Professional Development Workshops for AGU Scientists and Educators

Teaching Excellence Workshop on Testing and Grading Students

Monday December 8, San Francisco Marriott Hotel (Nob Hill C & D), 7:00–9:30 P.M.

Conveners: Tim Slater and Ed Prather, University of Arizona, and Mike Zeilik, University of New Mexico

The introductory survey course for non-science majors presents a unique challenge for many college and university faculty. One of the most difficult challenges in teaching at the college level is accurately determining the extent to which students really understand the concepts. This interactive, two and a half hour-long teaching excellence workshop will help faculty improve student learning in their courses by focusing on effective testing and grading strategies, implementing these successful strategies even in large enrollment courses, and introducing faculty to innovative assessment approaches that focus on engendering meaningful understanding. Topics to be covered include: writing better multiple-choice items, and how to successfully implement contemporary assessment procedures (e.g., portfolio assessment, performance assessment, and concept mapping), in concert with conventional testing and grading approaches, in courses for non-science majors. New and senior faculty, as well as graduate students and post-docs, are encouraged to attend. No pre-registration is required. This workshop is sponsored by the Space Physics and Aeronomy Section Education and Public Outreach Committee and NSF DUE CCLI (ND) Award #998115: "National Dissemination of Field-Tested Classroom Assessment Techniques in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology for Postsecondary Faculty".

Participation limited to 60; no pre-registration is required. Registration is free. Additional information is available by contacting Tim Slater (Email: tslater@as.arizona.edu) at the University of Arizona.

Scientific Inquiry in the K-12 Classroom Workshop

Wednesday December 10, San Francisco Marriott Hotel (Pacific A), 8:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M.

Conveners: Sandra Laursen and Lesley K. Smith, CIRES, University of Colorado-Boulder, and Cherilynn Morrow, Space Science Institute, Boulder.

National leaders in school science education have called for students to "do inquiry" as they learn science. What does this mean, and how can you help? This half-day workshop has been developed especially for scientists interested in contributing to K-12 science education, whether in the classroom or working with teachers. Through activities and discussion participants will consider questions such as:

• Why should students do scientific inquiry?
• How does inquiry in a school classroom resemble scientific research?
• How can inquiry help students learn science, learn to do science, and learn about science?
• What does inquiry look like in a classroom?
• How does research on learning support inquiry-based science education?
• How can scientists help students and teachers do inquiry?

Workshop participants will receive a Source Book with numerous articles related to science and inquiry and learn much of the vocabulary needed to work effectively in the K-12 education world. This workshop has been developed through a collaboration of the Education Outreach Program of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), the University of Colorado Science Discovery Program, and the Space Science Institute.

Participation is limited to 30 and pre-registration is required. Registration is free. Register at http://cires.colorado.edu/~k12/agu_2003.html

How to Start a Research Program at a Primarily Undergraduate Insitution (PUI) Workshop

Tuesday December 9, San Francisco Marriott Hotel (Pacific A), 3:30–6:00 P.M.

Conveners: Jeff Ryan, NSF, and Karen Grove, SFSU

This workshop, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Geosciences Division, will present strategies and approaches for developing and sustaining research programs at the undergraduate level. It is designed for new geoscience faculty, including graduate students preparing to enter academic positions, who are interested in developing an undergraduate research program, as well as faculty interested in expanding their research programs to include undergraduates. The workshop will cover and participants will receive materials on funding opportunities (including NSF), project selection and mentoring of undergraduates, and institutional support for undergraduate research. Facilitators will work with the participants to develop their own strategy for developing a research program involving undergraduates.

Participation is limited to 25; Cost is $25. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged. For more information, or to pre-register, contact: Jeff Ryan, National Science Foundation (Email: jryan@nsf.gov) or Karen Grove, San Francisco State University (Phone: 415-338-2617; E-mail: kgrove@sfsu.edu).