Education Commons^™

Learning Opportunities 2010/2011, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Course Catalogs

The graduation requirements of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy are in concert with those maintained by the State of Illinois with additional requirements as established by the IMSA Board of Trustees. Each semester students must take a minimum of 2.5 credits and a maximum of 3.5 credits. One-semester classes generally receive .5 credits and two semester classes (e.g., World Languages) generally receive 1.0 credit. Most students will take between 5 and 7 academic classes per semester. Fine Arts, Wellness, and Independent Study courses do not count towards the 2.5 credit minimum. However, if a student wishes to take 3.5 …

2010 Convocation, Shawon Jackson '11, Glenn W. Mcgee, Eric Mclauren, Julie Comerford '98

Convocation

• Prelude Music: Balaji Mani, 2006 IMSA Graduate
• Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome: Shawon Jackson, Student Council President; Dr. Glenn W. "Max" McGee, President; Dr. Eric McLaren, Principal
• Featured Piece: Balaji Mani, 2006 IMSA Graduate
  
• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Julie Crawford, 1998 IMSA Graduate

Recipient Of The 2010 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, Dan Frakes '89

Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Dan Frakes is a respected technology writer and editor, focusing on personal computing and digital media. He has written over 800 articles and has authored or contributed to over 20 books, including one of the early e-books nearly 15 years ago. He is currently a senior editor and columnist at Macworld magazine and Website and an editor for the Take Control series of electronic books, and has previously held positions as the senior reviews editor for Playlist magazine and Website and as editor for MacFixIt.com. In 2006, Frakes was named to the MacTech 25, a publicly chosen list of the …

Recipient Of The 2010 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, Travis Schedler '98

Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Travis Schedler is an instructor in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he holds a five-year fellowship from the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM). Schedler was the sole recipient of the 2008 AIM Fellowship, an award that is “intended for an absolutely first-rate new Ph.D. -- someone with the potential to leave a lasting mark on mathematics.” The fellowship supports one outstanding new Ph.D. pursuing research in an area of pure mathematics, and covers 60 months of full-time research as well as funds for travel and equipment. Schedler has written or co-authored 19 research articles, including one that …

Recipient Of The 2010 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, Lillian S. Kao '89

Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Lillian S. Kao, M.D., M.S., is an associate professor in the Department of Surgery and faculty for the Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHSC). She also serves as the Vice-Chief of Surgery at the Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital in Houston. Dr. Kao’s main research interest is the prevention and treatment of surgical infections. She has several grants for her clinical research, including an NIH career development award. In 2006, Dr. Kao was the recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Physician Faculty Scholar to study interventions to improve …

Imsa360: Summer 2010, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

IMSA’s 22nd class graduated in June 2010. Members of this class will always be special to me because we began our IMSA journey together in 2007 with a mixture of exhilaration and trepidation, pride and panic, hope and humility. We knew that we were privileged to join this innovative community, a distinguished international leader and exemplar in mathematics and science education. From day one, we understood that the words of the mission statement about “advancing the human condition” were meant for us, and we all had the formidable responsibility to make a tangible difference to our colleagues, friends and to …

Commencement Of The Class Of 2010, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Ceremony

No abstract provided.

Imsa360: Spring 2010, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

IMSA’s mission is to “ignite and nurture creative, ethical scientifi c minds that advance the human condition.” That’s a tall order, and we don’t apologize for that! Many of society’s challenges in this century will be addressed by leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). IMSA strives to develop leaders who will use their talents in STEM to work collaboratively to make positive social impacts.

At IMSA, we create conditions that enable students to develop and demonstrate their leadership skills. This issue highlights the many opportunities students have to expand their leadership capacities through advocacy, service, entrepreneurial ventures and …

Assessing Differences In Students' Experiences In Traditional Versus Scientific Teaching-Based Biology Course, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Susan C. Styer

Faculty Publications & Research

Introduction:

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), located in Aurora Illinois, is a public, three- year residential high school for students who are academically talented in mathematics and/or science. Students apply in their freshman year and are chosen based on test scores and grades as well as other accomplishments, such as extracurricular projects or performances. About 10-15% of the sophomore class enters IMSA from the eighth grade.

The sophomore program consists of three content- based, one-semester core courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, and one methods-in- science course. Sophomores take two science classes per semester. About 80% of the …

Re-Imagining Specialized Stem Academies: Igniting And Nurturing ‘Decidedly Different Minds,’ By Design, Stephanie Pace Marshall

Publications & Research

This article offers a personal vision and conceptual design for reimagining specialized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academies designed to nurture decidedly different STEM minds and ignite a new generation of global STEM talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership. This design enables students to engage actively in the authentic work, modes of inquiry, and practices that distinguish four STEM learning cultures, environments, and communities: (a) Inquiry and Research Laboratory and Interdisciplinary Learning Center—develops disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and inquiry-based thinking; (b) Innovation Incubator and Design Studio—ignites innovative and design-based thinking; (c) Global Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Institute—nurtures change leadership and systems-based thinking; …

Stem Talent: Moving Beyond Traditional Boundaries, Stephanie Pace Marshall

Publications & Research

The future well-being, prosperity and sustainability of our nation, the global community and our planet resides in igniting and nurturing decidedly different STEM minds that can advance both the new STEM frontier and the human future.

How Our Health Depends On Biodiversity, Eric Chivian M.D., Aaron Bernstein M.D., M.P.H.

Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change

The eminent Harvard biology Professor Edward O.Wilson once said about ants, “We need them to survive, but they don’t need us at all.” The same, in fact, could be said about countless other insects, bacteria, fungi, plankton, plants, and other organisms. This fundamental truth, however, is largely lost to many of us. Rather, we humans often act as if we are totally independent of Nature, as if our driving thousands of other species to extinction and disrupting the life-giving services they provide will have no effect on us whatsoever.

This summary, using concrete examples from our award-winning Oxford University Press …

Imsa360: Winter 2010, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

Thanks to our visionary partners and supporters, IMSA is pushing the boundaries of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Their resources have had a powerful impact on campus and also have expanded our capacity to design and deliver innovative STEM programs to educators and students in Illinois and beyond.

In this issue, you will learn how IMSA and the IMSA Fund for Advancement of Education, our 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, work with educational, business and entrepreneurial partners to re-imagine innovative models for STEM education. For example, corporate support for IMSA’s Energy Center is enabling a project that involves IMSA …

2010 Intersession Catalog, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Intersession Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Existing Specialty Schools As Leverage For Behavioral Sciences Research On Teaching And Learning In Stem Fields, Christopher G. Kolar, Heather Sondel

Publications & Research

The National Science Foundation has requested comments and proposals that outline challenge questions for the next decade in behavioral sciences research. At the same time, the NSF has joined the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology as well as the National Academy of Sciences in issuing reports first identifying the need for specialized STEM education as a strategic necessity and then proposing the establishment of an additional 1000 specialized STEM schools. A common theme in these reports is that foundational work must be conducted to establish effective organizational and instructional practices for these schools. The authors of this …

Imsa 2010 Profile, Office Of College And Academic Counseling

IMSA Profile

Total Applied Learning for Entrepreneurs (TALENT) - provides students with experiential learning opportunities in all matters related to bringing an idea to the marketplace to solve real world problems. TALENT aims to instill the thinking patterns and mindset of an entrepreneur and to engage students in activities that include, but are not limited to, understanding intellectual property, developing a business plan, developing products, securing funding, networking, communicating ideas and starting a business.