Category: Center for STEM Education

Belize Anyone? Blair Driver Selected to Study Tropical Ecologies

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Blair Driver is an extremely talented middle school science teacher at Pactolus School in Pitt County, Assistant Director of the East Carolina University Summer Science Camp, and graduate from the General Science Concentration provided by the Science Education program area in the MSITE Department. Recently, Ms. Driver received notification that she was selected as an Educator of Excellence in Science by the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh N.C.

This is an extremely prestigious honor for Ms. Driver, her students, and all of us here in the MSITE department. Ms. Driver will be one of twelve teachers from North Carolina that will travel to Belize, Central America with naturalists from the museum. On this trip she will experience several tropical habitats, including coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and rain forests. The daily program will engage participants in field experiences as they explore these various ecologies of Belize. The program includes learning about the culture of Central America by touring a Mayan ruin as well as having two Belizean teachers join the group throughout the entire trip providing teachers of N.C. with a local resource from the area. The culminating project involves spending time with students at a Belizean school where N.C. and Belizean teachers will work together to teach science. The MSITE department wishes Ms. Driver safe travels and wants to extend our congratulations to her. Thank you for all your hard work, Ms. Driver, and your continuing efforts to strengthen science education for the students of Eastern N.C.

Dr. Sharon Schleigh’s book recognized on the AAAS 2014 Best Science Books & Films List

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Dr. Sharon Schleigh, Science Education faculty in the MSITE program, has received recognition from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  The book she co-authored with Victor Sampson, Scientific Argumentation in  Biology: 30 Classroom Activities, was recognized as an outstanding science book in the category of life science, and listed in the AAAS 2014 Best Science Books & Films List. This National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) Press, 2013 book, is also a top selling NSTA book for middle school and high school teachers across the nation.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of all people, with a mission to promote science literacy to help ensure that all students receive a high-quality science education. AAAS was the first permanent organization formed to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines. The AAAS Science Books & Films (SB&F) Best Books Lists are published annually each January. SB&F Best Books Lists are a comprehensive list of highly recommended books, DVDs, and software for children and young adults reviewed over the previous year. Educators and scientists have come to rely on these lists as a definitive guide to the best science resources available for the library and classroom.

Being recognized by this leading international organization for supporting their mission is certainly a great honor for Dr. Sharon Schleigh and for the MSITE Department! We hear that she has another book in the works and we are looking forward to reading it as well. Congratulations to Dr. Sharon Schleigh of the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Education for this recognition. And thank you Dr. Schleigh, for your impact on science education in our community!

Students Show Competence Working with SMART Technologies

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Using a SMARTboard to create lessons and interactive activities is just one way that pre-service teachers show their competence working with technology.  The focus of the required, EDTC 4001, is for students to gain competence with both existing and emerging technologies to be able to teach the 21st century learner with high levels of thinking and engagement.  Students enjoy their hands-on experiences with SMARTboards:

“Making a Smartboard lesson was one of my favorite assignments I had to complete.  I love creating visuals and engagement tools for my students.”  Casey Worrell

“One of the greatest tools that I have ever used so far as a student and an intern is the tool called a SmartBoard. I love this tool so much. It is so much better than any paper copy or chalkboard activity. A SmartBoard is an interactive electronic white board that a teacher can use with their students. This board has the ability to allow people to use their fingers and hands to operate it.” Chris Edwards

Additionally, many, many ECU students have contributed their work to the online SMART Exchange, a collaborative network for teachers to share lesson ideas and SMART activities. Way to go!

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NASA Scientist Meets with Science Students

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On Thursday, November 13, Descriptive Astronomy students had the pleasure of meeting with local scientist, Ryan Danell. Although, as this Greenville resident says, he is not a “rocket scientist,” he does work for NASA. Ryan shared his background as a chemist and his work on a spectrometer that will be used on a Mars rover to be launched in 2018.  He provided background information on NASA and explained his personal involvement with the Mars exploration program and how this program has evolved.  Students learned of the myriad of ways scientists are involved in space exploration, as well as the long-range planning and vision required for such programs. His first-hand knowledge of the program and personal work experiences interested students and presented them with a unique perspective on space exploration. It was great to learn more about this program from someone with such a personal connection!

SEADAP Begins with Outreach to Local Teachers

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The Science Education Against Drug Abuse Partnership (SEADAP) Program recently invited educators  and administrators from Pitt and Martin county public schools to participate in four professional development sessions. The participants were provided information to implement lessons based on the research of Dr. Scott Rawls from Temple university related to drug addiction and withdrawal on planaria. Dr. Rhea Miles, SEADAP key personnel and guest speakers from the local community came to East Carolina University to educate and encourage these middle school teachers to implement a curriculum to affect student knowledge about biomedical research.

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Science Education Recruiting with Style

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At the North Carolina Professional Development Institute this weekend in Winston-Salem, Science Education faculty set up a stylish booth where they could disseminate information about our degrees and certificate programs.  Brochures, candy and a slideshow showcasing the programs were an effective means of advertising the great work in Science Education at ECU.  It also helped that an ECU pirate, Abby Colley, won the Outstanding Student Teacher award and that so many Science Education faculty were present at the gathering.

GAMMA CHAPTER PANEL – AN INSIDERS GUIDE TO GETTING A JOB!!

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On Wednesday, October 22, 2014, the Gamma Student Chapter of NCCTM hosted a 12 person panel consisting of principals, math department chairs/lead grade level math teachers, and a director of human resources.  These “insiders” represented elementary, middle, and high school mathematics and shared their knowledge from a combined 185 years of educational expertise.  The full panel was introduced to an audience that consisted of approximately 50 students and six MATE faculty members before breaking into smaller subgroups for elementary, middle, and high school.  The conversations within the smaller groups provided the opportunity for panel members to share unique insight for their given educational context, and for Gamma students to ask important questions about not only the hiring process, but also how to become the best math teacher possible. One main theme heard from panel members in each subgroup was that they are looking for, “good math teachers that want to be great math teacher” and that there are supports in place to help them achieve greatness in the math classroom.

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Our sincere thanks goes out to the “insider” panel, consisting of the following individuals:

Elementary

  • Chena Cayton – Principal, Wahl-Coates Elem School, Pitt County
  • Karin Stefko – Kindergarten Teacher, Wahl-Coates Elem School, Pitt County
  • Coni Clark – Third Grade Teacher, Wahl-Coates Elem School, Pitt County

Middle Grades

  • Charlie Langley – Principal, CM Eppes Middle School, Pitt County
  • Barskdale Thompson – Sixth Grade Teacher, CM Eppes Middle School, Pitt County
  • Kristen Coleman – Sixth Grade Teacher, CM Eppes Middle School, Pitt County
  • Thomas Sisson – Seventh Grade Teacher, CM Eppes Middle School, Pitt County

High School

  • Jerry Simmons – Principal , New Bern High School, Craven County
  • Brad Johnston – Principal , Farmville Central High School, Pitt County
  • Renea Baker – Dept Chair , DH Conley High School, Pitt County
  • Tina Petty – Dept Chair, Southside High School, Beaufort County

Human Resources

  • Delilah Jackson – Director of Human Resources, Pitt County Schools

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MSITE Recruits at Teacher Cadet Day

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The Fall 2014 Teacher Cadet Day featured the 2014-15 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and had the theme “What’s Your Superpower? I TEACH!” Faculty and students from the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Education (MSITE) recruited during the Program Fair portion of the agenda. The 100 or so teacher cadets (mostly seniors, with a few juniors) visited tables and discussed programs, all the while getting answers to questions on an education scavenger hunt. At the MSITE table we had brochures, recruitment/advising handouts, rulers, scholarship opportunities, and candy. Part of the draw to the table was an activity – roll a 7 or 11 with a pair of dice and win a bag of M&Ms. There were 20 students who signed up, indicating that they have some interest in mathematics or science teaching.  A special thank you to the MSITE students and faculty who participated: Dr. Ron Preston, Dr. Rhea Miles, Dr. Charity Cayton, Amanda Penwell, Taunya Stevens-Johnson, Jenny Jones, and Rebecca Ray.

Summer Ventures 2014 Served 55 Top Students

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From June 22nd through July 19th, the Center for STEM Education hosted the 2014 class of Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics. This year was the 30th year the program has been held. Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina residents who have demonstrated interest in science and mathematics and aspire to a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). We housed fifty-five of the top rising high school juniors and seniors from across North Carolina. The students were housed in Jones Hall, where they participated in various student-life activities, such as attending the Student Recreation Center, games, arts & crafts, water sports at the North Rec Complex  and a talent show, just to name a few. Academically, the students participated in courses and conducted research in STEM fields, facilitated by our ECU faculty in the areas of DNA Fingerprinting, Engineering, Data Driven Decision Making, Physics, and Archeology. One cohort of students attended courses and conducted their research at the Brody School of Medicine for the duration of the program. The research component of Summer Ventures is critical to the success of the program, as well as to the success of the students upon returning to their high school. Working alone or with a partner, they carried out hands-on research on their topic for approximately two weeks. The students prepared a paper that was the culminating product of the research. They then gave an oral presentation of their research paper on the final day of Summer Ventures to their fellow students, staff and parents and friends. Presentations were judged by an outside panel of experts and the top presentations were the Catalyst Award winners. For more information on this exceptional program please visit the following web site: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/smventures/Index.cfmSVSM 2014 Fun[10] SVSM 2014 Arch[11] SVSM 2014 Arch 2[14]

Onslow IT Cohort–a Very Successful Partnership

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MSITE is indebted to Onslow County Director of Digital Learning & Technology Services, Ross Friebel. Ross, along with 10 to 12 of the county’s Digital Learning specialists attended an EDTC 6992 seminar for MAEd Instructional Technology interns. In addition to Onslow County, the fall 2014 cohort includes teachers from Duplin and Craven Counties. The interns were provided guidance in development of their internship proposal as well as mentoring in the design of staff development for their individual schools. Following the presentation by ECU Associate Professor Carol A Brown, interns formed cluster groups with a mentor (with 077 licensure)  already working as a Digital Learning Specialist for the county. Earlier in the summer, the interns had an opportunity to talk with the cohort coordinator, Dr. Patricia Slagter van Tryon in the design and development of the digital portfolio required for the Master of Education in Instructional Technology. Feedback at the conclusion of the seminar was very positive as teachers from a variety of content areas and grade levels are represented in the cohort. As you can see, interns were highly engaged during the cluster group discussions.

Onslow Cohort Video

(Please click the link to watch the short video; wait a few seconds for it to load.)