Modeling Instruction Workshops for Summer 2008

Modeling Workshops in summer 2008 are listed alphabetically by state. Most are 3-week workshops that thoroughly treat the pedagogy and content for the mechanics portion of a physics course. Content is reorganized around basic models to increase its structural coherence. Participants are supplied with a complete set of course materials and work through activities alternately in the roles of student or teacher, as they practice techniques of guided inquiry and cooperative learning. Teachers receive stipends and/or tuition waivers, instructional materials, sometimes free housing, etc., at most workshops. (State funded workshops provide these only for in-state teachers.) Generally, workshops use whatever probes and interfaces are available at the site.

Ask Your School District to Pay
School District "No Child Left Behind" funds (NCLB Title II) can be used for "professional development activities that improve the knowledge of teachers ... in:
(a) Content knowledge. Providing training in one or more of the core academic subjects that the teachers teach; and
(b) Classroom practices. Providing training to improve teaching practices and student academic achievement through effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills ..."

"Title II, Part A funds may be used to purchase materials and supplies used in professional development activities, including the materials (such as graphing calculators) that a teacher will need in order to apply the professional development in a classroom setting..." Title II funds may be used to support teachers earning advanced degrees "to the extent that doing so is consistent with the LEA's needs assessment and local plan. The funds must enable the teacher to provide more effective instruction in core academic subjects..."

We encourage you to download this NCLB guide and give it to your administrator to support your request. The bottom line is: you are probably eligible for NCLB funds, and we suggest that you ask your school or district, at minimum, for financial support for a Modeling Workshop using your local Title II funds. We suggest $1000 as a reasonable amount for teachers to request.

Click here to download a sample grant proposal that should help you obtain funding from your district.

A Modeling Workshop can be an excellent investment for your school because you can become a valuable resource for teaching science effectively with technology!

ALABAMA
Briarwood Christian School - Birmingham

Two workshops open to high school and middle school teachers nationwide.
June 9-27, 2008
Content: mechanics (Don Yost, Victor Nichols & Tim Burgess, peer leaders)

physical science (Barry Walker, Martina Norton, Dennis Glass)

Cost: $975 (includes materials & lunches)

Graduate credit may be available
Visit www.briarwoodchristianschool.org
click on "Modeling Instruction Science Workshops"
or call 205-776-5909 (Mrs. Calerini)
A housing list is available download

ALABAMA
McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

Introductory workshop open to all high school physics and physical science teachers nationwide.
Content: experiment design, kinematics
Dates: July 7-11, 2008
Peer leaders: Timothy Burgess & Doug McEnery
Cost: $450(includes lunch)
Download registration and information

ARIZONA
Arizona State University - Tempe

Open to high school and middle school teachers nationwide.

PHS 530: Methods of Physics Teaching I - Full day Modeling Workshop in mechanics.
Choose June 16 - July 3 or July 7-25

PHS 531: Modeling Workshop in microscopic e&m. June 16-July 3
Prerequisite: PHS 530

PHS 534: Physical Science I (June 9-27)

PHS594: Physical Science II (2nd semester content). July 7-25

CHM 594: Modeling Instruction in High School Chemistry I (June 16-July 3)

PHS542: Integrated Math & Physics (for grades 8 & 9) July 7-25

Contact Jane Jackson, 480-965-8438, or visit ASU Graduate Program for High School Teachers website. We are committed to win-win situations. Call Jane for advice on keeping costs low.

Housing (private room, private bath in furnished apartment): $15/day

CALIFORNIA (none until 2009)
Cal State University - Fresno

Dates TBD (summer 2009)
Content: chemistry (1st semester content)
Peer leader: Brenda Royce
Contact David Andrews or Jaime Arvizu

FLORIDA (funded by the National Science Foundation)
Florida International University, Miami
June 30-July 18, 2008
Two modeling workshops, open to high school teachers nationwide.
Content: mechanics; (light)
The mechanics workshop is prerequisite to the 2nd semester workshop
Local teachers have priority, then Florida teachers, then teachers nationwide.
Peer leaders: Jeff Steinert, Josh Clearman (mechanics), David Krikpatrick, Robin Hori (light)
Contact http://modeling.fiu.edu for details.
A housing list is available.

GEORGIA (received state funding)
Columbus High School, with Columbus State University
For Georgia Middle School science teachers
June 16-27, 2008
Content: energy, waves
Leaders: Janice Hudson, Kim Shaw, Zo Webster
Contact: Janice Hudson

ILLINOIS (received school district funding)
Wheaton-Warrenville South High School (near Chicago)
Two workshops open to all physics teachers nationwide
August 4-16, 2008
Content: mechanics, second semester physics and chemistry (prereq. is mechanics workshop)
Peer leaders: Jim Stankevitz, Tom Todd
Cost: $100
Download registration form

Graduate credit is available at Illinois State University

ILLINOIS
University of Illinois at Chicago
CIE 594: Special Topics in Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation: Teaching Physics in Secondary School (4 graduate credits)
Meets June 19 - July 2, 2008
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

17700LCD
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM MTWRF

Instructor: Stankevitz, J
Modeling will be one of the main methodologies covered.

For registration, contact Carole P. Mitchener (312) 996-8141

MAINE
Kennebunk (near Massachusetts)
Aug 4-8, 2008
Content: kinematics, dynamics

Leader: James Vesenka
Contact James Vesenka

Open to high school teachers nationwide
Cost: $600

Download registration form, housing

NEW YORK
SUNY-Buffalo State College

Two Modeling workshops:
July 28 - Aug. 15, 2008

PHY 620: Powerful Ideas and Quantitative Modeling in Mechanics(6 credits).
Peer leaders: Dave Doty and Larry Hiller

PHY622: Powerful Ideas and Quantitative Modeling in E&M
Peer leader: David Pulhamus

PHY620 and 622 are each 6cr at about $300/credit in-state($1800). On-campus housing is about another $400.
Limited scholarship funds are available (see the site).
See also other SUNY-BSC Summer Physics Teachers' Academy courses
Contact Dan MacIsaac, 716-878-3802
Follow this link for MSEd-Physics Courses for Spring & Summer

NORTH CAROLINA
(received state funding)

Two workshops for North Carolina teachers:

June 16-July 3, 2008
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Content(2 workshops): mechanics; physical science
Leaders: Mike Turner, Matt Greenwolfe(physics)

Tom Brown, Jason Lonon, Patty Blanton(physical science)

OHIO (received funding from Ohio Board of Regents' Improving Teacher Quality Program)
The Ohio State University - Columbus

Three workshops for Ohio teachers of physical science, physics, and chemistry.
June 10-26, 2008
Location: Olentangy High School
Content: (3 workshops) mechanics, chemistry, or second-year physics & chemistry topics chosen by participants.
Leaders:
Mary Battershell Whalen, Nathan Ash(w/ Andrew Heckler, OSU) (Physics/Physical Science)
Jessica Mamais, Jason Cervenec (w/ Ted Clark, OSU) (Chemistry)
Doug Forrest (w/ Kathy Harper, OSU) (Second-semester physics & chemistry content)

Participants will receive 6 graduate credits in physics and free lunch each day, in addition to workshop and classroom materials and equipment. Some housing funds.
Contact Kathy Harper for details. 614-292-1525

Download application form

PENNSYLVANIA - Philadelphia

Two workshops, open to high school teachers nationwide.
July 14-31, 2008
Location: Ridley High School in Folsom (next to Philly Airport)
Content: Mechanics, chemistry
Leaders: Doug Vallette, Jess Dykes(mechanics)

Larry Dukerich, Ray Howanski (chemistry: 1st semester content)

PENNSYLVANIA - Pittsburgh

Five INTRODUCTORY modeling workshops in 2008, open to high school teachers nationwide.

June 23-27: 2 workshops: chemistry, biology
June 30-July 3: Physics First
July 7-11: mechanics (Kathy & Dan Malone)
July 14-18: e & m (Kathy & Dan Malone)

Location: Shadyside Academy
Contact DLiebmann@ShadySideAcademy
Download flyer
412-968-3045

Dorm housing is available.

TEXAS
Ursuline Academy - Dallas
Two workshops open to high school teachrs nationwide.
June 16-July 3, 2008
Content: chemistry (1st semester content)
Peer leader: Brenda Royce

Content: Mechanics
Peer leaders: Nicholas Park & Kay Fincher

Contact: Rhonda Bush 469-232-1848

Download Registration Form for 2008 and a list of inexpensive motels.
Cost: $1100
UTD graduate credit is available at extra cost.

WISCONSIN
June 16-Aug 8 (Mondays only: 8am - 1pm)
Leader: Ed Wyrembeck
Content: Waves and Fields
5 graduate credits

Tuition is:

Resident Tuition: $1118.60
Non-Resident Tuition: $2675.85
Minnesota Reciprocity: $1219.05

For information, including the MSE in Secondary Science Education program, visit http://www.phys.uwosh.edu/lattery/mse/mse.htm

QUOTES BY TEACHERS:

I am continually amazed at how the modeling method manages to give students
1) the opportunity to confront their misconceptions about physics head on,
2) the ability to analyze their data in an in-depth, consistent way in order to construct appropriate models, and
3) the skill and confidence needed to interpret their results (as well as others') in a scientifically critical way.
(Jim Stankevitz, Wheaton, IL)

An important objective of education is to move students along the road towards self-suffiency. I feel that the modeling method does this better than anything else I have seen.
(Louis Turner, Massachusetts - formerly Ohio)

The project gives the teacher the knowledge and practice needed to develop or adapt other materials to the modeling method. The teacher is not restricted to particular topics or materials from the workshops because the modeling method is a WAY to teach, not an independent topic to teach.
(Art Woodruff, Sanford, FL)

It is the finest example of guided inquiry teaching in the U.S. It has changed my life and the way I teach.
(Don Yost, near Sacramento)

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last updated May 5, 2008