Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Session D-3: Robotics Programming Using Java, Pat Patankar

Professional Learning Day

I will discuss how to program NXT kit with various sensors using Java programming language.

Session F-2: More Than Meets The Eye, Christine L. Moskalik, Carmela Jones

Professional Learning Day

What your eyes take-in and report to your brain is not necessarily exactly what you have seen. The eye is an important sensory organ allowing for vision but without light, vision is impossible. This session will engage participants in elementary lessons that introduce the physics of color and light and illustrate various aspects of human visual perception. Properties of light will be investigated by mixing the primary light colors (not pigments) and simple tests will be performed to measure peripheral vision and explore depth perception, pupil constriction/dilation, and the blind spot. Do you “see” yourself coming to this session?

Session D-1: Lies, Damn Lies, And Statistics, Peter Dong, Joseph Traina

Professional Learning Day

The crucial and sometimes difficult areas of data analysis and statistics can be made clearer by looking at examples of how they can be done badly - examples which, unfortunately, are easy to find. We share our experience teaching a short course which examines disingenuous graphs, biased surveys, deliberately misworded statements, and other methods of misrepresenting data. The negative examples provide an opportunity to discuss how statistics should properly be done, and explain what can happen when statistics are used incorrectly. We include a discussion of the failure of polls to predict the outcome of the presidential election.

Session D-2: Don’T Overdose The Patient: A Unit Conversion Literacy Project, Gary M. Baker, David Anim-Addo, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

General chemistry for non-science majors is often a prerequisite course for students pursuing degree programs in allied health fields, such as nursing. A core nursing skill is medicine management, which includes correctly calculating drug dosage volumes administered by I.V. or injection. Such calculations are nothing more than general chemistry problems involving concentration units and dilution. Our data show, however, that more than 90% of students lack this skill after taking a traditional general chemistry course. This presentation will focus on documenting this curricular gap and how we, as teachers, can address it.

Session B-1: Current Events In Biology, Crystal Randall, Don Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Professional Learning Day

Teaching fundamentals, while important, can sometimes take a toll on our motivation and enthusiasm for our subject because there are rarely significant changes in the content we might present from year to year. However, keeping up with the current progress of our field, what’s new and exciting in research, and how current advancements can impact our health, well-being, and society in the future can keep us inspired, and help us continue to inspire our students. Come discuss what’s happening in biology news today, hear what we’re excited about and bring your own ideas to share!

Session B-2: Forensic Metallurgy – A Challenge In Basic Measurements, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

Chinese antiquities may be readily found for sale on eBay. Ancient coins may be purchased for very reasonable prices. Are these authentic artifacts, or modern forgeries? An investigation will include measurements and calculations to identify the metals involved. Using only inexpensive, school-grade equipment, participants will be challenged to solve the mystery. Success will hinge on careful measurement, deductive reasoning, and a thoughtful consideration of experimental uncertainty.

Session B-5: Planning Your School's New Innovation/Makerspace, Britta W. Mckenna

Professional Learning Day

Are you thinking about or moving forward with plans for your school to host a makerspace, entrepreneurship or innovation area? Take a tour of IN2, IMSA's new 6,400 square food innovation center and makerspace and get tips from IMSA's Chief Innovation Officer, who spent three years studying best practice, designing the center, hiring the staff, furnishing and launching programs. The session includes a 30 minute tour and 30 minutes of sharing lessons learned and answering questions from participants.

Session B-4: Why Study War? The Importance Of Teaching Military History, Justin Riskus

Professional Learning Day

This session will provide educators with the means and methods of incorporating American military history into the classroom, and how its study fosters critical thinking skills. A global perspective of American military power {Civil War, Cold War, War on Terror), and ideas on how to teach such perspectives, will be explored.

Session B-2: Pirates: Past And Present, Kitty Lam

Professional Learning Day

Piracy has endured for as long as maritime trade has existed. From the ancient Mediterranean world to the modern-day Somali coast, pirates have threatened merchant ships. The legacy of piracy has inspired countless songs, poems, novels, and movies. Who were pirates? What did they want? Where did they go? How did they interact with states? Students have internalized stereotypes about pirates from popular culture, but rarely consider these questions about piracy. This workshop will examine the significance of piracy in world history through texts and visual material. Case studies will be global, but focus on the early modern period.

Session C-1: Modeling Stem Activities Into Classroom Practice, Sowmya Anjur

Professional Learning Day

Students understand concepts better when they have had a chance to work hands on with relevant material. Examples will be presented from my classroom where difficult concepts have been modeled into simple experiments with considerable success in enhancing student understanding. Special focus will be given to selected topics that students seem to have the most difficulty grasping. The objective is to enable students to transfer their understanding to solve complex problems with considerable ease and apply their understanding to real world scenarios on assessments. Suggestions will also be provided for implementation of various concepts into the high school classroom.

Session A-4: Makerspaces In The School: Understanding And Creating An Educational Makerspace, Erik Swanson

Professional Learning Day

This session will cover the process of opening and running a school-based Makerspace, using our Makerspace’s journey as the lens. The learning outcomes for this seminar will be as follows: understanding what a Makerspace is, and how it fits into the school environment; figuring out what equipment you need; how to tailor your space to your situation; and what it takes to run and upkeep a Makerspace. Additionally we will tour IMSA’s IN2 Makerspace, and end with a Q&A session to address any specific inquiries.

Session A-3: Three-Act Math Tasks, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Participants will engage in a Three-Act Math task highlighting the application of properties of geometrical figures. Developed by Dan Meyer, an innovative and highly regarded mathematics instructor, Three-Act Math tasks utilize pedagogical skills that elicit student curiosity, collaboration and questioning. By posing a mathematical problem through active storytelling, this instructional approach redefines real-world mathematics and clarifies the role that a student plays in the learning process. Participants will be given multiple resources where they can access Three-Act Math tasks appropriate for upper elementary grades through Algebra and Geometry courses.

Session A-2: Use Your Noodle – Tips From Neuroscience To Sauce Up Your Lessons, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

How many times in a day do you look at your students and internally scream for them to use their noodle while hiding the fact that your internal waters are boiling? Turn the heat down and join us for an interactive and informative session exploring ways to engage your students to use their noodles and save yours from being cooked. We will experience activities designed to engage the brain, and explore the research behind why these technique may work to enhance learning. Leave with tips from the neurosciences that are easy to reproduce in your classroom.

Session A-1: Bca Method, Focusing On Mole Ratios In Stoichiometry, Carmela Jones, Deb Scarano, Anita White

Professional Learning Day

Traditionally stoichiometry is done using dimensional analysis. Although effective, it is confusing, messy, and does not focus on mole ratios. On the other hand, the BCA method (Before-Change-After), is clear, clean, and highlights the mole ratios in a chemical reaction. Participants will collect mass data in an experiment and learn how to use a BCA table. Teachers will bring the BCA method back to their classrooms and provide an extremely useful tool for the next generation of chemistry savvy students.

Session A-4: Legacy: Enslaved African Muslims In The Americas, Steven Buenning, Elizabeth Buenning

Professional Learning Day

Among the estimated 12.5 million enslaved African persons deported to the Americas, about 10-20% were Muslims. What were their experiences? How did their actions influence life in the Western Hemisphere? What is their legacy today? Through new scholarship, the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database, primary sources, and geography exercises, we will explore how this topic can enrich your teaching of the history of slavery. In addition, books for young readers about Islam and other world religions will be discussed.

Session A-3: The Yin And Yang Of U.S.-China Relations 1840-Present, Diane Haleas

Professional Learning Day

The United States and China have experienced both difficult relations and positive relations. For over 150 years these interactions between the United States and China have resulted in significant influences on political, economic, and cultural decisions in both countries. This presentation will offer an overview of time periods, emphasize crucial events, and analyze the implications for U.S.-China relations today and in the future. Lesson plan ideas will be included.

Impact Report 2017: Imsa30, The Promise And Power Of Imsa, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Impact Reports

The State of Illinois launched the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), which is recognized as the world's leading teaching and learning lab for imagination and inquiry, in collaboration with business, education, and science leaders. For 30 years, IMSA has pioneered the future of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through its two legislative charges: 1) to provide a uniquely challenging education for students talented in the areas of mathematics and science and 2) to stimulate further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics and science. IMSA champions these goals through:

New STEM teaching models: leading the charge to …

1. Types Of Alignment: Presentations & Demos Assignment, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequence Alignments

Pairwise Alignment: DNA

Pairwise Alignment: Protein

Multiple Sequence Alignment: DNA

Multiple Sequence Alignment: Protein

Wellness Reflection, Walker Weyland '17

Examples of Student Work

I have actually become much more aware of my personal wellness in the past year, in the past year I have joined two sports, I have begun making it a priority to eat more healthily, and for the first time since I came to IMSA, I have made sure that I do something fun at least once a week.

Wellness Reflection, Hector Correa '17

Examples of Student Work

The first time that I really committed myself to getting in shape and working out was freshman year at Wheaton Warrenville South. Before then my weight was not the best nor my health. But spending about two hours every day after school for two months at the gym really got me to change. That was the first time I had ever committed myself to going to the gym consistently. I lost weight, I gained some muscle and was certainly in better shape than before. I can honestly say that it felt great.

Wellness Reflection, Grace Ryan '17

Examples of Student Work

Until this point to contribute to my wellness, I make an effort but sometimes not as much as I could. I generally go to sleep between 12 and 1, prioritizing my homework earlier in the day. This helps to ensure that I get enough sleep, but sometimes means I don’t get as much done as I had planned to.

Wellness Reflection, Denisse Avalos '17

Examples of Student Work

I didn’t do much physical activity during first semester junior year mainly out of laziness and lack of motivation. On a good week, I’d probably go to the gym twice therefore, I just kept gaining weight and not really burning off the calories. I started working out more when coming back from winter break. I started going to the fitness center almost every day.

Wellness Reflection, Anonymous

Examples of Student Work

For most of my life, I have done little to nothing to improve my level of holistic wellness. I did sports, but never very intensely. After freshman year, which is when I was at my heaviest weight, I became more focused on my health and how it was negatively affecting my self-confidence. That summer, I started going on bike rides. But cardio alone is in no way enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Session E-3: Addressing Ngss Engineering Standards With An Alternative Energy Module, Peter Clancy, Mark Carlson

Professional Learning Day

In our Engineering class at IMSA, we have taught an Alternative Energy unit over the last four semesters. We will discuss how the 4 engineering NGSS standards are addressed through the various activities involved with this unit. We will also discuss how the unit has evolved over the last 2 years.

Session E-2: Function Fundamentals, More Than X And Y, Carlo Ordonez, Steven M. Condie

Professional Learning Day

How many of your students say that √9 = ±3? This may have to do with a lack of understanding of functions. This session will highlight some of the nuances of functions with less formal, non-formula driven examples with which students can expand their understanding.

Session E-1: Labs For Waves, Sound, And Optics, Brooke Schmidt

Professional Learning Day

I've been reworking our labs for waves, sound, and light this semester and I would like to share my work with you. These are a mix of both derivation and application experiments. I will also give suggestions for modifications for the middle school level.

Session D-2: Teaching The Russian Revolution 2.0, Steven Buenning

Professional Learning Day

Early in April 1917, Lenin crossed the Russian border and returned to his homeland, courtesy of a sealed train arranged by the German government. Almost 100 years ago, the Russian Revolution shook the world – and it still does today. Learn how fresh ideas, websites, group activities, a terrific new book, and a teaching unit from the Choices Program (Brown University) – featuring an exciting role play – can energize your classroom. See how the Russian Revolution can ignite your students’ passion for history!

Session D-4: From Guernica To Nuremberg: Teaching Human Rights Themes In Mid-20th-Century History, Peter Carroll, Eric Smith

Professional Learning Day

A critical turning point in modern warfare—aviation, civilian casualties, and population displacement during the Spanish Civil War and World War II—led to the Nuremberg Tribunals and UN Declaration of Human Rights, foreshadowing contemporary debates about bombing, drones, refugees/immigration, and interventionist foreign policies. This session will span World History and US History, drawing from free archival primary sources (graphic and textual) that reveal changing perceptions of warfare.

Session D-1: Science And Spaghetti Monsters: Addressing The Ethical Issues And Controversy Related To Genomics And Evolution In The Biology Classroom, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Professional Learning Day

As science teachers, we may shy away from addressing the controversy surrounding particular topics in our classrooms in order to maintain focus on content. However, the real world context of knowledge is essential, and the performance expectations in the life sciences as outlined in the NGSS state that students should be able to discuss the ethical issues related to genetic modifications and the nature of science. We will discuss ideas for how to address these topics effectively and help our students understand their importance beyond academics in our global community.

Session C-4: Mary Lincoln’S Journey, Mary Kerr

Professional Learning Day

Lincoln's Journey will detail in an interesting and objective manner the pivotal points in her life: early feelings about slavery, the decision to leave Lexington and settle in Springfield, IL, being a single mother while her husband was "riding the circuit", her continued support of Lincoln as a national politician, restoration of the White House, and her inability to make positive decisions after Lincoln's assassination. In the end she was able to live on a budget and died with dignity. The presentation follows the book Mary Lincoln's Journey by Kerr and Kerr in which primary sources are emphasized.