Lab Out Loud

As webmaster for the ENSI (Evolution and the Nature of Sciences Institute) website, Larry Flammer has helped to provide a number of free, student-centered, interactive lessons focusing on the nature of science.  So Larry wrote Science Surprises: Exploring the Nature of Science - a text supplement available as an eBook that helps teach the nature of science, with lessons for practicing scientific argumentation, and critical and skeptical thinking.  Listen to the episode as Larry talks to us about the nature of science, and learn how his eBook could help replace (or at least supplement) the standard introductory chapter in any secondary science textbook.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2893

This week Lab Out Loud turns their  attention to science demonstrations.  And who better to talk about demos than Steve Spangler.  Famously known for his Mentos+Diet Coke experiment, Steve is an engaging and entertaining speaker and YouTube sensation.  Steve joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about how demonstrations can engage students, while promoting safety, fostering critical thinking and providing suggestions for science you can do at home.  Listen to the show for some inspiration on how you might use more demos and videos in your classroom and at home.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2878

This week Lab Out Loud turns their  attention to science demonstrations.  And who better to talk about demos than Steve Spangler.  Famously known for his Mentos+Diet Coke experiment, Steve is an engaging and entertaining speaker and YouTube sensation.  Steve joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about how demonstrations can engage students, while promoting safety, fostering critical thinking and providing suggestions for science you can do at home.  Listen to the show for some inspiration on how you might use more demos and videos in your classroom and at home.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2878

As founder of BirdBrain Technologies and maker of the Hummingbird Robotics Kit, Tom Lauwer has been busy infusing robotics into classrooms of all types.  In fact, Tom hails from the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute’s CREATE lab (you might remember the CREATE lab when we talked about robots with Illah Nourbakhsh) where he focused on the process of designing hardware and software to support learners and educational environments.  A few years later, Tom's Hummingbird has been successful in helping teachers enrich their curricula with creativity using robotics.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2856

As founder of BirdBrain Technologies and maker of the Hummingbird Robotics Kit, Tom Lauwer has been busy infusing robotics into classrooms of all types.  In fact, Tom hails from the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute’s CREATE lab (you might remember the CREATE lab when we talked about robots with Illah Nourbakhsh) where he focused on the process of designing hardware and software to support learners and educational environments.  A few years later, Tom's Hummingbird has been successful in helping teachers enrich their curricula with creativity using robotics.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2856

Season eight of of Lab Out Loud starts with our thoughts turning towards climate science.  As Programs and Policy Director for the National Center for Science Education, Mark McCaffrey boasts an impressive resume in climate and environmental science.  Mark helped lead the development of the Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and has testified before the House Subcommittee on Research about climate and environmental education.  As the author of the recently published book “Climate Smart & Energy Wise” (Corwin Press), Mark argues how humanity’s greatest challenge is missing from American science classrooms.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2835

Season eight of of Lab Out Loud starts with our thoughts turning towards climate science.  As Programs and Policy Director for the National Center for Science Education, Mark McCaffrey boasts an impressive resume in climate and environmental science.  Mark helped lead the development of the Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and has testified before the House Subcommittee on Research about climate and environmental education.  As the author of the recently published book “Climate Smart & Energy Wise” (Corwin Press), Mark argues how humanity’s greatest challenge is missing from American science classrooms.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2835

Episode 113 - Teaching Pseudoscience in the Classroom

For the final episode of season seven, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler invite Rodney Schmalz and Steven Lilienfeld to Lab Out Loud.  Schmalz and Lilienfeld recently published an article discussing the use of pseudoscience in the science classroom to help give students the tools needed to differentiate between scientific and pseudo-scientific or paranormal claims.  Listen to the episode to learn how you might use pseudoscience appropriately in your science instruction.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2803

Episode 113 - Teaching Pseudoscience in the Classroom

For the final episode of season seven, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler invite Rodney Schmalz and Steven Lilienfeld to Lab Out Loud.  Schmalz and Lilienfeld recently published an article discussing the use of pseudoscience in the science classroom to help give students the tools needed to differentiate between scientific and pseudo-scientific or paranormal claims.  Listen to the episode to learn how you might use pseudoscience appropriately in your science instruction.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2803

This week co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler welcome journalist Amy Harmon to Lab Out Loud.  Harmon recently wrote an article for the NY Times in which she examined a county council in Hawaii that wanted to ban genetically modified organisms.  Listen to the show as Harmon unravels the intersection of politics and science in this heated debate, and you will discover many resources that you can bring back into your classroom to discuss genetically modified organisms.

Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2782