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SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE |
Click on workshop name for alternate dates
For more information and
registration forms click on the workshop name or contact
Starting next school year all New Jersey students will be tested in science in grades 4, 8 and 11. If the current school year science tests are any indication, 15-20% of these tests will be on astronomy. Our workshops are designed to help teachers increase their understanding of difficult astronomy concepts such as Moon Phases and Eclipses, the Reasons for Seasons, Stellar Evolution, and the Expansion of the Universe, all of which are part of what New Jersey students need to know before graduating high school. We teach concepts to teachers in the same way they are expected to teach them to their students: through hands-on inquiry-based activities. However, inquiry is much more than just doing activities and we model this at our workshops. It starts with an appropriate focus question and an exploration of student ideas, followed by a carefully designed experiment or experience. Allowing enough time for in-depth reflection and relating this to students’ initial ideas is crucial and it is here that most of the student learning takes place. The inquiry ends with an application of the new understandings. In the process we make multiple connections across the curriculum and to every-day life experiences, which also helps students remember what they are learning. Our summer months are devoted to three Summer Institutes, two Starlab Portable Planetarium trainings, and two one-day workshops. The three Summer Institutes together cover all astronomy concepts students need to know before graduating high school. The Starlab trainings provides teachers with a tool that allows students to make their own astronomical observations during class in preparation for night time observing on their own or as a follow-up of it. Especially in the elementary grades, the New Jersey astronomy standards emphasize observations of the sky over conceptual understanding of topics like Moon Phases and Seasons. Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are in our state-of-the-art Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College, located near Bridgewater, and include a visit to our 100-seat planetarium. (Directions) If you have any questions, or like us to help you chose the workshops that may best suit your needs please call Theresa Moody at 908-526-1200 x 8942 or email tmoody@raritanval.edu. |
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Friday, February 20th AND Saturday,
February 21st, 2009 (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Register
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Introduction to Hands-on Astronomy I:
Thursday, December 4, 2008
(9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Introduction to Hands-on Astronomy II:
Friday, December 5, 2008
(9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
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Explore the Solar System (Grades K-4) Next Date Offered : TBD
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Kinesthetic Astronomy: Sky Time Next Date Offered : TBD
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Our Solar Connection (Grades 5-12)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
(9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
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Gravity 1: Gravity and Orbits in the Solar System
(Grades 5-12)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 (9:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m.)
On request we can offer this training at your school or district during the school year.
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Gravity 2: Exploring the Energy of Space Travel (Grades 5-12) This workshop is a follow-up to our popular “Gravity and Orbits in the Solar System” workshop. It will help teachers gain a better understanding of the physics and dangers of traveling to the moon and living in space. While we recommend that teachers also attend “Gravity and Orbits in the Solar System”, it is NOT a prerequisite. Teachers will be engaged in hands-on inquiry-based activities related to Gravity, the Properties of Objects in the Solar System, Energy (including Kinetic and Potential Energy as well as Energy transformations) Radiation and its effects on DNA. Participants will be able to interact with scientist Dr. Ed BelBruno, author of “Fly Me to the Moon”, and learn about new, cost-effective ways for a spacecraft to travel to the Moon.
Thursday, January 29, 2009 (9:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
More Information
On request we can offer this training at your school or district during the school year.
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Project ASTRO NOVA (Grades 2-12)
Friday/Saturday, February 6-7, 2009
(9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
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Next Date Offered : TBD
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During the 6-hour workshop, teachers will experience a variety of
simple, inexpensive, hands-on inquiry-based activities that address
Astronomy Standards but at the same time fit seamlessly into
Physics, Biology and Chemistry curricula. Part of the workshop
addresses misconceptions in Astronomy and how to teach science more
effectively by integrating science content and finding connections
between science courses.
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Next
Date Offered : TBD
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Messages from Space (Grades 5-8)
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