TXESS Revolution

Sherre pointed out that I was not clear in answering the question about mass-loss in radioactive decay. Sorry about that! I don't recall the exact question and answer I gave, but someone asked, I think, if the rock lost mass due to radioactive decay.

So, there is a change of mass within the atom that is decaying. When alpha decay happens, the nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons, for a mass-loss of about 4, which is significant. But the alpha particle is heavy, and it doesn't leave the crystal, generally. It is ejected from the nucleus of the atom, but is trapped in the crystal structure. So the mineral, and the rock, do not lose mass, although the atom does. With beta decay, an electron is either ejected or captured. Electrons are small enough, and high enough energy, that they can exit the crystal, so there will be slight change in mass, but electrons weigh very very little, so it would not be easily measured.

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Summer Programs available for your female students interested in exploring engineering at UT Austin.

CONSIDER EVERY OPTION (CEO)
Grades: Female High School Students Currently 9th – 11th Grades
Dates: June 7 – 11, 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: UT Austin Campus

Priority Application Deadline: March 5, 2010
Web site: http://www.engr. utexas.edu/ wep/k12/ceo

Geoscience Currents are quick snapshots of data released by AGI (American Geological Institute) on the status of the geoscience workforce. The Currents also represent data collaborations with other societies, employers, and professionals.

The most recent Geoscience Currents issue discusses an important topic for TXESS Revolution Participants: the fact that national trends in degrees of K-12 teachers between 1993 and 2006 indicate a low representation of teachers with geoscience degrees.

"K-12 education provides an important formative stage in a student’s education, and the coursework to which
students are exposed during this period (especially during high school) influences choices they make in regards
to college majors. Examination of national trends in degrees of K-12 teachers between 1993 and 2006 indicates a
low representation of teachers with geoscience degrees."... read more at http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/Currents/Currents-028-K12TeacherDegrees....

For eight weeks beginning in November 2009, off the coast of New Zealand, an international team of 34 scientists and 92 support staff and crew on board the scientific drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution (JR) were at work investigating sea-level change in a region called the Canterbury Basin. It proved to be a record-breaking trip for the research team. (Note: This is the cruise where TXESS teacher Julie Pollard was the onboard educator.)

The JR is one of the primary research vessels of an international research program called the Integrated Ocean Drilling ...
More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116257&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51

UTIG scientist, Paul Mann, was quoted today in the New York Times regarding his research on Caribbean tectonics and the recent Haiti earthquakes. Read more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/science/26fault.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0...

As a TXESS Revolution participant, you are expected to create an professional electronic portfolio on your blog space. The documents or information to be included are:

1. A resume/CV
2. Statement of Teaching Philosophy
3. Reflective essays documenting expectations at the outset of the TXESS Revolution program, progress and summary of achievements. At this point, there should be two essays (expectations and progress). You'll post the thrid, and final essay, at the end of the program in February.
4. One or two images or a short video clip of your teaching (DO NOT SHOW IMAGES OF YOUR STUDENTS).
5. A lesson that you developed for use in your classroom by adapting a TXESS Revolution activity.
6. A reflection on how your students received either the adpated lesson, or one that you created with your newfound knowledge about Earth and Space Science.

Currently, I am collaborating with Hilary Olson, Eleanour Snow and Marsha Willis to prepare in-service science teachers through the TXESS Revolution project, a five-year professional development program to teach geoscience from the Earth system science perspective. I use current pedagogical approaches designed to foster critical thinking and an understanding of the scientific process. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of enthusiastic and informed Earth Science teachers who will be able to transfer their knowledge of our planet and its processes to their own students.

BACKGROUND