News

In Partnership with Virginia’s Transportation Construction Alliance and Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter

VAST Announces Summer 2023 Rockin’ PD

Save the Dates: Tentative Dates for Tours of Operating Quarries

• June 23, 2023 – E. Dillon & Co. – Swords Creek, VA (SW VA) 
• June 30, 2023 – C.W. Barger & Son – Lexington, VA 
• July 21, 2023 – Vulcan – Dale Quarry – Chester, VA 
• July 28, 2023 – Luck Stone – Bull Run Quarry – Chantilly, VA 

The second annual Rockin’ PD will be held this summer. These unique experiences are free of charge to VAST members and open to educators of all grade levels.

Earn professional development hours, if approved by your school evaluators!

For more information, check the VAST website and future newsletters for updated information. Attend one or all four drive-in field trips at four unique Virginia locations.

2022 PDI presentations are now available for VAST members:

https://vast.wildapricot.org/2022PDIPresentations/

Download the latest issue of The Science Educator:

https://vast.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/January2023v71n3.pdf

Download the latest issue of The Science Educator:

https://vast.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/NewsletterOct22.pdf

The summer edition of the Jounal of Virginia Science Education is now available: https://vast.wildapricot.org/jvsev16n1/

The late Spring edition of The Science Educator is now available for downlaod.

https://vast.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/May2022v70n5.pdf

Donna Sterling Institute

Using Problem-based Learning in Finding Smart Solutions in Energy and Climate Science

November 10, 2022; 8am-3pm

In Person: Double Tree by Hilton-Williamsburg, VA

We are pleased to announce the 2022 Donna Sterling Institute with Don Haas as the featured speaker and in conjunction with NEED Energy.

Participants will

1. Use a PBL approach to learn about climate and energy.

2. Engage in National Energy Education Development (NEED) activities to support understanding of climate and alternative energy.

3. Learn and apply the key components of a PBL unit to meet Virginia Standards and the needs of your students.

Registration includes a hotel room for Wednesday night, breakfast and lunch, plus 7 hours of recertification points.

Donna Sterling Institute Registration: $75

(Institute registration fee does not include registration for the VAST PDI)

https://vast.wildapricot.org/event-4766879

Registration Opens March 15 and Ends October 31, 2022

Donna Sterling’s vision of problem-based learning (PBL) as a means of teaching and integrating science with math, engineering, technology, and language arts is timeless.  She was committed to meeting the diverse needs of our students through culturally responsive and equitable practices.  Her legacy lives on in the Sterling Institute which supports teachers in developing and enacting PBL units in their instruction through a 7-hour professional development experience.

Here is your chance to learn how to implement this powerful teaching strategy!

Instructors: Jaclyn Claytor, Robin Curtis, Dr. Elizabeth Edmondson, Emily Hawbaker, Suzanne Kirk, Dr. Jennifer Maeng, Dr. Anne Mannarino, Dr. Juanita Jo Matkins, Dr. Jackie McDonnough, LoriAnn Pawlik, and Dr. Eric Pyle Retiring President NSTA.

The Spring Edition of The Science Educator Is Now Available

https://vast.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/spring2022v70n4.pdf

The winter edition of The Science Educator is now available:  

https://vast.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/January2022NewsletterV70N3.pdf

Click here to download.