Teacher Professional Development Network-Wide Meeting December 2012

Presenters Kevin Dilley – Sciencenter Alex Eilers – Pink Palace Museum Becky Wolfe – The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Joyce Palmer Allen – Georgia Institute of Technology Kimberly Hanson – Museum of Nature & Science Mary Harper – Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Teacher Professional Development Alex Eilers Pink Palace Museum

Target Audience Teachers – Grades 3-8 Traditional PD In-services Workshops Practitioners summits NISE Net Kits Suitcase Exhibits

Detailed Educator’s Guide Teacher background info Activities for grades 3-12 Supplementary Materials Nano kit materials Signs for activities Plastic Sign holders Packing instructions What’s inside?

Other PD audiences Libraries Boys and Girls clubs Girls Inc. Girl Scouts YMCA

Questions?

Nano in One Day Becky Wolfe The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Teacher TCM Workshop Details Geared for teachers of grades 6-8 All day workshop NISE and NSTA Resources Advertised through museum publications and enews. Teachers self-selected workshop

Workshop Content Indiana Academic Standards Atoms and Molecules = curriculum connection “Nano 101” Applications of Nano Size and scale connected to common core math

Just for Teachers Tweaked NISE activities for a classroom setting Recording in science journals Graphic organizers Approach models process standards Bulk of time on content building Teachers as adult learners Demonstrate museum connections

What We Learned Nano is not readily taught Needed to demonstrate clear connections to what is taught Applications were enticing to teachers – answers the why we do science Discussion time built comfort level

Questions?

NNIN at Georgia Tech and Teacher Professional Development Joyce Palmer Allen Georgia Institute of Technology National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN)

National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) Integrated partnership of 14 universities Serve the resource needs of NSE researchers Integrated education and outreach program (k-Gray)

Reasons for NNIN doing Teacher Professional Development Need to address workforce development. Getting information into the hands of teachers gets information into the hands of more students. Teachers were asking us for lessons in addition to activities that they could use with their classes.

What is our Experience? Workshops conducted in 14 states and British Columbia. Made contact with teachers in 47 out of 50 states. Workshops vary from 1 hour in length to one week. Have gathered formal and informal evaluation info from participants.

Questions that guide our workshops What NSE concepts should be included? How do the NSE concepts relate to K-12 content? Do lessons use simple and inexpensive materials? Do lessons connect to state standards? Where do lessons connect to the curriculum? Program Development

Current Workshops-Grades 6-12 Based on Big Ideas of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (Stevens et al, 2009) and National Science Education Standards. Include activities for physical science, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, and engineering.

Example Agenda of Workshop Short introduction to nanoscale science and engineering. Variety of hands-on activities for teachers. Time to reflect on how the activity could be used to support their curriculum. Receive a CD of activities. At least two activities for each of the nine big ideas.

Current Workshops- Grades K-5 Addresses simple objectives: – Small things happen that are too small to see with just your eyes. – Small things are made up of even smaller pieces. – Nano is really, really small. – Scientist use tools to observe small things. K-5 lessons based on books. Lessons can be conducted as teacher-led or as learning centers.

Example Agenda of Workshop Short introduction to nanoscale science and how the process of learning about nanoscale can begin in elementary grades. Discussion of the purpose, activities, and connection to nanoscale.

Time to explore lessons and activities Tools that repair Tools that measure Tools that help us see

Other books used in workshop

Lessons Learned from Teacher Professional Development in NSE Must be VERY clear on presenting NSE topics. Misconceptions may be tied to too many topics in a short time frame. Teachers and students are making gains in NSE content learning. There is an interest and need for NSE professional development. Participation has steadily grown.

NNIN Resources for Teachers Searchable database of ~60 lessons Online magazine for students Free classroom packs for teachers of print edition special topics

Questions?

Teacher Kits from the Museum Kimberly Hanson Museum of Nature & Science Las Cruces, New Mexico

Teacher kits from the museum In 2010, the museum began offering kits made from the materials supplied by NISE Net in the Nano Days kits. Two themed kits were created: Nano 101 and Nano Applications. Additional kits are planned for future development.

How is the program specifically structured for teachers? Partnerships SC 2 at NMSU LCPS Linked to standards Used at a springboard to other topics

Addressing Nano Comfort Level Science Background Workshops to familiarize teachers with content Lessons written to address content standards Supplemental lesson provided by museum

How is this different than programming at museum? Teacher Kits Kits are used in a classroom setting Small groups Two week lending period

How is this different than programming at museum? Museum Programs Small groups/individuals Informal discussion Multiple short engagements throughout the year

Challenges/Solutions Audience Buy-in from LCPS Additional Audiences

Questions?

Nano for the Classroom Mary Harper Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Classroom Curriculum Kits What to do with all the NanoDays activity kits? Wanted to get this current science into the classroom Grouped activities into 3 kits Field tested in classrooms

Teacher workshop Professional development workshop Nano science professional Addressing curriculum standards Giving teachers a chance to play

Teacher connection Teacher comfort level Background information Resources Support from Museum Staff

So much fun

This presentation is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Questions and Discussion?