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LASER Middle School Symposium

Sample Program

The following program was used at last year's Middle School Symposium. the program for 2006 will differ slightly from this example. We have included it to give you a sense of the kinds of topics you will experience as a participant.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

 

Monday

5:00 p.m. Opening Reception, Welcoming Remarks and Symposium Overview

5:45 p.m. Welcoming Speaker(s):

Sally Goetz Shuler
Executive Director
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

Introduction and Overview

Jan Hustler
Director
Partnership for Student Success in Science
Mountain View, California

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, Washington

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Tuesday

Initiating Systemic Reform of Middle School Science Education

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Jan Hustler
Director
Partnership for Student Success in Science
Mountain View, California

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

8:15 a.m. Developing Goals for Middle School Science Learning and Teaching

Sally Goetz Shuler
Executive Director
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Engaging with Inquiry Teaching and Learning

Smith Holt
Senior Scientist
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

Cathy Stokes
Science Resource Teacher
Partnership for Student Success
Redwood City School District
Redwood, California

Christos Zahopoulos
Director
RE-SEED & The Boston Science Partnership
Northeastern University
Boston , Massachusetts

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. Introduction to Strategic Planning

Teams meet their Resources Team Leader and learn of expectations for the week.

2:30 p.m. Systemic Change and Reform of Middle School Science Education

Discussing Systemic Change and Introducing a New Instructional Program in a School District : An Interactive Simulation and Discussion About Issues and Effective Reform Strategies

Karen Spencer Anderson
Math & Science Technology Coordinator
Auburn City Schools
Auburn , Alabama

Joyce Duchter
Assistant Professor
University of Houston-Downtown
Houston , Texas

*Note: Afternoon Break will be incorporated into this session.

5:30 p.m. Adjournment

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Wednesday

Planning Effective Professional Development Programs for Middle School Science Teachers

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Jan Hustler
Director
Partnership for Student Success in Science
Mountain View, California

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

8:15 a.m. Making the Case for Science Education Reform

Part I: How People Learn

Suzanne Donovan - DVD
Senior Program Officer and Study Director
Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP)
National Research Council
Washington , DC

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. Engaging with Inquiry Teaching and Learning

Smith Holt
Senior Scientist
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

Cathy Stokes
Science Resource Teacher
Partnership for Student Success
Redwood City School District
Redwood, California

Christos Zahopoulos
Director
RE-SEED & The Boston Science Partnership
Northeastern University
Boston , Massachusetts

11:30 a.m. Strategic Planning Session

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. Exploring High Quality Professional Development

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

Peggy Willcuts
Science Coordinator
Walla Walla Public Schools
Walla Walla , Washington

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Exploring High Quality Professional Development, Cont.

4:30 p.m. Strategic Planning Session

5:30 p.m. Adjournment


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Thursday

Examining National Science Foundation Supported Inquiry-Centered Middle School Science Curriculum

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Jan Hustler
Director
Partnership for Student Success in Science
Mountain View, California

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

8:15 a.m. Making the Case for Science Education Reform:

Part II: The Research About Inquiry Based Curriculum

Bill Watson
Research Assistant
SCALE-uP
The George Washington University
Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education
Washington, D.C.

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. Engaging with Inquiry Teaching and Learning

Smith Holt
Senior Scientist
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

Cathy Stokes
Science Resource Teacher
Partnership for Student Success
Redwood City School District
Redwood, California

Christos Zahopoulos
Director
RE-SEED & The Boston Science Partnership
Northeastern University
Boston , Massachusetts

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Exemplary National Science Foundation-Supported Elementary and Middle School Science Curricula: Six Concurrent Hands-On Workshops

Middle School Science Curricula

•  The Full Option Science System (FOSS) for Middle School, Diversity of Life

Virginia Reid
FOSS K-8 Professional Developer
Lawrence Hall of Science
Olympia, Washington

•  Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School (STC/MS™), Grades 7-8

Marsha Jones
Consultant
Carolina Biological Supply Company
Burlington, North Carolina

•  Introducing SEPUP: Issue-oriented science for the middle level

Mark Koker
Director of Curriculum & Professional Development
Lab-Aids, Inc.
17 Colt Court
Ronkonkoma, New York

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Strategic Planning Session

5:30 p.m. Adjournment

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Friday

Improving Science Teaching and Learning Through Data and Establishing and Effective Materials Support System

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

8:15 a.m. Collaborative Inquiry: Improving Science Teaching and Learning Through Data-Driven Dialogue

Kathy Stiles
Senior Program Associate
WestEd
Indianapolis , Indiana

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Collaborative Inquiry: Improving Science Teaching and Learning Through Data-Driven Dialogue, Cont.

11:45 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. Materials Support In Middle School

Bill Jones
Middle School Coordinator
ASSET Inc.
Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania

Yolanda Guerrero
Science resource Teacher
Calexico Unified School District
Calexico , California

2:15 p.m. Curriculum Showcase

3:30 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. Strategic Planning Session

5:00 p.m. Adjournment

5:30 p.m. Buses Depart

6:00 p.m. Reception and Dinner

Keynote Address

John F. (Jack) Wiegers
Washington University
St. Louis, MO

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Saturday

Building Awareness and Support with Business and Community Leaders

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

Caroline Kiehle
Associate Director of Professional Development
Center for Inquiry Science
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle , Washington

8:15 a.m. Acquiring Community Support

Ann McMahon
Director
MySci- Hands on Science for Elementary Students
St. Louis, Missouri

Janna Gordanier
Project Director
Ozark Rural Systemic Partnership
Web City , Missouri

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Strategic Planning Session

11:00 a.m. Sharing Strategic Plans

12:00 p.m. Closing Remarks & Adjournment

Judi Backman
Co-Director
The LASER Center
National Science Resources Center
Washington , DC

12:30 p.m. Lunch

 

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