Psychology and Human Factors News

Next week is National Engineers Week, and Michigan Tech–like educational institutions and professional engineering societies nationwide–is sponsoring a full schedule of events.

The Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education is coordinating events on two dates.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Family Engineering Night, presented by the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach
Student-led engineering activities for K-5 students and families. Contact Joan Chadde, jchadde@mtu.edu or visit www.familyengineering.org .
Location and Time: Houghton Elementary School, 6-7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Tiny: A movie about living small, presented by the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Center for Water & Society
Learn about low cost, flexible “tiny houses.” “Tiny Housers” live in homes smaller than the average parking space. Tiny takes us inside six of these homes. Free, followed by refreshments.
Location and Time: Hesterberg Hall, Room G002, Forestry Bldg, 7-8:30 p.m.

Read more at Tech Today.

The latest issue of International Innovation, a science, technology and research resource publication, featured an article about Michigan Tech’s participation in the National Science Foundation-funded Michigan Teacher Excellence Program (MiTEP, which offers training and hands-on workshops in earth science for middle-school teachers. Brad Baltensperger, chair of the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences; Associate Professor Kedmon Hungwe (CLS); Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School; and graduate student Mark Klawiter were featured.

See page 61, International Innovation.

From Tech Today.

Empowering teachers to conduct science

Professor Brad Baltensperger, Drs. Kedmon Hungwe and Jacqueline Huntoon, and graduate student Mark Klawiter describe their collaboration in an innovative programme designed to further enthusiasm for STEM topics in teachers and encourage students to enter such fields.

Read more at International Innovations, page 61.

Joan Chadde, education program coordinator, Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, conducted a Project Learning Tree workshop for 15 Detroit Public School teachers on Feb. 1, in Detroit at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, as part of the third year of a US Forest Service grant to integrate urban and community forestry into the middle/high school curriculum, including the benefits of trees, how to assess forest health, forest stewardship and careers in forestry and natural resources.

From Tech Today.

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.

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

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

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.