[CPS Science]Adler Astronomy Connections PD -Still time!!

[Geri Smith]

Title: Adler Astronomy Connections PD -Still time!!

Dear Colleagues,

There is still time to apply to the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum's Astronomy Connections Professional Development and Curriculum implementation program.

This year's course will focus on the teaching of light, energy and other related physics concepts.

The course will be taught over 5 days by modeling the constructivist teaching method teachers will  implement in their classrooms. During the period of professional devlopment, teachers will learn the science content and learn how to conduct and build upon the activities provided in the curriculum guide. Teachers will become members of an online learning community who are learning hands-on, integrated approaches to teaching challenging concepts required by the Illinois Learning Standards. Emphasis will be placed on integrating science across the school curriculum.  However, because the curriculum is interdisciplinary, non-science teachers are invited. Technology skills required to participate in an online communtiy,develop Web-based projects, and use online educational resources will also be developed. 

Go to   http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/ac/sunearth/signup.ssi to  download the application.

See below for more details on the program:

The Education Department of the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum invites you to apply to the Astronomy Connections: Sun-Earth Connection program. Astronomy Connections is a professional development and classroom curriculum program developed by Adler in partnership with NASA. The upcoming workshop series will build upon the successes of the national Mars Millennium Project and last school year's Astronomy Connections: Gravity and Black Holes program. This year's opportunity will supply you with professional development in the teaching of light, energy and other related physics concepts within the context of the Sun's structure and functions and its relationship with Earth. Cutting edge astronomical discoveries provide the basis for the  materials and activities in the curriculum.

As part of this exciting program, you will become a member of a learning community of teachers from across the state who are learning hands-on, integrated approaches to teaching challenging concepts required by the Illinois Learning Standards. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrating science across the school curriculum.

Here are the benefits you will receive as a member of this program:
H 5 free professional development sessions (Sat. Oct. 20, Fri. Nov.2, Sat. Nov.3, Sat. Nov.17, Sat. Jan 12);
H Funding for substitute teachers during Friday, Nov. 2 professional development day;
H A curriculum guide with guiding questions, lesson plan suggestions, activity ideas, content background, annotated resource list, and more!
H A Teachers' Kit containing materials for suggested activities, books, and more!
H Training in an exciting, new online collaborative Website developed by the Adler;
H The opportunity to share ideas with colleagues in person and online;
H An opportunity to showcase your students' work online and in the Museum;
H An opportunity for your students to build science reasoning, critical thinking, communication, and technology skills via an intrastate classroom network;
H A $250.00 stipend;
H The option for 3 continuing education credits from Aurora University;
H An all-expense paid field trip (buses, admission, lunch) for two classes in your school that participate in the curriculum project;
H Participation in a celebration of the culminating projects at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum.

In order to be eligible for this exciting opportunity, the following requirements must be met:
H A completed application with your principal's signature
(applications can be downloaded from the World Wide Web and faxed or mailed to the Adler. Find the application at
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/ac/sunearth/signup.ssi

H The commitment of a two-teacher team from your school to attend all 5 professional development days; in departmentalized schools, one teacher must be a science teacher, the other must teach courses other than science (i.e. language arts, computers, math, social studies, music, art, etc.).
H Students and teacher must have access to multiple internet-accessible computers on a regular basis; the number of computers available should be enough for an entire class to participate in the online component of the course (NOTE: this does NOT have to be a 1:1 student to computer ratio).
H Willingness and basic ability to use computers and the World Wide Web.
H Willingness on the part of the teachers and principal to participate in program evaluation activities; this may, in some cases, include classroom visits by Adler staff.
H Willingness and ability to partner with two other schools in this program for online component (partnerships TBD during professional development sessions).
H Willingness and ability to develop and maintain an online learning community for duration of the implemented unit.

The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum will be inviting 60 middle school teachers from 30 schools to participate in this project. If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you and your students and you meet the requirements above, please go to

 http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/ac/sunearth/signup.ssi  download the application (in PDF format), and mail or fax it in to:

Geri L. Smith
Lead Educator, Formal Programs
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60605
Fax # 312-322-2257

Deadline for receipt of applications is October 5, 2001.

If you have further questions, please call Bridget Basta at 312-322-0549.

We look forward to developing an engaging and interactive curriculum with you.

 
The Details

URL for Application to Program
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/ac/sunearth/signup.ssi

Deadline for Application
October 5, 2001
Principal support and signature is required for participation in the program.
When completed, with principal signature, please send or fax to:

Geri L. Smith
Lead Educator, Formal Programs
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60605

Fax: 312-322-2257

Who may participate?
The program is open to teachers of grades 5, 6, 7, 8 throughout the state of Illinois.
In order to be eligible, teachers must come in pairs from a school. In departmentalized schools, one of the teachers must be a science teacher, the other must teach courses other than science.

Stipend
A stipend of $250.00 ($50.00 per Professional Development Day) will be awarded to each participating teacher at the end of the 5-day workshop. $180.00 of the stipend can be applied to 3 hours of graduate level credit through Aurora University.

Substitute Teacher Supplement
Because teachers will be attending 1 Friday Professional Development Days (November 2), Adler will contribute $100 per teacher ($200 per school) to help offset the cost of substitutes.

Professional Development Dates
Saturday, October 20, 2001
Friday, November 2, 2001
Saturday, November 3, 2001
Saturday, November 17, 2001
Saturday, January 12, 2002

Credit hours and CEUs
At the teacher's option, the Adler will arrange for 3 graduate credit hours to be awarded through Aurora University. Adler has been designated as a collaborating Academic Partner with Aurora University to teach science education courses. The credit hours can be counted toward re-certification as well as a graduate degree. $180 of the stipend will be used to cover the cost of the credit hours. CEUs will be awarded through ISBE, without cost, based on successful completion of the program.

Field Trip
A field trip to the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum is part of the Sun-Earth Connection curriculum implementation. Adler will cover the cost of buses, lunches, admission to the museum, and admission to the Star Rider TheaterTM multimedia presentation: Solar Storms. Please note that funding for the field trips can only be applied to two participating classes from each school.

Date of Celebration at Adler
Choice of May 19, or June 2, 2002 to be determined by participating teachers.

Students' Online Participation
In order for students to fully participate in all of the learning activities, they must be permitted to participate in the teacher-supervised online learning community. Note that the curriculum does NOT require any unguided Internet searching. The online community will be for only the students involved in this curriculum to communicate with each other via a closed, password protected system.
A parental/guardian permission will be requested for the display of students' work at Adler and on the Adler Web site.

Duration and End Date of Project
Participating teachers will be expected to implement the curriculum during the Spring 2002 semester. Implementation may begin as early as January. Duration will be at the teachers' discretion, but the final projects and field trip must be complete by May 10, 2002.

--
Geri L. Smith
Lead Educator for Formal Programs

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60605

(312) 322-0595

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