While web sites, listservs and newsletters abound, it is still difficult to stay on top of the all the professional development opportunities and teaching resources available for teachers in North Carolina. The following is a breakdown of most of the outlets for getting information about science education.

Let me count the ways…
There are 4 main methods for disseminating information.

• Mailing Lists or Listservs: A listserv is basically one email address that goes to many people. When you join a list you will get all the emails sent to the list. Many lists are moderated. This means that the list owner must approve messages before they go out to everyone else. The number of messages you will get each day or week depends on the list.
  
  
• Web Sites: Some web sites contain calendars or listings of workshops, freebies, field trips and more. Ideally they are updated frequently.
  
  
• Professional Organizations: Many state and regional organizations sponsor programs or conferences. They may also have listservs or websites (see above) for their membership.
  
  
• Building a Presence: While BaP is basically a listserv, it is set up like a tree with the state director sending messages to Key Leaders at each LEA or school district and then the Key Leaders forwarding information to the Points of Contact at each school who then distribute information to the science teachers at their school. BaP is sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association. For information on joining and an archive of posts visit http://www.ncsta.org/bap/.

So where are these listservs, sites, and organizations? The following is a list of the largest and most active of these in North Carolina. If you feel anyone has been left off the list please contact Beth Harris (beth_harris@ncsu.edu). The list will continue to be maintained and updated.

Listservs

NCSciTeach - for all science teachers in North Carolina. This unmoderated* list is owned by Dr. John Park at NC State University and receives 3-5 messages/week. To join the list visit http://lists.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/mj_wwwusr and type ncsciteach in the mailing list box. Enter your email address on the next page and click subscribe. To send to the list just email NCSciTeach@lists.ncsu.edu.

The Science House - this monthly newsletter is open to all teachers in North Carolina. The moderated* list is owned by Beth Harris at The Science House and receives about 1 message each month. Members may not post to this list. A newsletter of events at The Science House and its satellite offices as well as those sponsored by Science House friends are sent once a month. To join the list visit http://lists.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/mj_wwwusr and type science_house in the mailing list box. Enter your email address on the next page and click subscribe.

NCDPI - The Science section of the Department of Public Instruction has a moderated* list serve for science supervisors which is supposed to be for Central Office people with supervision of the science curriculum. However, they also include department chairs, other teachers, school level administrators, and IHE people. To join email Eleanor Hasse (eehasse@dpi.state.nc.us) with your name, position, full contact information including phone, e-mail and snail mail. This list serve is only for DPI notices

DPI also has three moderated* lists for parents, teachers and administrators. To join visit http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/newsletters.html and follow the directions. Messages are sent out bi-weekly.

NC-EE - sponsored by the NC Office of Environmental Education, this unmoderated* list receives 1-3 messages per day and is for environmental educators of all sorts. To join, visit this link on the Office of Environmental Education website:
http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/whatisoffice/listserv.htm To send to the list email nc-ee@wwwadm.ncmail.net.

*What does moderated mean? In a moderated list posts by members require approval by the moderator. The moderator reads and approves all messages before they go to the list members. In an unmoderated list, any member may post a message that automatically goes to all of the list members. All the listservs given hear are monitored by their owners and rarely receive any spam.

Web Sites

K12 Outreach Directory http://www.science-house.org/k12-directory/ - The K12 Outreach Directory is run by The Science House and is a searchable database of programs, workshops field trips and more. Search my grade level, location, time of year or type of activity. Anyone offering programs for NC students and teachers may submit their programs to the database. The Science House web site also has learning materials available online at http://www.science-house.org.

Learn NC http://www.learnnc.org/ - Learn NC is run by the UNC School of Education and contains learning resources and online professional development on all topics including a searchable database of lesson plans.

Office of Environmental Education http://www.eenorthcarolina.org
has online resources for teaching, professional development for teachers and a directory of environmental education centers across the state. This site is a clearinghouse for EE activities and information in NC.

Professional Organizations

NCSTA (North Carolina Science Teachers Association) http://www.ncsta.org
NCSTA has an annual professional development institute held in Greensboro in November. The website has a calendar of professional development activities as well as other resources listed by subject area (http://www.ncsta.org/resources/). There is also a listserv for members only with periodic postings of NCSTA news. If you are a member and are not on the list send your name, email and membership number to Beth Harris (beth_harris@ncsu.edu). NCSTA hosts the Science Fair web site as well http://www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/.

NCSLA (North Carolina Science Leadership Association) http://www.ncsla.net
NCSLA has a meeting each fall (with the NCSTA institute) and in the spring. NCSLA runs a leadership fellows program for those interested in science education leadership as well as an e-mentoring program for beginning teachers. There is a discussion form on the web site for issues such as textbook adoptions and inquiry teaching.

NC-MSEN (NC Mathematics and Science Education Network) http://www.unc.edu/depts/msen/
MSEN has professional development centers located at 11 of the 16 UNC system campuses that host a variety of programs, initiatives and collaborations. 7 of the centers also host pre-college programs for students. Each centers web page has listings of workshops and other opportunities for teachers in their region and many also have email lists you can join to be notified of events.

EENC (Environmental Educators of NC) http://www.eenc.org/
EENC holds an annual conference in October and has a list of EE workshops under Upcoming Events on its web site.

MAMEA (Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association) http://www.mamea.org/
MAMEA has an annual professional development conference and various other programs for teachers. There is also an email list, which you can join by visiting http://www.mamea.org/list.html.

NCS-AAPT (NC Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers) http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/ncsaapt/
The NCS-AAPT is for physics teachers of all levels and has 2 meetings each year. There is also a listserv moderated by Dr. John Hubisz. You can join by visiting http://lists.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/mj_wwwusr and typing ncsaapt in the mailing list box. Enter your email address on the next page and click subscribe.

NCACS (NC Section of the American Chemical Society) http://membership.acs.org/N/NCarolina/
This group is for chemists of any type although they are periodically involved in educational programs. The Southeast region of the ACS has an annual meeting that features education and outreach. There is also a listserv you can join at http://membership.acs.org/N/NCarolina/listserver.html.

ASB (Association of Southeastern Biologists) http://www.asb.appstate.edu/
ASB is the largest regional biology associations in the country, and is committed to the advancement of biology as a science by the promotion of science education, research, and the application of scientific knowledge to human problems. ASB members include faculty, students, researchers, conservation workers, military and government personnel, and business people with a common interest in biological issues in the southeast.

NCMSA (NC Middle School Association) http://www.ncmsa.net/
This group for K8 teachers holds an annual conference, awards grants and has a catalog of resources for sale.

NC High School Network http://www.nchighschoolnetwork.com/
This group for 9-12 teachers is fairly new and holds an annual conference focusing on the needs of high school educators.

Other groups and web sites worth knowing about

NC Standard Course of Study http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ncscos
See the latest version of the standard course of study for each grade level and subject area.

The Science House http://www.science-house.org
The Science House is the science education outreach arm of NC State University with the mission to work in partnership with K12 teachers to increase the use and impact of hands-on learning technologies in mathematics and science. The website contains online and print learning materials as well as programs for teachers and students.

SMT Center (NC Science, Math and Technology Education Center) http://www.ncsmt.org/ - started by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund in 2002, this website features a calendar of events, mailing list and the Teacher Link program. The center also advocates for the advancement of science and math education on local and state levels.

NCCAT (North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching) http://www.nccat.org/
Located in Cullowhee. NCCAT offers residential seminars for free to NC teachers on a variety of topics.

MEGA (Middle Educators Global Activities) http://www.ncsu.edu/mega/
MEGA was developed as a partnership between middle grades teachers and NC State's College of Education for enabling educators to teach and use technology in the classroom. The focus of the organization is to provide teachers greater opportunities to improve their technology skills and focus on specific content areas in addition to interdisciplinary projects specific to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Though founded with a focus on middle grades, MEGA has expanded its scope and we welcome and encourage K-12 teachers to participate. MEGA has regular meetings and an active listserv. Membership is free and you can join at http://www.ncsu.edu/mega/joinform.html.

NC Sea Grant http://www.ncseagrant.org/
NC Space Grant http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/spacegrant/
Sea Grant and Space Grant link researchers and educators through learning resources and workshops. Join Space Grant listservs at http://www.ncspacegrant.org/lists/

Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence-SouthEast (COSEE-SE) http://www.scseagrant.org/se-cosee/
This regional COSEE center provides professional development opportunities and ocean sciences resources for teachers in NC, SC, and GA.

NC NASA Education Resource Center http://library.uncc.edu/nasa
A clearinghouse for resources, programs and workshops from NASA for NC teachers.

NCDENR Office of Environmental Education - http://www.eenorthcarolina.org
has online resources for teaching, professional development for teachers and a directory of environmental education centers across the state. This site is a clearinghouse for EE activities and information in NC.

If you know of any resources that should be added to this list, please contact Beth Harris.