Education Commons^™

Prompt Literacy: A Pivotal Educational Skill In The Age Of Ai, Sai Gattupalli, Robert W. Maloy, Sharon A. Edwards

College of Education Working Papers and Reports Series

Prompt literacy signifies a major leap in education, offering a potent tool to interact with generative AI systems. As an emerging necessity in the 21st century and beyond, it encompasses the formulation, interpretation, and analysis of AI prompts. Poised to be foundational for all future generations, this discourse brings to light its emergence in parallel with generative AI and its transformative role in pedagogical contexts for the coming decades and beyond.

Prompt Literacy For Stem Educators. Enhance Your Teaching And Learning With Generative Ai, Sai Gattupalli, Robert W. Maloy, Sharon Edwards, Alexandra Gearty

College of Education Working Papers and Reports Series

Understanding Prompt Literacy and Its Role in STEM Education

● Workshop focuses on prompt literacy, a pivotal skill for educators in the digital age.

● Discuss fundamentals of prompt crafting, interpret and critique AI prompts

● Hands-on activities for prompt crafting, using CAST model

● Workshop participant backgrounds include:

• Edtech, speech-language, GenEd, Special Ed, Inclusion, AP Language, English, Business, World Languages, STEM Education, and more, across various grade levels

Plants, Pipettes And Pcr, Elizabeth Vierling

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Plants are amazing organisms that provide us with food, building materials, the pleasure of gardens, as well as providing the foundation of critical world ecosystems. Although they may look like they are just stuck in one place and doing not more than growing, they have many, many complex ways in which they respond to the environment. The goal of this STEM Ed session will be to discuss ways that plants can respond to the environment with hands on exercises and exploration of possible classroom activities. Participants will engage in state-of-the art methods of testing plant DNA composition using the polymerase …

Materials For Clean Energy, Ashwin Ramasubramaniam, Omar A. Abdelrahman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

The need to transition to new and cleaner forms of energy has never been more imperative in the face of climate change. At the same time, the twin pressures from increasing global demand for energy and the scarcity of critical materials needed for new energy technologies impose additional challenges in making the transition to clean energy sources. In this workshop, we will explore how theory, modeling, and experiment are rising to the challenge of designing inexpensive, earth-abundant materials to enable the next generation of clean energy technologies. The goals of this workshop are: 1) to integrate concepts from chemistry, physics …

From Lcd To Living Liquid Crystals, Shuang Zhou

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Liquid crystals are a family of materials that can flow like a liquid, while having orientation order, like a crystal. Traditional liquid crystals are formed by small rod- or disk-shaped organic molecules that spontaneously align with each other. The orientation direction of the liquid crystals molecules, or the director, is sensitive to external fields. For example, a few volt of electric field can cause the director rotate 90 degrees and completely change the optical property of the sample. The susceptibility to external fields made liquid crystals an ideal material for optical switching applications, the best example of which is the …

Spring 2022 Superhydrophobic Materials, T. Leo Liu

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Many natural surfaces, such as lotus leaves and a water strider’s leg, have shown striking water repellency so that they remain clean and dry even in “dirty” habitats. Such water repellency is called superhydrophobicity, which has stimulated lots of science and engineering imagination for self-cleaning windows, never dirty clothes, drag-reduction swimming suits, etc. In this workshop, we will use superhydrophobicity as a model to guide an integrative teaching and learning experience through hands-on experiments, critical thinking, basic science, as well as a lecture on state-of-the-art research discoveries. The objectives of this workshop are to (1) stimulate student curiosity and imagination …

Spring 2022 Saturday Seminars Agenda, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Birds In An Ecological Web, Jeff Podos

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

One great way to learn about nature and biology is to study birds. There are many species of birds, both resident and migratory, and they all have their own habits, colors, songs, and ways of life. The popularity of birdwatching has skyrocketed in the US, especially during the pandemic. This seminar will describe one way to look at birds, and to learn about their ecology, evolution, and diversity. We start by focusing on birds’ feeding habits and food preferences. Many birds have to eat and forage constantly, in order to stay alive and to feed their offspring. From this starting …

“No Hay Que Cercenar A Los Estudiantes”: Maestros De Inglés Descolonizando Sus Ideologías Lingüísticas Y Prácticas Pedagógicas En Colombia, Rosa A. Medina Riveros, Diana Angelica Parra Perez, Theresa Y. Austin

College of Education Working Papers and Reports Series

Con la globalización y la conectividad, las personas, sus idiomas y culturas entran en contacto a veces chocando entre sí; produciendo prácticas lingüísticas híbridas. El multilingüismo crítico y el translanguaging/ translenguajear son herramientas poderosas que nos pueden guiar para navegar la hibridación cultural y la diversidad semiótica. Esta ponencia explora cómo docentes de Inglés como lengua extranjera en Colombia utilizan el multilingüismo crítico y el translanguaging/ translenguajear (García & Li Wei, 2014) como herramientas de descolonizar sus propias ideologías y prácticas docentes.

En el contexto de un desarrollo profesional transnacional de un año con profesores multilingües de inglés como lengua …

From Soap Bubbles To Cell Membranes, Peter Beltramo

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Have you ever blown a soap bubble and wondered - what causes the bubble to be so stable and produces those colorful reflections of light? The answer lies in a class of molecules known as surfactants, and they have remarkable similarities with the molecules that comprise the cell membrane of all living organisms. In this workshop, we will use the analogy of a soap bubble to describe cellular membrane properties such as chemistry, structure, membrane transport, and ion channel formation. The goals of this workshop are to 1) link initially intractable concepts in biology like intracellular transport to the intuitive …

Agenda, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Abstracts for six Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars.

Bubble Lab Exercise, Peter Beltramo

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

The cell membrane is a ubiquitous component in mammalian cells which control many vital biological functions. It consists of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded protein molecules which serve to transport molecules between the interior and exterior of the cell. Understanding what makes cell membranes so important and how they function requires concepts from physics, chemistry, and of course biology, but it is difficult to learn and conceptualize the structure and function of membranes due to their nanoscopic size and dynamic nature which can’t be properly appreciated in a static textbook. This activity draws analogies between the chemistry and structure of …

Arduino Microcontrollers In The Classroom: Teaching How To Phrase Effective Science Questions And How To Answer Them With Original Data, Tony Dinsmore

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Arduino microcontrollers in the classroom: teaching how to phrase effective science questions and how to answer them with original data. Prof. Tony Dinsmore, UMass Physics This workshop will develop course modules that address a challenge in the science curriculum: how do we teach basic problem-solving and curiosity-based research skills in a classroom setting? The standard science curriculum teaches concepts and theory quite well but leaves rather little opportunity for students to take the lead in designing and implementing their own investigations. The workshop will use the Arduino, an inexpensive microcontroller that is simple to set up. A huge range of …

Agenda, Revised, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Materials from the seminars. The agenda was revised to include online sessions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Modeling Epidemics, An Introduction, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

• Group discussion of videos watched – Mainly focus on 3Blue1Brown videos

• Discussion of known facts about Covid-19/SARS-CoV-2

• Joint look at news articles and websites – Discussion of exponential growth

• Introduction to SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) model

• Excel demonstration of SIR model

• Other models: SEIR, others

• Modeling using python (time-permitting)

Step Up Workshop, Michael J. Wadness, Savvy Lodge-Scharff

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Did you know that teachers are the reason that most undergraduate women in physics chose that degree? That's right. You are key to encouraging women to pursue prosperous careers in physics! The STEP UP project provides access to downloadable research-based lessons about physics and a nationwide community of teachers engaged in changing the future of physics. This insightful and interactive workshop invites participants to join a national movement designed to empower teachers with resources specifically focused on leveraging high school physics teachers' pivotal role in influencing the career choices of women and contributing to the culture change needed to inspire …

Bits, Knits, And Knots:Using Knitting As A Tool To Teach Stem Concepts, Mary Elizabeth Lee-Trimblee, Daria Atkinson, Michelle Berry

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Knitting is an ancient technology as well as an enjoyable pastime that is often overlooked as an object of scientific study. However, knitting can be used as an accessible, low tech tool to teach coding fundamentals, higher level mathematics, and even concepts in physics. In this seminar we will do all three, as well as teach you to knit. We will divide this into 5 modules:

1. Overview of knitting as technology

2. Learning to knit (and teaching it too!)

3. Knitting as coding

4. Tangles, knits, and knots: the knot theory of knitting

5. Recent developments in the physics …

Adolescent Mental Health Training For Middle School Educators, Sarah Minton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health disorders are an increasing concern in the United States. School systems, specifically educators, are in the unique role to aid in early identification of mental health disorders, as well to intervene in mental health distress. However, mental health training for educators is lacking, leaving educators unprepared to manage mental health concerns within their classroom.

Purpose: The purpose was to utilize an evidence-based training, the “Teacher Knowledge Update Guide” from TeenMentalHealth.org to train middle school educators on the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in the adolescent population with the intent to increase awareness, knowledge, …

2019 Patterns Around Us Handout, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Wayne Kermenski, Jennifer Welborn

Patterns Around Us

This is a FREE two-day program designed for Middle and High School General Science, Biology, Physics, Technology/Engineering teachers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation.Space is limited, so apply soon! Some limited funding is available for overnight stay.

“Science may be described as the attempt to give good accounts of the patterns in nature. The result of scientific investigation is an understanding of natural processes.... Overall, the key criterion of science is that it provides a clear, rational, and succinct account of a pattern in nature....” Massachusetts State Frameworks for Science and Technology.

Participants will explore the processes of …

Polymers All Around Us, Marcus Cole

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

This presentation is designed to introduce K-12 students to polymer science with the primary aims of establishing a strong foundation in the physical sciences and inspiring students to pursue degrees and careers in STEM-related fields. Examples of natural polymers (e.g., DNA and RNA) and polymers in common materials (e.g., contact lenses, bulletproof glass, composite airplanes, etc.) are presented to demonstrate their importance to our daily lives. The presentation conveys the interdisciplinary nature of polymer science through hands-on experiments and discussion focused on concepts related to polymer chemistry (i.e., gelation and superabsorbent materials), engineering (i.e., injection molding and 3D printing), and …

Supporting Diverse Learners In Stem, Joshua Pearson

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

After first issuing 1:1 iPads, Chromebooks and laptops, many k-12 schools are now implementing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) programs that provide more choice for educators and learners. Some are “Going Google” with Chromebooks and G Suite, while others are using iPads and tablets. How do you support diverse learners on all devices, using free and low cost Apps and Assistive Technology (AT) solutions? These AT (Assistive Technology) solutions (many of which are free or low cost) personalize the educational experience, as well as engage and include ALL learners in a Universally Designed environment across the curriculum. AT has the …

Descriptions, Morton Sternheim

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Solar cells convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. In this workshop, I will discuss the processes involved in solar cell and various types of solar cells that are being developed as an alternative to silicon solar cells. I will also demonstrate how students can build a solar cell from readily available materials.

The Core Of Social Network Modeling: Industrial Engineering., Shannon C. Roberts, Chaitra Gopalappa, Nazanin Nazanin

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Networks are abound in our everyday lives, from disaster response networks to cellular networks to social networks. In this workshop, we will introduce the different types of networks and how Industrial Engineering is used to model these networks. Next, we will describe current social network modeling research done at UMass. Finally, we will delve into hands-on activities that include social network analysis, such as the clustering of people into groups, and modeling of the spread of ideas in a social network, such as how tweets spread on Twitter.

Accessible Science: The Natural History Of The Connecticut River Valley, Fred Venne

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Many students take an Earth science or geology course to fulfill a requirement, knowing little to nothing about the field. Like all sciences, geology can appear to have ready answers unconnected to other areas of human endeavor, such as art, religion or philosophy. An interdisciplinary approach to teaching can ameliorate this perception for students who are intimidated by the subject and deepen understanding for those who are already excited about geology. We will examine two strategies designed to support the nature of science while scaffolding student learning in geology: research based digital resources use and museum of natural history visits. …

Engagement And Positive Psychology For Stem Learning And Beyond, Mark Tuominen, Lori Tuominen

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Positive psychology is the study of how people flourish. A considerable amount of recent scientific research is now showing how the basic tenets of positive psychology used in schools can boost engagement, learning and wellbeing for students and teachers. These principles apply to any type of learning, including STEM courses. The concepts and practices of positive psychology effectively serve as affective multipliers, enhancing learning success and personal wellbeing. This seminar will introduce a sampler plate of ideas and activities from their course for first-year UMass students, entitled “Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, Creativity, and Accomplishment.”

Brain Science = Biology + Engineering, Jennifer Welborn, Guangyu Xu, Morton Sternheim, Chris Emery

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

This interdisciplinary (physical and life sciences) seminar exposes participants to cutting edge research at UMASS, Amherst, on cell imaging using a chip which gathers a variety of data on the activities of single cells. Part of the seminar will be a presentation of current research in this area, followed by hands-on activities and a visit to the lab where this research is conducted. Application of this new technology to brain research will be discussed as well as the NGSS standards alignment and classroom applications at various levels and disciplines.

Air Pressure, Clouds, And Weather, Laura Shofield

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

1) What are basis characteristics of the atmosphere?

2) What is the horizontal and vertical movement of air in a “High” and “Low?”

3) How do clouds form and what can they tell us?

4) How are temperature, pressure and clouds related?

5) Applying concepts to real-time data

18 Years Of Science And Engineer Saturday Seminars, Chris Emery, Morton Sternheim

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

The Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars (SESS) are in their eighteenth year of presenting engaging science and engineering half day seminars to STEM teachers. Offered for five Saturdays once or twice a year, there have been 140 sessions altogether. The average attendance is 30 or so middle and high school teachers. Each teaches about 100 students, so the potential impact is impressive.

Seminar Descriptions, Morton Sternheim

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.