CSTA logo
California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association California Science Teachers Association
 

Platinum Sponsor:


view all conference sponsors

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE
EDUCATION CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 21-23, 2011• PASADENA, CA

SHORT COURSES

Short Courses are three-hour programs that are California standards-aligned and include a considerable amount of hands-on activity, interactive instruction, group work, and discussion. They are optional, additional-fee events that are open to registered conference participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsold Short Course tickets may be available on-site at the conference, but as many Short Courses sell out early, CSTA highly encourages advance ticket purchase. Short Courses will be held at Pasadena Convention Center and Hilton Hotel.

Jump to:

»Friday Short Courses

»Saturday Morning Short Courses

»Saturday Afternoon Short Courses

Last Updated: 6/3/2011

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 ~ 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

SC01: Modeling Plate Tectonics: California-Style

Join us as we share a dozen of our favorite tried and true plate tectonics models. Each participant receives models, handouts, instructions, and posters ready to use Monday morning.
Fee: $15
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades 6; 9-12
Presenter: Cheryl Ann Park, Science Teacher, Century High School

 

SC02: Ready to Roll! The Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI)

Experience California's first, (very cool!), standards-based, State Board of Education-approved 85-unit, K-12 curriculum that aligns environmental content to California's academic content standards–to rave reviews by educators throughout California.
Fee:
$10 
Environmental Science, Science Leadership
Grades: K-12
Presenter:
Bryan Ehlers, California Environmental Protection Agency

 

SC03: Place-Based Fisheries Ecology–How to Get Your Students Diving for Paperclips

Cancelled by presenter 10/18/2011.


Presenter: Lisa Uttal, Education Specialist, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

 

SC04: Knowing What Students Know: Probing for Understanding

Wondering what your students understand? Explore assessment probes to elicit student thinking. Probes help you analyze student learning, misconceptions, and interventions. Receive sample probes and a process for developing probes.
Fee:
$30

Multidisciplinary Science, Assessment
Grades 4-12
Presenter: Karen Cerwin, Regional Director, K-12 Alliance/WestEd

 

SC05: Interactive Notebook–A Way to Access Science Content When Coupled with Effective Strategies

The interactive notebook along with other effective strategies is a tool used to deepen students' understanding of academic content through active participation in the learning process.
Fee:
$45

Multidisciplinary Science, Literacy/EL
Grades: 5-13+
Presenter: Mark McKay, Science Teacher, Venture Academy

back to top

SC06: Forensic Science in Your Classroom

Building on Forensic Science in Your Classroom! this short course will provide participants with the opportunity to get their hands on real forensic science techniques by solving a simulated crime.
Fee:
$25

Multidisciplinary Science, Pedadogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12

Presenter
: Karalyn Ramon, Science Teacher, Loyola High School

 

SC07: Podcasting in the Science Classroom

Looking for innovative ways to teach science? Do methods that encourage students as producers to “show what they know” sound intriguing? This hands-on session is for you!
Fee: $10
Multidisciplinary Science, Technology
Grades: K-12
Presenter: Julie Drake, Consultant-in-Charge, Los Angeles COE

 

SC08: Hands-On Performance Assessment for K-6 Students: One Impetus for Inquiry in Our Classrooms

Assessing inquiry is essential to instruction. Participants will engage in two hands-on performance tasks, explore the uses and advantages of this form of assessment, and take home sample student set-ups.
Fee
: $40
Physical Science, Assessment
Grades: K-5
Presenter: Deborah Tucker, Science Education Consultant

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

SC09: Teaching Inquiry Through 5E Earth Science Investigations

Cancelled due to low enrollment.

 

SC10: Modeling Cutting-Edge, Hands-On, High-Tech Experiences to Improve Earthquake Monitoring

Motivate your students to achieve in STEM through NASA’s Flight Mission Challenge: Improving Earthquake Monitoring unit. NASA master educators will lead you in a cutting-edge, hands-on, multimedia-rich experience.
Fee
: $10
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 5-9
Presenter
: Shaun Smith, NASA

back to top

SC11: Developing a Sense of Wonder–New Early Childhood Environmental Experiences

Cancelled due to low enrollment.

 

SC12: Water Quality Assessments

Cancelled by presenter 10/19/11.


Presenter
: Julia Rankin Morandi, The Science Collaborative, Inc.

 

SC13: Teaching Evolution: Successful Strategies for Challenges in the Classroom

Evolution is fundamental to biology. Resources and strategies will enable teaching the Nature of Science, and the examination of evidence supporting evolution. Receive “Teaching Evolution & the Nature of Science.”
Fee
: $30
Life Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 7-12
Presenter
: Pamela Harman, Education and Outreach Manager, SETI Institute

 

SC14: Create Your Own $55 Interactive Whiteboard

Receive a Wiimote and infrared pen! Used with free software and Bluetooth, these tools become an interactive whiteboard. Set up the systems and discuss best practices for using them.
Fee:
$65 

Multidisciplinary Science, Technology
Grades: 6-12
Presenter:
Kathy McElroy, Monterey Bay Aquarium

back to top

SC15: College Science Methods Course: Model Lessons and Assignments, Overarching Goals, and Sample Syllabi

CANCELLED - Due to low enrollment.

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 ~ 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

SC16: Build a Telescope: Explore the EM Spectrum and the Universe

Astronomers observe the universe with telescopes across the EM Spectrum. Build a Galileoscope, and learn how astronomers use telescopes to explore the universe. Free telescope, tripod, lessons, and observing guide.
Fee
: $35
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Edna DeVore, Deputy CEO and Director of Education, SETI Institute

back to top

SC17: Hands-On to ELA: Using Science to Support the New California Common Core Content Standards for English Language Arts

Learn how to integrate hands-on science instruction with the California common core content standards for English language arts. Participants will investigate using science notebook entries as resources for expository writing. Grades 2-5.
Fee
: $20
Multidisciplinary Science, Literacy/EL
Grades: 2-5
Presenter
: Carol Sackett, Elementary Curriculum Specialist, San Francisco USD

 

SC18: From Everyday to Gourmet: Enhancing Students' Science Experiences

Spice up your labs with the real process of science! Learn how you can transform everyday cookbook labs and activities into robust and rigorous experiences for your students.
Fee
: $25
Multidisciplinary Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12
Presenter
: Deb Farkas, Middle School Science Content Specialist, San Francisco USD

 

SC19: Standards-Based Nanotechnology Lessons for Secondary Science Teachers

Learn how to incorporate into your current teaching topics standards-based science lessons that include nanoscale science and engineering. Lessons will cover secondary science–chemistry, physics, and biology.
Fee
: $25
Multidisciplinary Science, STEM
Grades: 9-12
Presenter
: Nancy Healy, NNIN Education Coordinator, Georgia Institute of Technology

back to top

SC20: What’s in That Boiling Water? Using Inquiry to Reveal Student Misconceptions

CANCELLED

 

SC21: NASA's Swift Satellite Presents Newton's Laws

NASA’s Swift mission presents hands-on inquiry-based activities exploring Newton’s laws. Participants progress through 25 stations, each presenting a problem that can be solved through application of Newton’s laws. Grade 8.
Fee
: $20
Physical Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 8
Presenter
: Kevin McLin, GTN Director, Sonoma State University

 

SC22: Exploring Hydrogen

This session contains hands-on activities that teach students about hydrogen as an energy source. Activities will include: element modeling, electrolysis, fuel cell simulation, and a fuel cell vehicle demonstration.
Fee
: $10
Physics, STEM
Grades: 5-12
Presenter
: Rebecca Lamb, Program Director, National Energy Education Development

 

*NEW* SC23: The Arts of the Future with Jim Brazell

Only available to the first 70 participants to RSVP (tickets are only $5), Jim will model “guide on the side” teaching techniques while facilitating a design workshop based on the outcomes and interactions in the keynote address: What’s Next for Science Education in America? Become a part of this Short Course and help shape our understanding and concept of education for the next generation of California science teachers, 2011-2031.
Fee
: $5
Multidisciplinary Science, Science Leadership
Grades: K-13+
Presenter
: Jim Brazell

back to top