Cognitive and Learning Sciences News

The Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) will partner with Portage District Library to host a special science program that will pique students interest in the Great Lakes and what lives there.

The program is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, and will begin at the library. Participants will ride the Agassiz to the GLRC where they’ll visit a laboratory to use microscopes to peer at the water and dissect a fish stomach to find out what they eat! At the completion of the lab, students and adults will travel by Michigan Tech van back to the library where there will be more to do.

Station Activities

Station One: A library book activity run by the library staff in the community room of the library. All ages are welcome.

Station Two: The remotely operated vehicle run by Dollar Bay High School SOAR and will be held outside on the dock. All ages are welcome.

Station Three: The scientific excursion on Agassiz, which will board at the dock by the library. It is for ages seven and up, with room for 14 youth and adults. The Agassiz departure times are as follows: 6, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. It is advised to arrive 15 minutes early.

Station three also has boat making at the library, which will be run by the library staff and will be held at the swimming pool on the lawn outside. All ages are welcome.

Station Four: A visit to the GLRC Lab to view plankton with a microscope, dissect fish stomachs and examine sediment/Diporeia. The Agassiz will drop off youth and adults at the lab. Lab participants will return to the library via Michigan Tech van.

Station four also will be hosting the opportunity to make A Great Lakes Mural along the library windows. The library staff will be running this event. All ages are welcome.

Reserve a space on the Agassiz by calling the Portage District Library at 482-4570 or sign up at the library checkout desk. First come, first served.

For more information, contact Joan Chadde at 7-3341 at the GLRC or Chris Alquist at 482-4570 at the Portage Lake District Library.

This program is funded by General Motors and the Portage District Library.

From Tech Today.

Ride the Waves with General Motors (GM) who invites Copper Country youth in grades 4-12 to join scientists from Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) in the exploration of Lake Superior, Portage Waterway and Torch Lake. There are four different programs to choose from–each 4 hours in length–that will accommodate approximately 14 youth and chaperones.

Aquatic Food Web and Lab Investigation
Find out how scientists investigate water quality and collect samples to examine in the lab to find out “what makes a lake trout?” All ages are welcome. A four-hour session (two on the boat and two in lab) on June 23-27, June 30, July 1, 24, and Aug. 1, 4-7.

Mine Waste Remediation and Torch Lake Restoration
The history of the Copper Country is explored by land and water as students visit historic copper milling sites, reclaimed mine waste sites and the bottom of Torch Lake. It is ideal for middle school students. A four-hour session (two on Agassiz and two in Lake Linden) on July 1, Aug. 4-7.

Investigate the Lake with a Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)
Unless you’re a diver, few get to see what lies beneath the waves without a remotely operated vehicle. What surprises await you? This program is ideal for middle/high school students. They are two-to-three hour sessions on Agassiz on July 21, 23 and 30, departing from various locations. An optional shuttle is available from Michigan Tech.

Lake Superior’s Ring of Fire
Explore an area in Lake Superior where the shrimplike organism Diporeia is up to 20 times more abundant than in any other part of Lake Superior! How does this affect the Lake Superior food web? This program is ideal for high school students. A four-hour session on Agassiz on Aug. 18-22.

Register online at the Ride the Waves Registration Form. Please list all dates and times that work for you and we will reply and fit you into the earliest available slots.

Groups of five or more students will be given preference in scheduling, so get with your friends and form a group!

The Ride the Waves Program is funded by GM and the GLRC.

For more information, contact Joan Chadde (jchadde@mtu.edu) or Lloyd Wescoat (lwescoat@mtu.edu) or call 7-3341.

From Tech Today.

PI Shari Stockero (CLS) and Co-PIs Kedmon Hungwe (CLS) and Ann Humes (Math) were awarded $189,103 from the Michigan Department of Education for their 18-month project “Educators’ Professional Development Institute Series (EPDIS): Engaging Students in the Standards of Mathematical Practice.”

From Tech Today.

This is a reminder that the deadline for Summer Science Camp registration is today. The students enjoy coming to the Great Lakes Research Center for hands-on science classes and love the “immersion” of taking classes all day at Nara Nature Center. It features small class sizes and focused, diverse learners!

2014 Summer Science Camp for Students entering Grades 1-6

Date/Time
Session I: June 17-19
Session II: June 24-26

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues-Wed-Thurs.

Registration Deadline: Today
Registration form posted at Summer Registration.

Contact the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech by calling 7-3341.

Read more at Tech Today.

Educators can participate in the wolf/moose research on Isle Royale National Park through ED5560: Ecology of Isle Royale for Educators. Applications for Moosewatch for Educators will be accepted until Friday, June 27. The course dates are July 29 through August 6.

There are also still a few openings for Moosewatch Team IV. Trip dates are Friday, June 27 through August 6. Details about the trip and how to apply are on the website.

Moosewatch info here.

Contact information: Leah Vucetich, lmvuceti@mtu.edu, 906-370-2374,

From Tech Today.

The registration deadline for the Isle Royale Moosewatch for Educators course has been extended to June 27, 2014. The institute date has been changed to July 29 through August 6 for Summer 2014.

Please refer to the updated Application/Brochure document:

2014 Isle Royale Moose Watch for Educations Application/Brochure

2014 Summer Science Camp at MTU for Students entering Grades 1-6

Session I: June 17-19, 2014
Session II: June 24-26, 2014

9:00am-4:00pm, Tues-Wed-Thurs.

Date/Time
Session I is June 17-19 and Session II is June 24-26. For both sessions the camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For Students Entering Grades 1-3
Session I: Science Explorers
Location: Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center
Each day will have a special focus: chemistry, physical science and engineering. On the first day, we’ll make secret formulas, ooey gooey slime, examine mystery powders and use red cabbage to indicate acidity (i.e. vinegar). On the second day, students will enjoy creating their own music from their handmade instruments–straw oboes, twang, spoon bell, clucking chicken and a school box guitar. On the third day, students will use their creativity to design solutions to a variety of age-appropriate engineering challenges–designing a container for 293 popcorn pieces, a bubble maker and a roller chute.

Session II: Critter Camp
Location: Nara Nature Center
Join us on an animal adventure! Explore the world of animals from insects and worms to mammals. Learn about their habitats and how they interact with each other and their environment via nature hikes and hands-on activities.

For Students Entering Grades 4-6
Session I: Nature Skills
Location: Nara Nature Center
Students will become acquainted with nature through scientific explorations, games, stories and ancient traditional skills. Each day will bring new adventures. Plant day: identify plants, learn about sustainable collection and then make cordage and pine needle tea. Animal day: identify tracks, study the art of camouflage, and learn the language of birds. Our third day will focus on natural forces and the Earth: build a solar still, make friction fires, learn to read the landscape and more.

Session II: Rockets & Roller Coasters
Location: Great Lakes Research Center
Students will explore Newton’s laws of motion and how rockets use these laws to move when they make rockets galore–water bottle rockets, balloon rockets, pop can rockets and edible meteorites. Students will investigate gravity, friction, forces, potential and kinetic energy as they design a roller coaster made of cardboard tubes.

Instructors and Class Size
Classes will be taught by staff of the WUP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education, Michigan Tech students and certified teachers. Class size will be limited to 20 students.

Cost
$120 per student per session which includes three classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all supplies. Students need to bring their own lunch each day. Snacks will be provided in the afternoon.

Location:
Sessions will take place at the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) or Nara Nature Park. Each location offers easy drop off and pick up for parents and caregivers.

Registration
Deadline for registration is Tuesday, June 10. The registration form is posted at Summer Camp Registration.

If you have any questions contact the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach at the GLRC at Michigan Tech by calling 906-487-3341.

From Tech Today.

The Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education is offering short courses for K-12 teachers this summer. The application deadline is June 2.

Learn more about the courses and register online at http://www.wupcenter.mtu.edu . Apply for Michigan Tech credit athttp://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/admissions/apply/. A rented mini-van will be provided to transport Detroit teachers, plus one night’s lodging, to the Global and Great Lakes teacher institutes at Michigan Tech.

The Forest Ecology Teacher Institute will be held June 23-27 on Belle Isle, near Detroit. The workshop is partially supported by the US Forest Service and the Michigan Forest Association. The $300 tuition includes five lunches, 2 graduate credits, instructional materials, field trips, overnight at Hawk Woods.

Global Change Teacher Institute will be held July 7-11 at Michigan Technological University. The $250 fee includes five lunches, 2 Michigan Tech graduate credits and instructional materials. Cost is $400 to stay on campus, which includes meals and lodging. The workshop is partially supported by the National Science Foundation.

The Great Lakes Watershed Investigations Teacher Institute will be held July 14-18 at Michigan Tech. The $295 fee includes five lunches, 2 MTU graduate credits and instructional materials; Cost is $495 to stay in on-campus lodging. Cost is reduced due to generous support from a National Science Foundation grant.

Geology & Mineral Resources of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will be held July 21-25. The $300 fee includes 2 graduate credits, 5 lunches, one night’s lodging (double occupancy) and meals, all field trips and classroom supplies. Cost including on-campus lodging is $450.

Ecology of Isle Royale for Educators on Isle Royale will be held Aug. 1-9. The cost is $1,200.

For more information, contact Lori Witting lori@mtu.edu or 906-487-2263.

From Tech Today.