Description
This project anchors criteria for IT fluency in the ISTE National Education Technology Standards (NETS). All project activities will address one or a combination of the performance indicators for technology literacy prior to completion of grade 12. Nano/bio content will be aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Academic Standards for Science and Technology as well as the SDP Core Curriculum criteria for grade 9 Physical Science and grade 10 Biology.
Curriculum Strategies and Educational Tools
- Nanotechnologies and bioengineering content, eg. current research, socio-scientific issues, ethical considerations.
- Educational Technologies, eg. computer simulations and scientific imaging.
- Information technologies, eg. Web 2.0 tools, multimedia applications, web investigation.
IT and Science and Engineering Educational and Career Activities
- SciTech Summer Education and Career Fair
- School Year Field Trip
- Internship/Fellowship Summer Program
Summer Professional Development Workshop (4 - 22 Aug 2008)
- 16 teachers from schools in the School District of Philadelphia.
- Focusing on Grade 9 (Physical Science)/Grade 10 (Biology).
- Enhancing teacher competencies in nanotechnology concepts, teaching pedagogies (eg. Problem-Based Learning, Peer Collaborative Learning), the use of educational technologies (eg. simulation tools, NetLogo, computer simulations), and information technologies (eg. Google Groups/Docs, podcasts, online videos, Web 2.0).
The project successfully implemented a three-week summer teacher professional development workshop with 16 teachers from the School District of Philadelphia. The workshop took place from 4 to 22 August 2008.
The workshop included training on cutting edge nanotechnology research, computer simulations, building learning community through Google groups, creating podcasting products, real world nanotechnology careers, and problem-based learning pedagogy. These units were also aligned with school district standards for Grade 9 Physical Science and Grade 10 Biology.
Guest Speakers
Five guest speakers from various local institutions and organizations in the greater Philadelphia area were invited to work with us during the summer workshop. These speakers were selected to both inform participant teachers and pilot students of STEM and nanotechnology needs and innovations, as well as to inform the speakers about our project which we consider outreach. The guest speakers and their institutions involved in the summer workshop are as follows:
a) Dr. Jayatri Das, Program Director of Exhibits at the Franklin Institute Science Museum and developer of the nanotechnology curriculum project for K12.
b) Dr. Joe Bordogna, Professor of Electrical Engineering at UPenn, former Deputy Director and CEO of NSF.
c) Dr. Chad Womack, founder of the Philadelphia Biotechnology and Life Sciences Institute.
d) Dr. Sujata Bhatia, Physician/Scientist at Dupont Central Research and Development.
e) Dr. William Wunner, Director of the Biomedical Technician Training Program at the Wistar Institute.
Pilot
In the third week of the summer workshop teachers piloted their PBL units in a summer institute experience with 24 high school student volunteers. The students provided feedback about their PBL learning experiences and the teachers subsequently modified their units for implementation in their regular classes during the school year.
Click here to download the Excel file for the schedule of the 2008 summer workshop.
Click here for the resources from the workshop.
More details to follow on the results of the workshop surveys.
School Year Activities
- Implementation of unit/lessons constructed during the summer
- Support from Digital Service Fellows in classrooms
- Coordination with guidance counselors to work on a Career Development plan in conjunction with teachers, project staff and industry partners for students’ access
- Five school year Saturday workshops
- Teacher participation on SchoolNet
- Student participation on eSchool Builder
- Online access to project staff, graduate students and Digital Service Fellows
- School year field trips to industry sites
- Project community expo
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