Communication Center  Conference  Projects Share  Reports from the Field Resources  Library  LSC Project Websites  NSF Program Notes
 How to Use this site    Contact us  LSC-Net: Local Systemic Change Network
Newsclippings and Press Releases

LSC Reference Materials

LSC Case Study Reports

Annual Report Overviews

Summer Workshop Plans

Summer Workshop Plans

  New!     

Science Connections Summer Workshop Agenda

submitter: Science Connections Project
published: 09/03/1999
posted to site: 09/03/1999
How long do your workshops last?

June Summer Institute for Cohort I teacher: 3 full days. This is a follow-up Institute after an 8 day Institute last summer and 4 half-day sessions during the school year.

July/August Summer Institute: Total of 8 days, 4 full days each month. This is the beginning of the training cycle for Cohort II schools.

How many teachers do you involve in your workshops?

June: 60 teachers
July/August: 90 teachers

What are your major goals for your workshops in terms of content and pedagogy? (Just one or two paragraphs)

The goals of the Summer Institute are:

Teachers will:

  • Recognize the need to implement reform-based science instruction to enhance student achievement

  • Develop the skills and knowledge to implement reform-based science instruction

  • Increase science content knowledge

Are you offering professional development on specific curricula that you are hoping will be used in the classroom? If so, which curricula are you using?

  • Scientific Problem Solving: (Grade 6-7-8-) Science Sleuths (Videodiscovery)

  • Patterns and Relationships: (Grade 6) Measuring Time (NSRC)

  • Disease: (Grade 7) Outbreak! (Event-Based Science)

  • Atmospheric Phenomena: (Grade 8) Hurricane! (Event-Based Science)

  • Technology/On-Line Investigations: (Grade 6-7-8) Middle Years Digital Library (University of Michigan)


Science Connections

INSTITUTE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 6, 1999
8:00-9:30
Cafeteria
Coffee and Conversation MCPS Welcome
Dr. Mary Helen Smith
Science Connections
Welcome
Gerry Consuegra, Pat Hagan
9:30-11:30
Common Experience Lessons
Grade 6: B 207 Grade 7: B 204 Grade 8: B 206
Lunch: 11:30-12:30
12:30-2:00
Breakout Sessions
Why Am I Teaching This?
F 209
The Active Classroom
F 206
Ins and Outs of Science Teaching
F 208
Reading & Writing in Science Class
F 200
Inquiring Minds: Life Science
B 204
 
2:00-3:00
Project: Inquiry Lesson
Grade 6: B 207 Grade 7: B 204 Grade 8: B 206

Wednesday, July 7, 1999
8:00-9:30
Breakout Sessions
SPECIALize Your Science Teaching
F 202
Ins and Outs of Science Teaching
F 208
Inquiring Minds: Physical Science
B 207
Current Issues in Science Education
F 208
8-11:30
Special Session
The Middle Years Digital Library
A 204
10:00-11:30
Breakout Sessions
Why Am I Teaching This?
F 209
Optical Data: Windows on Science
B 204
Inquiring Minds: Earth Science
B 206
The Active Classroom
F 206
Lunch: 11:30-12:30
12:30-2:00
Breakout Sessions
SPECIALize Your Science Teaching
F 202
Optical Data: WIndows on Science
B 204
Ins and Outs of Science Teaching
F 208
Prentice Hall: Textbook Support
F 206
12:30-3:00
Special Session
Data Harvest: Ecolog
A 204
2:00-3:00
Project: Inquiry Lesson
Grade 6: B 207    Grade 7: B 204    Grade 8: B 206

Thursday, July 8, 1999
8-11:30
Special Session
The Learning Cycle: Follow-up to the Common Experience Lessons
Media Center
Lunch: 11:30-12:30
12:30-2:00
Breakout Sessions
Why Am I Teaching This?
F 209
Prentice Hall: Textbook Support
F 206
Inquiring Minds: Physical Science
B 207
Reading & Writing in Science Class
F 200
Inquiring Minds: Life Science
B 204
2:00-3:00
Project: Inquiry Lesson
Grade 6: B 207    Grade 7: B 204    Grade 8: B 206

Friday, July 9, 1999
8:00-9:30
Breakout Sessions
Ask A Scientist!
B 207
SPECIALize Your Science Teaching
F 202
The Active Classroom
F 206
Current Issues in Science Education
F 208
Inquiring Minds: Earth Science
B 206
9:30-11:30 School Planning Time
11:30-1:00 Lunch and Celebration
1:00-3:00 School Planning Time

To plan your schedule for the Institute, select one activity for each breakout session. Some sessions are re2quired and the others are electives. The special sessions on Wednesday (MYDL and Ecolog) each run for 3 1/2 hours. Please keep this in mind as you plan your schedule.

  • Required Sessions: Ins and Outs of Science Teaching, Why Am I Teaching This?, The Active Classroom, Project: Inquiry Lesson

  • Special Sessions: Middle Years Digital Library; Ecolog (computer interface)

  • Elective Sessions: Inquiring Minds: Earth, Life and Physical Science, SPECIALize Your Science Teaching, Reading & Writing in Science Class, Current Issues in Science Education, Optical Data: Windows on Science, Prentice Hall: Textbook Support, Ask a Scientist.


Required:

Active Classroom (Room F 206)
Working in paris with a CD-ROM, you will experience a constructivist method of learning about constructivism in the middle school classroom. You will "visit" six classrooms and watch experienced teachers at work, practicing the teaching methods discussed here. There will be opportunities for you to reflect on your own and with others about teaching and learning as applied to this method.

Common Experience Lessons
These hands-on sessions will provide participants with the tools to integrate the 5 E's learning cycle model and effective questioning into an inquiry lesson.

Ins and Outs of Science Teaching (Room F 208)
MSDE objectives are nothing to play around with... or are they? In this lively session, participants will become familiar with Maryland State Department of Education science outcomes and their indicators. Prerequisites: The ability to analyze, debate, and have fun.

Project: Inquiry Lesson (Grade 6 B207; Grade 7 B204; Grade 8 B206)
Participants will plan, produce, revise, and share an inquiry lesson. The lesson should embrace the 5 E's learning cycle, constructivism, and be consistent wiht the MCPS revised middle school science outcomes.

Why Am I Teaching This? (Room F 209)
A brief introduction to the National Science Education Standards (NSES). Includes an overview of the components of the standards, a look at changing emphases in science education and content standards from a developmental perspective.

Electives:

Inquiring Minds Want To Know: Earth Science (Room B 206)
Participants will evaluate their own questioning skills in inquiry-based instruction. Teachers will explore inquiry-based lessons by conducting an investigation which can be used in many of the Earth Science units that relate to density.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know: Life Science (Room B 204)
Come and experience a guided inquiry lesson investigating the relationship between the structure and function of bones in vertebrates. Work with a team to dissect an owl pellet and construct a rodent skeleton. Compare your finished skeleton with a human skeleton model.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know: Physical Science (Room B 207)
Help save the day from foot long cockroaches invading your community! Participants will build a launching device capable of delivering flaming bug deterrent to destroy the cockroaches. Energy, force and motion outcomes will be addressed in this 5 E's activity. Internet enrichment sites will be utilized.

Ask a Scientist (Room B 207)
This informal session is designed to allow teachers to dialog with professionals on a variety of content and curricular related issues.

Current Issues in Science Education (Room F 208)
Participants will read and discuss articles related to constructivism, national and state standards, and inquiry instruction. Reading selections to be used with the students to enhance the curriculum will also be shared along with strategies to incorporate them into lessons.

Data Harvest: EcoLog (A 204)
The workshop will focus on data collection and analysis techniques and the EcoLog interfacing system from Data Harvest Educational. Participants will use the EcoLog device to measure changes in light, temperature, sound, humidity, and barometric pressure. They will also link the interface to a computer to construct and analyze graphs.

Middle Years Digital Library Room (A 204)
This hands-on workshop provides participants with all the tools to itegrate science inquiry and online technology. Through collaborative interdisciplinary activities, teachers guide students on their quest for science knowledge. Participants will gain experience with Internet research skills and science content while encouraging student-driven questions.

Optical Data: Windows on Science (Room B 204)
Participants will learn strategies to use the laser disc program Windows on Science to engage and motivate students and supplement curricular connections to reading and writing.

Prentice Hall: Textbook Support (Room F 206)
During this hands-on session, participants will work with the teacher support software, Resource Pro, for the new Science Explorer textbook series. Receive a complimentary teachers' edition textbook and CD-ROM

Reading and Writing in Science Class (Room F 200)
Student: "What do I do next?"
Teacher: "What do the directions tell you to do?"
Student: "Oh, we were supposed to read the directions?"
Does this type of dialog happen too often in your science classroom? In this session we will explore strategies for improving students' ability to read for information and to perform tasks. We will also examine ways to improve students' writing abilities by focusing on restructuring writing assignments so their format supports MSPAP and CRT outcomes.

SPECIALize Your Science Teaching (Room F 202)
Feel like you're missing the target when teaching students with special needs or limited English proficiency? Come to this workshop and improve your A.I.M. We'll teach you to Accommodate, Individualize, and Modify for student success.


SCIENCE CONNECTIONS

Summer Institute '99
Sherwood High School
August 16-19, 1999

Science Connections Vision

Science Connections promotes active learning and inquiry-based, interdisciplinary science instruction for adolescents that builds understanding of and excitement for thinking creatively, making decisions, and solving problems about the natural world.

Secondary Science Office
Department of Academic Programs
Montgomery Couty Public Schools


SCIENCE CONNECTIONS
Summer Institute

Welcome to part 2 of the Institute. The next four days will offer you an opportunity to apply much of the information and techniques that were shared during the July Institue. The schdule is arranged to allow grade-level unit instruction with plenty of teacher interaction time. Sign-up sheets for the sessions are in the Media Center Monday morning and in Room B205.

On Thursday, we will conclude our Institute with a guest speaker, Dr. Ron Parise, a research scientist and payload specialist on two Space Shuttle missions. Sharing his work and experiences in space will be the perfect send-off as we begin a new school year!

Science Connections agrees with Jon Saphier and Robert Gower (The Skillful Teacher) that increasing teacher capacity through knowledge is the most important lever for improving our school. We hope that the Institute will provide you the setting to take a risk and open your minds to new areas of teaching and learning.


MONDAY 7:30 Sign-In (Outside Room B205)
Coffee and Conversation (B205)
  8:10 Welcome: Media Center
  8:45 Morning Sessions
  • Middle Years Digital Library (Grade 8) A204
  • Lesson Seminars (Grade 7) F208/F211
  • Science Sleuths (Grade 6) F209
  • Prentice Hall Software Support (Grade 6,7,8) F206
  11:30-12:30 LUNCH DAILY ... on your own
  12:30-3:00 Continuation of Morning Sessions

TUESDAY 8:300-3:00 Grade Level Sessions (All Day)
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Grade 6) B207
  • Measuring Time (Grade 6) B 204
  • Middle Years Digital Library (Grade 7) A 204
  • Science Sleuths (Grade 8) F 209
  8:00-11:30
And
12:30-3:00
Half-day Sessions are repeated
  • Lesson Seminars (Grade 7 and 8) F 208/F 211
  • Active Classroom (Grades 7 and 8) F 206

WEDNESDAY 8:00-3:00 Grade Level Sessions (All Day)
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Grade 6) B 207
  • Measuring Time (Grade 6) B 204
  • Science Sleuths (Grade 7) F 209
  • Hurricane! (Grade 8) B 206
  8:00-11:30
And
12:30-3:00
Half-day Sessions are repeated
  • Lesson Seminars (Grade 7 and 8) F 208/F 211
  • Ecolog Lesson Development (Grade 6,7,8) A 204
  • Active Classroom (Grades 6,7,8) F 206

THURSDAY 8:00-11:30 Grade Level Sessions
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation (grade 6) Smith Center
  • Hurricane! (Grade 8) B 206
  • Lesson Seminars (Grade 6 and 7) F 208/F 211
  • Active Classroom (Grades 6,7,8) F 206
  • Ecolog Lesson Development (Grades 6,7,8) A 204
  12:30-3:00
  • Dessert Celebration (Media Center)
  • Speaker
  • Evaluation and Closing


Active Classroom (Room F206)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (2 1/2 hours)
Working from a CD-ROM, you will "visit" six classrooms and watch experienced teachers at work, practicing constructivism in their classrooms. You will be able to reflect on your own and with others about teaching and learning.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Room B207)
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (3 days)
Teachers will receive training that will enable them to lead students to investigate issues that affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. This session is part of the Grade 6 revised middle school framework unit on Environmental Science.

Ecolog Lesson Development (A204)
Wednesday and Thrusday (2 1/2 hours)
The session will focus on adapting lessons for use with the EcoLog interfacing system. Participants will use the EcoLog device to measure changes in light, temperature, sound, humidity, and barometric pressure. Data collection and analysis techniques of the graphs produced will also be examined.

Hurricane! (Room B206)
Wednesday and Thursday (2 days)
Teachers will receive training that will enable them to lead students to investigate topics that cover the study of atmospheric phenomena. The event-Based Science learning cycle will be illustrated and connections to inquiry-based science will be explored.

Lesson Seminars (Room F208/F211)
Every day (2 1/2 hours)
In small groups, led by a MST facilitator, teachers will explain and discuss their lessons. Peer review and editing will build on the concepts developed during the July institute.

Measuring Time (Room B204)
Tuesday and Wednesday (2 dyas)
The participants will become familiar with the Grade Six unit Patterns and Relationships. Activities from the NSRC unit Measuring Time will center on the natural cycles of the sun, moon, and stars as well as the mechanical devices used throughout history to measure time and explain natural phenomena. Activities demonstrated will also meet the Process Outcomes of Gathering and Making Sense of Data for Grade Six.

Middle Years Digital Library (Room A204)
Monday and Tuesday (1 day)
This hands-on workshop provides participants with all the tools to integrate science inquiry and online technology. Through collaborative interdisciplinary activities, teachers guide students on their quest for science knowledge. Participants will gain experience with Internet research skills and science content while encouraging student-driven questions.

Prentice Hall Software (Room F206)
Monday (2 1/2 hours)
During this informal hands-on session, participants will work with the teacher support software, for the new Science Explorer textbook series.

Science Sleuths (Room F209)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (1 day)
Science Sleuths is used to teach students the process and methods of scientific problem solving. This highly motivational videodisc program leads students on an interactive search for solutions to a variety of mysteries. This session includes group dynamics, articulation and refinement of theories based on evidence gained, and processing valid and invalid data.


Required Daily Sessions

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM daily
Mary Ann Brearton, Ted Brush, Joe Watson
Media Center

During this session, participants will:

  • Develop an understanding of how national documents can be used to clarify and elaborate state and district standards
  • Align curricular materials and assessments to learning outcomes
  • Design instruction that supports student learning

Inquiry-based Instructional Project
12:30-1:00 PM daily
Scott DeGasperis, Bonnie Hansen-Grafton, Theresa Sykes, Barbara Teichman

Grade 6: Room F209
Grade 7: Room F211
Grade 8: Room F213

Participants will plan, produce, revise, and share at least one lesson. This lesson should embrace the philosophies and techniques presented in last summer's Institute. Lessons should include the E's learning cycle, be inquiry-based, constructivist in nature, and support the Maryland State Department of Education Outcomes and MCPS content standards.


Wednesday Special Sessions (Optional)

Science Inquiry Online with the Middle Years Digital Library
Wednesday 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Gretchen Hahn
Computer Lab A204

This hands-on workshop provides participants with all of the tools to integrate science inquiry and online technology. Through collaborative interdisciplinary activities, teachers guide students on their own quest for science knowledge. Participants will gain experience with Internet research skills and science content while encouraging student-driven questions. Participants will receive curriculum materials, "Scavenger Hunt" and "Tactics and Strategies for Inquiry Support."

Using the Videodisc to Enhance Classroom Lessons
Wednesday 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Sandy Ballard
Room: B206

Participants will learn strategies to use the laser disc program Windows on Science to engage and motivate students and supplement curricular connections to reading and writing.


Daily Afternoon Choice Sessions

Content Extensions: Forces and Motion
1 PM - 2 PM daily
Sue Schwartz
Room: B207

Participants will examine the physics of the EBS unit Thrill Ride! Explore Newton's Laws of Motion and other basic physical science concepts in the context of amusement parks and roller coasters.

Content Extensions: Solar System
1 PM - 2 PM Tuesday ONLY
Ramon Lopez
Room: B206

Participants will explore common misconceptions in astronomy as they relate to the EBS unit Asteroid! Lab activities will be included.

Content Extensions: Heredity
1 PM - 2 PM daily
Nancy Zeller and Laurie Tompkins
Room: B204

Participants will discuss heredity comparing inherited traits and environmentally determined characteristics. Topics for discussion may also include human genetic disorder, Mendelian Principles, Monohybrid cross, punnet squares, an overview of mitosis and meiosis, and asexual and sexual reproduction. Lab exercises will be included.

Issues in Science Instruction
1 PM - 2 PM daily
Emelia Gonzales
Room: F213

Participants will read and discuss articles related to constructivism, national and state standards, and inquiry instruction. Reading selections to be used with students to enhance the curriculum will also be shared along with strategies to incorporate them into lessons.