PDI Pathway Sessions—Boston 2008
PDI-1: Inquiring into Inquiry
BSCS Pathway Session: Fuels for the Future? Inquiry-based Activities That Promote Critical Thinking About the Alternative Biofuel Ethanol
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
Participate in activities designed to help students both learn about ethanol generation from plants and to think critically about ethanol as a fuel.
Presenter(s): Paul M. Beardsley (BSCS: Colorado Spings, CO)
BSCS Pathway Session: Inquiring into Inquiry: Considerations for the Secondary Classroom
Thursday, March 27 9:30–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
What is inquiry and what should it look like in your classroom? Join me as we inquire into inquiry.
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Edmondson (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO); Jody Bintz (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO)
BSCS Pathway Session: Investigating Inquiry and Student Work to Enhance Science Learning
Thursday, March 27 12:30–3:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
Participants will experience inquiry activities and consider how to examine student work to assess conceptual understanding.
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Edmondson (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO); Nancy Landes ( BSCS Center for Professional Development: Colorado Springs, CO)
BSCS Pathway Session: Content Deepening Through Inquiry
Friday, March 28 8:00–11:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
Can inquiry lead to content deepening? Come engage in inquiry activities that model the five essential features and focus on scientific explanations.
Presenter(s): Samuel Spiegel (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO); Janet Carlson Powell (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO)
BSCS Pathway Session: Engaging Elementary Learners in Inquiry
Friday, March 28 12:30–3:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
Can elementary students learn through inquiry-based science? Yes, they can! Explore the essential features of classroom inquiry through the eyes of an elementary learner.
Presenter(s): Sam Spiegel (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO); Deb Jordan (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO)
BSCS Pathway Session: Assessment in the Inquiry Classroom
Friday, March 28 5:00–6:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 252B
Attendees will receive practical assessment strategies for their classrooms as they participate in activities promoting inquiry. Both formative and summative assessment strategies will be modeled. These strategies promote and develop the essential features of inquiry and critical-thinking skills.
Presenter(s): Betty Stennett (BSCS: Colorado Springs, CO)
back to top ^
PDI-1 main page »
PDI-2: What is IT? Teaching Science with Information Technology …
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: Technology-Enhanced Elementary And Middle School Science
Thursday, March 27 8:00–10:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Use probes from five major vendors to implement exciting, tested, standards-based upper elementary and middle school activities that are free online.
Presenter(s): Joe Suchan (horace Mann Laboatory School: Maryville, MO); Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Ed Hazzard (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Linda Heeler (Horace Mann Laboratory: Mayrville, MO)
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: Probes and Models Across the Curriculum: Middle School Focus
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Experience open-source Web-based activities that support student data persistence. Activities are designed for earth science, physical science, and life science with probes and models.
Presenter(s): Carol Williamson (Olathe District Schools: Olathe, KS); Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Ed Hazzard (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Julia Miller (Olathe District Schools: Olathe, KS)
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: Probes and Models Across the Curriculum: High School Focus
Thursday, March 27 3:30–5:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Experience open-source Web-based activities that support student data persistence. Activities are designed for physics, chemistry, and biology with probes and models.
Presenter(s): Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Ed Hazzard (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Julia Miller (Olathe District Schools: Olathe, KS); Carol Williamson (Olathe District Schools: Olathe, KS)
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: Molecular Workbench Links Micro and Macro Worlds
Friday, March 28 8:00–10:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Explore the Molecular Workbench's interactive visual simulations that have been widely used to teach and learn science and engineering at all levels of science education.
Presenter(s): Dan Damelin ( Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Amy Pallant (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA)
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: The Science of Atoms and Models: Putting Physics First
Friday, March 28 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Place physics first in your curriculum with Molecular Workbench Science of Atoms and Molecules activities, starting with the physics of atoms and introducing chemical bonds.
Presenter(s): Dan Damelin ( Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Amy Pallant (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA)
Concord Consortium Pathway Session: Universal Design for Learning in Science
Friday, March 28 2:00–3:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 254A
Experience science activities developed following Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, including speech-to-text, display options, and, most importantly, scaffolded help.
Presenter(s): Robert F. Tinker (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Carolyn Staudt (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA); Texas Gail Raymond ( Anchorage School District: Anchorage, AK)
back to top ^
PDI-2 main page »
PDI-3: Integrating Science and Engineering Technology
EDC Science/Technology Pathway Session: Fair Tests, Diagnosis, and Informed Design
Thursday, March 27 8:00–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 252A
This hands-on workshop shows how planning experiments and doing diagnostic reasoning can highlight the science embedded in design tasks in middle school team-taught pre-engineering courses.
Presenter(s): David P. Crismond ( City College of New York: New York, NY); Craig Adams ( Jefferson Junior High School: Columbia, MO); Doug C. Steinhoff ( Jefferson Junior High School: Columbia, MO)
EDC Science/Technology Pathway Session: Linking Science Inquiry to Language Using the Science Writing Heuristic
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 252A
A professional development model enabled middle school 150 STEM teachers to recognize and value math infusion in schience and technology classes. In addition, six science teachers developed and implemented 20 hours each of math infused lessons with over 700 students and 30 classes. Achievement data will compare pre and post student performance.
Presenter(s): David Burghardt ( Hofstra University: Hempstead, NY); Michael Hacker ( Hofstra University: Hempstead, NY)
EDC Science/Technology Pathway Session: Exploring Energy Through Homemade Toys
Friday, March 28 8:00–11:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 252A
Design, make, and test wind-ups and flip toys and explore their properties, which exemplify concepts of energy conversion and storage, speed, torque, and friction.
Presenter(s): Gary F. Benenson ( City College of New York: New York, NY); James L. Neujahr ( City College of New York: New York, NY)
EDC Science/Technology Pathway Session: Science and Technology in the Ford PAS High School Curriculum
Friday, March 28 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 252A
Learn about the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (PAS) curriculum, which includes academically rigorous, standards-based engineering and physical science content that links learning with the real-world challenges students face.
Presenter(s): Kristen Bjork (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Rebecca Lewis (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
EDC Science/Technology Pathway Session: Pen & Teller: An Adventure in Reverse Engineering
Friday, March 28 3:30–5:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 252A
This hands-on session illustrates the reverse engineering process with materials that participants naturally carry with them every day.
Presenter(s): Cary I. Sneider ( Museum of Science: Portland, OR)
back to top ^
PDI-3 main page »
PDI-4: Discussion and Writing in the Inquiry-Based Elementary Science Classroom …
EDC Pathway Session: Linking Science and Literacy Through Nature Journals
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
Learn several easy-to-teach exercises that will sharpen your nature observation and journal-keeping skills in order to propel scientific inquiry and the writing process.
Presenter(s): Mark K. Baldwin (Roger Tory Peterson Institute: Jamestown, NY)
EDC Pathway Session: Essential Effective Strategies for Language Learners
Thursday, March 27 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
This workshop will emphasize the connection between research-based professional development and EL students' achievement through the implementation of strategies that reinforce science content through literacy.
Presenter(s): Mercedes Durón-Flores (Valle Imperial Project in Science: El Centro, CA); Elizabeth Molina-De La Torre (Valle Imperial Project in Science: El Centro, CA); Michael P. Klentschy ( San Diego State University: San Diego, CA)
EDC Pathway Session: Providing Professional Development for Connecting Science and Literacy in the Elementary Classroom
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
A panel of teachers and professional developers will share their experiences with facilitating modules developed to help teachers connect science and literacy in elementary classrooms.
Presenter(s): Martha Winokur (CACD/Tufts University: Medford, MA); Karen Worth (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Sally Crissman (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Jeff Winokur (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
EDC Pathway Session: Elementary Science Writing Using Firsthand Data
Thursday, March 27 3:30–4:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
This session will address instructional strategies to help students write at the culmination of a study, based on data recorded in science notebooks.
Presenter(s): Karen Worth (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Martha Winokur (CACD/Tufts University: Medford, MA); Jeff Winokur (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Sally Crissman (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
EDC Pathway Session: Creating Student-centered Notebooks
Friday, March 28 8:30–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
This session will examine how one teacher guided students to create notebooks that were personally meaningful but, more importantly, useful tools for learning scientific concepts.
Presenter(s): Lori A. Fulton ( Jay W. Jeffers Elementary School: Las Vegas, NV); Brian T. Campbell ( Clayton, NC)
EDC Pathway Session: Why Do More Science-related Reading in Schools?
Friday, March 28 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
Through hands-on examination of books and articles, participants will delve into arguments used to support science-related reading and consider which books best support which purposes.
Presenter(s): Wendy Saul ( University of Missouri: St Louis, MO)
EDC Pathway Session: The Art of Talk and the Power of the Circle
Friday, March 28 3:30–5:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 251
Using classroom video and discussion, a panel of grades 3–5 teachers will share strategies for developing students' skills for engaging in productive classroom science discussions.
Presenter(s): Karen Worth (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Sally Crissman (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Jeff Winokur (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Martha Winokur (CACD/Tufts University: Medford, MA)
back to top ^
PDI-4 main page »
PDI-5: Inquiry-based Mentoring
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Focusing Observations—Inquiry Criteria for Middle Grades Science Classroom Visits
Thursday, March 27 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
This session introduces participants to a planning and observation tool that focuses on phases of inquiry in middle grades science classrooms, infrastructure, and assessment.
Presenter(s): Marian M. Pasquale (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Bernard Zubrowski (Education Develoment Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: How to Be an Effective Mentor—From the Horse's Mouth
Thursday, March 27 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
Four mentors from districts participating in EDC's Science Mentoring Program will reflect on their experiences as science mentors. They will share video footage of their work.
Presenter(s): Cindy Wrobel ( Matthew J. Kuss Middle School: Fall River, MA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Mentoring Beginning Science Teachers in Urban Systems
Thursday, March 27 2:00–3:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
Teachers and university faculty will share two years of data comparing three mentoring models for supporting beginning teachers in urban classrooms.
Presenter(s): David L. Radford (The Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham: Birmingham, AL)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Online Mentoring for Beginning Science Teachers
Thursday, March 27 3:30–5:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
Learn how new and veteran secondary science teachers can join in a national online community passionate about science education. eMSS provides content-based mentoring, access to scientists, and curriculum focused on content and pedagogy. This NSF-funded program is a collaboration between NSTA, the New Teacher Center at University of California Santa Cruz, and Montana State University.
Presenter(s): Alyson Mike ( East Helena, MT); Roberta Jaffe (New Teacher Center: Santa Cruz, CA); Lynn Kepp (New Teacher Center: Santa Cruz, CA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Facilitating the Work of Science Mentors
Friday, March 28 8:00–10:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
This session provides resources and support for science specialists to prepare middle grades mentors. Using EDC's guide, case studies, and videos, participants practice mentoring strategies.
Presenter(s): Marian M. Pasquale (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Want to Start a Mentoring Program?
Friday, March 28 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
The EDC Science Mentoring model, designed with support from the National Science Foundation, provided the opportunity to examine what foundations were needed to get a program up and running. In this session we will look at the "negotiables" and nonnegotiables and all that is in between.
Presenter(s): Barbara Berns (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA); Nancy Hurley (Learning Innovations at WestEd: Woburn, MA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Research on Science Mentoring
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
Now more than ever there is pressure to identify sound research when instituting new professional development opportunities for professional development and teacher leadership. A growing body of literature exists on mentoring, and international and national studies can shed light on the "why" of mentoring.
Presenter(s): Ted Britton (WestEd: Redwood City, CA)
EDC Mentoring Pathway Session: Examining Student Thinking in Science and Mathematics--Powerful Strategies for Supporting Mentor/Mentees and Their Professional Learning Communities Through the NNECN Program
Friday, March 28 2:00–4:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 254B
The Northern New England Co-Mentoring Network (NNECN) program has helped new and experienced teachers with eliciting, examining, and designing instruction that addresses students' misconceptions in science and mathematics. This is a powerful way for experienced teachers to renew their practice and new teachers to gain content pedagogical knowledge and discipline in specific teaching strategies. This session will provide a brief overview of NNECN program, share specific tools and strategies for examining student thinking in science and mathematics in a learning-focused relationship between mentors and mentees as well in an expanded professional learning community, and summarize the impact of the NNECN program on experienced teachers and new teacher retention.
Presenter(s): Mary Dunn ( Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance: Augusta, ME); Francis Q. Eberle ( Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance: Augusta, ME); Brian Greenlaw ( Gardiner Area High School: Gardiner, ME); Mary Whitten ( Gardiner Area High School: Gardiner, ME)
back to top ^
PDI-5 main page »
PDI-6: The Outdoor Classroom …
FHL Pathway Session: After-School Science for Kids
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
After-school lessons and kits of materials provide an opportunity to conduct extended investigations that begin during school hours. Learn about an after-school program that makes use of the connection between in-school and out-of-school science curricula.
Presenter(s): Patricia McGlashan (First Hand Learning, Inc.: Buffalo, NY)
FHL Pathway Session: Outdoor Inquiries
Thursday, March 27 9:30–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Consider five strategies to engage students in extended investigation of the natural world in their schoolyard.
Presenter(s): Bill Rogers (First Hand Learning, Inc.: Buffalo, NY)
FHL Pathway Session: The Naturalist's Field Journal
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Participants will practice techniques for building observation and field investigation skills, and use naturalist's field journals to get the most out of field guides.
Presenter(s): Mark K. Baldwin (Roger Tory Peterson Institute: Jamestown, NY)
FHL Pathway Session: Mass Audubon and Boston Public Schools—Partners in the Environment
Thursday, March 27 3:30–4:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Discover how an in-depth four-year program mentors and coaches teachers to "take it outdoors" to align nature and the environment to the core curriculum.
Presenter(s): Jean L. Dorcus ( Massachusetts Audubon's Boston Nature Center: Boston, MA); Suzanne Brown ( Dennis Haley School: Boston, MA)
FHL Pathway Session: Strategies for Using Writing to Engage High School Students in Science
Friday, March 28 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
During this session you will explore multiple writing strategies that build interest and understanding in science content among high school students. You will also review student blogs, journals, science journals, Web page design, newspaper articles, posters—and their impact on student science learning
Presenter(s): Diane Y. Miller ( Saint Louis Science Center: St. Louis, MO)
FHL Pathway Session: Using Pond Studies to Address Multiple Life Science Standards
Friday, March 28 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Come to this workshop and study live creatures, discover ways of carrying out long-term investigations, and see exciting videos of creatures using a special CD format allowing close study of behavior.
Presenter(s): Bernard Zubrowski (Education Develoment Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
FHL Pathway Session: Consider the Evidence—Using Student Journals to Drive Instruction
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Daily journal assessment in middle school classes provides direction for science instruction. Review student journal entries and see the science in student work. We'll discuss strategies for using journals to drive instruction.
Presenter(s): Therese M. Arsenault ( Lansing Middle School: Lansing, NY)
FHL Pathway Session: Connecting to the Outdoor Classroom
Friday, March 28 2:00–3:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
This session will focus on the practical application of outdoor inquiries to the science curriculum as well as to development of literacy skills. The presenters represent preK–7 and will share the ways in which they have woven their literacy instruction to take advantage of the work they have done through outdoor inquiries.
Presenter(s): Michael Jabot (SUNY Fredonia: Fredonia, NY); Ellen Foley ( Fredonia Central School District: Fredonia, NY); Karen Kondrick ( Ripley Central School District: Ripley, NY); Scott Foley (Silver Creek Central Schools: Silver Creek, NY); Dawn Hinterberger ( Ripley Central School District: Ripley, NY)
FHL Pathway Session: Science Writing "in the Field": How Using the Outdoors to Teach the Core Science Curriculum Improves Students' Science Writing
Friday, March 28 3:30–4:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Boston Public Schools teachers describe their experiences using the outdoors to teach FOSS and STC kits throughout the year and the resulting improvement they have seen in students' writing. As students conduct hands-on investigations and close observations over time in an outdoor environment, they produce a greater volume of writing in their science notebooks; they write with more enthusiasm; their vocabulary increases significantly, they become more concerned with accuracy; and they use written language more effectively to communicate their ideas. Panel members will discuss strategies to help students build on their interest and curiosity in the outdoors to incrementally improve a range of science writing skills.
Presenter(s): Erica Beck Spencer ( Boston Schoolyard Initiative: Portland, ME)
FHL Pathway Session: Outdoor Writers Workshop: How Using the Outdoors to Teach Writing Enhances Students' Interest in Science and Reinforces Science Concepts
Friday, March 28 5:00–6:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 207
Join us for a discussion with Boston Public School K–5 teachers and literacy coaches about how they use the outdoors to teach writing and the impact they have seen on students' science process skills and content knowledge, including observation skills, recording skills, and the understanding of science concepts that result from close observation over time of natural phenomena in an outdoor environment. While students work on writing skills like sequence, descriptive language, adding detail, writing with purpose, organization, or fact and opinion, they unwittingly develop a richer and more detailed understanding of living things, weather patterns, changes over time, erosion, and more.
Presenter(s): Kristin J. Metz ( Boston Schoolyard Initiative: Boston, MA)
back to top ^
PDI-6 main page »
PDI-7: Issue-oriented Science …
LHS Pathway Session: Getting Kids Invested with Stories: The Car of the Future
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Participants will see how being invested in a story facilitates the learning process, using an example about hybrid cars to teach energy transformations.
Presenter(s): Laura K. Baumgartner (Robinswood High School: Bellevue, WA); Charles Judson Hill (Education Development Center, Inc.: Newton, MA)
LHS Pathway Session: Issues and Physical Science: Investigating Braking Distance
Thursday, March 27 9:30–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Participants will engage in an activity to investigate the effect of speed on braking distance and relate this to automobile safety issues.
Presenter(s): Sara Dombkowski (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)
LHS Pathway Session: Developing Literacy Through Issue-oriented Science
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Learn how to integrate literacy strategies into issue-oriented science lessons in your middle or high school class.
Presenter(s): Laura J. Lenz (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA); Maia Willcox (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA); Donna Markey (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)
LHS Pathway Session: The Power of Inquiry in Issues-based Science
Thursday, March 27 3:30–5:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Participate in a hands-on examination of inquiry with issues-based science. Learn how to evaluate different levels of inquiry from teacher centered to student centered!
Presenter(s): Lisa M. Martin-Hansen (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA)
LHS Pathway Session: Using Science Issues to Promote Understanding
Friday, March 28 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
I will showcase projects that have successfully focused students on a science issue that engaged them, supported their learning, and helped them produce successful assessments for science portfolios.
Presenter(s): Heather Maciejewski (Buffalo Science Teachers Network: Buffalo, NY)
LHS Pathway Session: Using Environmental Issues to Build Students' Scientific Argumentation Skills
Friday, March 28 9:30–11:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
This workshop presents an issue-focused approach to scaffold and build scientific argumentation around debatable issues related to real-world/science issues such as eroding coastlines/oil spills.
Presenter(s): Catherine Halversen (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA); Jonathan Curley (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)
LHS Pathway Session: Using a Watershed to Promote Science
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Learn how to use a non-for-profit environmental organization to establish a network of professionals from government, industry, and higher education
Presenter(s): Adam K. Hovey (South Park High School: Buffalo, NY)
LHS Pathway Session: Assessing Students' Understanding of Science and Societal Issues
Friday, March 28 2:00–3:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Participants will use research-based scoring rubrics to evaluate secondary students' responses to social and personal issues that require the use of scientific evidence.
Presenter(s): Donna Markey (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA); Barbara Nagle (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)
LHS Pathway Session: The Cleaner Burning Alternative?
Friday, March 28 3:30–4:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 206B
Ethanol is billed "the cleaning burning fuel." Explore the by-products of ethanol and kerosene.
Presenter(s): Donna Parker (Dublin Coffman High School: Dublin, OH); Barbara Nagle (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)
back to top ^
PDI-7 main page »
PDI-8: Designing Effective Science Lessons …
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons: Pruning the Overgrown Curriculum
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Trying to cover too much science content is the largest barrier to developing students' conceptual understanding. Researchers at McREL have determined that it could take as much as 22 years of schooling to adequately cover all of the content area standards. Find out how to make decisions about what to prune and why it will pay off in student achievement gains. Participants will practice pruning curriculum during the session.
Presenter(s): Anne Tweed (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons—Lesson Planning That Works
Thursday, March 27 12:30–2:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Learn how to make decisions during your lesson planning about what students should understand about the science content and how you will know that they have understood. We will provide a planning template and examples of science content described in terms of students' conceptual understanding. Understanding these steps is essential to aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment in your classroom.
Presenter(s): Sarah LaBounty (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons—Why Didn't They Learn?
Thursday, March 27 3:30–5:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Often times, students don't learn because teachers have not considered the differences between scientific process knowledge and science content knowledge. In this session you will have the opportunity to discover which types of knowledge are required to understand a concept and identify the research-based instructional strategies appropriate for the various types of knowledge.
Presenter(s): Anne Tweed (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons—One Size Doesn't Fit All
Friday, March 28 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Understand how to teach diverse learners by applying "pedagogical content knowledge." Pedagogical content knowledge includes knowing your science content, knowing your audience, and knowing quality instructional strategies. Learn more about accessing students' prior knowledge and how to address common preconceptions.
Presenter(s): Sarah LaBounty (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons: How Do You Know That They Have Learned? And What Do You Do Then?
Friday, March 28 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Students can provide the right word, definition, or formula, yet still hold misconceptions. Learn formative and summative assessments to determine understanding and ensure higher achievement.
Presenter(s): Sarah LaBounty (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons: Student-designed Experiments
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Learn about experimental design diagrams to help students plan for and conduct experiments. Participants will design two experiments using the experimental design diagram.
Presenter(s): Sarah LaBounty (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons: Scientific Discourse in the Classroom
Friday, March 28 2:00–3:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
To learn science concepts, students need to talk about ideas. Learn inquiry questioning strategies to aid this. Participants will receive question stems and practice using them.
Presenter(s): Anne Tweed (McREL: Denver, CO)
McREL Pathway Session: Designing Effective Science Lessons: Helping Students Think Scientifically as They Learn a Scientific Way of Knowing
Friday, March 28 3:30–5:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 206A
Thinking scientifically means applying learning about the nature of science to every day. Design your lessons to promote scientific thinking. Participants will be provided with sample lesson materials.
Presenter(s): Anne Tweed (McREL: Denver, CO)
back to top ^
PDI-8 main page »
PDI-9: Developing Leadership Skills and Capacity to Sustain Change
NSRC Pathway Session: How to Build a Team of Change Facilitators
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
Strategies for building the capacity for implementing a science education reform project will be shared. Participants will be encouraged to share their own team building experiences.
Presenter(s): Arlene Elrod ( National Science Resources Center: Brownsboro, AL)
NSRC Pathway Session: Getting a Science Education Reform Project Started
Thursday, March 27 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
During this panel discussion, districts who are initiating science reform projects based on a strategic plan for implementation will share their first steps and future plans for providing the infrastructure that will support teachers.
Presenter(s): Janice Arceneaux ( Houston Independent School District: Houston, TX); Martha McIlvene ( Beaufort County School District: Beaufort, SC); Helen Earles ( Montclair State University: Montclair, NJ)
NSRC Pathway Session: Managing Successful Science Education Projects
Thursday, March 27 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
Strategies that increase the likelihood of a project's success will be explored. Participants will be encouraged to share their own strategies.
Presenter(s): Arlene Elrod ( National Science Resources Center: Brownsboro, AL)
NSRC Pathway Session: Sharing Effective Workshop Strategies
Thursday, March 27 2:00–4:00 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
Participants will be engaged in various professional development strategies as they share and learn additional strategies to keep workshops alive and meaningful.
Presenter(s): Shana Basnight ( Decatur, GA); Karen Falkenberg (Concept Catalyst)
NSRC Pathway Session: Scaling Up Successful Science Education Projects
Friday, March 28 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
This panel discussion will focus on moving successful efforts to a larger constituency. The districts represented started with a plan to make a difference for kids, achieved success, and have now moved to affect a larger student population.
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Molina-De La Torre (Valle Imperial Project in Science: El Centro, CA); Carol Mueller ( University of Alabama: Huntsville, AL)
NSRC Pathway Session: Continuous Improvement to Ensure Sustainability
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 204B
Participants in this session will participate in a roundtable discussion about moving good projects to be great. The focal point for the discussion will center around a video of Jim Collins, author of Good to Great.
Presenter(s): Arlene Elrod ( National Science Resources Center: Brownsboro, AL)
back to top ^
PDI-9 main page »
PDI-10: Coaching as a Pathway to Reflective Practive in Science
SC Pathway Session: The SC MSU Mathematics and Science Coaching Initiative
Thursday, March 27 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
Coaching is dynamic adult learning embedded within the school day. The South Carolina Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Unit will share basics of our model to facilitate lasting instructional improvement in science through coaching.
Presenter(s): Gregory D. MacDougall (Ruth Patrick Science Center: Aiken, SC); Linda L. Payne (SC State University: Orangeburg, SC); Nan Dempsey (South Carolina Math. & Science Unit: Duncan, SC)
SC Pathway Session: The Nuts and Bolts of Building a Science Coaching Initiative
Thursday, March 27 9:30–10:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
Thinking of coaching as a strategy to improve science instruction? Wondering what steps to take next? Join us in a conversation about lessons we've learned in designing, implementing, and refining our K–8 coaching initiative.
Presenter(s): Linda Brown (Midlands MSRC: Columbia, SC); Nan Dempsey (South Carolina Math. & Science Unit: Duncan, SC)
SC Pathway Session: The Secret Lives of Science Coaches
Thursday, March 27 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
Wondering what it's really like to be a school-based science coach? Join us in a conversation about coaching lessons we've learned in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and other interesting places of learning.
Presenter(s): Nan Dempsey (South Carolina Math. & Science Unit: Duncan, SC); Jodie Shirley (JN Kellett Elementary School: Seneca, SC); Cam Thackston (South Carolina Dept. of Education: Orangeburg, SC); Carlette Troy (Edisto Elementary School: Orangeburg, SC)
SC Pathway Session: Research on the Impact of Coaching in Science
Friday, March 28 8:00–9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
Find out why leaders in science education see coaching as a promising professional development strategy. We'll identify, explain, and explore data related to the effectiveness of coaching in improving instruction and increasing student achievement.
Presenter(s): Nan Dempsey (South Carolina Math. & Science Unit: Duncan, SC); Gregory D. MacDougall (Ruth Patrick Science Center: Aiken, SC)
SC Pathway Session: Coaching Basics That Promote Reflective Practice in Science
Friday, March 28 9:30–11:30 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
This "how-to" session offers you opportunities to learn about and practice rapport, professional inquiry, and listening strategies essential to effective science coaching. These skills are relevant to everyone interested in promoting reflective practice in the science classroom.
Presenter(s): Linda Brown (Midlands MSRC: Columbia, SC); Cam Thackston (South Carolina Dept. of Education: Orangeburg, SC); Betty Hadden (Upstate Regional Math & Science Regional Ctr.: Duncan, SC); Terri Dew (AOP-Greenville MSRC: Greenville, SC)
SC Pathway Session: Guiding the Work of Science Coaches with a Theory of Action for Instructional Improvement
Friday, March 28 12:30–1:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 204A
How do you put theory into practice when it comes to improving science instruction? Join us as we share our experiences in developing a large-scale science (and mathematics) initiative using a "theory of action" to guide us in designing, implementing, and reflecting on our model for coaching.
Presenter(s): Gregory D. MacDougall (Ruth Patrick Science Center: Aiken, SC); Betty W. Hadden (South Carolina Dept. of Education: Duncan, SC); Linda L. Payne (SC State University: Orangeburg, SC)
back to top ^
PDI-10 main page »
PDI-11: Building a Community through Reflective Practice
WestEd Pathway Session: A Protocol for Lesson Study: The Teaching Learning Collaborative
Thursday, March 27 8:00–11:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 203
Want to conduct a lesson study at your site? Learn how embedded professional development in classrooms links to school culture, teacher development, and student achievement.
Presenter(s): Karen Cerwin (WestEd/K-12 Alliance: Santa Ana, CA); Diane Carnahan (WestEd/K-12 Alliance: Santa Ana, CA)
WestEd Pathway Session: Targeted Interventions Matter
Thursday, March 27 12:30–3:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 203
Are your students having trouble with charting, graphing, and making summary statements? Learn how using student work can inform your instruction. Receive a packet to use with your students.
Presenter(s): Jody Skidmore Sherriff (WestEd/K-12 Alliance: Santa Ana, CA); Greta Smith ( Garvey Elementary School District: Rosemead, CA)
WestEd Pathway Session: Assessment-centered Teaching—A Reflective Practice
Friday, March 28 8:00–11:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 203
Learn a portfolio process to design assessment plans before teaching a unit, interpret student work for patterns, and modify instruction/assessment based on students' work.
Presenter(s): Jo Topps (WestEd/K-12 Alliance: Santa Ana, CA); Lynn Barakos (Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA); Kathy DiRanna (WestEd/K-12 Alliance: Santa Ana, CA); Melissa Smith ( Lake Elsinore Unified School District: Lake Elsinore, CA)
WestEd Pathway Session: Building Teacher Content and Pedagogical Content Knowledge Through Case Discussion
Friday, March 28 12:30–3:30 PM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center , Room 203
Explore a nationally field-tested, case-based curriculum that is shown to help teachers learn major concepts of K–8 science, examine student thinking, and analyze and improve their teaching.
Presenter(s): Mayumi Shinohara (WestEd: Oakland, CA); Kirsten R. Daehler (WestEd: Redwood City, CA)
back to top ^
PDI-11 main page »