The Lawrence Hall of Science All-Hall Learning Committee

Learning Resources—a list of resources that might be helpful to everyone

Upcoming Events | Past Events

Digital Media & Learning Conference—Recap
Andrew Falk, Sherry Hsi, Kate Jordan, Chris Keller, Ari Krakowski, Joel Rosenberg, & Lynn Tran
From COSEE/MARE, CTI, EBAYS, FOSS, GEMS, & SEPUP
Wednesday, April 25, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 222

The 2012 Digital Media and Learning Conference was held in San Francisco on March 1-3. Several staff from the Hall across different centers and departments attended and presented at the conference. Come talk with us about what we learned and participate in a conversation on digital technology, learning, and science.

Conference sessions explored the richer, deeper learning enabled by the emergence of Web-enabled, mobile-based platforms that promote new models of peer-to-peer learning, anywhere/anytime learning, blended learning and game-based learning, both in school and out of school. There was four core threads running throughout the sessions: democratizing learning innovation, innovations for public education, re-imagining media for learning, and making/tinkering/remixing.

These thread steered discussions and thoughts headlong into pressing debates around the role of technology and the future of education and learning, including:

What are the primary purposes and practices of education, and how can technology accelerate or decelerate them?

When we talk about disruptive technologies, what systems and players are we really seeking to change and to what end?

What sectors, institutions and populations are we mobilizing for innovation and for whom are we mobilizing them?

How do we design, build and fund infrastructures around new connections across and configurations of learning?

How do we cultivate a healthy, symbiotic ecosystem of innovation that leads to a future of Connected Learning?

Honey Bees
Kim Allen
Tuesday, May 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 222

Kim will describe the fascinating biology and ecology of honey bees, and will discuss challenges and rewards of keeping bees and her experience introducing bee keeping to disadvantaged youth. Honey tasting included!!

Jungle Exploration in the 21^st Century
Ian McFadden
Wednesday, June 13, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Complemented by vibrant photos of Southeast Asian flora and fauna, Ian will share his experiences utilizing emerging and ancient technologies to study and protect jungles.

Past events | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

January-March
April-June

April-June Events:

The Transit of Venus
Toshi Komatsu, Director of Digital Theaters at the Lawerence Hall of Science
Wednesday, April 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m., The Planetarium

The upcoming Transit of Venus on June 5 is a last in a lifetime event. The previous transit of Venus was in 2004, but not visible from the Bay Area. The next transit of Venus after June 5 isn't for over a century! Find out why these transits are so rare, and how they have shaped our understanding of our own Solar System—and other star systems!

AERA Presentation
Research Group Staff
Tuesday, April 3, 10:15-11:30 a.m., Room 150

Staff from the Research Group (formerly REA) who will be presenting at the upcoming American Educational Research Association Conference will be doing a run-through of their presentations. Come support your colleagues and learn about the interesting research they have been involved with. Five different brief presentations/posters will be shared.

January-March Events:

Proposal Development and the Academic Planning Committee
Barbara Nagle, Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Room 222
PDF (157KB)

Are you a new Project Director/Principal Investigator, or hoping to become one in the next couple of years? The Academic Planning Committee (APC) works with ProjectDirectors/Principal Investigators to help improve the quality of proposals submitted to external funders. Barbara Nagle, APC Chair, will review the proposal development process in a session for new and potential future PIs.

The Science of Beer and Brewing: Learn and Taste!
Matt Jacoby, Dan Bluestein, Frank Kusiak, CTI at the Lawrence Hall of Science
Tuesday, March 13
Talk: 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 150
Tasting: 5:00-6:00 p.m., Room 150

Despite what your older cousins told you as a kid, beer is not a magic potion. Like most magical things - it's merely science. Have you ever wondered what gives beer it's fizz? What's the difference between a lager and an ale? What are hops and why do we put them in beer? Learn all you ever wanted to know at this AHLC presentation.

We'll be discussing the history of brewing, brewing chemistry, and the science of beer enjoyment. If you hate beer, find out why. If you love beer, find out how to make your own. Learn how to talk about beer's appearance, smell, and flavor - and how these characteristics are related to its composition. Learn to pick a good beer and avoid bad beer. Impress your friends! Vex your enemies!

Come and join us for a tasting session to be held at 5 PM in Room 150. Priority will be given to the people who attend the talk from 12-1, and then on a first come, first serve basis. You must be 21 years of age to participate in the tasting. Donations welcome.

Meet the BEETLES!
Kevin Beals & Craig Strang
Wednesday, March 7, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 150

Come learn about this exciting new acronym you may have seen crawling around the Hall: BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning, Expertise & Sharing). The BEETLES project is specifically targeting residential outdoor science programs (environmental education camps). Beginning locally, then statewide, then nationally, BEETLES will be developing and delivering a flexible professional development system, as well as collecting, developing and sharing exemplary “camp appropriate” curricula. About 25% of all known life forms are beetles, a few of whom work at the Hall, and at this AHLC they will be sharing their enthusiasm and vision for this project.

Long Range Planning for the Hall
Elizabeth Stage
Wednesday, February 29, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Auditorium
Vimeo (47:36) password: LHS2012

The Lawrence Hall of Science has been a leader in Science Education for over 40 years. However, in a rapidly changing field amidst uncertain financial circumstances, we have recognized that to remain relevant thought and practice leaders we must look to the future and create a strategic plan supported by sustainable programatic and business plans. Not only will this plan support our long-term vision, driving sustainable innovation, it will inform a much-needed renovation of the Hall’s physical facilities. (Indeed, some of you may recall a presentation that I made that alluded to this renovation plan; doing the long-range business plan is a necessary next step in getting campus approval to go forward.)

On February 29th from 1-2pm, I'll summarize the long range planning process which will take place over the next year or so, walking through the goals and processes and will introduce the consultants we have retained to support this process by providing us with outside analysis and recommendations. I'll explain the mechanisms and channels for your involvement and input during this process. The second half of the meeting will provide an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns, and maybe even answer questions and address concerns.

Improving the LHS Waste Disposal System
Claire Porter, Campus Recycling & Refuse Services
Tuesday, February 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 150

Claire Porter, from Campus Recycling & Refuse Services, will present on plans to improve the Hall's waste disposal system, including better labeled recycling bins and introducing composting in the Café.

Statewide Study on Science Education
Rena Dorph & Ardice Hartry
Monday, February 13, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Room 150
PowerPoint (1.12MB)

Rena Dorph and Ardice Hartry from The Research Group at the Hall will present results from a study of the condition of science education in California elementary schools. Their recently published report, High Hopes, Few Opportunities: The Status of Elementary Science Education in California, reveals that intense pressure to meet accountability goals in mathematics and English has limited the quality of science learning opportunities available to elementary school students and the amount of time spent on science. Further, teachers and schools do not have the infrastructure support needed to consistently provide students with quality science learning opportunities. Come hear more about the findings and the recommendations for strengthening science education in California.

ASTC Conference Debrief
Hall Staff
Wednesday, January 25, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 222

All staff are invited to a sessions debriefing the ASTC conference, held in Baltimore, MD, October 15-18, 2011. Various attendees to the October ASTC conference will present. Hear the latest, weirdest, coolest, and/or hottest from the science center field in programs, exhibits, collaborations, products, etc. as well as what the Hall was doing there. Bring your own lunch.

Suntrain! Developing a solar-powered full-service rail system for California
David Vasquez
Wednesday, January 18, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Room 150

David Vasquez is a computer graphics specialist with a background in urban planning, education, and communications technology. For Suntrain he is Vice President of Communications and has—since 2007—written two books about Suntrain: Mr. Swan’s Big Idea (Sopo Press, 2009) and the newly released Suntrain.
In the San Francisco Bay Area he has built up a freelance business as a computer graphics specialist and urban design visualization consultant for transit agencies and engineering firms in Northern California. This includes both photo-simulations and 3-D animation and film sequences such as appear on this website. Clients have included such engineering firms as URS, Parsons, Arup, as well as public agencies such as San Francisco Municipal Railway and Transbay Joint Powers Authority, and San Francisco Transportation Authority. Railway animation has become his specialty and promotional videos done for the proposed California High Speed Rail system have appeared widely around the state on television.

He also teaches at several major colleges, most recently for the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University, as well as the Sustainable Design Program at the University of California at Berkeley Extension.

Vasquez received his Bachelors Degree in Urban Studies from San Francisco State University, and a Doctorate in education, with emphasis on cognitive science and computer-based learning, from the University of San Francisco.