On October 13, 2014, Abby Colley received a letter from the Elementary Science Concentration Awards Committee chair notifying her that she was the recipient of the NCSTA Outstanding Student Teacher Award. She will receive her award on November 6, 2014 in Winston-Salem at the NCSTA conference award ceremony. Abby is a well-deserving graduate from the Elementary Science Concentration and is currently teaching 4th grade at Ayden Elementary in Pitt County. It is excellent students like Abby who, through the power of their example, are helping to grow the elementary science program at ECU . Visit our website page to learn more about the Elementary Science Concentration in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. Congratulations, Abby. We are proud that you are a pirate!
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.
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.cfm
Congratulations to Patricia J. Slagter van Tryon who has earned a promotion from an Assistant Professor to an Associate Professor at East Carolina University in the Department of Math, Science, & Instructional Technology Education. Patricia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Science Education from Temple University, her Master of Arts degree in Environmental Science Education from Arcadia University, and her Doctorate of Education in Educational Technology (concentration in instructional design and development) from Lehigh University. Patricia holds three Pennsylvania Instructional II Teaching Certificates, K-12 Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science and General (Life) Science and has 12 years of successful teaching experience as a public school middle grades teacher of science for the North Penn School District, Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Patricia completed both the Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy program and the Faculty Language Development Program here at East Carolin to support her research and teaching for the university. Her research interests include social cognition in online and blended learning environments, schema revision in mediated communication, and the design and development of university/community partnerships in education to promote economic prosperity in rural communities. Patricia’s research examines ways to enhance social connectedness in learning environments from the perspective of social cognition theory. Patricia’s research is published in such refereed journals as the Quarterly Review of Distance Education, Distance Education, and TechTrends. In addition Patricia has made many national presentations of her work.
In the session, “Heat, Light and Sound, Oh My”, 4th and 5th grade boys use tuning forks to create sound waves that can be seen, heard, and felt! Andrew Hung (age 11, pictured above) says that, “High pitched sound waves are really loud and travel super fast!”
Claire (age 7) and Sophie (age 6) are building a draw bridge at Lego Explorers during ECU Summer Science Camp. Students also hook their creations up to batteries so that they move all by themselves!
Honors students in high school are anxious to take as many Advanced Placement courses as their schools offer so teachers go to school in the summer preparing to teach these courses. ECU hosts a College Board endorsed Advanced Placement Summer Institute. Each session is 4-days long and is taught by a certified College Board consultant. This summer, during the week of June 23-26, courses are being taught in
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics 1 &2
AP Statistics
Classes have begun and teachers are involved in many hands-on activities around campus.
AP Chemistry teachers are working hard at their lab stations to determine the equilibrium constants for a various chemical reactions here at South Central High School, this year’s hosting site for College Board’s Advanced Placement conference. Teachers will perform these same
labs later on with their AP chemistry students.
Robert Lukhard (pictured above, age 13) holds a specimen used for DNA extraction here at ECU’s Summer Science Camp. Students were conducting Criminal Science Investigation experiments in this morning sessions. Real-world science applications = high interest = student engagement = happy campers at ECU’s Summer Science Camp!
Dr. Ann Bullock, chair of the Department of Elementary and Middle Grades Education, is partnering with NC Quest to expand the NC New Teacher Support Program.
Dr. Ann Bullock, Chair of the Department of Elementary and Middle Grades Education, received an NC-QUEST award of $472,394 titled Integrating Neuroscience into Mathematics Instruction (INMI). INMI continues the partnership with UNC-GA New Teacher Support Program (NTSP) and extends it to the Harriott College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Mathematics.
The INMI pilot project consists of an intensive scientifically-based professional development program designed to assist beginning teachers to become highly knowledgeable and pedagogically skilled in leading students to mastery of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. The INMI pilot project will target elementary schools in Edgecombe County and Hertford County that have been identified as among the lowest performing in the state.
The project will recruit thirty beginning teachers to participate in a year-long professional development program designed to increase their knowledge of the Common Core Standards for Mathematical practice, brain-compatible elements of mathematics instruction, brain-compatible instructional strategies, and whole-brain teaching techniques.
The INMI extends the professional development offerings currently provided by the NC NTSP, which include an institute/boot camp, six days of professional development, and ongoing instructional coaching. INMI teachers will attend an extended summer session at the beginning of the academic year, Saturday sessions and site-based sessions at their schools during the academic year, and a summer session at the conclusion of the academic year.
In addition, participating teachers will receive weekly on-site support from NC NTSP Instructional Coaches and monthly consultations from an ECU mathematics content expert. Through the integration of neuroscience in mathematics instruction, beginning teachers will be better equipped to engage diverse learners, offer effective feedback that leads to deeper understanding, create a rich learning environment that attends to students’ social and emotional needs, and ensure that students’ mathematical achievement is reflective of their true abilities.
It was a wonderful weekend to celebrate with our MSITE Spring 2014 Graduates! Dr. Ganter joined faculty, students and guests for breakfast on Saturday before the ceremony in the Flanagan building.
Eunice Hoefling enjoyed breakfast with family and friends as she joined our 2014 graduating class. Eunice teaches Radiography at Fayetteville Technical Community College. She plans to use her MS degree in Instructional Technology to develop and enhance the hybrid and distance education courses she will use teach to her X-Ray Tech students.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi and Dr. Grady are pictured with purple-gowned Zack Credle and Joseph Otellio. Zack plans to teach math at Southwest Edgecombe High School after graduation and Joseph plans to math teach at Gray’s Creek High School in Cumberland County, NC.
Congratulations MSITE Graduates! Welcome to the Class of 2014…
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