SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE
Workshop Dates for 2013
Click below for more information about each...
- Starlab Training - Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10, 2013
- Summer Science Institute - Monday to Friday, July 29 to August 2, 2013
For more information and registration forms click the workshop name or contact:
Theresa Moody at 908-526-1200 x 8942 or email tmoody@raritanval.edu
Are you unsure of how to teach some of the challenging topics in Science, such as Gravity and Newton’s Laws?
Are you wondering how you can address the revised New Jersey Physical Science and Earth Systems Science standards in your class?
The New Jersey Astronomy Center (NJACE) at Raritan Valley Community College has developed a wide range of teacher workshops to help K-12 teachers gain a better understanding of concepts in astronomy and physics and how to teach them effectively. The presenters, Dr. Wil van der Veen and Theresa Moody, are recognized as experts in science content and effective science instruction. Teachers walk away with lots of resources, an increased understanding of the content and how to teach it effectively, as well as a variety of hands-on, inquiry-based investigations they can do tomorrow in their classroom.
Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are in our state-of-the-art Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College, located near Bridgewater.
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.
Summer Astronomy Institute
Our *NEW* Astronomy Summer Institute is a five-day workshop that provides a detailed overview of all NJ astronomy content standards. This workshop is appropriate for K-12 teachers looking to improve their own content knowledge as well as looking for activities they can use immediately in their classes. Some breakout sessions will be available for K-4 teachers, with different content available for teachers of grades 5-12. The workshops combine astronomy content with pedagogy, illustrating how to teach difficult concepts though hands-on inquiry-based instruction. They include demonstrations using a portable planetarium (Starlab) to teach some concepts more effectively. All teachers will receive lots of resources, resource books with close to 150 hands-on inquiry-based astronomy activities, a workshop CD-ROM, and a 26 hour PDU certificate.
Get new ideas for adding more inquiry to your lessons. Learn how to address misconceptions. Discover what causes the phases of the Moon and tides. Investigate the reasons for seasons. Explore the size and scale of solar system. Play with gravity and investigate its effect on moons and planets. Learn to locate some stars and constellations in the sky, and how planets move among them. Compare our Sun to other stars. Investigate the properties of stars. Explore the life cycle of stars. Discover what the Universe is made of. Investigate if the Universe is expanding forever.
Next Offering: TBD
Fee: $650 (26 PDUs) * Now only $100 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship and NJACE Scholarship!
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Project ASTRO NOVA (Grades 2-12)
A program to create long-term partnerships between astronomers and teachers in grades 2-12. This program involves a two-day training workshop or the astronomer-teacher partnerships followed by at least 4 class visits of the astronomer.
Next Offering: January or February, 2014, (9am - 4pm)
Fee: $200 (12 PDUs)
** Workshop closed for this Season. Applications accepted all year. Next training date TBD**
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One-Day Starlab Training - Grades K-12
The Starlab Training Workshops are designed to help teachers make science and astronomy exciting for their students. Abstract ideas such as the Earth's daily and annual motions, moon phases, constellations and the reason for the seasons are easily presented in Starlab. During this one-day workshop, participants will practice setting up and taking down Starlab and practice operating the projector. This one-day workshop is also suitable for any teacher who has previously been trained in Starlab, and needs a “refresher”.
Next Offering: TDB
- More Information - Starlab Workshops
- Registration Form
- Directions
On request we can offer training at your school or district during the school year.
We also offer Starlab Outreach to your school.
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Two-Day Starlab Training - Grades K-12
The Starlab Training Workshops are designed to help teachers make science and astronomy exciting for their students. Abstract ideas such as the Earth's daily and annual motions, moon phases, constellations and the reason for the seasons are easily presented in Starlab. During this two-day workshop, participants will practice setting up and taking down Starlab and practice operating the projector. On the second day they will design, practice and present their own Starlab presentation.
Tuesday/Wednesday, July 9/10, 2013 (9am - 4pm)
Fee: $300 (6 PDUs) * Now only $150 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship
*Teachers can choose to attend only one day, at a cost of $75/day
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Intro to the Earth-Sun-Moon System - Grades K-12Experience inquiry-based activities that address the revised NJ Astronomy Content Standards relating to Seasons, Moon Phases and Eclipses. In addition, the workshop will focus on the revised NJ Process Standards which describe how science should be taught. The workshop fee includes resources, a workshop CD-ROM, and breakfast/lunch.
Next Offering: TDB
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Our Solar Connection (Grades 5-12)
The Sun is our nearest star, and yet many mysteries surround it. Scientists are studying the Sun using ground-based and space-based observatories, in a variety of wavelengths. Students can do some of the same experiments in the classroom. During the 6-hour workshop teachers will experience inquiry-based activities that address State Science Content Standards in Astronomy, and all four science process standards.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
On request we can offer this training at your school or district during the school year.
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Gravity 1: Gravity and Orbits in the Solar System (Grades 5-12)
This workshop engages teachers in low-cost, hands-on, inquiry-based activities relating to Gravity, Newton’s Laws of Motion, the motion of objects within the solar system and new, cost-effective ways for a spacecraft to travel to the Moon. Teachers will gain an improved understanding of these topics, while simultaneously learning about activities they can easily integrate into their own classrooms.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
- Register
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 learn about new, cost-effective ways for a spacecraft to travel to the Moon.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
- Register
On request we can offer this training at your school or district during the school year.
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Is there life out there?
An Astrobiology workshop for teachers (Grades 5-12)
Astrobiology is an exciting, interdisciplinary field of study that includes the search for habitable environments and the consideration of where life might exist in our solar system and beyond. The revised New Jersey Science Process standards ask teachers to make meaningful connections between concepts across content areas. Learn how you can use Astrobiology as a way to connect astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry and geology as you explore the possibilities of life elsewhere, consider the conditions under which life can develop and thrive, and examine the properties of stars that could have planets harboring life.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
- Register
On request we can offer this training at your school or district during the school year.
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Inquiring into Inquiry
This workshop is designed to help teachers implement inquiry into their classroom. The emphasis of this workshop is for participants to experience inquiry based science instruction. Participants will be engaged in several exemplary activities that can help them to visualize what Inquiry looks like in a science classroom. Participants will explore what inquiry is and what it is not. They will become familiar with the Five Essential Features of Inquiry as defined by the National Science Education Standards. They will practice turning a traditional lesson into an inquiry-based experience for their students.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
- Register
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Bringing Lunar Rock Samples to your Classroom
During this after-school workshop, teachers will experience a variety of inquiry-based activities that can be used in conjunction with the loan of the NASA Lunar and Meteorite samples. All teachers who attend this training will be NASA Lunar Rock certified, allowing them to bring REAL moon samples into their classroom.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Registration Form
- Directions
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Modeling Moon Phases
During this after-school workshop, teachers will experience how to teach Moon Phases using student generated data and models. This emphasis on modeling and data will help teachers meet the revised NJ Astronomy standards and the new “Practices of Science” standards.
Next Date Offered : TBD
- More Information
- Directions
- Register
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The Solar System
During this workshop, teachers will experience inquiry-based activities that teach the properties of planets in our solar system, our changing view of the solar system, and solar system formation. These investigations ask students to analyze data to test models, and then using those models to develop explanations. The emphasis of investigations in this workshop are to develop students’ understanding of the Nature of Science.
Next Offering: TBD
Cost: $150 (5.5 PDUs)- * Now only $75 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship
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The Reasons for Seasons: Grades 4-12
During this workshop, teachers will experience inquiry-based investigations that align to the NJ standards on Seasons, and they will see how this topic is built from early experiences in elementary grades all the way up to high school. The investigations explore the height of the sun in the sky, the changing distance from Earth to the Sun, and how the temperature and hours of daylight vary for different locations during different seasons. All investigations involve students collecting data, or developing and using their own models based on data. The emphasis of investigations in this workshop are to develop students’ skills in two Science Practices: “Analyzing and Interpreting Data” and “Engaging in Argument from Evidence”.
Next Offering: TBD
Cost: $150 (5.5 PDUs)- * Now only $75 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship
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Moon Phases, Eclipses, Gravity and Tides: Grades 4-12
During this workshop, teachers will experience inquiry-based activities that align to the revised NJ Astronomy standards. The investigations explore the reasons for moon phases, eclipses and tides, and make use of a model to represent the force of gravity. The emphasis of investigations in this workshop are to develop students’ skills in two Science Practices: “Developing and Using Models” and “Constructing Explanations”.
Next Offering: TBD
Cost: $300 (11 PDUs)- * Now only $150 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship
- More Information
- Directions
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Summer Science Institute: Preparing for the Next Generation Science Standards
Our *NEW* Summer Science Institute is designed to help teachers of grades 3-8 prepare for the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The standards emphasize eight science practices and seven crosscutting concepts that are integrated with the learning of science content. Participants will be engaged in exemplary investigations that illustrate how these science practices and cross-cutting concepts can be integrated in each of the disciplines: physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering. There will be opportunities for participants to reflect on the investigations and practice creating sample lesson plans that are aligned with the new standards.
All teachers will receive lots of resources, a workshop CD-ROM, and a 26 hour PDU certificate.
Monday through Friday, July 29-Aug2 (9am - 3:30pm)
Fee: $650 (26 PDUs) * Now only $50 with New Jersey Space Grant Scholarship and 3M Scholarship!
The New Jersey Astronomy Center at Raritan Valley Community College is the NJ SSI Specialty Site for Astronomy and registered as a professional development provider by the State of New Jersey under provider ID # 273.