Archives: Board Reports

NSTA Representative - #19

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: William F McComas
Associated Reports:
#12 NSTA Partnership
Report/Summary of Activities
  • Met with former President Debi Hanuscin both in person as the conference, and later through a zoom call to discuss the work of the NSTA Liaison position. I also met in person with Flavio Mendez who is our NSTA representative.

This is a complex position that the ASTE President assumes (in rotation with other similar positions). As part of this rotation, McComas will be the ASTA-NSTA liaison.  As such I will consider the committee structure that Deb has established.  Currently, there are three subcommittees, each with 6 members (the rationale for this is to spread the work and increase the opportunities for service).  Those committees are A) Webinar, B) NSTA conference session and C) Chapter Relations and Preservice (how are ASTE members using NSTA resources).  Two members of each committee have served their terms and will need to be replaced if we continue the current committee structure.  One issue is that NSTA will soon have just one conference annually, so the work of Committee B will be reduced considerably.  In addition, I co-hosted one of the NSTA/ASTE webinars on Eclipses that was well attended.  Finally, the ASTE/NSTA liaison is on the NSTA Board with an invitation to attend the on-line summer board meeting.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
I would be pleased to have any discussion regarding maintaining (or not) the subcommittee structure described above. It seems that our current relationship with NSTA is quite complex and we should ensure that it is one of mutual benefit to the members of both groups.  We might revisit the MOU on this point. Also, the ASTE president assigned by rotation as NSTA representative is added to the NSTA Board.  I don't know if that makes sense but being new to the position am interested in studying this further with help from the ASTE board members.  What I do know is that the NSTA board meeting (virtual) is on July 11, 12 and 13 and I am not able to attend so I would like to discuss how a substitute or series of substitutes might be names.
Planned Activities:
Further strategic partnerships between NSTA and ASTE particularly where both parties benefit from such an alliance.

NSTA Partnership Committee - #12

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: William F McComas
Associated Reports:
I don't yet know the distinction between the NSTA Partership Committee (which Debi H) has to this point been responsible for and the NSTA Representative (Report #19) so I am not adding anything here for the Parternship Committee but will offer some comments later as Report #19 (which also appeared in the overall report of the President Elect (Report #2)
Report/Summary of Activities

See Note

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
None
Planned Activities:
See Note

Technology Forum - #17g

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Nick Lux
Associated Reports:
None
Report/Summary of Activities

Activities in 2022/2023 for the Technology Forum focused on two primary efforts: a) Technology Forum meeting at the annual meeting in Salt Lake City; b) organizing the review process for the selecting the 2023 John C. Park National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship award winner; c) Election of new co-chair.

First, the Technology Forum met on Friday, January 13 during the annual ASTE meeting. At the meeting, the discussion focused primarily on  brainstorming more efficient ways to review papers for the 2023 John C. Park National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship award. In addition, given the connection between the Technology Forum and the Society for Instructional Technology and Teacher Education, possible intersections with the SITE conference held each March were also discussed at the forum meeting.

The second major activity in which the Technology Forum engaged was organizing efforts to review papers for the 2023 John C. Park National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship award. Four Technology Forum members volunteered to serve with forum co-chairs for the review process for six total reviewers. Reviewers agreed on three finalist papers, all of which were considered top-tier submissions. This year’s winner was Darby Drageset (University of Florida) and co-authors Kent Crippen, Jeungtae Eom, and Richard Bex (University of Florida). Their paper focused on an investigation using virtual reality technologies (VR) to address science learning issues for preservice teachers to improve teacher preparation for teaching science, and is titled “Using Virtual Reality with Pre-Service Elementary Science Teachers to Promote Valid Conceptions of the Reason for the Seasons”.

Finally, by virtue of the close connection between the SITE Science Education SIG and the ASTE Technology Forum, the forum welcomes newly elected co-chair Stuart White (white152@purdue.edu). Stuart was elected as the new SITE Science Education SIG co-chair to replace outgoing co-chair Nathan Dolenc, and therefore joins Nick Lux as current co-chairs of the ASTE Technology Forum.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
None
Planned Activities:
For 2023/2024, current co-chair Nick Lux plans to on-board newly elected co-chair Stuart White (Purdue University). In addition, Stuart and Nick plan to make the review process more efficient for the John C. Park National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship award. And lastly, Stuart and Nick will plan the agenda for the Technology Forum Meeting at the 2024 ASTE meeting.
Additional Files
Technology Forum Agenda ASTE 2023

Newsletter Editor/Communications - #7a

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Jennifer Oramous
Associated Reports:
None
Report/Summary of Activities

We are continuing to work on each issue in conjunction with the communications committee and some great volunteers. I feel that the newsletter is in a pretty good place at the moment. We have changed the format to online with an email containing blurbs to the membership. We are trying to return the Newsletter Sleuths but currently don’t know how to make that happen in the new format.

Solicitations for pieces have been well received, and contributors did a great job with what they wrote and are including more pictures in their submissions as well. The online submission form has simplified the collection process greatly. However, there are still a few people who submit via email. This is challenging to make sure that we have gathered all the submissions. We are also working on how to edit everything best before it goes live.

We are open to any suggestions that you would like to make for future issues. Thank you for your time and patience as we continue to grow the newsletter.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
No items to discuss as of today.
Planned Activities:
Continue to create a quality newsletter being sensitive to suggestions offered for continual improvement. Publication schedule Quarterly with submissions due: Autumn (Issue 1)        Oct. 10 Winter (Issue 2)          Feb. 10 Spring (Issue 3)           May 10 Summer (Issue 4)        Aug. 10 The newsletter Draft is sent out for review/comment by the 25th of each of these months and distributed to members shortly after.

Mid-Atlantic Region - #15b

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Rachel Wilson
Report/Summary of Activities

Our regional meeting at the 2023 ASTE meeting occurred and we discussed plans for the fall 2023 MA-ASTE Conference.

 

The MA-ASTE website (https://ma.theaste.org/) has been updated to include current leadership, as well as information related to our upcoming fall regional conference.

 

The Mid-Atlantic ASTE Facebook Group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAASTE) continues to provide an opportunity for regional members on the social media platform to exchange ideas about high-quality science education between conferences. The MAASTE Facebook group page is moderated by Rommel Miranda, Rachel Wilson, Eric Pyle, and Tina Cartwright.

 

In addition, an email listserv continues to be updated to use as an alternative means of communication with regional members, as not every regional member is on Facebook.

 

The Mid-Atlantic Secretary will continue to take minutes at official MA-ASTE meetings. PayPal has been used successfully since the 2017 regional meeting for conference registration payment.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
None
Planned Activities:
Plan and advertise the 2023 MA-ASTE Regional Conference. Special thanks goes to our 2023 regional conference planning team from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. During the regional 2023 meeting, members will elect a new Regional Director.   Submit MA-ASTE activities to the ASTE newsletter.   Maintain MA-ASTE site on ASTE online webpage.   Maintain communication through the MA-ASTE Facebook Page.   Maintain a MA-ASTE conference registration page with PayPal Account link.   Notification and requirements to apply for the 2023 MA-ASTE Dr. Patricia A. Obenauf Graduate Student Presentation Award and 2023 Legacy Award.   Future Regional meetings will rotate among VA, WV, NC, KY, OH, and TN.   Work with Treasurer to pursue non-profit status for MA-ASTE.

NTLS/EASE - #21

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Andrea C. Burrows Borowczak
Report/Summary of Activities

I have attended NTLS for the past several years (first as CITE Editor and now as President) and will continue doing so this September 2023 and next (Sept 2024 as Past President) in Washington, DC. This has been a beneficial meeting with other editors and association presidents. It has been instrumental in bringing ASTE into the NTLS spotlight for grant work. I can discuss current talks with Dr. Glen Bull from UVA and others.

 

I have not gotten a response back from EASE, and the last information looks like it is from the conference in 2022. The conference appears to happen every two years- https://theease.org/

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
MOU with NTLS (e.g., David Slykhuis) - should we move forward?
Planned Activities:
Creating MOU with NTLS

Elementary Science Methods Forum - #17a

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Melanie Reap
Associated Reports:
none
Report/Summary of Activities

Forum met during the meeting in Salt Lake City. Discussion centered on syllabi development. Our group was divided between those with just 0-2 years of methods experience and those with well above 4 years’ experience. we saw this as a strength going forward as we have a sound foundation of experience to draw upon for the novices.  Our next meeting is in August. We have a Facebook page as well as the Forum Google page:

https://sites.google.com/view/methods4methods/home?authuser=0

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/methods4methods

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
None
Planned Activities:
Meeting via Zoom in August 23

Policy and Gov. Relations Forum - #17e

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Ian Binns
Associated Reports:
none
Report/Summary of Activities

None to report. Joe Shane and I have said for several years that we are no longer interested in chairing this forum. We have asked members if they would take over this forum. No one has said yes.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
I recommend the board of directors dissolve this forum. As per the SOPs, the board may dissolve a forum if it is deemed inactive. One reason to dissolve a forum is for limited membership (fewer than 10). We have had fewer than 10 members for many years. I am no longer interested in running this forum.
Planned Activities:
none

Graduate Student Forum (GSF) - #17c

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Sabrina Avila
Associated Reports:
n/a
Report/Summary of Activities
  • Communicating to ASTE Graduate Members
    • Engagement with graduate students via GSF social media (Facebook and Twitter) accounts is questionable. We have gained insight about how best to communicate information to ASTE graduate student members. A communication survey early in the year was used to assess the main forms of communication preferred by graduate student members and update the email list. Email is still the main form of communication, but we are gaining traction through Twitter, Facebook, and have added an Instagram page. This was also reflected in feedback from the Mini-in-May when asked about how participants learned about the event.
  • Communicating to ASTE Regions
    • This semester we have also met with Dr. Amanda Gunning who was able to introduce and connect us with representatives from all ASTE regions. The goal of this communication is to increase graduate student participation in ASTE through improved communication between the ASTE GSF and ASTE regions. We were able to share and have the regional representatives promote the ASTE GSF Mini-in-May event. The regional representatives also shared their upcoming regional events with us to promote through the ASTE GSF communication platforms.

 

  • 3rd Annual ASTE Graduate Student Forum Mini-in-May Conference (virtual)
    To meet the ASTE strategic priority on equity, we named the conference theme as Communities of Support and conference sessions to highlight how ASTE brings resources and DEI support in higher education/science teacher education research

    • Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023; 12:00n-2:30pm EST
      • Surveyed graduate students of which time of day worked best for a conference
      • Majority of students chose 11am-2pm; we chose the timeframe being mindful of students on West Coast and international students
    • Schedule was sent out to ASTE GSF and non-member graduate students outside of ASTE:
      • Welcome by Dr. Andrea Borowczak, President of ASTE
      • Keynote by Dr. Rommel Miranda, Past-President of ASTE
      • 2 rounds of breakout sessions with topics and facilitators:
        • Felicia Mensah, Teachers College, Columbia University: Writing Schedule & Time Management
        • Julianne Wenner, Clemson University: Supporting Women in Academe
        • Julie Contino, American Museum of Natural History: ASTE Forums, Teaching Residencies
      • Grad Student Tip and Tricks
      • Last session: Networking & getting involved with ASTE
      • Incentive: Book giveaway
    • Conference Organizers:
      Sabrina Avila (current President), Jenna Gist (President-elect), Meredith Schwendemann (Vice President)
    • Purpose: The Mini-in-May helps to maintain community and support for our ASTE graduate student members and potential graduate student members after and between the official ASTE Conferences in January.
    • We used the official ASTE Zoom Room – ensured closed captioning was used
    • Approximately 20 attendees
    • Link to Jamboard: https://jamboard.google.com/d/15T7TumH6R4ORM8Fp0vELljNxugwBXt3c2v3O4CD8ppM/edit?usp=sharinggwBXt3c2v3O4CD8ppM/edit?usp=sharing
    • Positive Feedback
      • Mensah’s session on creating a writing schedule was phenomenal!
      • Opportunities for small group conversations.
      • The breakout rooms and the topics discussed in the breakout rooms
      • Getting one-on-one conferences with presenters being very real and how they navigate the academy and life
      • The breakout rooms
      • The chance to network/meet other grad students with similar interests.
      • Grad students networking
      • Well organized discussion ideas. The jamboard was a nice way to follow along.
      • I really liked the camaraderie and sense of togetherness
      • the information and support
      • Resources shared by the presenters
      • Informal, making connections with people
      • Thank you so much for the Mini-in-May conference. I am so glad I came. It was very well organized. The speakers really reached my heart.
    • Constructive Feedback
      • More sessions on helping grad students navigate academia.
      • Writing and publishing support.
      • Maybe a 10-minute break in between sessions would be great.
      • this was great, and I am not sure right now what else can be added
      • New PhD student session
      • Make it a little shorter.
      • A mentor for grad students applying or considering research in science education
      • Mini in (other months)
      • It would be nice to have a 8-10 minute break to get a snack/water and use the restroom. I wanted to sneak away but didn’t want to miss anything. In my time zone, the conference started at 11 AM and ended at 1:30 PM, so it was right through lunch.
      • break time during the event
      • I would like to participate in like many activities. Thank you!!!
      • Explicit focus on justice, critical theories and methodologies

 

  • Continued Conversations – Virtual Collaboration and Writing Space
    • Most Mini-in-May attendees said they would appreciate an online collaboration and writing space during the summer.
      • “I would love to hang out for a virtual writing retreat if there is any coming up.”
    • Will use email, social media and GSF link on ASTE webpage – share information and upcoming events
    • GSF exec will plan other topical sessions for FALL including prep for NOLA
      • Work in Progress
Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:

  • Given constant “changing” status of grad students, it is difficult to maintain an accurate mailing list. How might the board and greater membership feel about the ability for faculty members to add their graduate students (and interested grad students) to a list / google form for greater reach. This could also be a good recruitment tool. Is this happening? Can we create a link to join listserv on website - would have to check the list - automated the Board uses or do we review manually? Is there a Unsubscribe from list link?

  • Explore mechanisms for more ways of assisting graduate students’ ASTE conference fees. For example, the 3MT pays the upcoming year conference fee for one graduate student, yet this is selective only for graduate students that have data available to present (and are typically a new faculty member at the time of award).

  • Is this happening? In previous years, the Grad Forum had discussed a Grad Student Poster session (similar to NARST) that included pre-conference mentoring by an ASTE member at a different institution in a similar field. How would board and general membership feel about this idea? Discussions between it being practitioner/action research focused for in-classroom research and curriculum design (more like work that TA-ships would include, as these often do not have direct mentorship like research labs do) or the standard “empirical” research symposium. Would love Board thoughts on directions. With WiP poster sessions, we wouldn’t want it to feel like overlap – the mentoring segment before the conference would be highly emphasized.


Planned Activities:

  • Sessions for 2024 ASTE Conference

    • GSF Business Luncheon

    • Three Minute Thesis® Competition

    • Graduate Student Workshop

    • Informal (non-sponsored) graduate student mixer



  • Continue Mini-in-May conference

  • Maintain GSF social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

  • Maintain & Revamp GSF handbook for effective leadership transitions

  • Consider more formalized development of , including one with just the graduate student liaisons.

  • creation and maintenance of monthly/quarterly sharing spaces for graduate students to write, network, present in-progress work, and/or receive other professional development.

  • Continue to communicate with the ASTE regions to promote graduate student involvement in ASTE. Within this next year, we plan to recruit graduate students who would like to be more involved with ASTE to serve as liaisons between previous bullet point in this section)


 

CSSP Representative - #20

Summer 2023
Submitter Name: Rommel Miranda
Associated Reports:
None
Report/Summary of Activities

-I was planning to attend the leadership conference in March. However the conference was postponed until December.

Items for Discussion and/or Board Action:
None.
Planned Activities:
-Attend CSSP Leadership Meeting in December