Digital Learning is on its way…
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Last month, we asked our customers and opinion leaders across the country about how digital tools in the elementary science classroom.

We found the results of the survey very interesting, and thought you might, too.

Check them out!

Science Companion Customer Digital Survey

Science Companion Opinion Leaders Digital Survey

Our thanks to everyone who participated! We had teachers, school and district administrators, university faculty, Science Center and Intermediate Unit staff, elementary education consultants, and more respond.

While it looks as though different areas of the country are moving at different speeds towards digital education, it does look as though it’s coming — almost everyone was pretty sure that they would be using some sort of notebook computer, online access, and Apps within the next five years.

The times, they are a-changing!

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Rita Ferrandino Attends White House Community Briefing on Education Issues

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WASHINGTON, DC – July 19, 2011 – Sarasota resident Rita Ferrandino joined roughly 150 Floridians at the White House on Friday, July 15th, as part of the Office of Public Engagement’s Community Leaders Briefing Series. Ferrandino, CEO of Science Companion’s publisher, Chicago Educational Publishing Company, LLC, is involved in a number of education and STEM Education advocacy organizations.

The Briefing Series is a unique opportunity for grassroots leaders to come to Washington to hear directly from White House officials on the issues that are affecting communities and to learn more about the President’s priorities and initiatives from the people that work on them every day. In return, the White House gets to hear directly what is going on in our communities. The goal of the program is to strengthen the dialogue between community activists and their government.

During the briefings, Ferrandino heard from a number of top administration officials, including Deputy Commerce Secretary and Tampa resident Francisco Sanchez and Deputy NASA Administrator Lori Garver. The session included an hour-long Q&A with top White House officials, during which Ferrandino stressed the need for investment in STEM education. Ferrandino also participated in a roundtable discussion with officials from the U.S. Department of Education. President Obama made a unscheduled stop after his press conference on the debt ceiling to address the community leaders.

“Each year, we lose more ground in our global competitiveness because we lag behind in STEM education,” said Ferrandino. “It is vitally important that we support our educators in providing the best STEM education possible, challenging them to help our children build their curiosity and comprehension.”

Rita with DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz

“Most children only get about two hours of science a week in elementary school, despite studies showing that science learning must start early – both because it’s cumulative learning and kids fall behind quickly, and because by middle school, kids have already defined their interests,” continued Ferrandino. “If they don’t get any real exposure to science before that, they rarely find it engaging.”

While in DC, Ferrandino also attended a meeting held by Senator Bill Nelson and Representatives Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson and Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz,. The meeting focused on key education issues, as well as including a discussion about the on-going debt negotiations. If you are interested in engaging and monitoring in activities at the White House, go to www.whitehouse.gov/engage where you can sign up receive e-mails directly.

Join our marketing director Leigh (and a host of other critters) as they explore the Catskill Mountains around her farm — and what happens when it rains and rains and rains, with a lesson from our new Soils module!

Click here to download our Mud in the Mountains! Virtual Field Trip…

Want to be a Science Companion Virtual Field Trip Guide?

We’re having so much fun with these that we’d like to share!

Send us pictures from your vacation this summer to enter our Intrepid Virtual Field Trip Guide contest. If we choose your photos to fit with a lesson from one of our modules (you’re welcome to make suggestions or leave it to us), we’ll feature you as our guide and send you a free Science Skill Builders module, which is a great tool for any elementary classroom!

Send your photos and/or any questions to leigh(a)sciencecompanion.com!

Join us for a celebration of speed and motion at the Indianapolis 500, combined with a lesson from our Motion module.

Click here to download the Indy 500 Motion Virtual Field Trip…

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Want to be a Science Companion Virtual Field Trip Guide?

We’re having so much fun with these that we’d like to share!

Send us pictures from your vacation this summer to enter our Intrepid Virtual Field Trip Guide contest. If we choose your photos to fit with a lesson from one of our modules (you’re welcome to make suggestions or leave it to us), we’ll feature you as our guide and send you a free Science Skill Builders module, which is a great tool for any elementary classroom!

Send your photos and/or any questions to leigh(a)sciencecompanion.com!

Erin gets to hold a corn snake, pets a barn owl, and hugs a monitor lizard! We’re envious…

This month, we invite you to look up!

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Science Companion Life Cycles Virtual Field Trip

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Additional free Virtual Field Trips are located here

Introduce technology and engineering seamlessly to your students at an unbeatable price!

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Get the S, T & E of your STEM education needs met easily and affordably.

Our Design Projects can either stand alone or support both compatible Science Companion modules and curriculum from FOSS and STC , making it easy to add technology and design right onto your existing science lessons. They’re accessible and engaging for both students and teachers.  (And did we mention they were a great price?)

Click here to find your rep!

Click here to download a flyer!

Find out what’s cooking at Science Companion!

Coming to the Indiana Textbook Caravan?

We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Stop by our booth and try your hand at inquiry science, take away a sampler to share Science Companion with your colleagues, and check out our presentation to find out how you can get your classrooms cooking with Science Companion.
(And ask us how you can win a chance at your own Let’s Get Cooking! apron…)

Can’t make it live? Join us for a Virtual Caravan!

For those of you who are unable to join us OR for those who just can’t get enough Caravan, come one by to find photos, presentations, science teaching tips, Virtual Field trips, recipes from friends and colleagues, and chances for an apron as well, all on our website. We’ll be updating it daily, so stop by to see what’s cooking!

Click here to visit the First Ever Annual Science Companion Virtual Indiana Textbook Caravan!

Download it here:

Science Companion Light Field Trip