Year in Review 2020-21

Study: Faculty networks not enough to spread evidence-based practices

Eager to learn the latest in instructional practices that research says will better engage and educate her students, an assistant professor of biochemistry attends a virtual workshop devoted to exactly that. A seminal theory proposed in the mid-20th century would suggest that she, as an early adopter of the innovations, might share them with fellow faculty in her department, maybe in her college, possibly even across her university. New research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that she will, too — but probably just with the choir of faculty who are already practicing what she’s preaching. The article's lead author, University of Minnesota’s Kelly Lane, was previously a postdoctoral faculty member advised by Brian Couch at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The researchers received support from the National Science Foundation and NebraskaSCIENCE. Read more

14 UNL students join STEM CONNECT in Fall 2020

STEM CONNECT is pleased to announce the selection of the Fall 2020 Scholars at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to its scholarship program and STEM community partnership with Southeast Community College and Western Nebraska Community College. Fourteen UNL students were selected as new Scholars, as well as 11 new Scholars at SCC and four at WNCC. Read more in our October newsletter for a list of names and majors.

Research in computer engineering drives transfer student

Software engineering major rises to challenges

Exploring how computer science can improve society

Profiles of Scholars at UNL, SCC and WCC

Women in Science Conference utilizes virtual field trips

The 22nd Women in Science Conference, postponed from 2020, was rescheduled for April 9-10, 2021, as an online event. The conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Laura Trouille of the Adler Planetarium and Northwestern University, and a total of 57 students from Nebraska and Kansas, representing 11 schools, attended. In case you missed it, you can watch a recording of Trouille’s presentation on citizen science with your students at: https://youtu.be/OmwdmOB9Fpc. Trouille is the VP of Science Engagement and Visualization at the Adler and a research associate at the Northwestern University CIERA Center for Astrophysics. Morrill Hall presented a virtual field trip to the students, and engineers at Duncan Aviation gave a virtual tour of their facilities. Read more

Nebraska Math and Science Summer Institutes

Learning in place continued in the summer of 2021, as the Nebraska Math and Science Summer Institutes offered 15 courses via web conferencing, as well as three grant-funded courses in computer science, three online courses for the Master of Arts for Teachers degree, and one in-person course on the UNL campus. NMSSI courses, grant courses and courses required for degrees welcomed 165 graduate students in NebraskaMATH and NebraskaSCIENCE for a total of 290 registrations in 23 courses. Fifteen educators from outside of Nebraska joined 135 distinct Cornhusker State teachers on this online journey. Science offerings included the highly popular GEOS 898: Weather, Climate and Climate Change and new courses ASTR 898: Phenomena of Planetary Satellites, BIOS 897: Evolution in Action, SOCI 898: Using Systems Thinking in Network Science, and TEAC 893: Engineering in the K-6 Classroom.

For more information: NMSSI

Adapt, Implement and Research (AIR@NE)
welcomes third cohort

Eighteen teachers were chosen for the third cohort of CSForAll: Adapt, Implement, and Research at Nebraska (AIR@NE), a $2 million NSF-funded grant that examines the adaptation and implementation of a validated K-8 Computer Science curriculum in diverse school districts. Selected teachers receive tuition and fees for two graduate courses in the summer (CSCE 805T: Introduction to Computer Science I for Teachers and TEAC 851L: CS Pedagogy); $1,500 worth of computer science hardware and software; funding to travel to one conference; and $100 stipends per academic-year meeting. Twenty-four teachers recently completed the second cohort, composed of teachers from Central Nebraska, and those courses were held online. They join 29 teachers from the Lincoln area who completed the first cohort of AIR@NE.

CSMCE supports Nebraska Academy of Sciences's virtual meeting

The Nebraska Academy of Sciences hosted its 131st Annual Meeting on the mornings of April 23-24, 2021, providing a "virtual" venue for students, faculty, and other scientists to share their research with peers and colleagues across Nebraska. Concurrent sessions showcased themes across a range of scientific disciplines. NAS President Sally Harms presented the State of the Academy address, followed by the 2021 Maiben Lecture: Reflections of a Nebraska Herpetologist, presented by Dennis Ferraro. There was also the annual presentation of the Friend of Science award. Event support was provided by the CSMCE. Read the abstracts

• A book co-edited by Wendy Smith of the CSMCE has been published by the American Mathematical Society. "Transformational Change Efforts: Student Engagement in Mathematics through an Institutional Network for Active Learning" describes how the grant helps launch institutional transformations in mathematics departments to improve student success. The book reports findings from the Student Engagement in Mathematics through an Institutional Network for Active Learning (SEMINAL) study. SEMINAL's purpose is to help change agents, those looking to (or currently attempting to) enact change within mathematics departments and beyond—trying to reform the instruction of their lower division mathematics courses in order to promote high achievement for all students. The book was copy edited by CSMCE Assistant Director Lindsay Augustyn.
• On August 3, 2020, the White House announced the most recent recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This year's teachers represent 7-12th grade educators from across the United States. The mathematics teacher awarded from Nebraska was Deb Bulin of Thayer Central, a participant in NebraskaMATH. She was also a regional teacher leader for our TEAMS (Teaching to Enhance Achievement in Mathematics and Science) Math Science Partnership from the state of Nebraska in 2017. Bulin has been an educator for 27 years and has spent the last 24 years teaching mathematics at Thayer Central Community School. She currently teaches College Algebra and Trigonometry as dual-credit classes, as well as Algebra 1, Geometry, Applied Math, and a coding class to 8th-12th grade students. Read more
• Fifteen University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty members have been selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Office of Research and Economic Development’s Research Leaders Program, including Wendy Smith, the associate director of the Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education, and Tomas Helikar of NebraskaSCIENCE. Among the first of its kind in the nation, this initiative to identify and develop Nebraska’s next generation of research leaders is in partnership with the Center for Professional and Executive Development in the College of Business. Participants were selected through a competitive application process.
• Keting Chen, human sciences doctoral student in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, is exploring how home and child care environments are associated with preschoolers’ numeracy skills — the ability to understand and work with numbers — and how parents and teachers can ensure those skills are where they need to be once the children enter school. Chen is also one of the research assistants for the AIR@NE grant.
• Congratulations to Paul Timm, a science teacher in grades 7-12 at Lyons-Decatur Northeast Secondary School in Lyons, who was named the Nebraska 2021 Teacher of the Year during a surprise award presentation on Oct. 7. Timm was a leader in the TEAMS grant, a partnership between the Nebraska Department of Education and NebraskaSCIENCE from 2017 to 2018. Timm began his teaching career in Laurel, Nebraska, where he taught agriculture education. He currently teaches seventh-12th grade science at Lyons-Decatur Northeast Secondary School, where he has been since 2008.
• University of Nebraska at Omaha assistant professor Kelly Gomez-Johnson is one of nine recipients of the UNO Alumni Association's Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award. Gomez-Johnson, who teaches in the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, is a past NebraskaMATH participant.
• NebraskaMATH outstanding teacher leaders Amber Vlasnik and Susie Katt graduated from UNL Dec. 19, 2020, with their doctorates in Educational Studies, both with a Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning specialization. Learn more about their journeys.
• Patriot Elementary Allie Elsasser was recognized as “PLCS Staff is PLCS Great” by Papillion La Vista Community Schools on Dec. 11, 2020. Elsasser, a graduate of the Primarily Math program, has been nominated for her patience and kindness with students. Allie was nominated by a parent who said, "Her passion for teaching shows with every email and SeeSaw post to her students’ families."
• Congratulations to Jason Vitosh of Falls City High School, the 2020 winner of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association's Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year Award! Vitosh is a Noyce Master Teacher and has taught several MAT courses.
• Congratulations to Lincoln Southeast mathematics teacher and department chair Sherry West, a Noyce Master Teacher, who was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America as the recipient of the 2021 Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award.