Greetings science educators!
I know many of you have or are about to leave your classrooms for the summer. However, I wanted to send you titles and descriptions for the science strands of the Vision 2020 Conference.
As a reminder, on June 12th there will be a science strand focus and a science luncheon and on June 13th there will be a STEM strand focus and a STEM luncheon. However, there will be several science sessions on June 13th as well.
You can view the titles, descriptions, and author bios for the sessions in the document attached to this e-mail. There are several STEM sessions on June 13th which are not detailed in the document. These sessions include presentations by Project Lead the Way and PITSCO.
Also, there are over 200 sessions outside of the science strand being offered at the Vision 2020 Conference. Several of them will provide valuable information, resources, and tools applicable to the science classroom. The at-a-glance agenda for the entire conference will be up on the Oklahoma State Department website soon!
Links for the Vision 2020 Conference:
General session speakers and keynotes speakers: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/OSDEVision2020/general_session_speakers/?&&
Register at: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/OSDEVision2020/HOME/?&
I hope to see you there! Have a great summer!
-Tiffany
Tiffany Neill Director of Science Oklahoma State Department of Education Office of Instruction Tiffany.Neill@sde.ok.gov Phone: 405-522-3524 Fax: 405-521-2971 Join us for the Vision 2020 Conference http://ok.gov/sde/events/vision-2020
Vision 2020 Conference: Science Strand
Tuesday June 12, 2012
Science Luncheon Tuesday June 12th, 2012
The Year of Science: Celebrating, Connecting, and Collaborating
Description: Join us for this energizing luncheon as we honor and celebrate two very special science educators from our state, Sarah Vann, winner of the 2011 Milken Educator Award and Lance Doss, a finalist in the 2011 Shell Lab Challenge. The luncheon will also provide an opportunity to connect with Tiffany Neill, the new Oklahoma Director of Science Education as she shares exciting new initiatives in science education and resources that support the implementation of Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science. This unique luncheon will also offer attendees a chance to collaborate and share strategies for enhancing science education in their schools and in our state.
Science Strand Sessions Tuesday June 12th, 2012
Title: Common Core in the Science Classroom-Sara Vann
Description: What does a good Common Core lesson/activity look like? There will be a variety of hands-on activities that will model Common Core implementation in the secondary science classroom, and an opportunity to brainstorm new ideas as well!
Author Bio: Sara taught 7th -10th grade Science in Tahlequah for 2 years and has been at the Owasso 8th Grade Center for the past 8 years, currently teaching Advanced Physical Science. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and was awarded the 2011 Milken Educator Award.
Title: Congratulations! You’re a Grandparent!-Mary Butler
Description: Participants will work in pairs and use modeling to create a child, then partner with another ‘couple’ to create a grandchild using 11 easily observed characteristics. ‘Grandparents’ will prepare a written birth announcement for their grandchild and provide a phenotypically correct drawing of him/her.
Title: Virtual Labs-Mary Butler
Description: In this session, participants will explore virtual labs and the value they add to existing science curriculum. Mary will share websites and her personal insights into incorporating both wet-labs and virtual labs into instruction.
Author Bio: Mary Butler is a science and mathematics teacher from Muldrow Public Schools. Mary has a B.S. in education from Northeastern State University as well as an Masters in education from Northeastern State University. Mary has taught both at the middle school and high school levels.
Title: Assessment for Learning rather than Assessment of Learning- Janis Slater
Description: In this session, participants will explore strategies for formative assessment that can be integrated into lessons to inform instruction and reveal student thinking. As participants experience assessment strategies in a lesson context, they will discover how learning and assessment can be combined into a cohesive learning experience.
Title: Zen and the Art of Data Representation – Janis Slater
Description: In this session, participants will explore strategies for guiding students as they collect data and construct representations allowing them to explain or make predictions about phenomena encountered in the natural world. Participants will create visual representations of data that reflect diverse ways in which scientific ideas can be illustrated and analyzed.
Author Bio: Janis Slater is a Science Professional Development Specialist at the University of Oklahoma’s K20 Center. She is a former middle school science teacher with 13 years of experience in the classroom. She has a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Arizona and an M.Ed. in Instructional Design from the University of Oklahoma. Janis works extensively with teachers and administrators in schools across the state of Oklahoma to facilitate authentic, student-centered learning in the classroom with a focus on research based instructional practices. She is on the Board of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) and is pursuing a PhD in Instructional Psychology.
Title: The Challenges and Rewards of Teaching High School Laboratory Science in a Minimalist Setting-Lance Doss
Description: Students can learn and be successful in less-than-perfect educational environments. Teacher creativity, parental, and community involvement all work together to introduce and reinforce the skills and objectives which ALL students need to know from the sciences. Attendees will learn about making the most of a sparse teaching environment and will be given new ideas about how to get more resources for their classroom.
Author Bio: Lance is currently completing his 28th year as a special education teacher. He teaches biology, environmental science, and physical science to 9th-12th grade students at Wagoner High School. Lance obtained his B.S. in education and Masters in education from Northeastern State University.
Title: How does Science Fit into the Common Core? (K-2)- Patricia Turner
Description: Can you really see in the dark? How does light travel? How do I teach these concepts? The activities in this session are organized by the stages of the learning cycle. How to use a formative assessment probe to learn about your students thinking and integrating math and literacy into science is a key focus of the session. We will discuss as a group how science is an integral part of the new Common Core State Standards.
Title: How does Science Fit into the Common Core? (3-5)- Patricia Turner
Description: Can you really see in the dark? How does light travel? How do I teach these concepts? The activities in this session are organized by the stages of the learning cycle. How to use a formative assessment probe to learn about your students thinking and integrating math and literacy into science is a key focus of the session. We will discuss as a group how science is an integral part of the new Common Core State Standards.
Author Bio: Patricia has worked as an elementary teacher in Oklahoma, Ohio, and New Jersey. Science has always been a key part of her students’ curriculum and she is a strong believer of incorporating the science and mathematics practices into students daily activities. Patricia is currently employed at the University of Oklahoma’s K20 Center, where she provides professional development for teachers across our state. Her emphasize of instruction includes: implementation of the Common Core State Standards, science using the 5E model and science, literacy, and mathematics integration.
Title: STEM-What does it mean for Oklahoma and K-12 Classrooms?
Description: Advancements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are vital to the overall wealth, health, and success of our state and efforts in STEM education today will determine our ability to solve 21st century challenges in such areas as energy, health, and national security. Join us for this exciting session as Dr. Stephen McKeever, the Oklahoma Secretary for Science and Technology and the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Oklahoma State University, shares the state of STEM in Oklahoma and how K-12 education, higher education, and business and industry partnerships will enhance the Oklahoma’s STEM pipeline.
Title: K20alt: A Virtual Professional Learning Community (PLC) for Teachers-Tiffany Neill
Description: Have you wondered what other teachers across the state are doing in their classrooms? Are you a teacher that loves to share resources and ideas about education? Join us for this exciting session as we introduce a Free web-based portal for Oklahoma Teachers to connect, collaborate, and retrieve resources.
Wednesday June 13th, 2012
STEM Luncheon Wednesday June 13th, 2012
Speaker: Ben T. Robinson
Mr. Robinson is the Owner/President of Sentry One LLC. Sentry One is an aerospace industry consulting company specializing in a wide spectrum of expertise from military command and control operations to the growth and sustainment of American aerospace through future investments in workforce and business development and leadership. Sentry
One LLC has aerospace clients in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Through his Sentry One
LLC, Ben is an Executive-in-Residence with Oklahoma Career Technology Center. In addition, Ben teaches aerospace courses for Oklahoma State University as an adjunct professor.
Click the following link to read more about Mr. Ben Robinson: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/file_uploads/258b0c1c8854524b3865bdf568dc0a93_BIOrobinson.pdf
Science Strand Sessions Wednesday June 13th, 2012
Title: Inquire Within – Implementing Inquiry-Based Science Standards- Douglas Llewellyn
Description: This session will provide an overview of the different levels and approaches to teaching and learning through science inquiry. Topics include:
- What is scientific inquiry?
- What are the myths and misconception about scientific inquiry?
- How can I modify an existing activity or lab to make it more inquiry-based?
Title: Ready or Not, Here They Come – The Common Core State Standards and its Implication for Scientific Argumentation-Douglas Llewellyn
Description: The Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science provides a glimpse into what’s ahead for curriculum and professional development for science educators. The word “argument” or “argumentation” appears in the documents repeatedly – a fact that illustrates its importance. To prepare science educators for the practice of argumentation in their classrooms, the session will focus on several questions:
- What is the role of argumentation in science instruction?
- How do students make and defend arguments in the science classroom?
- How can inquiry-based investigations be modified to accommodate students forming and justifying scientific arguments?
Title: Modifying a Traditional/Structured Lab-Douglas Llewellyn
Description: Using a differentiated inquiry format, participants will modify a previously-taught traditional or structured lab and “tweak” it to be more inquiry-based. Participants should bring two or three labs to the session.
Author Bio: Douglas Llewellyn teaches science education courses at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. Previously, he was the K-12 Director of Science at the Rochester City School District, a junior high school principal, and a middle school science teacher.
Llewellyn’s interests are in the areas of scientific inquiry and argumentation, constructivist teaching, and science leadership.
Llewellyn is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences on inquiry-based teaching. He has three books published by Corwin Press – Inquire Within: Implementing Inquiry-Based Science Standards in Grades 3-8, Second Edition; Teaching High School Science through Inquiry; and Differentiated Science Inquiry.
Title: From Elementary to AP, STEM work!- Kimberly Batten
Description: This presentation includes hands-on STEM activities with adaptations from elementary to AP Biology included. It is easier than you think to engage all of your students regardless of reading level. From isopods to Rat Island, come experience labs for yourself.
Author Bio: Mrs. Batten is currently a middle school science teacher, chair-person, and STEM club sponsor. Her teaching experience includes high school biology, elementary, and special education. She is experienced in classroom STEM projects, after-school activities, and field trips.