Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 32
Full-Text Articles in Education
Session E-4: Developing Middle School Science Activities, Ron Hurlbut
Session E-4: Developing Middle School Science Activities, Ron Hurlbut
Professional Learning Day
This “hands on” session will equip Middle School Teachers to develop activities for their students which will produce high quality data that will be used to reveal Newton’s laws of motion by using inexpensive materials and equipment such as stop watches and a meter stick.
Session E-3: Constructivist Science Vocabulary, Brian Grublesky
Session E-3: Constructivist Science Vocabulary, Brian Grublesky
Professional Learning Day
Instructors often grapple with the teaching of vocabulary. Well, in this dynamic session, participants will learn the constructivist approach to teaching science vocabulary. Session participants will walk away with new teaching strategies along with deeper appreciation for constructivist learning.
Session E-7: Is There An App For That?, Ed Caster
Session E-7: Is There An App For That?, Ed Caster
Professional Learning Day
This presentation will show a variety of different apps for tablets, smart phones, etc. that have educational uses. A number will be presented and demonstrated. Teachers who attend will also be asked to share apps that they use have found valuable, or simply ones that they like.
Session E-6: Aerodynamic Wing Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Session E-6: Aerodynamic Wing Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Professional Learning Day
Teachers will walk away with an activity for their students that will utilize materials readily available for students to experiment with various aspects of aerodynamic wing design.
Session D-6: Strong Structure By Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Session D-6: Strong Structure By Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Professional Learning Day
Strengthen your pedagogy by learning how the monolithic dome, inspired by the shape of an egg, is one of the strongest existing architectural structures. They will go back to their schools with an inexpensive activity challenging student to make a 3D structure from a 2D picture, then combining several 3D structures to create a monolithic dome.
Session F-4: Quadratic Functions: As Simple As A, B, C, Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti
Session F-4: Quadratic Functions: As Simple As A, B, C, Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti
Professional Learning Day
Participants will engage in several hands-on, minds-on activities that demystify applications of quadratic functions. By exploring simple, yet interactive exercises, student will understand that this function is more than just a formula of a, b, and c. Participants will walk away with several lessons that can be easily adapted to any classroom. This session is appropriate for Grades 8-10.
Session F-2: Is It All Just Random?, Nicole Ross
Session F-2: Is It All Just Random?, Nicole Ross
Professional Learning Day
Students in middle school often learn basic genetics and gain experience using a Punnett Square analysis to determine probable genotype and phenotype outcomes for a family. What students may not learn is how these probabilities relate to the overall population. Probability is an integral part of genetics and heredity. Understanding what is meant by “probability” and how it applies to genetics is an important focus in the CCSS. One way to teach these concepts is to tap into popular literature. In this session, we will explore the genetics and probability behind the character, Auggie, in the book, Wonder, by R.J. …
Session D-4: Particle Physics, Peter Dong
Session D-4: Particle Physics, Peter Dong
Professional Learning Day
Particle physics is generally seen as far too difficult, too abstract and mathematical, to teach at the high school level — which is a pity, since particle physics is most likely to get students interested in the subject (witness the response to the discovery of the Higgs boson). However, the day-to-day work of experimental particle physicists is remarkably understandable, even for high school students willing to do a little work. We will examine assignments given at IMSA in this vein, including a class-wide analysis that simulated the search for a super symmetric Higgs boson, and discuss how they worked. Attendees …
Session C-2: Dbq Writing In Your World History Curriculum, George Haldaman
Session C-2: Dbq Writing In Your World History Curriculum, George Haldaman
Professional Learning Day
This session will present the historical pedagogy behind DBQ's and explain its importance to common core. Then we will examine examples of DBQ's and places for educators to find them. Finally, we delve into the writing process on constructing the DBQ essay.
Session D-7: Exploration Of Factors That Motivate Students To Engage In Stem, Adrienne Coleman
Session D-7: Exploration Of Factors That Motivate Students To Engage In Stem, Adrienne Coleman
Professional Learning Day
Join in on the discussion of an exploration into factors that motivate gifted and talented Black and Latino students and programs being created to engage those populations in STEM fields.
Session D-5: You Are My Density, Brian Grublesky, Elizabeth Martinez
Session D-5: You Are My Density, Brian Grublesky, Elizabeth Martinez
Professional Learning Day
Teachers will explore the topic of density through a student-centered, constructivist approach that can be tailored to multiple grade levels. Discussion will include how to take a science activity and change it for different grade levels and abilities. Finally, we will discuss how to look at this through an interdisciplinary perspective.
Session D-1: Building Stonehenge, Patrick Young
Session D-1: Building Stonehenge, Patrick Young
Professional Learning Day
Building Stonehenge is a series of problem centered activities in which students use simple machines to construct a scale replica of a Stonehenge Trilithon. Using only materials available to Neolithic engineers and a scaled quantity of force, students must devise a way to lift heavy stones into the proper position without ever touching them with their hands. Problem-centered activities are a great way to integrate multiple STEM concepts and practices into an enjoyable learning experience.
Session B-1: Pipelines And Oil Spills!, Patrick Young
Session B-1: Pipelines And Oil Spills!, Patrick Young
Professional Learning Day
Don’t miss this hands-on approach to middle school math. Participants will construct an actual pipeline from inexpensive materials and record evidence of leakage. They will then conduct an experiment and create a model relating liquid volume and spill area. They will apply their model to determine how much liquid leaked from their pipeline.
Session B-7: 3d Printing For The Next Generation Learners, Britta Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie
Session B-7: 3d Printing For The Next Generation Learners, Britta Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie
Professional Learning Day
Are you thinking about creating a Maker Space or purchasing a 3D printer for your school or classroom? Or are you just interested in seeing new technology up close and personal with the ability to ask questions to a maker space rookie and her sidekick the techno geek? Check out this lively session where we'll 3D scan something (or somebody) and print it out on our 3D printer, doodle with our 3D pens and ask all the practical questions (like how much does all this cost?) We'll share examples of how we are introducing new technology to our students, faculty …
Session B-3: Mathematical Games, Puzzles, And Diversions, Steven M. Condie
Session B-3: Mathematical Games, Puzzles, And Diversions, Steven M. Condie
Professional Learning Day
Delve into the exciting world of math through games, puzzles and other sources! Participants shall try their luck and test their skill at these diversions. Participants will leave this session with a wealth of mathematical activities appropriate for students of all ages.
Session B-4: Foods Of The Future, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Session B-4: Foods Of The Future, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Professional Learning Day
Teachers will learn the simple science behind the most recent culinary rage, Molecular Gastronomy. They will have a cost effective example to bring back into their classroom with students.
Session B-2: The “Roll” Of Statistics In Modeling - It All Adds Up, Richard Stalmack, Janice Krouse
Session B-2: The “Roll” Of Statistics In Modeling - It All Adds Up, Richard Stalmack, Janice Krouse
Professional Learning Day
The common core practice standards ask us to teach students to propose mathematical models and test their viability. Participants will do an experiment, collect data and use technological tools to combine modeling, analysis and basic statistics. Participants should bring a laptop, if possible; otherwise, bring a graphing calculator.
Session B-6: The Power Of Water, Dhruti Patel
Session B-6: The Power Of Water, Dhruti Patel
Professional Learning Day
Get energized and quench your knowledge in this dynamic session which will include the basic introduction to hydro power generation! Participants will become knowledgeable about the concept of basic fluid dynamics and the potential energy stored in water, which converts to kinetic energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Session B-5: Mentor Matching Engine, Jackie Naughton, Carl Heine
Session B-5: Mentor Matching Engine, Jackie Naughton, Carl Heine
Professional Learning Day
Participants will tour the Mentor Matching Engine (MME), a robust platform available to Illinois high school students for conducting research with assistance from online mentors. IMSA, in partnership with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition and Northwestern University, administer MME as part of the state's R&D Learning Exchange. In addition, participants will discover powerful models of personalized learning and the outstanding results.
Session B-1: Teaching Russian Political History: From Czars To General Secretaries To Oligarchs, Diane Haleas Hines
Session B-1: Teaching Russian Political History: From Czars To General Secretaries To Oligarchs, Diane Haleas Hines
Professional Learning Day
Participants in this session will be offered ways to teach Russian history that makes connections between historical experience and political culture (values, attitudes, beliefs, and expectations that citizens hold about their political system). This political culture has directly impacted current politics in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union and helps to explain current developments in Russian politics, both domestic and international. The session will incorporate background information as well as lesson activities for the classroom.
Session B-3: Modern Germany: Social Responsibility & Environmental Sustainability, Rachel Sykora
Session B-3: Modern Germany: Social Responsibility & Environmental Sustainability, Rachel Sykora
Professional Learning Day
This session will present the political, social, and economic philosophies that have allowed modern Germany to emerge as a global leader in environmental sustainability. This subject raises numerous ethical questions with real-world applications that are of high interest to students in history, global studies, and human geography classrooms. Topics of discussion include the Deutsche Bank model of corporate responsibility, “green growth” economic initiatives, and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Participants will leave with practical classroom activities utilizing thought-based inquiry, primary source documents, and case study examples that help inspire classroom conversations beyond the traditional context of the Holocaust and World …
Session B-2: Much Ado About Trousers: Exploring Intercultural Contact Through Artifacts, Kitty Lam
Session B-2: Much Ado About Trousers: Exploring Intercultural Contact Through Artifacts, Kitty Lam
Professional Learning Day
Material objects are fascinating sources for investigating intercultural contact in the ancient world. This session demonstrates how to use a pair of ornamental trousers excavated from Xinjiang, China to generate student discussion on the nature of cross-cultural contact in the ancient Silk Road era.
Session C-1: Equilibrium, Deb Scarano, Anita White
Session C-1: Equilibrium, Deb Scarano, Anita White
Professional Learning Day
Find your balance in this hands-on lab session which will allow teachers to try out several simple lab activities that will enable students to better understand equilibrium.
Session A-6: Alternative Energy, Mark Carlson, Peter Clancy
Session A-6: Alternative Energy, Mark Carlson, Peter Clancy
Professional Learning Day
We will describe how our newly-revised, month-long alternative energy unit in Engineering addresses the 4 NGSS standards. We will map the activities in our IMSA schedule to a traditional high school bell schedule. These activities address not only performance goals and the underlying scientific principles of power generation but also process skills relating to surveying technology, prioritizing criteria, and assessing societal impact. We will reflect on our first round of offering this unit and suggest modifications for future implementations.
Session A-2: From Polynomial To Rational Functions: Flip!, Ruth Dover
Session A-2: From Polynomial To Rational Functions: Flip!, Ruth Dover
Professional Learning Day
Ah HA! Making the connection between polynomial functions, rational functions and using reciprocals! Join us to flip, not flop, with trig for your classroom.
Session C-2: Problem-Based Mathematics: You Reap What You Sow, Nicole Ross, Lindsey Herlehy
Session C-2: Problem-Based Mathematics: You Reap What You Sow, Nicole Ross, Lindsey Herlehy
Professional Learning Day
Approach problem-based mathematics through a historical perspective! Join us to learn a fun, hands-on approach to examining the science behind crop rotation systems originally implemented during the Medieval Period. This activity requires students to mathematically evaluate the efficiency of a crop rotation system, strategically complete an integers-based crop puzzle, and evaluate crop yield and profit through data analysis. This activity integrates a variety of middle school mathematics concepts.
Session A-1: Implementing Common Core In Middle School Math, Karen Togliatti
Session A-1: Implementing Common Core In Middle School Math, Karen Togliatti
Professional Learning Day
This session will focus on implementing Common Core Middle-School Mathematics Standards using student-centered activities. Participants will receive three hands-on activities (one each at grades six, seven, and eight) to take back to their classrooms.
Session A-4: “Ain’T No Thing, Chicken Wing”, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Session A-4: “Ain’T No Thing, Chicken Wing”, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson
Professional Learning Day
Participating teachers will simulate a deep cut on a chicken wing and suture it using similar techniques used in emergency situations. The chicken wing anatomy will be compared to the anatomy of a human arm. The session will provide teachers with the opportunity to introduce a low cost dissection activity into the classroom in a dynamic fashion.
Session A-3: Energy Conservation, Brooke Schmidt, Eric Hawker
Session A-3: Energy Conservation, Brooke Schmidt, Eric Hawker
Professional Learning Day
This session will focus on the content and different activities that you can do with your students to meet the Next Generation Physical Science Standard 3: Energy. The focus will be on definitions of energy, conservation of energy, and the relationship between energy and forces. The content is appropriate for both middle and high school science students.
Session C-3: Epidemiology, Don Dosch, Crystal Randall
Session C-3: Epidemiology, Don Dosch, Crystal Randall
Professional Learning Day
Epidemiology, the study of factors influencing the spread of communicable disease, has become a broadly discussed topic given the recent Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. Participants in this session will work in the lab to model epidemiology and examine the results through a simple ELISA assay. We will discuss how to use data to identify original patients. Further, we will look at some in-class activities that highlight some well-established case studies in epidemiology (NGSS ESS3.A and LS2.C).