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Springtime, Kickball, and Math Education–Sounds like a Gamma Lot of Fun

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On Sunday, April 19, 2015, mathematics (MATH) and mathematics education (MATE) students and faculty gathered at the Blount Sports Complex. The rain held off just long enough so that the temperate weather was perfect for a game of kickball. The undergraduate mathematics education students paired with Dr. Cayton and Dr. Ganter, while the math/math education graduate students sided with Dr. Adu-Gyamfi, Dr. Njinasoa Randriampiry, and Dr. Ali Al-sharadqah. After working up an appetite, attendees gathered in the shade to enjoy snacks and recap exciting moments from the game before the rain arrived.

This wonderful event marked the end of a phenomenal year of continued growth for the Gamma Chapter and continued a long-standing tradition of building community among students and faculty. We would like to thank everyone that attended and helped make the event a success. Enjoy your summer and look for more great events sponsored by the Gamma Student Chapter in Fall 2015!!

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Beginning Eastern NC Teachers LAUNCH into Mathematics Teaching

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On April 24-25, seventeen elementary teachers in Eastern North Carolina celebrated completion of the LAUNCH into Mathematics Program, a mathematics-specific induction program that included over 60 hours of mathematics professional development and specialized mentoring across two years. The program is led by ECU faculty members Dr. Katie Schwartz and Dr. Anne Ticknor and funded by the Z Smith Reynolds Foundation.

We congratulate the LAUNCH program participants for their hard work and commitment to excellence in mathematics teaching:
Alyssa Champine, Pitt County Schools
Kimberly Coltrain, Craven County Schools
Rebecca Freeman, Cumberland County Schools
Jana Hill, Lenoir County Schools
Katie Jackson, Cumberland County Schools
Stephanie Layton, Granville County Schools
Jamine McNeill, Cumberland County Schools
Stephanie Miller, Cumberland County Schools
Joanna Murphy, Onslow County Schools
Elizabeth Nikorak, Carteret County Schools
Melissa Ohls, Cumberland County Schools
Leslie Peele, Edenton-Chowan Schools
Lauren Rhue, Granville County Schools
Elizabeth Rowland, Wake County Schools
Teresa Rubio, Cumberland County Schools
Jessica Skulsky, Harnett County Schools
Mary Beth Tripp, Pitt County Schools

Congratulations, Dr. Tammy Lee!

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Ms. Tammy Lee, beloved Science Education instructor, has just completed all of the necessary requirements to earn her PhD in Science Education from NC State University. Her dissertation entitled, “Science Teachers’ Representational Competency and Systems Thinking,” is complete and has been accepted by her committee. It is now most appropriate to congratulate Tammy Lee and from this day forward address her as, Dr. Tammy Lee. Our best regards to you, Dr. Lee!!

Despite the Ice and Snow, the Science Olympiad Ignites Young Minds for STEM Careers

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On Saturday, February 21st, 2015, the Center for STEM Education hosted the annual Science Olympiad Tournament for northeastern North Carolina middle and high school students. North Carolina Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization with the mission to attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers in North Carolina. These tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based events that are well balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology. Notwithstanding the icy weather, this year we hosted 426 students (209 middle school & 217 high school) from 25 schools in the northeast region. There were also over 150 volunteers involved in the day’s activities from overseeing events/competitions, to managing registration. Faculty and students of the MSITE Department were well represented. Drs. Carmen Woodhall and Liz Doster were event leaders for Simple and Compound Machines,  while Ms. Tammy Lee and a plethora of her Elementary Science students created and ran the competition for Experimental Design. Ms. Bonnie Glass was the event leader for It Matters, where students display their knowledge of the properties and behaviors of different states of matter. Dr. Rhea Miles represented the MSITE Department by promoting program and certificate opportunities to the in-service teachers/team coaches and future MSITE students. The staff of the Center for STEM Education was the backbone of the tournament: Nancy Evans and Cheryl Miller, Allison Everett (photographer) and all the student workers at the Center! AWESOME job everyone!!!  It was truly a remarkable day for STEM!

MATE Faculty and Students Provide Quality Professional Development at NCCTM Eastern Region Conference

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ECU was well-represented at the NCCTM Eastern Region Conference in Kenansville on Saturday, February 14, 2014. Love was certainly in the air as president-elect, Dr. Ron Preston delivered the keynote address.  It continued as Eastern Region President, Dr.  Katie Schwartz led the event – both in terms of putting the conference together and facilitating on Saturday. Christie Wuebbles (alum) made many of the facility arrangements with James Sprunt Community College, where the conference was held. Many of MSITE’s grad students presented, most under the direction of Dr. Maureen Grady as part of their assessment work in MATE 6200:
James Grossman
Edie Smith
Sarah Patterson
Kristina Simpson
Kristina Godbolt
Victoria Jeffries
Robin Clapper
Robin Foster

Drs. Adu-Gyamfi, Grady, Preston, Schwartz, Sinicrope, and Thompson were in attendance along with MATE graduate students Gina Albright and Brooke Hill.

Photo by Cliff Hollis

MSITE Math Education Students Participate in COE Grant Project

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MSITE Mathematics education students, Lexie Arsenault and Allie Smith participate in grant collaboration with Pitt County Schools and the COE. According to professor, Dr. Rose Sincrope, “Lexie and Allie are top-notch mathematics concentration students.  With mathematics and science concentrations, Lexie and Allie are on the 3rd floor of Flanagan a large number of hours in the last three years.   Both Allie and Lexie are wonderful members of our MSITE family.”  Click here to read more about the grant project they are involved in.

Scholarships ARE Available!

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The College of Education Scholarship system is now open for 2015-2016! The College of Education offers more than $200,000 in scholarships every year. Scholarships range from $250 to $7,000 a year! This scholarship process will allow you to apply for all scholarships offered by the College of Education for which you are eligible. Students can access the scholarship system  at https://ecu.academicworks.com
This is a new online scholarship system, so the application process may look a little different to you if you have applied in the past. If you have any questions or problems with the application process, send an email to scholarships@ecu.edu .Online applications are due by January 30, 2015 . No paper applications or late submissions will be accepted.

Students will NOT need letters of recommendation for the scholarship application process for this year!

Dr. Brown to Deliver Commencement Address

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At Friday’s graduation, Dec. 19, 2014, Dr. Abbie Brown will deliver the commencement address. In his address, Dr. Brown observes that earning a university degree is an exhilarating and satisfying personal investment, and that education helps one see, “the big picture” and more details within that picture.  More information can be found in the article by Jeannine Manning Hutson http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/abrown14.cfm

 

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!