Month: December 2012

Learning and Cultural Transmission

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host Dr. Michael Kalish on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 11:05–11:55 in Meese 109. Kalish will provide a Research Presentation: “Learning and Cultural Transmission.”

Dr. Michael Kalish is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Louisiana – Lafayette. His research, which aims to answer fundamental questions about the structure of human knowledge, mixes computational modeling with behavioral experiments in the context of basic cognitive skills such as function learning, iterated learning, and interacting systems underlying category learning.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Susan Amato-Henderson at slamato@mtu.edu.

Winter Family Fun Night at Nara Nature Center and Park

Nara Nature ParkWhat can you do with your family to celebrate winter and nature? Thursday, Dec. 13, K-6 students and their parents are invited to turn off their electronics and enjoy a fun evening together making snowflakes and taking a night hike at the Nara Nature Center and Park.

The snowflake-making and night-hike activities will each be offered from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and from 6:50 to 7:30 p.m. Families may participate in one or both indoor and outdoor activities, with a suggested donation of $1 per person (children under 5 years are free) to cover materials and refreshments.

Read more at Tech Today.

Family Engineering in Science and Children

Family Style EngineeringScience and Children, a magazine published by the National Science Teachers Association, ran an article about Michigan Tech’s Family Engineering program in its December 2012 edition. One of the article’s authors is Joan Chadde, K-12 education and outreach program coordinator for the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education at Michigan Tech.

From Tech Today.

Parent Interest Survey for After School Science Classes

The Center for Science and Environmental Outreach is planning to pilot two after school science classes for grades 1 to 3 students and grades 4 to 6. The classes will begin the week of Jan. 14, 2013 and run for eight weeks, ending the week of March 8. The classes will be held one day per week from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Great Lakes Research Center or Nara Nature Center. Parents will be responsible for their children’s transportation.

The Center invites parents to take a short survey to provide input so that we can design a program that best meets parents’ needs and students’ interests. We appreciate your help.

From Tech Today, by Joan Chadde, K-12 education program coordinator, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach.

Chadde and Urban Forest Stewardship

DPS Students at Belle IsleCoordinator Joan Chadde (Educational Programs) was in Detroit Nov. 19 and 20 to assist high school teachers conducting forest stewardship field trips on Belle Isle as part of the USFS-funded Urban Forest Stewardship Initiative. 140 students and their teachers from Cass Tech High School, Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School, Ronald Brown Academy, and Ben Carson High School participated in the three-hour field trips each day.

From Tech Today.

On the Road

Coordinator Joan Chadde (Educational Programs) and the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach is coordinating the Urban Forest Stewardship Program for 18 schools, 40 teachers, and nearly 900 students in Detroit.

From Tech Today.

DPS students ‘Go Green’ with a tour of Belle Isle through the Urban Forest Stewardship Program

With an emphasis on projects that have a positive fiscal impact but also contribute constructively to student achievement and community health and well-being, Detroit Public Schools is designing and implementing a comprehensive Sustainability Management Plan encompassing energy, waste management, transportation, nutrition, and indoor and outdoor site environments that involves educators, students and parents as well as an array of partners

The Urban Forest Stewardship Program provides teachers with the training and resources needed to integrate forestry into their curriculums.

Read more at Detroit Public Schools.