Gender equity and how schools can meet coming standards for curriculum, graduation, and assessment were among the themes as teachers from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut gathered to learn from each other about exemplary programs at the Third Westchester Conference on Science, Math, and Technology Education, held at the Center for Science and Mathematics Education, Purchase College, SUNY, in Purchase, NY, on 5 December 1998. Third Westchester Conference on Science, Math, and Technology Education
Diana Harding, Science Associate in the New York State Education Department, provided an update on current plans to introduce major changes in science, math, and technology programs over the coming years. The New York State Board of Regents has already approved many new graduation and assessment requirements and is considering many others, so Ms. Harding's update on the status of these changes was very valuable for teachers and adminsitrators in attendance. Similar changes are underway in New Jersey and Connecticut, and teachers from those states were able to learn about what is happening in New York, as a basis for comparison.
The main attraction for Conference participants remains workshops presented by master teachers in a variety of subject areas. New this year were several sessions about "gender equity" in science and math. Prof. Janice Koch (Hofstra University) described some of her researches about "Encouraging Participation of Girls and Young Women in Science, Math, and Technology." Judith Swanson (Lakeland CSD) spoke about "Current Research in Gender and Equity in Science Teaching" conducted by the Wellesley College Center for Research in Women.
Maryann Stimmer (Educational Equity Concepts, Inc.) outlined "Playtime Is Science," their equity-based hands-on/minds-on program for elementary school children. Adele Kupfer provided information about her Project STIR (Science Teachers in Industry and Research), a clearinghouse that transfers surplus equipment from industry and research facilities to schools in the greater New York City area.
Elementary school teachers picked up some interesting ideas from David Shwide (President-Elect of the New York City Elementary School ScienceAssociation) in "Bubble Gum In My Class? You Bet!" Abby Kurnit (Pelham Manor HS) also provided some effective suggestions with "States of Matter for Elementary School and Other Element'- ary Tidbits."
Many schools are responding to the coming New York State regulation changes by offering Regents Earth Science to many of their students, and teachers are looking for useful lab activities for these courses. Thomas McGuire (Briarcliff Manor HS and a NYS Earth Science Teacher mentor) provided many of these in "A New Look at Classic Labs in Earth Science."
"Today's Weather in the Classroom" by Jeffrey Tongue (National Weather Service) was one of several Internet-based presentations about various aspects of Earth Science investigations. Dr. Ray Sambrotto (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University) provided participants with the latest version of "EarthView Explorer," a CD-ROM and Internet-based series of investigations about the solid Earth, oceans, and atmosphere being developed by research scientists and educators. Julie Ann Hugick and Rock Donahue (Eastchester MS) described their "Project SunSHINE (Students Helping Nature In Eastchester)." Students are using NASA data about sunspots and other solar research to investigate the effects of visible and ultraviolet light.
The "Maury Project" is the American Meteorological Society's educational program that uses the physical foundations of oceanography to enhance student understanding of our planet. Jim Backus (Danbury, CT, Public Schools) presented some of the "El Ni–o Activities from the AMS Maury Project." Missy Holzer (Chatham, NJ, HS) shared the Maury Peroject teacher training modules about "Measuring Sea Level from Space" and "Wind-Driven Ocean Currents." Dr. Michael Passow provided the matching "Density-Driven Ocean Currents."
For biology, chemistry, and physics teachers, the Conference provided "Biochemistry of Foods" by Pat Maffucci and Donna Cook (Somers HS), "Project River Watch--The Bronx River Watershed" by Catherine Mauritz and Doris Olsen (Tuckahoe MS/HS), "Presenting the Interferences of Waves" by Tom Gordon (Greenwich, CT, HS), and "The Active Physics Format: Ideal for Teaching All Science and Technology Topics" by Dr. John Roeder (Calhoun School, NYC). Eileen Gunning (White Plains HS) described her interesting high school elective that incorporates many aspects of these subjects, "Using the Internet for Forensic Science."
Dr. Michael J. Passow (White Plains MS), Conference Coordinator, and Dr. Peter W. R. Corfield (Director of the Purchase College Center forScience and Math Education) hosted the Conference. The Westchester Section of the Science Teachers Association of New York State concurrently hosted its annual SCIMEX (SCIence Materials Exhibit). Other co-sponsors included the National Association of Geoscience Teachers/Eastern Section, the Teachers Clearinghouse for Sciences and Society, Hudson Valley Council of Technical Societies, AMS "Maury Project," Southern Westchester BOCES, and Westchester Education Coalition.
Plans are already being made for the 4th Conference, which will be held on the first Saturday in December 1999.
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The TEACHERS CLEARINGHOUSE FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIETY EDUCATION