Education Commons^™

Functional Design + Steam, David Hernandez

Professional Learning Day

Electronic kiosks are everywhere...ordering your food at a restaurant, checking your luggage at the airport, or getting the perfect paint for your living room. Do you know how they work? During this session students will explore the Functional Design Specification (FDS) and encourage students to think abstractly, create, engineer, test, redesign, and create a marketing campaign for a new product. STEAM to the next level.

Saving Skee-Ball: Applying Engineering & Science With A Fun Storyline, Christine L. Moskalik

Professional Learning Day

How do engineering and science apply to a simple game of skee-ball? In this session, participants will be introduced to various STEM concepts that can be incorporated into a simple, inexpensive, and fun activity that is coupled with a fun storyline (saving the game of Skee-ball). Educators will work as teams to modify, design aspects of, and play the game. Along the way, they will discover ways to do this with their own students.

Can I Pick Your Brain? Exploratory Brain Dissection, Nicole Ross, Jessica Amacher, Desirae Klimek

Professional Learning Day

Science labs, particularly dissections, are often confirmatory in nature, conducted at the end of learning to solidify and assess concept knowledge. What if we flipped the script on these labs and began with an exploratory version, instead? Participants will engage in an inquirybased brain dissection, and explore ways to flip one of their current labs to encourage active exploration of concepts in their classroom. This session includes an active dissection of a sheep brain.

Statistics With The Amazing Web-Slinging Spiderman!!!, Brian Trainor

Professional Learning Day

An introduction to linear regression, prediction, and linear transformations featuring the Amazing Spider-Man!!! Students will collect data and create a linear model with the goal of predicting how much "web" Spider-Man will need to use in order to land safely on the ground. Attendees must bring a computer.

Visualization Tools And Analogies To Model Strong Vs. Weak Acids, Angela Ahrendt, Laura Kopff

Professional Learning Day

We will present two different ways to introduce the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid. The first one uses a Phet simulation where the students can change different parameters in an inquiry based approach. The second one is a hands-on activity using a guided packet and manipulatives to model the differences between strong and weak acids. Attendees must bring a computer.

The Art Of Currency!, David Hernandez, Joyce Symoniak

Professional Learning Day

While some artists dream about making tons of money, other artists dream about designing money. STEM plus art (STEAM) is the perfect mix for the creation and innovation of currency. First, the students will explore the paper making process to find out the best currency paper. Then, students will create their own currency in an engaging, hands-on, and 3-dimensional learning activity. Join us to take STEAM to the next level and let’s create money!

I'M Tired Of Punnett Squares, But Genetics Is Still My Jam, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Professional Learning Day

As STEM educators, it can be hard to keep up with what’s happening in our fields outside of the classroom because we have to prioritize the content and skills we share with the students in front of us. But we teach what we do, hopefully, because we love it, and part of our professional development should be to keep that love alive. In this session, we will share ideas for how to stay current, excited and engaged in your own field and in STEM as a whole, when your classroom content only covers the basics that repeat every year. Bring …

Stem Strategies That Engage And Excite Curious Students, Christine L. Moskalik, Elaine Wu

Professional Learning Day

STEM League programs are designed around a hot topic in STEM and are for self-motivated, independent middle and high-school students. Come learn how we foster a deeper understanding of and appreciation for STEM and simultaneously address relevant ethical considerations. STEM Leagues are different from the typical, competitive science extracurriculars because we focus on the collaborative and constructivist side of STEM. Leave inspired to try some of our strategies to engage and inspire your own students!

Snowflakes And Chaos, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

One day, you may find yourself with a class that can think of nothing but the approaching snowfall. What will you do? Learn an activity about the formation of snowflakes that addresses the idea that no two snowflakes are identical. This fun activity may be engaged with on several levels, from crystal growth to mathematical probability to the science of chaos theory. Keep it handy for the right teachable moment.

The Bisection Method: A Single Technique Yielding Simple Proofs Of The Four "Hard" Theorems Of Calculus, Anderson Trimm

Professional Learning Day

The Intermediate Value Theorem, Boundedness Theorem, Extreme Value Theorem, and Integrability Theorem are all vital theorems of Calculus, yet are almost never proved in calculus textbooks. I will give simple proofs of these theorems using the Bisection Method, explain how I incorporated these into inquiry-style lessons at IMSA, and discuss the benefits to students. As a connection to Computer Science, the Bisection Method can be viewed as a Binary Search Algorithm.

Terminal Velocity Project: Parachute, Brooke Schmidt, Anastasia Perry

Professional Learning Day

This project is meant for a high school physics course where the students have studied Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, Newton's Second law, and free fall motion. The students construct their own parachute, record a video in LoggerPro of the parachute in motion, and analyze the data to calculate the drag coefficient of their parachute.

Steam Al Estilo Latino, David Hernandez

Professional Learning Day

Celebrate Hispanic heritage through STEAM! This presentation was designed specifically for students to explore and embrace the Hispanic/LatinX culture. This curriculum will guide the students to experience a combination of STEAM and traditions focusing on the Hispanic influence on America culture. Students will learn and create “Alebrijes” the STEAM way.

The Mathematics Of City Planning And Crisis Management, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

What if you managed a small city that was beset by severe weather and an influx of climate refugees? What types of math would your team need to employ to adapt your city to deal with these crises? Try some sample activities and gain access to an entire curriculum developed to integrate career awareness with middle school math standards.

Identifying And Strengthening Existing Support For Students On A Research To Publication Pathway, Connie James-Jenkin, Sowmya Anjur, Jean Bigger, Amberly Carter, Raven Mckelvin '24

Professional Learning Day

Participants will 1) learn how IMSA is generating and disseminating scholarship and incorporating students on a Research to Publication pathway, 2) discover classroom activities that support and promote an understanding of scientific inquiry and the nature of research, 3) discuss student work in IMSA’s repository and student portfolios, 4) hear how we are engaging and supporting our CLED students, like Raven McKelvin ’24, who will share her experience as an Intern and student liaison.

Computational Thinking In Physics Class - Without Programming!, Peter Dong

Professional Learning Day

Computational thinking and the use of computers to solve problems is rapidly becoming an indispensable skill, and physics class is one natural place to develop it. However, the perceived necessity of learning a programming language can deter both teachers and students from approaching this crucial topic. We will show how a simple spreadsheet can be used to solve remarkably complex physics problems, some of them analytically unsolvable, in just a few minutes. Attendees must bring a computer.

Teaching The Engineering Cycle Through A Series Of Projects, Eric Hawker, Mark Carlson

Professional Learning Day

The goal of this session is to show how a series of similar engineering projects can help students not only understand the engineering cycle but also other aspects of engineering such as communication, inclusion, goal setting, and planning and organization. Attendees may choose to bring their own safety eyewear.

A Look Into Leadership, Emma Wilson

Professional Learning Day

IMSA’s Leadership Education & Development program (LEAD) is a student-facilitated course for sophomore students. We believe that leadership can be learned so we take an intricate look at various definitions, theories, models, and conceptualizations of leadership. Students are challenged to think critically about leadership during peer-to peer facilitated class discussions, hands-on exercises, and group work. Join us to dive into this course while participating in hands-on, leadership-based activities that are great for the classroom!

Earth & Environmental Storylines For A More Sustainable & Resilient Illinois, Cheryl Manning, Nicole Ladue

Professional Learning Day

Illinois critical zone scientists and engineers are studying how human behaviors and
environmental changes affect Earth’s thin layer from solid bedrock to the tops of trees.
Inspired by critical zone science, Illinois teachers collaborated to create seven NGSS style storylines addressing regional sustainability and resilience issues including soils, invasive species, flooding, erosion, water scarcity and quality, subsidence, and Illinois’ connection to the Gulf of Mexico dead-zone. Learn about these storylines and how to create your own. Attendees must bring a computer.

Animated Puppets: Coding And Creating With The Humanities, Devon Madon, Jeff Sweeton

Professional Learning Day

CodeCreate coaches students in basic circuitry, media and performing arts, robotics and computer programming, illustration and 3D design. We will facilitate a hands on experiences with animated puppetry and engage the audience in meaningful considerations of intersections of art, technology and other forms of diversity. We will also be previewing and discussing free and low-cost tools and methods and their role in common curriculum. Attendees must bring a computer

99 Problems? Pbl Can Help: An Intro To Problem Based Learning, Nicole Ross, Allison Albert

Professional Learning Day

Classroom engagement got you down? Perhaps Problem Based Learning (PBL) can help. PBL is an instructional technique that engages students in content-based problem solving of a real-world issue. In this session, participants are immersed in a short PBL experience, learn the fundamentals of PBL implementation and begin the design process by exploring how to identify a real-world problem that can be solved by the students in their classroom.

Mastery Based Grading For Secondary Mathematics, Anderson Trimm

Professional Learning Day

Dr. Trimm will discuss in detail his design and implementation of a mastery grading system in calculus at IMSA and how it offers many benefits over traditional grading. Dr. Trimm will also explain how it makes creating assessments and grading easier and less work for the teacher, while being more accurate.

Unit #7: Steam Resources, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Little STEAMers: Early Learning Program

No abstract provided.

Flags Of Africa: Promoting Cultures & Connecting Math Concepts, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

Objectives

1. To share ideas for using flags of Africa and technology to engage students with math concepts: counting, fractions, percentage, aspect ratio, linear equations/inequalities, domain/range, angles/distances/slope, classifying triangles, area of polygons, slope, parallelograms, & coordinate geometry.
2. To highlight technology such as Google Slides, Google Sheets Pixel Art, GeoGebra, Desmos, and CNC Machines that help enrich the teaching of math concepts.
3. To provide ideas for promoting discussion of culture, history, & geography within the math classroom.

The G Suite Life, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

In the 21st century classroom, teachers are continuously seeking new ways to give and receive information from students. Many tech tools used for remote-instruction can still be useful and engaging for in-person instruction. In this session, we will explore a few different teaching resources that are available through Google G-Suite. Topics include: creative uses for Google Jamboard, making and sharing drag and drop activities using Google Slides, and creating customizable Pixel Art using Google Sheets.

Engineering Design, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

Reading The Girl with a Mind for Math, we learn about the career of Raye Montague, an African-American woman who broke every barrier to pioneer computer-aided ship design and become the first female program manager in the United States Navy. Lessons are provided for using free, online software to design ships while exercising several Common Core Math standards and NGSS standards for engineering design.

K-2 Foundational Science, Cassandra Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

During this session, we will explore the progression of science content and skills as presented in the Next Generation Science Standards as they build from Pre-K forward, with a focus on the expectations for K-2 students. By participating in three-dimensional activities, teachers will develop strategies to provide students with opportunities to build a strong foundation in science and STEAM.

Yellowstone, Elizabeth Martinez

Professional Learning Day

Roughly 3,500 square miles and the first National Park, Yellowstone is choked full of engaging science opportunities. Thermophiles, earthquakes, chemistry, geology, and human impact will be explored and connected to NGSS.

Efficient Inquiry: Rethinking The Science Class Experience, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

Are you looking for quick and engaging, inquiry-based activities to incorporate in your classroom? Inquiry-based investigations play a critical role in learning and can be used from introduction to application of scientific concepts. In this session, participants will embrace the definition of “inquiry-based” and look at ways to transform more traditional worksheets or lessons into an inquiry-based activity.

3-5 Foundational Science, Cassandra Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

During this session, we will explore the progression of science content and skills as presented in the Next Generation Science Standards as they build from Pre-K forward, with a focus on the expectations for 3-5 students. By participating in three-dimensional activities, teachers will develop strategies to provide students with opportunities to build a strong foundation in science and STEAM.

Illinois State Assessment, Elizabeth Martinez

Professional Learning Day

The new science assessment, which is for 5th, 8th, and 11th grades, is NGSS aligned. In this session we will look at the test design, as well as ISBE resources that will help you develop model assessment questions for use in your classroom.