MMSTLC NEWS & EVENTS

SAMPI at Western Michigan University is offering a training workshop on the use of the SAMPI Lesson Observation System. The session is designed for those who might want to use the tool for evaluation or research. A brief description of the system is provided below. If you are interested in knowing more about the tool, we can send you a more detailed brochure.

The workshop will be offered at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo on Monday, August 17 (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and Tuesday, August 18, 2009 (8:30 a.m. – Noon). This will be for the basic version of the observation system. On Tuesday, August 18 from 1 – 3:30 p.m., we will provide training on the mentoring version of the system. (NOTE: Only those who have had training on the basic version may participate in the mentoring version.)

To be approved to use the system and receive all the materials, you must participate in the full 10-hour workshop (in this case, both days). THERE IS NO COST TO YOU TO PARTICIPATE, OTHER THAN YOU PROVIDE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER TRAVEL COSTS. We’ll provide lunch on Monday and refreshments both days.

For the mentoring version training, you must participate in the full 2.5 hour session to receive materials. We can provide information about overnight accommodations if you need them.

If you are interested in participating, just RSVP to this email (from crystal.stein [at] wmich.edu), giving us email, telephone, and regular mail contact information, along with your affiliation. We will send a confirmation with specific details about location on campus and parking instructions.

YOU MUST RSVP BY Wednesday, August 5, 2009.

About the SAMPI Lesson Observation System:

“A comprehensive protocol for observing, analyzing, and reporting data from observations of content-based lessons in kindergarten through twelfth grade, and higher education classrooms. It is applicable in science, mathematics, social studies, language arts, fine arts, and other content-based lessons. It is based on Michigan and national teaching and learning standards in core subject areas with an orientation toward inquiry and investigative approaches to learning.”

The Michigan Department of Education recently announced the publication of two new support documents for science educators, intended to address curricular and literacy issues in science instruction, and an online tool for grade 3-5 educators. These should be helpful in addressing how curriculum materials are structured to meet the grade level expectations, and to support teachers in using writing to support learning and assessment.
(more…)

NASA’s “New Views of the Universe: Hubble Space Telescope” exhibit will open on January 30 at the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History in Ann Arbor.

The exhibit opening includes NASA presentations at 7:30 p.m. from Mike Weiss, the Deputy Program Manager for the Hubble Space Telescope and Dr. Jonathan Gardner, Chief of the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for the James Webb Space Telescope. Mr. Weiss will talk about the upcoming and last servicing mission to the Hubble and Dr. Gardner will introduce Hubble’s successor, the James Webb Space Telescope. (more…)

There’s still time to register for the Fall Science Update Seminar for Wednesday afternoon/evening at GVSU on November 19, 2008. This year’s theme is “Engaging Students in the Nature of Science”. Dr. Sheldon Kopperl, from Grand Valley State University, will be speaking about “Changing Views on the Nature of Science”. This professional development mini-conference includes sessions in biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, physical science, technology, and sessions featuring best practice teaching strategies. The Fall Science Update Seminar is sponsored by the Regional Math and Science Center at GVSU. Registration deadline is Monday, November 10, 2008.

More information about the conference can be found at www.gvsu.edu/rmsc or call 616-331-2267 for more information.

How can you learn more about teaching science given all of the possible issues or ideas to explore? One way is through a Book Study, where you can collaborate with peers in reading and discussing a book of common interest in some aspect of science education. MMSTLC Science participants will have this opportunity. (more…)

Kettering University announces professional development program for teachers.

“Crash into Physics” is a summer professional development workshop series presented by Kettering University. Led by Kettering faculty (including MMSTLC participant Bahram Roughani and colleagues), this workshop uses the unique resources at Kettering to address concepts and instruction in physics content. Participants will engage in activities developed under an NSF-CCLI grant, which bring together current research in physics pedagogy such as discovery-based/active learning, and activities and analysis in the Newtonian Physics lab as well as the crash safety lab. Connections to career relevance will reinforce real-world connections of information. Participants will develop, assess and improve these activities, specifically adapting them for the high school classrooms.

Workshops will take place Aug. 22 and 25 from 8am to 2:30pm. For additional information and to register, go to www.geneseeisd.org. Select the “training” tab, click on “professional development” and click on “View by Interest.” Select “Science” to find the meeting. Teachers from Genesee county would receive priority should demand exceed the number of available seats.

SAMPI (Science and Mathematics Program Improvement) at Western Michigan University is offering a training workshop on the use of the SAMPI Lesson Observation System. The session is designed for those who might want to use the tool for evaluation or research. A brief description of the system is provided below. If you are interested in knowing more about the tool, we can send you a more detailed brochure. (more…)