Jonesboro School District and Arkansas State University College of Engineering “SD2—Science: DOING and Dialog” A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL THAT HAS CREATED A TRUE LEARNING COMMUNITY

GOALS OF THE PROJECT Improvement of the science content knowledge of middle and secondary science and math teachers in JPS Improvement of the science content knowledge of middle and secondary science and math teachers in JPS Improvement of the integration of math, science, and technology instruction Improvement of the integration of math, science, and technology instruction Improvement of student performance on science assessments Improvement of student performance on science assessments

EVALUATION DESIGN OF THE PROJECT UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE’S DTAMS—middle school physical science content knowledge UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE’S DTAMS—middle school physical science content knowledge QUALITATIVE MEASURES—surveys of participants, students QUALITATIVE MEASURES—surveys of participants, students EXPLORE/PLAN/ACT assessment data EXPLORE/PLAN/ACT assessment data

DESIGN OF PROJECT Voluntary participation (57+ hrs.) Voluntary participation (57+ hrs.) Off-contract time (evening/summer) Off-contract time (evening/summer) Meaningful stipend via preparation and reflection time Meaningful stipend via preparation and reflection time “Perfect attendance” bonus “Perfect attendance” bonus Cross-discipline/cross-building/cross- district/cross-role participation Cross-discipline/cross-building/cross- district/cross-role participation Math and science Math and science Upper elementary through high school AP Upper elementary through high school AP Predominantly one district, 3 from adjacent district, 1 from ALE, 1 from Private Predominantly one district, 3 from adjacent district, 1 from ALE, 1 from Private Teachers and district math coaches Teachers and district math coaches

FORMAT OF SESSIONS-- MONTHLY Conducted in the College of Engineering labs at ASU Conducted in the College of Engineering labs at ASU Opening discussion of “pre-session” homework topic Opening discussion of “pre-session” homework topic Discussion of curriculum thread/link in social groups over light dinner Discussion of curriculum thread/link in social groups over light dinner Multi-month, hands-on research conducted by small learning groups under mentoring of Drs. Edgar and Glover Multi-month, hands-on research conducted by small learning groups under mentoring of Drs. Edgar and Glover ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE WHICH LEVELS PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS (SUBJECT, GRADE LEVEL, EXPERIENCES) ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE WHICH LEVELS PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS (SUBJECT, GRADE LEVEL, EXPERIENCES) EXPLORATION AND INVESTIGATION RATHER THAN FACTS OR TRADITIONAL LAB WHERE OUTCOME IS KNOWN EXPLORATION AND INVESTIGATION RATHER THAN FACTS OR TRADITIONAL LAB WHERE OUTCOME IS KNOWN Reflection submitted to the group’s blog Reflection submitted to the group’s blog airset.com airset.com space for posting lesson plans space for posting lesson plans extension to students extension to students

SAMPLE RESEARCH PROJECTS Yr. 1 Yr. 1 Conservation of energy Conservation of energy Alternative fuels (switchgrass, corn, soy beans) Alternative fuels (switchgrass, corn, soy beans) Water quality Water quality Solar cell Solar cell CBL testing of acidity of various substances CBL testing of acidity of various substances Ohm’s Law Ohm’s Law Forces Forces Motion Motion

SUMMER SESSION FOLLOWING YR. 1 MORNING MORNING LESSON PLANS INTEGRATING INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH LESSON PLANS INTEGRATING INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH “POPPERS”—UNKNOWN OBJECT TO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD “POPPERS”—UNKNOWN OBJECT TO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD DESIGN EXPERIMENT TO DISCOVER QUALITIES DESIGN EXPERIMENT TO DISCOVER QUALITIES AFTERNOON AFTERNOON COOPERATIVE GROUPS TO INVESTIGATE A TOPIC FOR FIVE DAYS COOPERATIVE GROUPS TO INVESTIGATE A TOPIC FOR FIVE DAYS FLOW RATE, VELOCITY, ACCELERATION FLOW RATE, VELOCITY, ACCELERATION SOCRATIC METHOD QUESTIONING TO LEAD TO CONTENT UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICAITONS SOCRATIC METHOD QUESTIONING TO LEAD TO CONTENT UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICAITONS

FOCUS OF YEAR 2 INVESTIGATIONS INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH iPods: Vodcasts, streaming video iPods: Vodcasts, streaming video Camcorders: Applications for student projects Camcorders: Applications for student projects CBL probes CBL probes Blog Blog EXPANSION OF HANDS-ON LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS EXPANSION OF HANDS-ON LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr. Jane Jamison Dr. Jane Jamison x x2222 Dr. Jeanne Glover Dr. Jeanne Glover x x2257 Dr. Brad Edgar Dr. Brad Edgar

The instructional practices and assessments discussed or shown in this presentation are not intended as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.