Category: Teacher Education

STEM Outreach During Spring Break

ChicagoIt’s Not Your Typical Spring Break

A group of 40 students will get a taste of city life as they head to Chicago on a trip organized by International Programs and Services (IPS).

“The goal is to show these kids that college is attainable by having them talk with students who share some of their experiences and have done it,” said Joan Chadde, education program coordinator for the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Tech.

“This is a great way to increase diversity on our campus, but more importantly, to have students who can relate to these kids and show them that a college education and a career in STEM is possible for them,” said Chadde.

Read more at Tech Today, by Travis Gendron.

Proposals in Progress February 27, 2013

Dept. Chair Brad Baltensperger (CLS) and Spec. Assistant to President Chris Anderson (OID), “Partnership to Build the STEM Teacher Workforce,” NASA

Associate Provost/Dean Jacqueline Huntoon (Grad. School), Department Chair Brad Baltensperger (CLS) and Senior Research Engineer Christopher Wojick (Civil), “Next Generation MiTEP: Michigan Teacher Excellence Program for the 21st Century,” NSF

Associate Dean of Engineering Leonard Bohmann (COE), Dir. Center Pre-College Stephen Patchin, Coord. Education Program Joan Schumaker Chadde (Civil) and Associate Professor Kurtis Paterson (Civil), “Full-Scale Development: Mind Trekkers Science and Engineering Festivals,” NSF

Portage Library Hosts Family Science Night

Family Science NightThe Portage Lake District Library will host kindergarten through 6th-grade students and their parents for an evening of science fun at a Michigan Tech Family Science Night program Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library in downtown Houghton.

This event is sponsored by the Western UP Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education and Michigan Tech.

Read more at Tech Today.

Family Engineering in MSTA Newsletter

Family EngineeringThe Michigan Science Teachers Association’s Winter 2013 newsletter published a feature article about Family Engineering events hosted by the Michigan Mathematics and Science Centers Network at 58 centers across Michigan during 2012. The hands-on program, designed to make engineering accessible and fun, reached nearly 5,000 elementary school students and their parents last year. It is based on a book titled “Family Engineering Activity & Event Planning Guide,” developed at Michigan Tech and disseminated nationwide. Professor Neil Hutzler (CEE), who founded the program, is quoted. See page 15,
MSTA Winter News.

From Tech Today.

Perelman, Zhang, Ellis, Shortz, Suss, Ghazal and Thanasuan at GRC 2013

Graduate students in Cognitive and Learning Sciences will be giving poster and oral presentations at the Graduate Research Colloquium 2013. Their presentations will take place on the first day of the colloquium, February 21, 2013, in the MUB Ballrooms A & B. Presenters, abstracts, and schedules are posted on the Graduate Student Government website.

Day 1 Feb 21 Poster Presentations 10am-12pm
Brandon Perelman
Wei Zhang
Katrina Ellis
Ashley Shortz

Day 1 Feb 21 Oral Presentations 3:00pm to 4:20 pm
Joel Suss
Saimia Ghazal
Kejkaew Thanasuan

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.