STEM Ed Announcement: Science/Engineering Saturday Seminars

[Morton Sternheim <mort@k12s.phast.umass.edu>]

This is a UMass Amherst program.
Contact information is below.
============================

************************
We do not yet have enough registrations to offer this program.
If you are interested, please sign up now.
************************


Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars       Spring, 2011 
-        Designed for science teachers; new teachers are especially 
         welcome         
-        Five Saturdays each term; 8:30-1 at UMass Amherst, Lederle Grad
 	 Towers 1033 (except as noted)
-        Educational materials, refreshments, parking, PDP's included
- 	 Advance registration is required; capacity is limited
- 	 Cost $30 per session, $120 for all five sessions
-        4 PDP's per half day session; option for 3 grad credits 
         at reduced cost with extra work

January 22.  Working with the Engineering Design Process. Thomas 
Gralinski, Smith College.  We will explore a number of inexpensive 
activities that enhance student understanding of the Engineering 
Design Process. We will work in small groups on multiple 
activities and briefly share our experiences with the groups doing 
the other activities.  The Engineering Design Process is a 
foundation skill that is applicable across all academic
disciplines and has many similarities to the scientific method. 
Using its steps, students can solve technology/engineering problems 
and apply scientific and mathematical concepts across a wide variety
of topics to develop a conceptual understanding. 

January 29.  Weather cancellation makeup date if needed.

February 5. LEGO MINDSTORMS meets science class.  Paula Brault, Math,
Pioneer Valley RHS.  Learn about a great way to teach engineering 
to Middle and High School students.  This cooperative learning 
program encourages students to design, create, program, and problem 
solve with LEGO's in a science learning environment.  You will be 
introduced to "Wheels, Pulleys, Levers, and Gears, OH MY!" 
(A program of Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts) 
as well as build and program a robot that could lead your class 
to regional and national competitions.   

February 12. Colloids, Emulsions and Foams. Anthony Dinsmore, Physics. 
These materials are very common and are amenable to some nice 
demonstrations, yet are not part of the usual curriculum.  Topics 
include surface tension (and why droplets are spherical; why shaving 
cream acts like a solid even though it's made of liquid and gas); 
Brownian motion; behavior of many particles (phase transitions, 
how colloidal particles can spontaneously order themselves as 
water molecules do to form ice); technological and biological
importance (development of latex paint; inks; blood-cell sedimentation). 

March 5. Mapping Nest Success in Migratory Birds: Dan Bisaccio, Science
Education, Brown University.  GIS is made accessible to your students by
using an authentic field-based context.  Students craft artificial 
nests and eggs (and you will too!) of migratory birds and investigate 
the impact of forest fragmentation on nesting success.  Locations of 
the nests are then mapped using GPS and nest disturbance analyzed 
using GIS. Through this hands-on field exercise students learn about 
global habitat connections and conservation issues for migratory birds.  
Students as researchers may then share their data with other students 
around the country using HabitatNet (A Toyota Tapestry Grant Project).  
Learn how to visualize nest disturbance data using GIS while creating 
a nest and eggs to take home with you.   

March 26. STEM DIGITAL. This is a "prequel" for a new 3-year NSF funded
program of summer institutes designed to enable students and teachers 
to use digital images and computers to do original environmental 
science research. The program will explore topics in air and water 
quality and in arsenic contamination. See www.umassk12.net/digital 
for summer program information.

April 2. Weather cancellation makeup date if needed.

April 30. Recall for those registered for graduate credit. Hasbrouck Lab.

Graduate credit option: There is a charge of $300 for 3 Continuing 
Education credits plus a $45 registration fee. This is in addition to 
the $120 STEM Education Institute fee. Teachers may obtain credit for 
the seminar as many terms as they wish, but only 3 credits may be 
applied to UMass Amherst degrees. A lesson plan and a book report will 
be required for those enrolled for graduate credit. Register with 
Continuing Education or the UMass Graduate School for CNS 697T, 
ST-Contemporary Science and Engineering III.
We will have registration forms at the first seminar.

Questions: Mort Sternheim, mort@umassk12.net, 413-545-1908,
www.umassk12.net/sess 

Online seminar registration and payment:
www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html. Required for everyone whether or not
they are registering for graduate credit.