Standards-based Grading Series: Writing Easy-to-Use Rubrics
(Sa Sept 5, 1-2:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) In this workshop, participants will practice writing rubrics with the intent of assessing the attainment of specific content and skills standards. We will explore how rubrics can be designed for ease of use and consistent interpretation. I will challenge the participants to make rubrics that are flexible […]
Statistics for Teaching Science: Part 3 Getting Comfortable with Variance, Standard Deviation, and Standard Error
(W Sept 9, 5-6:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) The variance, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean are excellent methods for describing data because they convey the variability of the observed data around mean. Anyone teaching Pre-AP, Pre-IB, or college-bound students will likely want to know how to calculate these values, what they indicate, […]
Online Teaching Techniques: Using Competitions to Engage an Online Class
(W Sept 9, 7-8:30pm Eastern Daylight Time) Competitions are assignments that guide students through a preliminary exploration, data collection, analysis, reflection, and revision in a repeating cycle. This process leans on the scientific method and helps students practice character skills such as persistence, curiosity, critical thinking, and self-direction. For my own purposes, I will differentiate […]
Math-infused Science: Data-generating Activities for Labs and Computation
(Sa Sept 12, 11am-12:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) Even when learning online, students can be placed at the center of the learning experience to increase their level of engagement and self-reliance. In this 1.5 hr. workshop, teachers will learn how to use any materials at hand to generate data for mathematical analysis. I will help […]
Math-infused Science: Choosing the Most Appropriate Graph
(Sa Sept 12, 1-2:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) Students aren’t the only ones who struggle to determine the best way to display data in graphic form. Because there are usually many representations that can be used, and each may encourage the reader to make slightly different conclusions, deciding on the most appropriate graph can be […]
Statistics for General Level Science: Part 4 Expressing Error on a Graph
(W Sept 16, 5-6:30pm Eastern Daylight Time) Error bars are placed on a graph to give a more detailed account of what was observed. Although there are many descriptors that can be used to draw error bars, in each case the value is used to express the uncertainty or variability of the data. Error bars […]
Online Teaching Techniques: Interpreting and Creating Systems Models
(W Sept 16, 7-8:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) Systems models are diagrams or infographics that contain multiple lines of evidence and data within a single visual presentation. Increasingly used across all subject areas, these graphics can be challenging for students to interpret. In this 1.5 hr. workshop, teachers will act as the students as they […]
Science Education Council of Ohio
Asking Questions & Defining Problems with Kristen Dotti from Catalyst Learning Curricula Thursday, September 17th, 4-5:30 p.m. EDT In this workshop we will practice a repeatable structure for introducing a topic that will be studied through scientific exploration using a remote teaching and learning platform. We will help our students conduct a preliminary investigation at home […]
Remote Teaching and Learning Series: Part 3 Optimizing Critical Thinking in an Asynchronous Online Class
(Sa Sept 19, 11am-12:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) Online learning does not have to be devoid of depth, there are plenty of ways to hone your teaching skills and challenge your students within the confines of teaching remotely. During this 1.5-hour workshop, you will take part in several assignments that foster higher-order thinking in an […]
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning: Helping Students Identify Logical Fallacies
(Sa Sept 19, 1-2:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time) Fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument. However, fallacies do not necessarily weaken the impact of the argument—on the contrary, fallacies are employed as persuasive devices that lead an audience to false conclusions. In this workshop, participants will learn to identify some […]