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About WSST
The Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers was founded in 1958. Today it is the largest Wisconsin organization of individuals
interested in the advancement of science education.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
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Note: The professional development opportunities listed below are submitted to WSST from third party sources. Some of the opportunities may be commercial in nature.
Hi! I'm the student lab manager of UW-Madison's “Sharing in the Discovery” Stem Cell Learning Lab is made possible on campus by the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment. Our campus lab is an outreach partnership among the UW-Madison Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, UW-Madison Biotechnology Center, and WiCell Research Institute.
Through this hands-on experience, learners use the same equipment and methods stem cell researchers use to prepare and grow their cells. We use an organic stem cell substitute in our public lab due to biosafety restrictions; but our collaborating scientists tell us our experience is a great simulation of the real thing! In addition, after thawing, rinsing, centrifuging and feeding their cells, participants will have the chance to view real stem cells from stem cell pioneer Dr. James Thomson's lab under the microscope.
There is plenty of time for questions and related activities as the group's schedule allows. Workshops are available Mondays-Fridays by appointment. This lab can be done alone or done in conjunction with other outreach opportunities available. We have previously had groups as young as 10 and as old as 80. We are hoping to reach out to MMSD, especially, due to our lab's location in the Biotechnology Center at UW-Madison. As you know, WiCell runs a highly successful stem cell outreach program, including summer science camp. This is yet another, newer program on campus to hep bring the lab experience to even more students. We have had positive feedback from high school and middle school teachers and are happy to share this feedback.
Through our growing programs, we hope to increase student and teacher knowledge of stem cells and regenerative medicine, both the science and socio-political issues related to the field. Our UW-Madison and WiCell stem cell outreach labs are among the very few in the country and continue to place Madison at the forefront of stem cell research education and science education overall. We hope schools will be able to take advantage of our many great opportunities and provide more of these unique experience to our area’s students. This is the second year our learning lab has been running but we have already had alot of success and am hoping to reach out to even more schools in the area!
If you would like more information about the learning lab please visit http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/outreach/sharing.html.
mrosenkranz@wisc.edu
Phenology
August 9-13, 2010
With Larry Weber
Use this week in August to take a closer look at the natural happenings that are going on in the Northwoods. Observe the local fauna, flora and fungi that are active and growing at this time. Note daily changes and discuss how phenology can be integrated as part of your curriculum.
Fee: $200 (Includes deposit, instruction, food and lodging) Credits: 2 Graduate Credits optional at an additional $200.
Trees For Tomorrow offers teachers a variety of nature-oriented courses to provide an invigorating way to earn university credit or continuing professional development.
Photography
July 21-25, 2010
With Doug Moore
Venture out into the beautiful Northwoods to learn how to take pictures of waterfalls, wetlands, sunsets and close-ups. Learn about all aspects of photography such as lighting, exposure, and composition. Suitable for beginner to imtermediate photographers who use an SLR-style camera or an advanced point and shoot camera. Please bring a laptop if you have one, with your digital camera.
Fee: $350 (Includes deposit, instruction, food and lodging) Credits: 1 Graduate Credit optional at an additional $100.
Trees For Tomorrow offers teachers a variety of nature-oriented courses to provide an invigorating way to earn university credit or continuing professional development.
Modeling Workshops in high school physics, chemistry, and/or
physical science will be held in summer 2010 in Arizona, Alabama,
Miami FL, Georgia, Chicago IL, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, New Orleans LA,
Maine, Michigan, Minneapolis MN, New Jersey, Albuquerque NM, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pittsburgh PA, northern Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Dallas TX, Spokane WA, and Wisconsin. (Also
in Missouri, pending funding.)
Modeling Workshops in 11th grade biology will be held in
Pittsburgh PA and Tennessee, for teachers in Physics First/Capstone
Biology sequences.
Visit http://modeling.asu.edu for details. Click on "Modeling
Workshops Nationwide in Summer 2010".
http://modeling.asu.edu/MW_nation.html
Modeling Workshops are peer-led. Modeling Instruction is one of
two K-12 science programs designated by the U.S. Department of
Education as EXEMPLARY.
Stipends at most sites, usually for in-state teachers. Graduate
credit available at some sites.
Typical comments by teachers:
* After the first year of teaching using the modeling method, I
wished I had learned about modeling years ago. (David Braunschweig,
Madison WI. Vernier consultant)
* Most useful course I have taken since becoming a teacher.
* Thanks to taking physics modeling course work, I am highly
qualified in physics.
* I learned a tremendous amount and am all fired up to teach physics
this fall!
* I learned more about teaching and physics this summer than in 5
years of college!
* Great chem workshop.
* It was, without a doubt, the single greatest professional
development experience of my career.
This K-9 professional development workshop will help participants learn how to teach hands-on lessons in physical science using engineering problem solving activities. It will be held at Marquette University in Milwaukee. The workshop is available for either a one day or two day experience. August 5th will explore scienctific Inquiry, LED technology, ballistics, pressures, buoyancy and problem-solving. August 6th will explore thermo-chemical changes, measurement, the physical science of cars, motion, energy and sound. Please send all inquiries to Bob Friedel at bobfriedel@wi.rr.com
Create the possibility of sustainable communities for your students and yourself August 16-18, 2010 at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES) in Amherst Junction, WI. Wisconsin teachers are invited to a three day workshop on Education for Sustainability (EfS). The experience will provide an introduction to basic principles of EfS, visits to community sites/organizations that demonstrate these principles, time for discussion, reflection, and networking. This workshop will offer tools and information that will help you enrich your classroom content and enhance your personal experience as an educator in the school and community.
Cost: Early bird registration (before July 8, 2010) is $125.00. This includes two nights lodging, meals (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), materials, and instruction. Final registration (August 5, 2010) is $150.00. (Note: These registration costs do not include graduate credit.) Space is limited to 20 participants (first come, first served).
Credit: One graduate credit is available through UWSP. All classroom teachers can request a $150 scholarship to offset tuition. The credit cost is $222.55 (after scholarship); $372.55 (before scholarship, est.).
Contacts: Sunshine Buchholz, Wisconsin Environmental Science Teacher Network Coordinator, sbuchhol@uwsp.edu; 715-346-2014 or Jeremy Solin, Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program Director, jsolin@uwsp.edu; 715-346-4907.
1-2 CREDITS from UW-Madison
October 4 - December 15, 2010
Delve into the astounding biodiversity and intricate complexity of rainforest and coral reefs during this new web-based course designed for science teachers. This "virtual exploration" puts ecological principles and biophysical processes in the context of the Earth's most diverse ecosystems. We'll also take a critical look at current science coming out of these systems and actions we can take for their conservation.
With online lectures and discussion forums that you can participate in at any time, this course allows for maximum scheduling flexibility. It also aligns with Wisconsin academic standards in natural and environmental sciences, and is a fun, fascinating way to add to your professional development portfolio!
A FREE NASA sponsored aerospace workshop for K-12 educators. To be held in Madison, WI on August 10th ,2010. Each participant will receive over $50 worth of aerspace science and math materials. Request additional info from bobfriedel@wi.rr.com.