PRESENTERS
We have a rockin' line up of all-star presenters! Below are their biographies and presentation summaries as well as links to their websites (just click their logos!). Peruse, read, and enjoy!
BIO: Mark Becker is an associate director with Eight, Arizona PBS - Education Outreach. He assists with Eight’s role in bringing PBS resources to the classroom educator. Mark also takes the lead in investigating and implementing Eight’s technology initiatives. Mr. Becker spent 13 years in the public school system as a teacher, administrator and professional developer.
SUMMARY: Explore the resources available through PBS LearningMedia. This free public media education resource is a digital media platform for PreK-16 classrooms and after-school programs to help re-imagine learning, transform teaching, and more creatively engage students. It provides over 34,000 digital assets that bring together the best high-quality media from all around our nation, including video, audio, images, interactives, web sites and lesson plans.
SUMMARY: Explore the resources available through PBS LearningMedia. This free public media education resource is a digital media platform for PreK-16 classrooms and after-school programs to help re-imagine learning, transform teaching, and more creatively engage students. It provides over 34,000 digital assets that bring together the best high-quality media from all around our nation, including video, audio, images, interactives, web sites and lesson plans.
BIO: Cindy Gresser is the Executive Director of the Smoki Museum located at 147 North Arizona in Prescott. Cindy has served at the Smoki for over 11 years, both as a volunteer and employee. She was the President of the Board from 2004 to 2007, and authored their current mission statement, "To instill understanding and respect for the indigenous cultures of the southwest."
SUMMARY: Native people of the southwest developed technologies as needed. A simple piece of obsidian on the end of a stick to drill, evolved into what is know today as the "Zuni Pump Drill". Simple beading looms created "pretty designs", but were they just designs, or did they represent a more important purpose? Local argylite was highly sought after and heavily traded across the southwest. Why - what purpose did it serve? Hands-on activities introduce these concepts to children at the Smoki Museum in unique and engaging exercises that will be demonstrated and discussed in this session.
SUMMARY: Native people of the southwest developed technologies as needed. A simple piece of obsidian on the end of a stick to drill, evolved into what is know today as the "Zuni Pump Drill". Simple beading looms created "pretty designs", but were they just designs, or did they represent a more important purpose? Local argylite was highly sought after and heavily traded across the southwest. Why - what purpose did it serve? Hands-on activities introduce these concepts to children at the Smoki Museum in unique and engaging exercises that will be demonstrated and discussed in this session.
BIO: Trevor Nelson is currently the Outreach Coordinator and Instructional Designer at the Challenger Space Center Arizona in Peoria, AZ. After 8 years of teaching science in Title 1 Middle Schools he has gotten use to the sideways looks and inquisitive looks from principals and administrators as they come to check on the explosions, loud noises, and excited students in his classroom. With a history of not teaching to the test, he firmly believes that the best lessons are student driven and a little bit messy. In his classroom the saying is, “hands on means brains on.” After leaving Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an Aerospace Engineering major and attending Yavapai College, Trevor earned a BS in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Middle Grade Science in 2005 from Northern Arizona University. He was a Teacher Liaison Officer with the Space Foundation from 2005 – 2009 and continues to be an advocate for Space Education. Trevor is the proud husband of Miriam, an 11 year veteran Kindergarten teacher, and father of four children under the age of 8.
SUMMARY: NASA's BEST (Beginning Engineering, Science, and Technology) is curriculum designed to teach students to become active thinkers in the engineering and design process. Teachers will be shown how to utilize the BEST curriculum to fit their unique classroom needs by building and participating in a lesson. Participants will also be given time to collaborate how they can use these engineering lessons with their students. Curriculum and some supplies will be given so teachers can start these lessons in their classrooms on Monday.
SUMMARY: NASA's BEST (Beginning Engineering, Science, and Technology) is curriculum designed to teach students to become active thinkers in the engineering and design process. Teachers will be shown how to utilize the BEST curriculum to fit their unique classroom needs by building and participating in a lesson. Participants will also be given time to collaborate how they can use these engineering lessons with their students. Curriculum and some supplies will be given so teachers can start these lessons in their classrooms on Monday.
BIO: Stacy has worked in the field of education for 20 years. She worked as a middle school teacher and for a Department of Energy Laboratory conducting science education outreach and teacher professional development in Virginia, prior to moving to Arizona in 2007. Here, she operated Arizona's NASA Educator Resource Center and currently works for the University of Arizona as the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension STEM Program Coordinator.
SUMMARY: An overview of the Next Generation Science Standards will be provided Participants will engage in activities and discuss how they relate to the NGSS. We'll also look at a 'standard' lesson and discuss how it could better meet the NGSS. Participants will brainstorm and share how a favorite lesson could be modified to meet the NGSS.
SUMMARY: An overview of the Next Generation Science Standards will be provided Participants will engage in activities and discuss how they relate to the NGSS. We'll also look at a 'standard' lesson and discuss how it could better meet the NGSS. Participants will brainstorm and share how a favorite lesson could be modified to meet the NGSS.
BIO: John R. Drury is a professional designer with 50 years experience, 25 of which were spent as a Walt Disney Imagineer. He and his wife Pat moved to Phoenix 10 years ago to be near their granddaughter Gracie who was adopted from China in 2002. The art experiences he brought to her K-5 classes at Laguna Elementary School in Scottsdale resulted in Imagination to the CORE.
SUMMARY: Power Point presentation of Drury's / Ideality,Inc Oasis STEAM Theme Park as a foundation to teach STEAM. Utilization of web links, Vimeo, YouTube videos, TED Talks etc. A variety of REFUSE props are used to create art works relating to STEAM.
SUMMARY: Power Point presentation of Drury's / Ideality,Inc Oasis STEAM Theme Park as a foundation to teach STEAM. Utilization of web links, Vimeo, YouTube videos, TED Talks etc. A variety of REFUSE props are used to create art works relating to STEAM.
BIO: Jocelyn has taught in a wide variety of settings and has gleaned much knowledge from the various populations she has found herself lucky enough to teach. She holds a Master of Education degree from Northern Arizona University and her BA of Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Jocelyn has taught for over 10 years within the public schools, alternative charter schools, the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, a Montessori School, and has worked as a consultant for AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Recreation, and Dance).
SUMMARY: Overview and hands on activities that incorporate STEM and movement based inquiry learning. Get ready to move and use your brain! Teachers will leave with a better understanding of why movement is so important to developing concrete synthesis of concepts and forming neurological connections.
SUMMARY: Overview and hands on activities that incorporate STEM and movement based inquiry learning. Get ready to move and use your brain! Teachers will leave with a better understanding of why movement is so important to developing concrete synthesis of concepts and forming neurological connections.
EXHIBITORS
Check out these groups and organizations between workshops!
They are bringing great information and awesome resources from our local area.
University of Arizona – Outreach
Water Resources/Project WET - Edessa Carr
YRMC (Health Curriculum) - Joanne Robertson and Lori Howard
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary - Leah Wacks
Highlands Center of Natural History - Mara Kack
Sharlot Hall Museum (Friday only) - Mary Melcher
Phippen Museum - James Ward
Fort Verde
Archeological Center
Water Resources/Project WET - Edessa Carr
YRMC (Health Curriculum) - Joanne Robertson and Lori Howard
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary - Leah Wacks
Highlands Center of Natural History - Mara Kack
Sharlot Hall Museum (Friday only) - Mary Melcher
Phippen Museum - James Ward
Fort Verde
Archeological Center