participating in the virtual sessions to share your thoughts and input with PDE. 


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