Science Teacher Association of Texas, the Texas Center
for Superconductivity, and the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
present the Region IV


Mini-CAST Winter Conference


at the University of Houston Main Campus,
Science and Research I Building January 31, 1998 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Where:Science and Research I Building (Entrance 14 off Cullen Blvd.) at the University of Houston Main Campus

When: Saturday, January 31, 1998 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

What:See presentations by outstanding Pre K-12 science teachers on their favorite labs, demonstrations, and methods of presenting science curriculum to students, network with other teachers in the Houston area, hear Dr. Paul Chu and Dr. Allan Jacobson discuss their research, and take tours of the Texas Center for Superconductivity, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center

Registration: Registration must be completed by mail by January 16, 1998. There will be no on-site registration. Registration is limited to 300. To register, complete the enclosed registration form and send a check for the fee, if applicable.

Fees: There is no registration fee for members of the Science Teacher Association of Texas (STAT). You may join or renew your membership in STAT by completing the membership form and paying the $10.00 membership fee. If you are not a member of STAT and do not want to join at this time, there is a $5.00 nonrefundable registration fee.

Tours: You must pre-register for tours. Tours will be given during both sessions. Each tour has a limit of 30 per session.

Lunch: A sack lunch will be provided at no additional charge.

Parking: Across from Science & Research I

Contact: Dr. April Adams, Educational Outreach Coordinator, TCSUH/MRSEC, Houston Science Center, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5932 Phone: 713-743-8245


Science Teacher Association of Texas, the Texas Center for Superconductivity,
and the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center present the

Region IV Mini-CAST Winter Conference at the University of Houston

Science and Research I January 31, 1998 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

8:30-9:00 Registration and Hospitality Science & Research I, First Floor Lobby

9:00-9:45 Plenary Session I: Dr. Paul Chu, Director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TCSUH)

Science & Research I, Large Lecture Hall

10:00-11:00 Session A Concurrent Sessions

A1: Panel Discussion "Increasing High School Physics Enrollment: Opportunity and Challenge," Dr. Robert Beck Clark, Texas A & M University; Dr. Timothy Daponte, Bellaire H.S.; Daniel Kutsko, Jersey Village H.S.; Fran Marintsch, Spring Woods H.S.; Moderator: Dr. Eugene L. Chiappetta, University of Houston (High School) This panel of physics educators will discuss the opportunities and the challenges involved in teaching high school physics to students who traditionally would not have enrolled in a high school physics course.

A2: "Implementing Technology into Chemistry," Jane Allen & Ross McAlpine, Spring Woods H.S. (High School) Spring Woods has received an infusion of technology during 1997. We will show how 15 student computers, peripherals, and probeware have changed how we teach chemistry.

Science & Research I

A3: "Merging Biology and Technology," Jenny Tucker & Maria Rodriguez, Spring Woods H.S. (High School) A brief look into the union of biology and technology, from a student perspective as well as from a teacher perspective.

Science & Research I

A4: "Where Did You Get Those Genes?," Larry M. Bradshaw, Revere Middle School and Joyce E. Ramig, T. H. Rodgers School (Middle School) Teachers will explore activities designed to help students understand genetics. A unit of materials will be provided.

A5: TBA

A6: "Magnet Mania," Jackie McMahon, Taylor Ray Elementary School & Barbara Tharp, Baylor College of Medicine (Elementary) Test your knowledge and magnet strength through an assortment of hands-on activities.

A7: "Debriefing Lab Activities: A Student-Centered Approach to Concept Attainment," Dr. John Ramsey, University of Houston, College of Education (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) This session will model a student-centered strategy that can be used to help students make sense of science activities and labs.

LAB room

A8: Tour of the Texas Center for Superconductivity (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Take a tour of the Texas Center for Superconductivity research facilities and talk with researchers about their work.

Science & Research I, First Floor Lobby

A9: Tour the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Take a tour of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center research facilities and talk with researchers about their work.

Science & Research I, First Floor Lobby

11:15-12:15 Session B Concurrent Sessions

B1: "Using Multimedia and Technology in Physics Projects," Fran Marintsch, Spring Woods H. S. (High School) In teaching Physics I Honors and Analytical (conceptual) Physics, traditional physics projects can be enhanced with multimedia and technology.

B2: "Superconductivity in the Classroom," Dan Ivester, Aldine H.S. (High School) The presentation will demonstrate the use of superconductors in the classroom and describe the sources for equipment and materials necessary.

B3: TBA Chemistry

B4: TBA Biology

B5: TBA

B6: "Involve Your Students in Science through Context Learning," Debra Mullinnix, Rice University (Elementary & Middle School) Several integrated units will be used for illustration of context learning in the classroom.

B7: "Now How Does That Work?," Barbara Tharp, Baylor College of Medicine & Jackie McMahon, Taylor Ray Elementary School (Elementary) What lights the bulb, completes the circuit and makes it parallel? Join us to answer these and other thought provoking questions as we delve into the mysteries of electricity with easy, cheap and readily available materials.

Lab room

B9: Tour of the Texas Center for Superconductivity (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Take a tour of the Texas Center for Superconductivity research facilities and talk with researchers about their work.

Science & Research I, First Floor Lobby

B10: Tour the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Take a tour of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center research facilities and talk with researchers about their work.

Science & Research I, First Floor Lobby

12:30-1:30 Lunch

Science & Research I, Second Floor Lobby

1:30-2:15 Plenary Session II: Dr. Allan Jacobson, Director of the Material Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Houston (MRSEC-UH)

Science & Research I, Large Lecture Hall

2:30-3:30 Session C Concurrent Sessions

C1: "The da Vinci Project," Susana Rodriguez, Jenny Tucker, and Bill Tucker, Spring Woods H.S. (High School) Come and learn about an innovative program for on-level high school students that integrates English, physics, chemistry, community business partners, and higher education.

C2 "S. M. I. L. E. for Chemistry," Patty Carr and April Moore, Elkins High School (High School) Simple, Mini-Inexpensive Lab Excitement! Short on time, Materials, and money? Take home some suggestions to help meet the 40% "lab" requirement.

C3: TBA Biology

C4: "Alternative Methods to Traditional Dissection," Lynn J. Young Johnston Middle School (Middle School & High School) Interdisciplinary approach to teaching basics science concepts. Use dissection as a hook to get students to process skills and information relative to their everyday life.

C5: "The Art of the Science Demonstration," Steven Fleming, Pasadena H.S. and Dr. Eugene L. Chiappetta, University of Houston (Middle School & High School)

C6: "$10.00 or 10 Minutes- Whichever Comes First," Kathy Bell, Hogg Middle School (Middle School) Quick and easy physics and chemistry experiments I've stolen from almost everyone.

C7: "Physics...for Third Graders??," Juana A. Wilson, De Zavala Elementary School (Elementary) Through hands-on activities children inquire, analyze, investigate and reflect about the position and motion of objects. The result of their scientific inquiry is, then, presented to their classmates. Hands-on activities showing integration of mathematics and physical science concepts will be done/presented.

C8: "Galileo Alive," Dan Kutsko, Jersey Village H.S. (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Galileo Galilei summarizes his basic ideas on kinematics and astronomy for modern teachers, but in a 17th century context.

C9: "Animals in the Classroom," Gina Disteldorf and Lisa Kennedy, Spring Woods M. S. (Elementary, Middle School, & High School) Which animals are best for the classroom; how to keep them alive, house and feed them; how to use animals in the classroom.

C10: "Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Overview," Denise Ivester and Rebecca Morris, Pine Shadows Elementary School (Elementary School, Middle School, & High School) The presentation will highlight the GLOBE program and provide information for further training. The GLOBE program involves students in grades K-12, throughout the world, in hands-on experiments and scientific readings in the area of atmosphere, soil, hydrology, and land biology. The students collect data, submit it through the internet to GLOBE central where scientists use the data to make global observations.

 

[MRSEC-UH EDUCATION]