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Full-Text Articles in Curriculum and Instruction

Session A-1: Teaching Fields In Introductory Physics, Peter Dong Mar 2016

Session A-1: Teaching Fields In Introductory Physics, Peter Dong

Professional Learning Day

The concept of a field is integral to all areas of contemporary physics - perhaps as fundamental a concept as energy. Fields are mentioned in several NGSS standards and essential to understand physics at an advanced level. However, fields are not difficult and can be taught in an introductory course with minimal math. Students who understand the basic concept early should have less difficulty understanding electric and magnetic fields in later classes. I will discuss our implementation of a fields unit in our introductory physics course and give examples of simple labs and exercises to help students understand this basic …


Session C-1: Ecosystem Disruption: Using Lab And Real-World Examples To Bring Changes In Earth’S Ecosystems To Life, Crystal Randall, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Sowmya Anjur, Don Dosch Mar 2016

Session C-1: Ecosystem Disruption: Using Lab And Real-World Examples To Bring Changes In Earth’S Ecosystems To Life, Crystal Randall, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Sowmya Anjur, Don Dosch

Professional Learning Day

The magnitude of the changes occurring in Earth’s ecosystems seems difficult to tackle in the classroom and lab. Here we explore ways to demonstrate the changes in the Earth’s water and carbon cycles in the lab and bring them to life in real-world ecosystems in the classroom.


Session A-4: It’S A Wrap, Lindsey Herlehy, David Hernandez Mar 2016

Session A-4: It’S A Wrap, Lindsey Herlehy, David Hernandez

Professional Learning Day

Investigate the concepts of surface area, measurement, ratio and proportion through a visual and kinesthetic mathematical investigation. Participants will be presented with the challenge of calculating how many sheets of toilet paper it would take to wrap one of their group members using a limited selection of tools. This session will provide teachers with a wonderful hands-on, minds-on activity that could easily be implemented into any classroom!


Session A-3: The Box Problem – An Introduction, Ruth Dover Mar 2016

Session A-3: The Box Problem – An Introduction, Ruth Dover

Professional Learning Day

Create some simple boxes with paper and scissors. Then we'll measure the height, area of the base, and the volume. Find formulas, find regressions, and graph the functions. It's a simple activity to engage students and combine many different aspects of mathematics.


Session C-4: Design Your School’S New Innovation Space, Britta W. Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie Mar 2016

Session C-4: Design Your School’S New Innovation Space, Britta W. Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie

Professional Learning Day

Schools are rethinking learning spaces, turning outdated computer labs and tired libraries into vibrant innovation spaces. Maker spaces, collaboration areas and technology hubs that connect applied learning to the real world are emerging. See plans for IMSA's new innovation hub, called IN2, (opening fall 2016) learn how it was designed, and tour IN1 (the prototype of IN2) in a former computer lab. Learners are guided through a design thinking process to reimagine a current space at your school. Participants should come with photos of their potential space/s and room dimensions ready to create a prototype of their new space.


Session C-5: Biotech Basics, Elizabeth Martinez, Emily Hood Ferrin Mar 2016

Session C-5: Biotech Basics, Elizabeth Martinez, Emily Hood Ferrin

Professional Learning Day

The field of biotechnology is rapidly expanding. What is biotech? What are the applications? How is biotech studied? These topics will be explored as participants engage in hands-on lessons developed at an appropriate level for middle school students. Activities may be used to introduce students to the world of biotech.


Session C-3: Engineering With Reinforced Concrete, Patrick Young Mar 2016

Session C-3: Engineering With Reinforced Concrete, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

Does your school need a shelter? Whether your students are concerned about tornadoes, sharknadoes, or a zombie apocalypse, reinforced concrete is the answer! Learn about the history and chemistry of concrete. Make your own. Design a test to evaluate the strength of your concrete, based on anticipated threat (the natural or unnatural disaster of your choice). Conduct that test using small, preformed slabs. Making and breaking concrete is easy and fun, but wear your play-clothes. You will get dirty.


Session C-2: “It Is Easy As Pi”, Christine L. Moskalik, Carmela Jones Mar 2016

Session C-2: “It Is Easy As Pi”, Christine L. Moskalik, Carmela Jones

Professional Learning Day

Participants will work together using pi to try to open an ancient chest filled with treasure!! The chest is protected by a passcode that can only be determined through the activities within the lesson. Enjoy a progressive exposure to pi through this two-part lesson (total 110 minutes) offering a FUN storyline within the context of geometry and circles. With "pi-day" right around the corner, this hands-on, fun, inquiry-based lesson is sure to be a hit with your budding mathematicians.


Session A-2: She Fought For The Fatherland: Gender, War And Memory In The Soviet Union Subject: History, Kitty Lam Mar 2016

Session A-2: She Fought For The Fatherland: Gender, War And Memory In The Soviet Union Subject: History, Kitty Lam

Professional Learning Day

John Keegan once wrote, “Warfare is…the one human activity…from which women have always and everywhere stood apart. Women…do not fight…and they never in any military sense, fight men” (John Keegan, A History of Warfare, 76). Yet in the Second World War, an estimated 120,000 Soviet women served in combat roles. This presentation uses photographs of women in combat and images of Soviet war monuments and to help students reconsider wartime division of gender roles. It also prompts students to examine how women’s contributions to war were commemorated in a country that supposedly championed gender equality.


Session A-1: The New Illinois Civics Curriculum: Perils And Pitfalls, Claiborne A. Skinner Jr., Eric Smith Mar 2016

Session A-1: The New Illinois Civics Curriculum: Perils And Pitfalls, Claiborne A. Skinner Jr., Eric Smith

Professional Learning Day

The Illinois Legislature will require all Illinois students to complete one semester in civics in order graduate beginning with students entering next academic year. IMSA adopted a combined one-semester civics/American history curriculum this year that can serve as a critical study in how to achieve the goals the state hopes to achieve. Rather than wrestle with the issue of American History vs. American Government curriculum, we are attempting to present a History of American Government, exploring the origins of our political institutions beginning in the Dark Ages and how these have evolved to meet the needs of the times. We …


Session E-6: Aerodynamic Wing Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson Feb 2015

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 E-3: Constructivist Science Vocabulary, Brian Grublesky Feb 2015

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 Feb 2015

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-4: Developing Middle School Science Activities, Ron Hurlbut Feb 2015

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 D-5: You Are My Density, Brian Grublesky, Elizabeth Martinez Feb 2015

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 Feb 2015

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 D-4: Particle Physics, Peter Dong Feb 2015

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 Feb 2015

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 F-2: Is It All Just Random?, Nicole Ross Feb 2015

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 F-4: Quadratic Functions: As Simple As A, B, C, Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti Feb 2015

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 D-7: Exploration Of Factors That Motivate Students To Engage In Stem, Adrienne Coleman Feb 2015

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-6: Strong Structure By Design, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson Feb 2015

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 B-7: 3d Printing For The Next Generation Learners, Britta Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie Feb 2015

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-6: The Power Of Water, Dhruti Patel Feb 2015

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 Feb 2015

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-4: Foods Of The Future, Carmela Minaya, Aziza Darwish, Heather Richardson Feb 2015

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-3: Mathematical Games, Puzzles, And Diversions, Steven M. Condie Feb 2015

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-2: The “Roll” Of Statistics In Modeling - It All Adds Up, Richard Stalmack, Janice Krouse Feb 2015

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-1: Pipelines And Oil Spills!, Patrick Young Feb 2015

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-3: Modern Germany: Social Responsibility & Environmental Sustainability, Rachel Sykora Feb 2015

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 …