Chicago ITQ Science Project
(Last updated July 26, 2007)
Meetings at Dominican University will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lewis Hall on the main campus (8 blocks west of the Priory Campus on Division St.). Details will be provided for these meetings as well as the joint CSAAPT meeting through the [modeling_physics] listserv as soon as information becomes available.
~
The Physics Teacher Education Program
of the
in cooperation with the
announce a summer 2007 workshop
plus a follow-up workshop for experienced uses of the Modeling Method of Instruction.
Project Leader: Carl
J. Wenning, Coordinator
Physics Teacher Education Program
Illinois State University
Detailed Summer 2007 Information: Cohort 3: Mechanics ~ For those entirely new to the Modeling Method of Instruction
Here are some last-minute reminders and other information about the Chicago ITQ Science Project.
Who: Chicago ITQ Science Project
What: Modeling Method of Instruction three-week workshop
When: Monday, June 25 - Friday, July 13; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. We will NOT be meeting on Wednesday, July 4. Residential participants WILL be permitted to remain on campus over the holiday.
Where: Dominican University (http://www.dom.edu). The workshop group will meet in Priory campus room 263 - the same room as during previous summers. Enter the building through the south-facing door located on the southeast side of the building and take the elevator to the second floor. There are plenty of people around so, if you get lost, ask one of them. There are a few signs in the hall way that say "Physics Workshop" followed by an arrow indicating direction.
Travel directions: Check out this Dominican University website below for driving directions. Keep in mind that campus access is probably best from I-290, going north 1.8 miles on Harlem Avenue, turning left (west) at Division. The Priory campus is at the intersection of Harlem and Division; the main campus is located 8 block west of the Priory campus along Division.
http://www.dom.edu/about/mapsdirections.asp?nav_id=3128&tnav_id=1004&snav_id=2007
(NEW) Residential Participant Arrival: If you are staying on campus during the workshop, you may check in on Sunday evening between 5 and 6 p.m. at Centennial Hall. If you arrive later than 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, phone Carl at (309) 830-4085 to obtain access to Centennial Hall and to obtain your room key. If you are staying on campus and will be arriving on Monday morning, go directly to the workshop location, room 263 of the Priory Campus conference center at 9:00 a.m. Check in and keys will be distributed at that location.
(Revised) Classroom temperature: Last year, several of the workshop participants have found the classroom to be unacceptably cool. You might want to bring along a light sweater or jacket if you prefer to have things a bit warmer. This year, the classroom was rather warm on some days with high outside temperatures.
Priory Parking: You may park in the large lot at the northwest corner of Harlem and Division for the 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. workshops. Walk through the walled compound and enter the building by the south-facing wooden doors located on the southeast corner of the building. An elevator is locate just down the short hall way where it splits, going left and right.
Campus Map: Click here for a detailed campus map (PDF).
(Revised) Residents: Residential participants will be staying in Centennial Hall (building #2 on the accompanying map) on the main campus, located about 8 blocks (1.8 miles) west of the Priory Campus. Park in lot A just west of Park Avenue. Check in will take place between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, June 24. Whether you arrive on Sunday evening (at Centennial Hall) or Monday morning (in the workshop classroom), get your room key and assignment from Carl Wenning. Please check out and turn in your keys on the LAST Friday morning as you leave the residence hall. Our rooms should be cleaned out entirely by 9:00 a.m. on the last day of the workshop only. Please note that there is a $150 + $10 fee assessed to the participant for lost keys and pass cards respectively. It has been suggested that some residents find the mattresses a bit uncomfortable. You might want to bring along something to cushion yourself such as a foam pad. The mattresses are covered in plastic, so if you might also want to bring along a mattress pad to help evaporate excess moisture. The beds are approximately 36 inched wide and 80 inches long. Your rooms each have a phone for making local and receiving incoming calls. The phone number will be on your pass card. In the event of an emergency (e.g., getting locked out of your room), phone 5007 using a campus phone.
(Revised) Residential "perks": There aren't many, so bring some entertainment if you like. Many campers bring radios and TV's, as well as laptop computers. There is Internet access in the dorm room. Once your computer is wired (bring an Ethernet cable; publicly accessible wireless is NOT generally available anywhere on campus), start your browser. It will immediately go to a DU website by default. Your login will be "guest"; your password will be "dominican" if I recall correctly. Sheets, blankets, and pillow covers will be provided and will be changed each weekend.
(Revised) Towels & sheets: If you are staying in the residence hall, you will be provided with a towel and washcloth; still, you might want to bring some extras. No floor mat is provided for stepping outside the shower. Sheets, a thin blanket, and a pillow cover will be provided; you might want to bring extras if you wish. The sheets and pillow cover will be replaced on the weekend. You might want to bring a larger bar of soap; the one provided is vanishingly small.
Laundry: There are washing machines in the residence hall. These are not coin fed; you must purchase a laundry card in $5 increments.
Residence hall temperatures: Each dorm room has a thermostat; the temperature can be regulated to your level of comfort.
Meals: Lunch will be provided daily to all participants; only residential participants are provided with breakfast and dinner. All meals will be served in the Priory campus dining hall. Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. and dinner at 5:00 p.m. for residential participants.
(Revised) Refreshments: Simple drinks and snacks be provided for short afternoon breaks only, many of which will be "working breaks." We will probably provide only cold water in the morning. A soda and juice machine is located down the hall from the classroom.
(Revised) Mileage: Mileage will be paid, so keep track of your daily travel - including tolls.
Punctual Arrival Expected Daily: Please plan to arrive on time and be ready to start each morning at 9:00 a.m. SHARP. The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. regardless of whether or not people are late. The doors to room 263 will open at around 8:45 a.m.
Sign-in Twice Daily: Participants must sign in twice each day, once at the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions. Stipends for attending the workshop will be paid on a pro-rated basis.
(Revised) Laptop Computers: We will be using a variety of sensor probes during this workshop. If you have access to one of the latest versions of Vernier's LoggerPro (version 3.3 or 3.4), please load it on your computer. If you do not have this program, we do have permission from Vernier to use our own CD to load the necessary files on your computer so long as the files are deleted at the end of the workshop. Modellus: If you will be bringing your laptop, you might want to pre-load it with Modellus 2.5, freeware designed by a physicist in Portugal -- Visit the download site at:
http://phoenix.sce.fct.unl.pt/modellus/
CPDU/CEU: All information necessary for registering for PHY 429.03 (6 semester hours of graduate CEU credit) will be provided on Monday morning. Additional information will be provided with respect to CPDU's as well. Please note that a tuition waiver has been obtained, but extension fees amounting to $314.70 will be assessed. If you are not currently enrolled as a graduate student at ISU, you will be required to pay a $40 registration fee. Please bring your checkbook or credit card to the first day of class when the paperwork will be completed.
PHYSICS 429.03 Syllabus: Our syllabus is the contract for the course. The syllabus has been revised, and is now official. Check it out by at the following URL:
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/pte/mm_files/PHY429.03_summer07.pdf
PHYSICS 429.03 Essay Guidelines: The topics and requirements for the five required essays along with a Scoring Rubric hyperlink can be found by clicking the following hyperlink:
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/pte/mm_files/Essay Guidelines for PHYSICS 429.pdf.
(Revised) My Contact Information: You may reach me through my cell phone at 309-830-4085 or via e-mail (wenning@phy.ilstu.edu). I will be staying in Centennial Hall only a small part of the time. If you need something resolved, please contact me. If urgent, please call my cell phone.
(NEW) Follow-up Meetings: Keep in mind that there will be four required follow-up meetings during the autumn to help you implement Modeling instruction. These have tentatively been set for the first Saturdays of September, October, November, and December.
Waiting list: If you will NOT be able to attend this workshop for any reason, please let me know immediately. I have a waiting list, and don't want any unfilled positions. "No shows" will be immediately replaced at noon on Monday. If you are going to be late for any reason on Monday, please let me know so I don't give your position to another.
Workshop Themes: Constant and Accelerated Motion Models
Workshop Dates and Times: Monday-Friday, June 25 - July 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily.
Summer Workshop Location: Dominican University, Priory Campus, Room 263, River Forest, IL
Autumn Follow-up Meeting Location, Dates and Times: Saturdays, Dominican University, Lewis Hall 206, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., September 8, October 6, November 3, and December 1 (tentative dates and locations).
Clientele: CPS and other Illinois public, private, and parochial high school physics teachers with special consideration for Professional Development School teachers or potential sites. A goal of the Chicago ITQ Science Project is to place clinical students and student teachers with program participants.
Participant Qualifications: Applicants must be currently employed (or be contracted) by an Illinois high school district - public, private, or parochial. Participants must commit to full participation in 14 days of summer workshop (Wednesday July 4 we will not meet) and four mandatory follow-up Saturday sessions during the autumn. Participants must also commit to working with a school administrator to conduct in-school pre- and post-testing of students during spring and autumn 2007, as well as spring 2008 assessment processes. Teachers must have and regularly access e-mail.
Content and Activities: This Modeling Method workshop will include thematic strands of teaching standards, scientific modeling, constant and accelerated motion, the nature of science, mathematical modeling, applications of science education research, the use of calculators and computers as scientific tools, and topics from the areas of motion and energy. It includes mathematical modeling and the use of data-collection and interpretation technology. Mathematics instruction is integrated seamlessly throughout the entire workshop by a systematic development of mathematical models – alternating between analyzing the mathematical structure of a model and its application to make sense of real phenomena and data. Content of an entire semester course in physics is reorganized around basic models to increase its structural coherence. Participants are supplied with a set of course materials and classroom manipulatives. There will be a large amount of peer exchange between expert high school “modelers” and workshop teachers. Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Chicago ITQ Science Project will strongly promote all “Applications of Learning” described in the ILS (solving problems, communicating, using technology, working on teams, and making connections).
Follow-up Meetings: An important part of the workshop will be curricular and instructional development. During the autumn of 2007, teachers will meet for whole-group activities four times in mandatory follow-up sessions at Dominican University. They will participate in carefully planned activities that deepen teacher understanding and integration of the content into the school curriculum. They will cooperate with workshop leaders, education specialists, project leadership, and apprentice leaders/peer mentors to do so. Participants will question and debate, and share materials, methods, and reflections on progress. They will study samples of student work, evaluate effectiveness of instructional materials, and modify and re-design curriculum materials for future use. They will participate in open-ended questioning with teachers, discussing student reasoning and misconceptions. They will conduct curriculum mapping to help implement a curriculum aligned with both standards and assessments. They will address the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. Assisting with the mapping decision-making processes will be data derived from two standardized tests (Force Concept Inventory and Test of Understanding of Graphs in Kinematics) administered by school officials in teachers’ classrooms during the spring of 2007. For long-term professional development, teachers will be subscribed to a Modeling Method listserv managed by Illinois State University.
Participant Commitment: In addition to committing to participate in all workshop and follow-up meetings and serving as a prospective clinical student and student teaching site, the participant must also commit to participating in all assessments associated with FCI, TUG-K2, and the collecting of information in relation to overall project assessment which will include, among other things, PSAE science data for matched 11th grade students (Modeling versus non-Modeling).
Administrator Commitment: Each participant must have the support of one school administrator (e.g., principle, dean of students, curriculum specialist, counselor, administrative assistant, etc). The participants' school administrator must agree to attend a short orientation session to become acquainted with the project goals and design. These meetings will be held on Monday, May 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Dominican University (River Forest, IL) OR for downstate participants on Wednesday, May 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Illinois State University (Normal, IL). The administrator (or his/her designee, not the project participant) must agree to proctor two tests for participant-affiliated physics students during May 2007, during at the beginning of the school year in the autumn of 2007, and after the completion of kinematics and dynamics teaching later in the 2007-2008 school year. (Each test of the two tests will require one class period for administration.) Additionally, school administrators must agree to provide a minimum of $300 to their teacher in support from Title II, Part A program funds (or similar) for supporting the implementation of the Modeling Method of Instruction in their physics classrooms. (This money can be used to purchase equipment, commodities, etc., and is NOT collected by the Project.) Participants will be selected on the basis of teacher and administrative commitment to both classroom and systematic reform. Administrative commitment is considered essential for district-wide reform. Special consideration will be given for teachers willing to host future clinical students and student teachers.
Admission Priority: First priority for admission will be given to Chicago Public School physics teachers, second priority will be given to Chicago private and parochial school physics teachers, third priority will be given to Chicago metropolitan area high school physics teachers, and fourth priority will be given to physics teachers outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. Special regard will be given to teachers from historically underrepresented science teacher populations, to teachers from schools where at least on other Chicago ITQ Science Project teacher is employed and actively using the Modeling Method of instruction, and to teachers in professional development schools or who are otherwise willing to accept clinical students and student teachers.
Teacher Stipends: (subject to change pending amount of funding) Teachers attending all 14 days of summer workshop and four mandatory follow-up sessions during autumn will be paid $1,900/teacher for full attendance. Stipends will not be paid for missed days; stipends will be prorated for partial day participation. An additional $400 will be paid for properly completing and returning all required assessments and data sets. No stipends will be paid to school administrators for participation in the work of this project.
Housing: Provided on the campus of Dominican University at no cost to the participants.
Meals: Lunch will be provided to commuting participants; breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to residential participants. Meals will be provided at no cost to the participants.
Travel Expenses: Mileage will be paid for summer workshop and follow-up meetings.
Take-home Materials: Each participating teacher will be provided with the following materials -
College Credit: Optional - Physics 429.03 - Modeling Method of Instruction - Mechanics. A tuition waiver for variable graduate credit has been granted, but a $52.45/semester hour extension fee applies. Students must be enrolled at ISU as a graduate student ("at large" if not enrolled in a degree program); a $40 application fee applies. A one-page combination Extension Admission/Registration form will be handed out by the project director on the first day of class, and filled out on the spot. The $40 application fee must be paid by check or credit card at this time. The extension fee ($314.70 for six semester hours of graduate credit) will be billed to the student. Additional details about earning graduate credit will be provided at the workshop. A tentative course syllabus is available.
Please note: Physics 429.03 is a professional development workshop that provides intensive and applied learning. The workshop is designed as an opportunity for updating skills and knowledge, and is intended primarily for teachers and other in-service professionals. This graduate-level course may NOT be used for credit in any graduate degree program at Illinois State University.
Workshop Leaders: Tom Todd, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Wheaton, IL; Tom Holbrook, University High School, Normal, IL; and James Stankevitz, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Wheaton, IL.
Workshop Education Specialist: Claudio Perez Matzan, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
External Reviewer: Mel Sabella, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Application Form: Click hyperlink to download an MSWord version of the interactive application form. Complete the application, save it, and return it electronically as an attachment to Carl J. Wenning, Project Leader. If you are unable to use the MSWord version of the application form, download a printable but non-interactive PDF version of the application form and send it to the address on the form.
Application Deadline: Applications must be received by Friday, April 27. Applications will be accepted and processed if received after April 27 on a space-available basis only.
2007 Time Line: The following tentative time line will be adhered to as closely as possible.
Additional Details: The project is intended to enhance teacher knowledge of and ability to work within the framework of the Illinois Learning Standards and the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The program aims at improving student performance by increasing teachers’ knowledge in physics, and focuses on an effective instructional strategy known as the Modeling Method (MM). MM has been shown through scientifically-based research to be a highly effective means for improving student achievement. Two panels of experts commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education identified Arizona State University’s Modeling Program as only one of seven “exemplary and promising” K-12 educational technology programs out of the 134 programs reviewed. This ISU-CPS partnership will establish a Chicago-wide network of MM teachers.
High school physics teachers (selected in part to increase the number and diversity of highly qualified teachers) will be taught by three expert high school physics Modelers. The workshop will include thematic strands of teaching standards, scientific modeling, the nature of science, mathematical modeling, applications of science education research, the use of calculators and computers as scientific tools, and topics from the areas of motion and energy. It includes data-collection and interpretation technology. Extensive use will be made of MM curriculum materials developed since 1985 at Arizona State University. Additional support will be available through a MM listserv.
During four mandatory autumn follow-up sessions, teachers will receive guidance from teacher education personnel at Illinois State University and experienced in-service MM mentors. Participants will work to re-design their science curricula and improve instructional practices. The combination of workshop and follow-up sessions will lead to increased content knowledge and better instructional strategies of teachers that will help their students rise to the achievement level required by the Illinois Learning Standards as measured by the Prairie State Assessment Examination. This university-school partnership will provide students with some of the much-needed science education reform called for under the No Child Left Behind – Improving Teacher Quality initiative. It is the first step in a long-term improvement process that improves the way physics is taught and learned in Chicago Public Schools and surrounding communities.