Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Letter From The President

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, 13.2

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Supporting Stem Teachers Through Online Induction: An E-Mentor’S Exploration In Cyberspace, Christian E. Legler

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This self-study examines the processes involved in e-mentoring novice STEM teachers while using a university-sponsored comprehensive online induction platform. During this self-study, I e-mentored three STEM teachers for four months. The self-study of teaching and teacher education practices (S-STTEP) methodology was used to study my own e-mentoring facilitation. Data were collected from interviews, online textual data, and my own personal reflective journals. By studying the process of e-mentoring, I gained a more thorough understanding of the challenges involved in e-mentoring novice STEM teachers. This research also helped me better understand the induction of novice STEM teachers through e-mentoring on a …

Don't Run Out Of Steam! Barriers To A Transdisciplinary Learning Approach, Jennifer C. Caton

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

Reform-based instruction can maximize learning and provide equitable access for students in both mathematics and science. A proposal for change by national organizations shed light on the need for programs in integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or with the inclusion of the arts (STEAM). A balanced approach to integrated STEAM education uses real issues from around the world to challenge students to be innovative, creative, and think critically about ways they can provide solutions. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential of a transdisciplinary STEAM instructional approach, while examining the barriers that teachers face in …

Coming Together Through Object Based Learning In A Pandemic, Brian Sheehy, Michael Sandstrom, John Heeg

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

In the summer of 2019, three history teachers from all over the US, met in France for National History Day’s Memorializing the Fallen program and commenced a lasting friendship. While in France, touring the WWI cemeteries, memorial sites, and museums, we all realized the importance of experience-based learning and the seeds were sown for our interest in object based learning. Aside from the philosophical and pedagogical discussions on long bus rides and our passion for history, we shared a belief in the importance of revitalizing history education and helping it to evolve in the face of our twenty-first century world. …

Deliberation On The Public Good During Covid-19: A Case Study Examining Elementary Students’ Use Of Civic Perspective-Taking, William Toledo, Esther Enright

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Abstract

Building on prior research on place-based social studies instruction (Toledo, 2017; 2020), this study specifically looks at data from six third-grade teachers who designed and implemented a civics curriculum focused on engaging students with a unit on locally-relevant public issues. The ten-lesson unit that the teachers and research team collaboratively developed was taught in six classrooms across a large school district. A central public issue in the unit was travel across borders during COVID-19, or simply the coronavirus as it was commonly referred to at the time. Students also considered tensions between immigration and containment of contagious illnesses through …

Beyond Pandemic Pedagogy: Thoughts On Deconstruction, Structure, And Justice Post-Pandemic, Samantha Cutrara

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

No abstract provided.

Myth, Power, And Justice: The Danger Of A Single Story, Christen H. Clougherty

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

If we hear only a single story about a group, we risk a critical misunderstanding. In this session, learn to critically analyze assumptions of single stories and dominant narratives about community partners. Engage in hands-on activities to explore this issue as it relates to race, poverty, and social justice. Leave with classroom activities to take back to your classroom.

Essential Practices For Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In Secondary Classrooms, Jenelle Williams

Michigan Reading Journal

This article describes the role of student-centered, problem-based instruction, and it offers practical tips and resources for secondary English Language Arts educators in using effective problem frames for units of instruction.

Big Kids Need Books Too: Lessons Learned From Building Classroom Libraries At The Secondary Level, Jenelle Williams, Megan Kortlandt

Michigan Reading Journal

This article is intended to describe the rationale and process of creating and effectively using classroom libraries in middle- and high-school English Language Arts classrooms. The authors connect theory to practice, using research to guide decisions about book selection and teacher professional development that takes into account the unique affordances and constraints of using classroom libraries at the secondary level. Additionally, the authors include considerations for the current reality of remote, virtual, and blended learning scenarios.

Study Protocol For Testing The Association Between Physical Activity And Academic Outcomes Utilizing A Cluster-Randomized Trial, Peter Boedeker, Lindsey Turner, Hannah Calvert, Christi Kay, Adria Meyer, Chuck Truett, Julie Gazmararian

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend adolescents engaging in 60 min of physical activity (PA) every day. Students should spend at least 30 min being active while at school. However, schools rarely provide that much PA time for students. This paper describes the planned analyses for a study evaluating the relationships between PA (measured as average daily minutes of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity [MVPA]) and educational outcomes of standardized test scores and classroom grades cross-sectionally in 4 th grade and longitudinally from 4 th to 5 th grade. Investigations of moderators (both student- and school-level), mediators, and potential …

Evolutionary Theory: Coping With A Pandemic., Lawrence C. Scharmann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Early in 2020, nations across the globe were warned about the potential for a pandemic arising from a novel virus that originated in Wuhan, China. The virus began an inevitable steady march of infection locally, regionally, nationally, and eventually internationally. Questions posed by infectious disease specialists were:

• Is the infectious disease one that is already known? Answer: no.

• Does the infectious disease (at the very least) closely resemble other known diseases? Answer – other than the virus possessing a distinguishing corona or halo when viewed under electron microscopy – no.

Thus, other than identifying the morphological shape of …

Developing Strategic Plans For An Aligned Approach To 21st Century Skills Integration, Claire Scoular, Ian Teo

Assessment and Reporting

This report describes an online course developed to support education systems to build an aligned and sustainable approach to integration of 21st Century Skills (21CS). 21CS are those skills that are considered particularly important to succeed in today’s knowledge-based society in which innovation and technology are predominant. Prominent examples include critical thinking, creative thinking, and collaboration, and such skills need to be better understood in order for them to be integrated. While different countries may have their own frameworks or priorities surrounding 21CS, a consistent approach to integration can still be achieved with a shared understanding from all stakeholders within …

The Relationship Between Career And Technical Education Enrollment And College And Career Readiness Outcomes, Daniel Soliz Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College and career readiness for K-12 students has become a priority of legislatures and educational leaders in the United States. In recent years, Texas public school leaders have emphasized the importance of maximizing the percentage of College, Career and Military Ready (CCMR) graduates. The specific problem studied was that a low percentage of students in Texas, in comparison to the state’s graduation rate, graduate with a CCMR distinction. Career and Technical Education (CTE), a component of K-12 education, can assist school leaders in maximizing college and career readiness for students. However, it was not clear how within schools, CTE enrollment …

Are Faculty Prepared To Teach Flexibly?: Results From An Evaluation Study, Devshikha Bose, Rob Nyland

CTL Teaching Gallery

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were hardly any formal/established professional development (PD) program s that intentionally prepared faculty to teach flexibly. The uncertainty around the modality of the fall 2020 semester, required faculty to be prepared to teach their courses in flexible methods in order to meet the needs of their students and the constraints of their institution. This article is an updated report on the evaluation of the Flexible Teaching for Student Success (FTSS) Initiative at Boise State University—a three-tiered faculty development initiative designed to prepare faculty to teach their courses in flexible formats. Evaluation surveys and a …

Introductory Classical Mechanics: An Alternate Order Of Concepts, Eric Hawker

Professional Learning Day

A novel approach to teaching an introductory physics course is to study the principles of classical mechanics in the order of increasing complexity. Participate in this session to explore an interesting series of progression: from concepts that describe an object at rest, to an object with constant velocity, followed by those that describe how an object’s velocity can change, and finally, gravity. This session will engage participants in the study of this progression and include discussion.

Noaa Data Resources For The Classroom, Peg Steffen

Professional Learning Day

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has many rich data resources that can inspire students to understand real world problems. This session will explore sites that provide curated and real-time data for middle and high school students. Sample offerings from NOAA’s Data in the Classroom, weather and climate data sites, Ocean Today, coastal data, and paleoclimate (proxy) data. Participants will receive a list of useful sites for reference.

Physics Labs From Your Phone, Brooke Schmidt, Anastasia Perry

Professional Learning Day

This session will provide an overview of available online platforms and phone apps that can be used to engage students in physics labs. The topics include Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Waves and Sound. A variety of freely available materials including lesson plans will be shared with participants. These resources can be used in the virtual learning environment, and can be incorporated as a form of alternative assessment during regular face-to-face instruction. Participants need to install a free phone app ‘Phyphox’ for this session.

Teaching Interactive Stem Virtually, Carolyn Harvey

Professional Learning Day

Teaching immersive, hands-on STEM activities over a virtual platform is challenging. Even when schools are able to return to a normal in-person schedule, it will be necessary to have virtual lessons prepared. In this session you will learn helpful tips and tricks to keep students mentally, emotionally, and physically engaged in virtual STEM activities based on what was learned during virtual Summer@IMSA’s 2020 programs. Suggested materials include string (any type), small metal washer, 12” ruler, scissors, and masking/painters tape.

Easy Latex For Math Teachers, Brent Yen, Evan Brummet, Lingyi Meng

Professional Learning Day

LaTeX is a typesetting system for the educator who wants to create documents with beautifully typeset mathematics. Have you ever been frustrated looking for the right symbol or formula when creating math on an online platform? In this workshop we will introduce participants to basic LaTeX and show how it can be useful for online platforms that you might already be using like Desmos, Formative, Canvas, MS Word, and even Gmail! We are happy to tailor the demonstration to answer any specific questions raised by participants.

Scientific Inquiry And Research At Imsa, Sowmya Anjur, Dave Devol

Professional Learning Day

In this session, we will describe scientific inquiry and research at IMSA. We will describe the requirements for SIR, the SIR structure we have on campus, the modifications we have made during the pandemic, and how we help students develop leadership skills and success through this program. We will also discuss IMSAloquium and disciplines of research.

A Focus On Ngss And High School Life Sciences, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

In this session educators will engage in a brief discussion about High School level Next Generation Science Standards in Life Science. Sample activities will be presented that act as examples of how to approach some of these standards in the classroom, without overhauling existing curricula.

Diversity Think Tank *Double Session Exclusively For D204 Educators, Adrienne Coleman

Professional Learning Day

Reflect, Reframe, and Reimagine your STEM classroom. In this course educators will have an opportunity to examine their conscious and unconscious biases and their potential impacts in the classroom culture and curriculum. We will unpack the history of STEM and the individual, institutional, and environmental influences that have contributed to some of the notable educational gaps. Lastly, using the D-STEM Equity model educators will gain strategies to employ a more culturally relevant pedagogy and develop a more inclusive classroom culture.

Implementing The Best Practices Of Online Teaching And Learning Into Your Virtual Classroom: Focus On Instructional Design And Pedagogy, Richard Schultz

Professional Learning Day

When most educators went online in 2020, challenges arose when pivoting rapidly from a physical classroom to a virtual setting. Many had little time for professional development to envision what a great online experience looks like. This session focuses on online teaching and learning: pedagogy and instructional design fostering engagement and on behalf of the students.

(Easy) Gamification With Game Day Stem, Elaine Wu

Professional Learning Day

Gamification is becoming an increasingly hot trend in the education world, but what does it actually mean, why is it so effective in getting students engaged and motivated, and how can it be implemented? Come join us in this session where we will explore these questions and see some practical applications of gamification principles implemented during our 2020 Summer@IMSA Game Day STEM virtual camp that can also be readily applied to your classrooms.

Stem Books And Lessons: K-5, Elizabeth Martinez

Professional Learning Day

There are a multitude of books available for use in STEM classes, as well as many methods for connecting them to curricula. Join us as we explore several K-5 STEM appropriate books, share ideas for related STEM lessons, connections to NGSS, as well as interdisciplinary approaches. Leave with a list of STEM books, some sample lesson plans, and cost effective materials ideas.

Trends In Computer Science Education, Namrata Pandya

Professional Learning Day

Although crucial for our students’ future success, access to a computer science (CS) education is still not universal. Education leaders must better understand the perceptions of CS and access to CS learning opportunities to maximize students’ potential for growth in an ever-changing technological world. What can we do as teachers? We will have a conversation about online resources, teaching certification, and offering CS courses to the students to prepare them better for the future.

Not Just A Story: Genetics And Probability, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

In this session educators will engage in an Integrative STEM-based activity framed in a fictional story. This story integrates well with mathematical concepts of probability and chance, along with science concepts such as heredity, geared towards 6th through 12th grades. This session is interactive. Please attend with a set of two coins, some masking tape, and a pen or marker, along with some paper to write on.

Discussion Board Ideas For High School Science, Angela Ahrendt, Laura Kopff

Professional Learning Day

This session will share some ideas for bringing online discussion board assignments into your classroom. We will share a few examples of assignments including components such as infographics, diversity and equity, and intermolecular forces, as well as give ideas for how to transition a traditional assignment into a discussion board assignment. Feel free to bring examples of discussion board assignments that have worked for you, and/or an assignment that you would like to transition into a discussion board assignment.

Hands-On Stem (Even In The Virtual Space): Bioluminescent Jellyfish Model, Christine L. Moskalik

Professional Learning Day

Come see how FUN, relevant, hands-on STEM can happen successfully in your (virtual or in-person) classroom as we build a bioluminescent jellyfish model together. Using only a few basic supplies (see materials list & bring supplies to build your own), this activity will help you engage students while addressing a variety of STEM concepts; modeling, jellyfish anatomy & physiology, jellyfish life cycle, jellyfish adaptations, and/or chemical reactions of bioluminescence.