CALIFORNIA SCIENCE EDUCATION CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 22-25, 2009
PALM SPRINGS, 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 Hilton Palm Springs Resort.

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Last Updated: 5/19/2009

Professional Development Icons:

= NCLB/TITLE II = New Teacher = Preservice Teacher

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009 ~ 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

SC01: Solar System Formation: The Nebular Model

Participants will construct an understanding of the formation of the solar system by interacting with astronomical data, engaging in hands-on collaborative activities, and building conceptual models. (CSP)
Fee: $12
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 9-12
Presenter: Richard Hedman, Interim Director, Center for Math and Science Education, CSU Sacramento

SC02: Sinking and Floating: Surfacing the Math Behind Density

The connection between math and science is investigated through a series of hands-on activities involving sinking and floating. These activities build a conceptual understanding of density, ratio, and proportion. (K-12A)
Fee: $20
Multidisciplinary Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades 3-8
Presenter: David Harris, Regional Director/Teacher on Special Assignment, K-12 Alliance/Escondido USD
Co-Presenter: Susan Gomez-Zwiep, Regional Director/Assistant Professor, K-12 Alliance/CSU Long Beach

SC03: The Pollen Project: Climate Change Investigative Science with Open Resources

How can students access real pollen data to study global climate change? Learn how to find, modify, and create open educational resources to teach climate change investigative science.
Fee: $15
Environmental Science, Technology
Grades 9-13+
Presenter: Megan Simmons, Education Program Manager, Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education

SC04: Using Discourse to Promote Conceptual Understanding of Investigations and Text

Participants will be introduced to the use of discourse to promote student conceptual development during inquiry-based activities and reading of science text.
Fee: $20
Multidisciplinary Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: K-13+
Presenter: Emily Weiss, Marine Science and Literacy Education Specialist, UC Berkeley
Co-Presenter: Catherine Halversen, Director of MARE, UC Berkeley

SC05: The Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI)

Experience California`s first standards-based, State Board of Education-approved (Jan. 2010) K-12 environmental curriculum that teaches academic standards and environmental principles and concepts to mastery planned for implementation in Fall 2010.
Fee: $10
Environmental Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: K-12
Presenter: Andrea Lewis, Assistant Secretary for Education and Quality Programs, California Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Presenter: Gerald Lieberman, Director, State Education and Environment Roundtable

SC06: Concepts of Evolution

Using board games, sketching activities, hands-on mathematics, and more, we’ll review five central concepts of evolution: variation, inheritance, selection, adaptation, and speciation. Enhance your content knowledge; expand your curriculum! (CAS)
Fee: $15
Life Science, Preservice Teacher Education
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Megan Schufreider, Manager of Student Services, California Academy of Sciences
Co-Presenter: Sarah Soule, Teacher and Student Services Educator, California Academy of Sciences

SC07: Physical or Chemical Change? The Macro vs. the Micro View

Was that change chemical or physical? Explore physical and chemical changes using investigations. Get down to the molecular level with basic chemical equations to see what's really happening. (CSP)
Fee: $15
Chemistry, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 3-8
Presenter: Brigitte Bogert, Academic Coordinator, Science & Health Education Partnership/UCSF & SFUSD
Co-Presenter: Peter Hippard, Teacher, Clarendan Elementary School

SC08: Energy from the Wind

Learn about wind as a renewable energy resource. Using classroom-sized wind turbines, design efficient turbine blades, perform tests using variables, and experience the wind generating power and doing work.
Fee: $10
Physical Science, Technology
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Cindy Welchko, Curriculum Associate, The NEED Project

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2009 ~ 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

SC09: Earthquakes – A Workshop for Teachers

This course is for teachers who wish to learn more about earthquakes, seismology, plate tectonics, and related earth science and implement exciting hands-on activities. Extensive free materials provided.
Fee: $10
Earth/Space Science, Technology
Grades:6-12
Presenter: Lawrence Braile, Professor, Purdue University
Co-Presenter: Sheryl Braile, Teacher, Happy Hollow Elementary School

SC10: Teaching Evolution: Successful Strategies for Challenges in the Classroom

Evolution is fundamental biology, but teachers are pressured to avoid teaching it. Gain resources and strategies that enable you to effectively deal with the challenges and pitfalls around teaching evolution.
Fee: $30
Life Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Pamela Harman, Education and Outreach Manager, SETI Institute
Co-Presenter: Louise Meade, Education Project Director, NCSE

SC11: A New Twist on TLC: 5Es with ELD

Learn how to integrate the 5E learning sequence design process with English language development (ELD) instruction. Make science accessible to all of your students with this innovative approach. (K-12A)
Fee: $50
Multidisciplinary Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: K-8
Presenter: Jo Topps, Regional Director, K-12 Alliance/WestEd
Co-Presenter: Susan Gomez-Zwiep, Regional Director/Assistant Professor, K-12 Alliance/CSU Long Beach

SC12: Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions

Participate in hands-on activities that illuminate the causes and impacts of climate change. Then, learn how to engage your students’ creative powers in solving this global problem. (CAS)
Fee: $15
Environmental Science, Science Leadership
Grades: 3-8
Presenter: Jill Bible, Curriculum Developer, Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability, California Academy of Sciences
Co-Presenter: Helena Carmena, Manager of Teacher Services, California Academy of Sciences

SC13: Hands-on Activities to Crush Misconceptions in the Physical Sciences

Participate in hands-on activities to crush student misconceptions in chemistry, physics, and earth science. Topics include color, friction, seasons, phase changes, magnets, circuits, heat, and temperature..
Fee: $25
Physical Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 3-12
Presenter: Michael Horton, Science Coordinator, Riverside COE

SC14: Teaching Science in the Digital Age

Bring your laptop (or borrow ours) for a hands-on training to build your 21st century technology skills for teaching. Download free media and explore science blogs and Google Maps.
Fee: $25
Multidisciplinary Science, Technology
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Jessica Neely, Project Supervisor, Science Education, KQED Education Network / QUEST
Co-Presenter: Lisa Rule, Digital Storytelling Supervisor, KQED

SC15: Chemistry for Elementary Teachers

This course will equip elementary teachers to facilitate their students’ learning of chemistry through hands-on experiences and discussion of content. Topics include states of matter, energy changes, and molecules.
Fee: $35
Chemistry, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: K-5
Presenter: Jeff Bradbury, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Cerritos College

SC16: NASA's SOFIA and Kepler Missions Celebrate International Year of Astronomy

NASA mission leaders present infrared astronomy science and the transit method of detecting Earth-size planets. Practice hands-on activities, take home Active Astronomy materials kit, lesson plans, and mission posters.
Fee: $45
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Dana Backman, Education and Public Outreach Director, SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy)
Co-Presenter: Edna DeVore, Deputy CEO and Director of Education and Outreach, SETI Institute

SC17: Oceans in Motion, Exploring Wave and Tidal Action

Explore waves in the ocean, including deep water waves, shallow water waves, and tides. This session includes hands-on activities examining the motion of waves and tides. (COSEE/SWMEA)
Fee: $20
Multidisciplinary Science, Literacy/EL
Grades: 10-12
Presenter: Megan Gray, Science Teacher, Tesoro High School, Capistrano USD

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2009 ~ 1:3O PM - 4:30 PM

SC18: Energy Concepts That Will Energize Your Classroom

Hands-on activities introduce scientific measurement using simple tools while exploring the basic concepts of energy: motion, heat, light, sound, and growth. Also learn about sources of energy and their uses.
Fee: $10
Physical Science, Informal Science
Grades: K-5
Presenter: Cindy Welchko, Curriculum Associate, The NEED Project

SC19: Get to Know California's Geology Through Our Rocks and Minerals

Learn to identify common rocks and minerals using basic observational techniques and keep the set you use.
Fee: $20
Earth/Space Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 6-12
Presenter: Nel Graham, Science Teacher, Eagle Rock High School

SC20: Ethnobotany: Integrating Plant Sciences into the Classroom

Explore through hands-on activities edible plants and medicinal plants, including their form, function, and geographical origins. Receive curriculum to build content knowledge and develop language arts connections with plants. (CSP)
Fee: $15
Life Science, Pedagogy/I&E
Grades: 3-8
Presenter: Andreana Ososki, Research Associate, Redwood Science Project, Humboldt State University
C0-Presenter: John DeMartini, Emeritus Professor, Redwood Science Project, Humboldt State University

SC21: Restoring Island Ecosystems—Technology Brings the Channel Islands to Your Classroom

What's rarer than a panda? California's island fox! Learn about this animal and factors that pushed it to the brink of extinction and celebrate its recovery. Curriculum and video included.
Fee: $10
Environmental Science, Technology
Grades: 3-12
Presenter: Carol Peterson, Education Coordinator, Channel Islands National Park
Co-Presenter: Pat Meyer, President, Friends of the Island Fox

SC22: Fossils and Climate Change: Reading the Past to Predict the Future

A hands-on, inquiry-based course exploring the current research in climate change and paleoecology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Participants conduct four activities: Sediment coring, two fossil sorts, and an ocean acidification experiment.
Fee: $15
Multidisciplinary Science, Informal Science
Grades: 6-8
Presenter: Judith Coats, Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Co-Presenter: Jill S. Leonard-Pingel, PhD Candidate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

SC23: Rockin' & Rollin' with Earth Science