Lab Out Loud

The Bad Astronomer (a.k.a. Phil Plait) has been busy since we've last had him on Lab Out Loud.  As astronomer, public speaker, science evangelizer, and author, Phil can now add YouTube host to his resume.  Working with Hank and John Green (Crash Course) and PBS Digital Studios, Phil has been writing and filming a new series on YouTube called Crash Course Astronomy.  Listen to the show to hear about the show and how you might properly use it in your classroom. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2968 

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes journalist Mark Johnson to the show.  As medical and science journalist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, researching and communicating science to the public is the core of Mark's work.   Excelling in long form journalism, Mark joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about his experiences with science journalism, including the Pulitzer Prize winning story of Nicholas Volker and a new series in the lab of Dr. Murray Blackmore.  Listen to the show to see how you might use science articles in the classroom to learn science content, discuss ethical issues and examine examples of real scientific research.   Show notes at:  http://laboutloud.com/?p=2955

According to our Lab Out Loud's guest, Einstein thought like an artist, and Picasso thought like a scientist.  As Professor emeritus of history and philosophy of science at University College London, Arthur I. Miller has been exploring the intersection of art and science.  His new book Colliding Worlds: How Cutting-Edge Science is Redefining Contemporary Art tells the story of how art, science and technology are fusing in the twenty-first century.  Listen to the Lab Out Loud to learn about how you might encourage art in your science class "…leaving the door open for the next as yet unimaginable avant-garde".   Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2937

As science educators, we are likely to recognize Sputnik as the first satellite in space.  But what has happened with satellites since Sputnik?  How many satellites are even out there, and how do we rely upon them?  To help answer some of these questions, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler welcome Dr. James Clay Moltz to the show.  As author of Crowded Orbits, Dr. Moltz examines the conflict and cooperation in space with the growing number of satellites managed by public, commercial and even private entities.  Listen to Lab Out Loud to learn about our history with satellites in space, what the future of satellites might look like, and what that could mean for our students today.   Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2926

To prepare for this episode, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler had to do a little homework: see the movie Interstellar. After seeing it, they knew they had to invite Kip Thorne back to Lab Out Loud.  As Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus, at the California Institute of Technology, Thorne was the scientific advisor and executive producer of Interstellar.  Dr. Thorne joins Lab Out Loud to discuss Interstellar, the science in the movie, and how it might inspire us to dream about our future.   Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2904

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

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

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

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes Neil Shubin to the show.  As paleontologist and anatomy professor at the University of Chicago, Shubin has had some fantastic opportunities to hunt for fossils and use them to communicate stories of our own evolution.  In 2008, he wrote these stories into Your Inner Fish – a national bestselling book that has now been adapted into a three-part series on PBS.  With contagious enthusiasm, Shubin talks to co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler about his experiences as a scientist, teacher, and in communicating science. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2764

Elementary science has been on the minds lately of Lab Out Loud's co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler.  So it is fitting that their guest this week has been working hard helping elementary teachers tackle the Next Generation Science Standards.  As Coordinator for Elementary Science in Baltimore County Schools, Eric Cromwell has the task of moving a large number of schools and teachers into an NGSS based curriculum.  Listen to the show to hear of Eric's experience in this transition as Lab Out Loud discusses how elementary schools can embrace the NGSS. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2757

Join Lab Out Loud this week as hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler talk to Illah Nourbakhsh, author of Robot Futures.  As Professor of Robotics at The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Illah has been building and thinking about robotics for most of his life.  Illah joins Lab Out Loud to talk about his book, our potential future with robots and how students should be inspired to learn with purpose. Show notes at: Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2735

Co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler invite Karen Worth to the show to discuss NSTA's recent adoption of a position statement in Early Childhood Science Education.  In addition to helping write the position statement, Worth serves as faculty member at Wheelock College where she teaches courses in elementary education and science education to pre-service and in-service teachers.  Listen to Lab Out Loud to learn about the what the position statement says about young children and science learning, and why this is a unique and progressive statement. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2722

Join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler and they talk about Snowy Owls with Ryan Brady. As research scientist with the Wisconsin DNR, Ryan serves as the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative Bird Monitoring Coordinator.  Listen to Lab Out Loud as Ryan talks about this winter's snowy owl irruption, how to connect with other birders, and how you might be able to find snowy owls in your own region. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2705

This week we welcome Fred Ende back to the show. Fred recently had an article published in the Science Scope (January 2014) discussing the use of stories in assessments.  Fred talks to us about his experience with story assessments, his student results and how you can create your own story assessments. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2686

As the nation thaws out from record lows, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler thought it would be a good time to chat with meteorologist Jeff Last about our cold weather.  Jeff is a Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay, WI. Listen to Lab Out Loud as Jeff explains the Polar Vortex, and discusses our cold weather and atmospheric phenomena that can be observed at these low temperatures. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2673

As professor of physics at Georgia Tech, Schatz has been running a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) for introductory physics with laboratory.  Schatz talks to Lab Out Loud about his experience with the class, how the online lab requirements work, and his plans to expand it. Show notes at: http://laboutloud.com/?p=2661

Imagine the chemistry set of the 21st century; that's the idea behind a new  competition.  SPARK, The Science Play and Research Kit competition, is a project of the Society for Science & the Public, in collaboration with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  To learn more about the competition, Lab Out Loud contacted Janet Coffey - program officer at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  Listen to hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to learn how you can submit an idea or prototype for the competition. Show notes at:http://laboutloud.com/?p=2648