Second Westchester Conference on Science, Math and Technology Education
by Michael J. Passow Earth Sciences Correspondent
Exciting programs now in classrooms around the metropolitan New York City region were trumpeted before participants at the Second Westchester Conference on Science, Math, and Technology Education at the State University of New York College at Purchase on 6 December 1997. Sponsored by the Center for Science and Mathematics Education of Purchase College, SUNY, this year's meeting was cosponsored by the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS)/Westchester Section, National Association of Geoscience Teachers/Eastern Section, the Teachers Clearinghouse for Science and Society Education, Hudson Valley Council of Technical Societies, American Meteorological Society "Maury Project," and the Westchester Education Coalition.
Each of the four sessions of workshops provided educators with a "buffet" of presentations from the earth, life, and physical sciences, math, technology, and elementary education. Additionally, this year's program was held in conjunction with STANYS/Westchester's annual SCIMEX (SCIence Materials EXhibit). In place of an opening keynote speaker, this year's program featured Diana Harding, Science Associate in the New York State Education Department, providing a lunchtime update on new graduation requirements and other state initiatives.
Several sessions focused on out-of-classroom programs for students and teachers. Steven Kluge described "Field-Oriented High School Earth Science Courses" available at Fox Lane High School, Bedford, NY. In one, students engage in stream studies that provide data used throughout the program to learn scientific, mathematical, and computer competency skills. In a second-year program, field trips to the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains provide firsthand opportunities to examine geologic features. These courses have produced an unusually high number of students studying geoscience in college programs, according to follow-up studies.
David Baker and Michael Mallon described the two-year "Environmental Science Field-Based Course in Local Ecology and Phenology" offered at James I. O'Neill High School, Highland Falls, NY. Using school grounds and nearby Harriman State Park, students engage in extensive examination of flora, fauna, geology, and phenology (study of seasonal changes). Scientific ideas are closely connected with language arts, computer-based techniques, and other skills.
Catherine Mauritz (Tuckahoe High School) explained stream monitoring studies in the Bronx River as part of "Project River Watch." Experiences possible during class visits to the Bronx Zoo were suggested by Joyce Kent (New Rochelle High School), including "How to Act Like a Gelada Baboon." Patricia Lynch presented an abridged version of the "Ocean Robotics" program available at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT, which focuses on deep-sea exploration using remotely-operated vehicles. William Blanchard (Shore Regional High School, Neptune, NJ) gave a personal account of the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Teacher-At-Sea Program," which will probably result in several application s from this year's conference attendees to participate in future sessions.
Innovative applications of new technologies for teaching was a second main theme. Jeffrey Tongue and Gary Conte of the National Weather Service's New York office used Internet connections to illustrate "The National Weather Service On The Web," showing where to find some of the many government web sites useful in the classroom. Drew Panko and Roger Rodriguez demonstrated "Chemicalc - A Personal Tutoring Program for Chemistry." Michael Beakes from the Watson Research Center of IBM Corporation showed his "Advanced Electronics Program for Grade School Children." Linda Fusco and Kathy McGrath of Pelham High School examined some of the ramification for curriculum in "Science and Technology: A Parallax View -- a Paradigm Shift."
"What works well in the classroom" covers the themes in a third set of presentations. Patricia MeKean, Judy Magenis, and Holly Sagan (Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, CT) described their "Activities Using Technology and Integrating Science with Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts" for the upper elementary grades. John Roeder (Calhoun School, New York City) involved participants in sample activities from "Active Physics" and showed how they implement six of the seven standards of the New York Framework for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (reduced from the nine in the draft version reported in our Fall 1994 issue). William Blanchard showed activities to teach about "El Ni–o and Coastal Upwelling" from the American Meteorological Society's Maury Project in physical oceanography. Virginia Lawrence (Roosevelt High School, Yonkers) used materials from the American Meteorological Society's Project Atmosphere to make "Clouds in a Bottle" and teach other aspects about water vapor.
Robert Obuck shared some of the "Logic Games for Science Class" he uses at Valhalla High School, and Paul Sekuler showed videotapes of "Student Presentations for Chemistry Class Assessment" made with his groups at Elizabeth (NJ) High School. Thomas McGuire (Briarcliff High School) "officiated" during his presentation on "Earth Science and Technology: A Marriage Made in Heaven."
All of the presentations demonstrated a developing maturity in the synthesis of science, math, and technology. There is now less of a sense of wonder at the inclusion of computer-based activities to achieve curriculum goals, and more of a sense of self- and peer-challenge to make the most of what is becoming available. Connections between these new classroom practices and emerging national and state science education standards also are demonstrating greater maturity. This year's Conference tried to reach out to area teacher-training programs, with more education majors in attendance to learn about exciting programs and begin to participate in professional networkings.
Peter W. R. Corfield, Director of Purchase College's Center for Science and Math Education, and conference coordinator Michael J. Passow look forward to hosting a Third Westchester Conference on Science, Math, and Technology Education next December. For more information and/or to be included in preliminary mailing lists, contact "mjpassow@worldnet.att.net".
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