Effective use of assessment is an integral part of increasing science literacy for all students. The first week of this course examines the role of assessment at the local, state, national, and international levels. Week two presents strategies for selecting different types of assessment for different instructional purposes. During week three, teachers learn how to construct effective science content- knowledge assessments. Developing performance assessments and scoring rubrics are the focus of week four. Week five presents the guidelines for ensuring equity and excellence in science assessment for ALL students.
This course is run through the JASON Foundation and is a 30 hour course.
K-12
Designing an Environmental Issue Investigation
In this course, you will develop the framework for an environmental investigation that could then be used with students. During the first phase of the course, you will work through a 'mock' environmental investigation, using components of the framework. This framework will guide you as you identify the key players in an environmental issue, using survey and questioning techniques to clarify the issue, field data collection to gather information, data analysis of field data using 'appropriate' technology and finally, reaching consensus regarding the environmental issue at hand. Then, you will be asked to apply the technology and adapt the framework to serve an area of environmental concern that is common to your specific area (ie: river/lake pollution, prevalence of introduced species, corporate pollution, population density, epidemiology, etc).
5-12
Evolution: Separating Fact from Fiction
Come on a fantastic journey to overview the findings of Charles Darwin and the many o the rs who have, in the last century, moved the science of evolution to the forefront of a societal debate. Examine sources of scientific data that clearly demonstrate the process of Natural Selection. Find credible internet sites to use with your students for class discussion, investigation and experimentation. Participate in discussions of the sources of controversy surrounding evolution and the n work to dispel misconceptions through the development of standards based lessons that will provide a concrete understanding of the biological processes involved.
7-12
Sloan Course
Inquiring Minds in your Science Curriculum
Inquiring minds are motivated minds! We will start with the backwards design approach, defining your essential understandings for the students using standards & your curriculum. Using these EU's, participants will design instruction addressing needed skills to meet their goals. This course will teach you to guide your students to an understanding of scientific variables & constants. We will discuss strategies for helping students formulate meaningful questions based on their own inquiry & curiosity. Experimental design will be explored as participants design specific lessons for teaching their students to define variables & constants, make hypotheses, gather data, graph data & share results with the scientific community. Young scientists will become actively involved in this authentic & intrinsically motivating process!
K-12
Mission to Mars
In this course you take off on a mission to Mars. There will be reviews of Space Science websites, several creative writing activities related to the NASA Mars Rover Missions, (including a story that you add on to and pass along). You will produce a power point of your own Mar's mission plan, design a Mar's base camp on ms excel, and many more fun and exciting hands on activities. Every assignment is aligned with the NYS Standards and many are full of inquiry science.
3-12
Preparing for the Future: Integrating Math, Science and Technology
We will begin by looking at the first MST Standard: “Students will use ma the matical analysis, scientific inquiry and engineering design, as appropriate to pose questions, seek answers and develop solutions”. As an umbrella to the remaining six standards, you will be investigating this Standard as an approach to teaching. You will also explore the interrelatedness of all the MST standards considering possibilities and tactics for integration. By the end of the course you will design an integrated MST unit to be used in your classroom.
K-12
Sloan Course
Project-Based Environmental Education
In this course you will create several exciting projects that involve math, science and language arts. After completing this course you will be able to modify these projects for use in your own classroom at any grade level. There will be reviews of Environmental Education websites and several creative writing activities related to the issues in environmental education. You will produce a Power Point of an environmental education camp that you design, you will participate in an online debate over the impact the building of an airport would have on a community that supports a protected wetland area, and many more fun and exciting hands-on science and math related activities. Every assignment is aligned with the NYS Standards. NYS Learning Standard: MST, ELA.
K-12
Sloan Course
Science Projects on the Internet
Making use of the MarcoPolo web site, and the sites associated with it, teachers will be exploring a number of interactive science projects. The nature and purpose of different types of projects will be examined, including collaborative, real-time data, and partner projects. Making use of a collaborative peer process, teachers will select and modify a project for their use, create a project timeline, and align it with NYS standards. The final outcome will include a complete project for immediate use, awareness of many types of Internet science projects available, and access to the projects created by other course participants. Participants will give and receive feedback about project implementation. Course objectives include searching and identifying a science project appropriate for class use, using MarcoPolo and other web resources, developing specific learning activities for the desired learning outcomes, developing assessments and appropriate rubrics for assessing a project, developing policies appropriate to the student population for the project, developing appropriate standards for participation and interaction, and aligning the project to appropriate national, state or local standards.
3-5
Stucture of the Earth
This course examines the physical Earth including its internal structure and the processes that make it an ever-changing place. Week one begins by looking at the structure of matter, including atomic bonding and the formation of minerals. The second week concentrates on the origins of landforms and constructive forces like volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain-building. During this week, igneous and metamorphic processes and their contribution to the rock cycle are examined. Week three takes a close-up look at weathering, erosion, and other destructive forces that not only reshape Earth's surface, but also contribute sediment to that portion of the rock cycle. Finally, in weeks four and five, the learner digs deep into the inner depths of the planet to examine Plate Tectonic theory, and is rewarded with a greater understanding of the internal forces which help drive our dynamic Earth.
This course is run through the JASON Foundation and is a 30 hour course.
6-9
Using Technology for the Science Assessment
Using the Internet and the MarcoPolo web portal, teachers will explore materials that will support the Science Assessments, particularly, the new Constructed Response Questions. This content will be integrated into projects and/or lessons for the classroom. Assessment of the project/ lesson will also be discussed.
9-12
Using the Internet to Make Science Lessons POP!
Are you looking for some new ways to use the internet to instruct, reinforce, and enrich your current science curriculum? Then this is the course for you! In this course you will enhance lessons you currently teach as well as create new ones that engage students through online science games, videos, pictures, lessons, etc. There is a world of information out there at your fingertips!
K-12
Volcano Hunt
It is my goal through this online course to give all participants a positive and rewarding experience through our interaction as you complete group projects, readings, discussions and classroom project building. This course will be a fun online adventure to several famous volcanoes around the world. As you make your way from one volcano to the next using longitude and latitude coordinates, you will participate in creative journaling of your experience as you travel through foreign countries. Are you ready for the adventure of your life?
