Math coaching is an important part of MMSA’s professional learning experiences. Over the course of the year we have worked with several districts, developing a mathematics professional learning plan and working with educators depending on the goals the district and educators have set forth. These are some examples from our STEM Math Education Specialists along… [Read More]
STEMports – “Socially Distanced” Augmented Reality Game Goes Live!
STEMports is entering its third year this October and the team is hard at work developing an augmented reality game app for Maine youth! Wait, what was that—what is STEMports? STEMports is a three-year National Science Foundation Smart and Connected Communities project that partners with rural communities and schools to develop an innovative STEM learning… [Read More]
Teach ME Outside Launches New Tools and Initiatives to Support Community-Based Environmental Learning
Teach ME Outside is excited to announce the launch of several new initiatives and tools to support schools’ and organizations’ ability to implement community-based environmental learning. A team of 15 in-school and out-of-school educators, administrators, and leaders in environmental learning across Maine began meeting in June to compile a list of high-quality community-based environmental learning… [Read More]
Our Math Consulting Team is Growing!
The MMSA math consulting team supports mathematics educators through project work, consulting, and curriculum development. MMSA strives to identify opportunities to support educators in learning how to integrate mathematical practices into STEM learning, both for in-person and virtual instruction. We work statewide to provide educators and administrators with the support to integrate high quality mathematics… [Read More]
Breaking the Assessment Barrier with ACRES Animation
Over the last year the ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) research team has piloted and deployed an innovative new assessment tool utilizing animation software to mimic an afterschool program. This tool allows participants an opportunity to give feedback about an educator’s use of questioning skills. Built off of the idea of virtual… [Read More]
Place-Based Learning for Elementary Science at Scale
Science class has looked like a lot of different things over the years. We all have memories of dissecting frogs, memorizing the planets, and building volcanoes. Maybe we still cringe at our first attempt at the science fair or, maybe we still have our ribbons displayed. Slowly, we have shifted away from memorizing the steps… [Read More]
MMSA’s Board of Directors 2020/2021
The mission of MMSA impacts many diverse stakeholders ranging from educators themselves, to the students they reach, to businesses that hire a qualified STEM workforce, to parents, and everyone in-between. It is with this in mind that we work towards building a board of directors that reflects those stakeholders. MMSA’s board has grown in strength… [Read More]
ACRES Team Wins 2 STEMforALL Video Awards
This week the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance’s Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM Project (ACRES) won two national awards for a 3-minute video showing their online work in virtual coaching for afterschool providers. “2020 STEM for ALL” is a national video showcase featuring 171 short videos of cutting-edge STEM education programs funded by the National… [Read More]
Managing Virtual Learning During Covid-19
We hope you are well and finding ways to decrease your stress during these difficult times. Your efforts to be creative, resourceful, and resilient do not go unacknowledged. You matter and are inspiring in your efforts to pivot so quickly. Kuddos to you! We thought we would take a moment to share some analogies to… [Read More]