Professional Development

Marine Science for Teachers- 1st Summer Session (Click here to download the flyer)

MARS 7020/7020L--Marine Sciences for Teachers is being offered first summer session on campus at UGA which runs June 05 through July 02, 2008. This course is specifically designed for educators who may have limited upper division undergraduate and graduate coursework in the hard sciences. Oceanography is an interdisciplinary subject and the course includes weather and climate, geology, chemistry, and physical science as it relates to the ocean. A brief survey of life in the ocean and focus on the impact of human activities on ocean ecosystems is also included. In lieu of a research paper, students in the course are asked to design a curriculum unit (also needed for the M.Ed. portfolio) cross-referenced to state standards and appropriate for the grade level(s) that they plan to teach or are teaching. The laboratory portion of the course focuses on lab activities which are practical extensions of lecture topics with an emphasis on modification for grades 5-12 classrooms. There is a four day field trip to the FSU marine lab as an optional enrichment activity toward the end of the course. Contact Dr. Catherine Teare Ketter at cmscatk@uga.edu for more information

ARMADA Project- Research and Mentoring Experiences for Teachers

The University of Rhode Island's Office of Marine Programs is now accepting applications for the ARMADA Project- Research and Mentoring Experiences for Teachers. The ARMADA Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides K-12 teachers an opportunity to actively participate in ocean, polar, and environmental science research and peer mentoring.

Selected Master Teachers (with five or more years teaching experience) are paired with leading scientists and participate in shipboard, field, or laboratory research with all expenses paid. Research experiences will take place during the summer, although there may be opportunities during the school year. Upon completion of their research experience, Master Teachers develop ways to bring the fruits of their research experiences, including scientific data, methodologies, and technology into their classrooms. They share their experiences by mentoring new teachers in their school district and by presenting their results at the National Science Teachers Association National Conventions.

The ARMADA Project has placed teachers in research experiences all over the world. Past experiences include taking part in the largest North Pacific humpback whale study in the waters off the coast of Alaska, investigating the impacts of global change in the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic, monitoring and assessing tidal creeks in South Carolina, studying the impact of human activity on dusky dolphins in New Zealand, identifying foraging behaviors of Antarctic Crabeater Seals, water circulation studies in the Norwegian Sea, and a variety of ecosystem monitoring projects in the Bay of Fundy, Narragansett Bay, Gulf of Maine, Stellwagen Bank, Western Shelf of Florida, Sargasso Sea, Bahamas, Alaska, and Block Island Sound. See www.armadaproject.org for more information on past research experiences.

Application deadline is February 4, 2008

For more information about teacher qualifications, responsibilities, and to download an application see the ARMADA Project website www.armadaproject.org or contact Andrea Kecskes at 401-874-6211 or armada@gso.uri.edu.

Physics Learning Community

The Physics Learning Community is a new learning community led by Dr. Chad Fertig of The University of Georgia Physics and Astronomy Department.  The purpose of this learning community is to provide partnership opportunities for university faculty, high school and middle school teachers of physics and physical science.   Northeast Georgia physics and physical science teachers are invited to become a member of this learning community which would offer opportunities for physics teachers to leave the isolation of the classroom and come together to:

• Share resources,
• Reflect on their teaching,
• Explore and test new ideas, methods, and materials, and
• Make decisions about which new approaches work and why.

If you are interested in participating or need additional information, please contact Dr. Fertig at cfertig@uga.edu. A meeting schedule has not been determined at this time. 

Connected Mathematics Learning Community

Kaycie Maddox, from RESA, will facilitate a learning community for middle school teachers using Connected Mathematics.  The group will collaborate on the implementation of the GPS using CMP as well as standards-based instruction, formative assessment, grading practices, curriculum mapping, etc.  If you are interested or have questions, contact Kaycie Maddox at Kaycie.Maddox@negaresa.org.