Modeling Workshops in high school physics, chemistry, biology, and junior high physical science will be offered this summer in many states. Most workshops are two or three weeks long. Modeling Instruction is designated as an Exemplary K-12 science program by the U.S. Department of Education. Modeling Workshops thoroughly address most aspects of high school science teaching, including integration of teaching methods with course content. Workshops incorporate up-to-date results of physics and science education research, best high school curriculum materials, use of technology, and experience in collaborative learning and guidance.
Participants are introduced to the Modeling Method as a systematic approach to design of curriculum and instruction. The name Modeling Instruction expresses an emphasis on making and using conceptual models of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena as central to learning and doing science. Mathematics instruction is integrated seamlessly throughout each course by an emphasis on mathematical modeling.
In each workshop, content for an entire semester course is reorganized around models to increase its structural coherence. Participants are supplied with a complete set of course materials and work through activities alternately in roles of student or teacher. Teachers use computers as scientific tools to collect, organize, analyze, visualize, and model real data.
Website: http://modelinginstruction.org/teachers/workshops and Workshop descriptions: http://www.phystec.org/pd/?set=Modeling
MODELING WORKSHOPS have these features:
* aligned with Common Core Math Standards and ELA.
* includes all 8 scientific practices of NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education.
* addresses multiple learning styles.
* addresses naive student conceptions.
* collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
* systems, models, modeling.
* coherent curriculum framework, but not a curriculum; thus flexible.
* compatible with Socratic methods & project-based instruction.
* science & math literacy.
* authentic assessments.
* high-tech and low-tech options for labs.
Models and theories are the purpose and the outcomes of scientific practices. They are the tools for engineering design and problem solving. As such, modeling guides all other practices.
Wendy Hehemann
American Modeling Teachers Association