STEM Ed Announcement: STEM DIGITAL Summer Institute

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

This is a STEM ED UMass Amherst program.
 Contact information is below
 =================
 
 UMASS STEM DIGITAL SUMMER INSTITUTE
 
 STEM Digital Images in Geoscience Investigations:  Teaching
 Analysis with Light (STEM DIGITAL)
 
 
 "	Monday to Friday, June 25 - June 29, 2012 at UMass
  	 Amherst
 "	Funded by the National Science Foundation, sponsored by
 	 the STEM Education Institute
 "	Middle and High School Science, Math, and Technology
 	 Teachers
 "	Teams of science and computer teachers encouraged
 "	Participants MUST bring a digital camera, and are
 	 strongly encouraged to bring a laptop computer (see note at
 	 bottom of page)
 "	Stipends ($375 summer, $300 for optional school year
 	 follow-up), materials, parking, lunches
 "	Housing for those outside the commuting radius
 "	3 to 6 graduate credits available at reduced cost; free
 	 PDP's (Professional Development Points)
 
 STEM DIGITAL will show how digital image analysis can be applied
 to environmental quality issues in ways that can readily be
 introduced into STEM courses, engaging students and encouraging
 them to think about related careers. The project will develop
 research agendas that will employ a variety of image analysis
 tools. The air quality theme will focus on the three components
 of the atmosphere that primarily affect visible, infrared and
 ultraviolet light, respectively: particulates and aerosols,
 carbon dioxide, and ozone. The water quality theme will look at
 the role of plant biomass on drinking water quality and on global
 carbon cycling. Arsenic is listed as number one in the US in
 terms of environmental contaminants that pose a potential threat
 to human health; research topics will include the identification
 and mapping of local arsenic contaminated sites and
 bioremediation possibilities. 
 
 STEM DIGITAL will use the AnalyzingDigitalImages
 software which provides free, easy-to-use tools for spatial,
 temporal, spectral, and intensity measurements.
 
 You may choose to also participate in an academic year follow up
 and work on approximately six projects spread over the fall and
 spring semesters. These will be a combination of new projects,
 extensions from summer projects, and data sharing projects. The
 timing and content of these projects will be largely decided by
 the teachers during the summer workshop to match their curriculum
 needs.
 
 Three optional graduate credits will be available for the
 institute; the cost will be $300 plus a $45 registration fee.
 PDP's will be provided at no cost.  Summer participants will be
 required to submit a lesson plan and all accompanying materials
 by August 20th . Grades for the course or PDP's will be issued
 shortly after that.  Another 3 credits will be available at $345
 for the academic year component.
 
 Application process: An application form and additional
 information are available at www.umassk12.net/digital. Teachers
 should prepare a narrative statement of how they intend to use
 the institute materials in their classroom, and include in their
 application package a recent resume and a letter of support from
 their school principal or superintendent. The application package
 can be submitted by email, fax, or US mail. 
 
 Applications are due April 1. We will acknowledge receipt of your
 application within no more than one week of receiving it. If you
 do not hear from us in that time frame please contact us at:
 msilver@umassk12.net. Voice: 413-545-0734
 
 For more information:  www.umassk12.net/digital, fax:
 413-545-3697
 
 *Note on cameras and computers: You may bring any digital camera,
 but if you are shopping for one at moderate cost, we suggest
 the Pentax Optio WG1, recently $199 on amazon.com. It is
 ruggedly built and has many useful features. You don't need to
 be an expert photographer or computer user, but you should be
 comfortable with both.
 
 
 
 

Subscribe to the STEM Ed. RSS feed at:
http://www.umassk12.net/feed.xml