Lab Out Loud

As our students continue their science instruction online and at home, we wanted to take some time to share some free resources from NSTA and beyond. We also get a chance to talk to  Fred Ende's kids - referred to as "6" and "9" - as they share their experiences in science education and connecting with people online. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/03/episode-223-learning-at-home/

Joining the Lab Out Loud podcast this week is Dr. Cassandra Raby, a research fellow at Leeds University Business School looking at diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Dr. Raby recently finishing her Ph.D. studying behavior and disease transmission in Namibian wild baboons, where she reflects: "a lot of my research involves poo". Cass joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss collecting (and transporting) poo, what we can learn from studying disease transmission and social behavior in baboons, and how her experience with field research has helped her succeed in her current research. #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Koud found Cass (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, the podcast will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/03/episode-222-cassandra-raby/

This week, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. J. Bryan Henderson to the show. As an assistant professor at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, part of Bryan’s research is geared towards using the science of learning to design physical and digital environments that encourage student interaction in evidence-based argumentation. This research has helped him to develop Braincandy, a suite of free, online formative assessment tools that seeks to help students better listen to and build upon differing ideas. Bryan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss evidence-based argumentation, how Braincandy can be used to facilitate this practice, and how we can critically reflect on and evaluate student use of technology on their screens, beneath their screens and beyond their screens. Dr. J. Bryan Henderson's research is geared towards using the science of learning to design physical and digital environments that encourage student interaction in evidence-based argumentation. Show

Picking up from their conversation with Jamie Kubiak last year (episode 206: Affirming and Representing LGBTQIA+ Students in Science), the Lab Out Loud podcast connects with Lewis Maday-Travis (he/him/his) and Sam Long (he/him/his) to talk about the need for gender inclusivity in biology and other science classes. Lewis and Sam join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the importance of providing and affirming personal pronouns, offer strategies for gender inclusive practices and language in our classrooms, and provide some resources to guide us in these tasks. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-220-gender-inclusivity/

Continuing their series on #ScientistOutLoud, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Dr. Lauren Robinson to the show. As a postdoc at the University of Veterinary medicine in Vienna, Austria, Lauren studies cooperation and partner roles in canids - particularly North American Grey Wolves. Lauren joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss how she uses her background in psychology in her animal research, describes navigating through scientific research in another country, and shares a little about what we might learn from the social behavior of wolves. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-219-lauren-robinson/

Kicking off a new decade, Lab Out Loud is happy to welcome Joe Shane (Shippensburg University) and Lee Meadows (the University of Alabama at Birmingham) to the show. Joe and Lee (in addition to Ronald Hermann and Ian Binn) are co-authors of a new book from NSTA Press called Making Sense of Science and Religion: Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond. Written for teachers at all levels and also for informal science settings, Making Sense helps educators prepare for student questions about science and religion so they can confidently facilitate discussions while respecting student beliefs. Joe and Lee join us to talk about their new book, describe how they benefit from their attendance at professional conferences, and share some of their strategies for making sense of science and religion in science education. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2020/01/episode-218-science-and-religion/

Continuing their #ScientistOutLoud series, Lab Out Loud welcomes Susanna L. Harris to the show. As a Ph. D. candidate at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Susanna studies how bacteria stick to plant roots. Susanna joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to describe her research, discuss how she got interested in science, and candidly share her path in graduate learning - including her successes and setbacks. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/12/episode-217-susanna-harris/ #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Loud found Susanna (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, they will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work.

To answer some questions about Christmas trees, Lab Out Loud decided to connect with some experts. Tree farmers Neil Krueger (from Kreuger's Christmas Tree Farm) and Shawn Schottler (from St. Croix Valley Trees and the Science Museum of Minnesota) join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss growing and maintaining Christmas Trees, the sustainability of the industry, and even how to keep your tree lasting longer. Make sure to listen to the end of the episode where Shawn proposes a question that science educators can ask their students! Record their answers and submit them to brian@laboutloud.com, and your students might be featured on a future show! Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4710

Returning for a second year, Lab Out Loud is happy to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Gajdzik and Dr. Tamara Moore back to the show to showcase the 2019 Engineering Gift Guide. Each year, Purdue’s INSPIRE Research Institute lab evaluates toys, games, and books that engage girls and boys in engineering thinking and design. Elizabeth and Tamara join co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the selected gifts, how they are evaluated and what research is involved when selecting items that promote engineering practices ranging from coding and spatial reasoning to problem solving and critical thinking. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/11/episode-215-stem-toys/

As a former science teacher and now professor of education at Stanford, Dr. Bryan A. Brown is keenly interested in improving science teaching and learning in urban communities by investigating how language and culture matter for effective science teaching. Some of this work is shared in his new book Science in the City, where Brown examines the interplay of language and culture in effective science teaching. Dr. Brown joins Lab Out Loud to discuss his new book, the power of using technology to adapt to the cultural background of our students, and the need for adjusting our science language that better serves students in inner-city contexts. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4684

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes Katherine Hatcher to the show. As a fifth year Neuroscience PhD Candidate at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Katherine investigates circadian rhythms and how exposure to environmental factors alters behavior and physiology, particularly in midlife women. Katherine joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss her path into research, her day-to-day work as a scientist, and how we might apply research in her field to help live our lives better. #ScientistOutLoud Lab Out Loud found Katherine (and many other scientists) on #sciencetwitter. Throughout season 13, co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler will be showcasing some of these scientists and their work. Shownotes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/10/episode-213-katherine-hatcher/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes Randall Munroe to the show. As creator of the webcomic XKCD, Munroe often features aspects of technology, math, computer science and physics in his drawings. These topics have also had prominence in his books, including his newest book called How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. To hear more about How To, Randall joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about how he started in his career, how he got Serena Williams to serve a tennis ball at a drone (for book research, of course), and how you might use XKCD comics to help teach science in your classroom. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/10/episode-212-randall-munroe/

This week Lab Out Loud welcomes glaciologist Mike MacFerrin to the show. As a researcher from the University of Colorado Boulder, Mike studies ice sheet meltwater feedback in Greenland. Recently, his team discovered that growing ice slabs in Greenland are accelerating meltwater runoff that is contributing to rising sea levels. Mike joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss his work as a glaciologist, explain the revelations and implications from his research, and even describe how climate change is unearthing a secret cold war base buried in Greenland ice. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/09/episode-211-glaciologist-mike-macferrin/

As a science teacher at Curry College in Massachusetts, Abby Hafer is a staunch advocate of teaching peer-reviewed, scientifically accurate content in her college classes. In an effort to protect science education in the state, Hafer recently worked with legislator Kenneth Gordon to draft a bill that adds language to existing curriculum standards that seeks to limit science instruction in Massachusetts to age-appropriate, peer-reviewed scientific fact. In addition to combating academic freedom legislation recently passed in Tennessee (2012) and Louisiana (2008), Hafer hopes this bill will also provide model legislation that protects science education, science teachers and students of science across the nation. Hafer joins Lab Out Loud this week to discuss the bill and its potential impact, while describing how she worked with her legislator to impact science education through politics. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/09/episode-210-requiring-peer-reviewed-science/

To kick off season 13, Lab Out Loud is proud to welcome NSTA President Dennis Schatz to the show. As senior advisor at Pacific Science Center and field editor for NSTA’s Connected Science Learning journal, Dennis has a lifetime of experience delivering science learning beyond the walls of the traditional science classroom. Dennis joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss NSTA's name change that reflects a broader scope on science teaching, the importance of science learning in informal settings, and share some of his science passions with PacSci-Doku and #MondayNightScience. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/08/episode-209-science-and-beyond/

As teachers prepare for the summer months ahead, Lab Out Loud welcomes Griff Jones back to the show to close out season 12. Working with Griff, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has developed engaging, interactive resources found within their new IIHS in the Classroom website. Designed for grades 5-12, IIHS in the Classroom uses the results of highway safety research to help students explore the science behind what happens in a car crash — both to the car and to those inside it — and discover why some vehicles are safer than others. Griff joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the features of the new IIHS website, and discusses the perils of distracted driving and the need for crash avoidance technology. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/?p=4572

An NPR poll recently discovered that most teachers don't teach climate change, yet parents wish they did. To find out more about these findings, Lab Out Loud invited NPR education correspondent Anya Kamenetz to the show. Anya joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to explain why teachers might not teach climate change, provides a few resources for us to change that behavior, and also challenges parents to have these conversations at home. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/05/episode-207-teaching-climate-change/

While still in St. Louis, Lab Out Loud reflects on the NSTA 2019 National Conference on Science Education. Listen to the show to hear co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss conference highlights such as astronaut Scott Kelly's keynote, coming changes to NSTA's name and memorable speakers, sessions, and exhibitors from NSTA's largest professional development gathering for science teaching. Don't forget to check out the show notes for links, tweets and pictures! Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/04/episode-205-nsta-2019/

Nathan Schreiber returns to Lab Out Loud to talk about his newest project using a graphic novel to teach physics concepts. In Big Trouble with Simple Machines, Schreiber's characters solve problems using their knowledge of simple machines, with each chapter providing a new challenge with ramps, wedges, screws, levers, pulleys, wheels, and axles. There is even an illustrated appendix guiding readers to make and experience their own simple machines! Nathan joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss the recently released graphic novel, how comic book art can engage students in learning science, and how his work can portray science concepts in a way that photographs cannot. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/04/episode-204-simple-machines-graphic-novel/

Lab Out Loud's guest this week is Sarah McAnulty, squid biologist and founder of Skype a Scientist. Using SKYPE or other video chat tools, SKYPE a Scientist connects real scientists with classes around the world. Through these video sessions, classes can learn more about the scientist's field of study, what it means to be a scientist and how they do their job. Sarah joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to talk about the program, and how it promotes scientific literacy, communication and outreach. Listen to the show to find out how you can be matched with a scientist or join a live Q&A session held weekly. Show notes at: https://laboutloud.com/2019/03/episode-203-skype-a-scientist/