Month: January 2014

Larry Hermanson Benefits from Noyce Scholarship

Larry Hermanson
Larry Hermanson

The Washington Island (Wis.) Observer published a feature article about Larry Hermanson, a science teacher in the Washington Island Schools who graduated from Michigan Tech’s Noyes Scholarship program. The Robert Noyes Teacher Scholarships are funded by the National Science Foundation to help people working or studying in science fields to become teachers in high-needs schools.

From Tech Today.

Teacher benefits from Noyce scholarship

A few years ago Larry Hermanson, the high school science and math teacher at Washington Island School, was a mechanical engineer who was thinking about changing careers. He lived in Houghton, Mich., so he inquired at Michigan Technical [sic] University about how he might become a teacher.

The Noyce stipend paid Hermanson an amount that just about equaled the tuition he needed to pay to take the courses required to become a state-certified teacher.

After Hermanson completed his education requirements and student teaching, he had offers from four high-need schools.

Hermanson is continuing to participate in professional development activities included in the Noyce Scholarship program.

The article continues in the Washington Island Observer, January 16, 2014, by Mary Marik.

Peace Corps Master’s International Director on National Webinar

Kari Henquinet (SS), director of Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Master’s International programs, will be an invited presenter as part of a national webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Her topic is “Pulling Up Stakes: Preparing Master’ International Students to go overseas.”

The webinar is sponsored by the Office of University and Domestic Partnerships at the US Peace Corps in Washington, DC.

From Tech Today.

Learn more about the MS program in Applied Science Education, which includes the Peace Corps Master’s International track.

Job Skills/Technology Class at Horizons High School

The Western UP Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education and Horizons High School will partner to offer youth-at-risk an introduction to how technology is used in a variety of jobs/careers so that they can prepare to enroll in a community college or university after high school. Michigan Tech students will serve as role models and will share their passion and recently developed technology skills with high school students. The purpose of this class is to increase Horizons High School students’ interest, confidence and ability in pursuing a career in the technology field.

This job skills class will take place every other Friday afternoon for eight sessions. The class will run from mid-January through mid- April, taught by Chad Norman, science and technology specialist, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach. The Horizons class is funded with a grant from the Youth Advisory Council of the Keweenaw Community Foundation.

From Tech Today.

Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education
Youth Advisory Council
Joan Chadde, jchadde@mtu.edu
K-12 Education & Outreach Program Coordinator

Center for Science and Environmental Outreach New Field Trip Coordinator

CSEO

Erica Thompson was recently hired to be the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach’s new outdoor science field trip coordinator. Erica has been in the local area for the past two years and has met many local students through her work as a substitute teacher. Erica hails from Alaska—she has her 100-ton captain’s license and comes from a fishing family. The Center will tap her experience organizing big events which she mastered while working as an outreach coordinator and event planner for the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association. She also has several years or experience as a science educator for the Prince William Sound Science Center. In addition to leading the outdoor science field trips, Erica will teach after school classes, assist with family science night and any number of exciting education programs!

From Tech Today.

Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
Joan Chadde, jchadde@mtu.edu
K-12 Education & Outreach Program Coordinator

Faculty Candidate Presentation Friday

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host science education faculty candidate Amy Lark from 11:05 to 11:55 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24, in Meese 109. Lark will give a research presentation, “Teaching and learning with Avida-ED: A model for the reform-based integration of science content and practice.”

Lark is a PhD candidate in science education at Michigan State University. She also holds an MS in Zoology from Michigan State. Her research focuses on how using research-based technologies influence teaching and learning of the nature and practices of science, and how these in turn are related to conceptual understanding and overall scientific literacy.

For more information, contact Shari Stockero at stockero@mtu.edu.

Presentation on Probabilistic Information Jan. 27

Professor Rocio Garcia-Retamero, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Granada, Spain, will present “Where Are We Going Wrong?
The Evidence on Communicating Probabilistic Information,” Monday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 2:50 p.m., in Meese Center 109. Garcia-Retamero will be discussing research that focuses on the efficacy of simple messages containing visual aids to improve risk understanding and medical decision making that also investigates the psychological mechanisms mediating the effect of the visual aids.

From Tech Today.

Wild About Wildlife and Wild About Winter Grades 1 – 3

Two six-week sessions of After School Classes for students in grades one to three will be held at Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center.

4 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays–Wild About Wildlife (Grades 1 to 3)–Jan. 27 to March 3.
4 to 5:30 p.m., Thursdays–Wild About Winter (Grades1 to 3)–Jan. 30 to March 6.

Open to 20 students per session. Register ASAP, accepted on first come basis. Cost: $75 per session or $150 for both sessions

Mondays: Wild About Wildlife
Hands-on lessons on wildlife habitat, bird adaptations, track and scat identification, owl pellets, food webs, and a closer look at insects—oh, my!
Instructor: Gwen Jacobsen, Forestry MS Student, Peace Corps International.

Thursdays: Wild About Winter
Design a package to keep an ice cube frozen indoors, inspect snowflake crystals, dig a snow pit, build a tiny quinzee, design a snowshoe, and more!
Instructors: Betsy Tahtinen, Forestry MS Graduate, and Erica Thompson, Western UP Center staff.

Transportation: Houghton school bus will transport students to GLRC by 4 p.m. (Optional)
Register online: Registration Form. Pay via credit card by calling cashier: 487-2247 (your child is not registered until payment is received). Please call the center at 487-3341 for any questions you may have.

From Tech Today.

Joan Chadde is the K-12 Education & Outreach Program Coordinator
Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

Science Education Faculty Candidate Presentation

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host science education faculty candidate Sheron Mark from 11:05 to 11:55 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20, in Meese 109. Mark will give a research presentation, “A Psychology of Working Perspective on the Development of Science Career Interests amongst Diverse Students.”

Mark holds a PhD in Philosophy, Curriculum and Instruction—Science Education from Boston College, along with an MS in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in STEM Education at the Center for Urban Resilience, Loyola Marymount University. Her research interests include STEM career development, the use of geospatial technology and informal science learning.

For more information, contact Shari Stockero at stockero@mtu.edu.

From Tech Today.

Totally Technology Grades 4-8 Winter 2014

Totally TechnologyTotally Technology!

6-week session of After School Classes for students in grades 4-8 at Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center.

4:00-5:30 PM, Mondays (Grades 4-5) ~ Jan. 27-Mar. 3
4:00-5:30 PM, Thursdays (Grades 6-8) ~ Jan. 30-Mar. 6

Open to only 12 students per class!  Register ASAP, accepted on first come basis.

– Develop custom Android smartphone games while learning the basics of Java programming.  Download finished games to any Android smartphone or tablet.

– Explore electrical engineering using Sew Electric! – sewing and circuitry combined to create light-up stuffed animals.

– Design objects on a 3D printer!

No previous experience necessary.

Cost: $85 (Includes all materials)

Register online:

https://sites.google.com/a/mtu.edu/center-for-science-and-environmental-outreach/

Pay via credit card: 487-2247

Questions? Please call the Center at 487-3341

2014-After-School-Technology-Gr.4-7

NOTE: The correct web link for the Western UP Center For Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education is http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/.