Institutes and Events
SASP offers these upcoming professional development opportunities for K - 12 science teachers.
2010 SASP Science Instruction Institute
2010 SASP SCIENCE INSTRUCTION INSTITUTE
For Teachers of Earth Sciences, Life Science/Biology, Chemistry
Grades 9 - 12
June 21 – June 25, 2010 (8:30 am – 4:00 PM)
Held at Sacramento State
A 5-day SASP Institute on teaching and learning in High School Science aligned to the California Content Standards
Explore techniques for integrating INQUIRY into instruction.
Learn about instructional techniques to increase student ENGAGEMENT.
Deepen your CONTENT KNOWLEDGE and understanding of science.
Investigate multiple methods of ASSESSMENT and incorporate them into instruction.
Collaborate with other science teachers to DEVELOP NEW LESSONS.
Institute Fee: $400 (make checks or P.O. payable to UC Regents – district funds can be used – Title I, Title II, NCLB, etc). If you are unable to secure district funds and registration is a hardship please contact SASP for other payment options. Download an application (pdf).
Institute participants receive a $400 stipend for participation in and completion of the institute (based on participation).
Units are available for purchase through UCD.
Space is limited. Deadline for applications is May 28, 2010.
Questions: Call Thu Pham at (530) 752-8467 or Arthur Beauchamp at (530) 752-5876.
Innovations in Science Instruction Through Modeling (ISIM)
Recruitment for Cohort 2 now under way!
The ISIM program explores a new way to engage students in rigorous scientific thinking and authentic scientific problem solving. The ISIM program focuses on Model-Based Reasoning (MBR). Model-Based Reasoning is what cognitive scientists describe as the way scientists think when doing science. We can define inquiry as a purposeful, systematic exploration of how some aspect of the natural world works. The purpose of inquiry is to develop explanations and in order to explain something one must have a set of ideas to draw on for the explanation. In science, sets of ideas about how something works are often called models. Thus, Model-Based Reasoning - the act of developing or applying ideas or sets of ideas to account for phenomena and create explanations (this is the hallmark of scientific thinking and the essence of inquiry).
Cohort 2 of the ISIM program began in the spring of 2009. In the first year, teachers develop a perspective on science learning based on the MBR framework, translate that perspective into teaching practices, and explore the effectiveness of the approach in their classroom. During the second year, teachers have a chance to refine their understanding of MBR and further explore what it means in their classroom with their students. Throughout the program, participating teachers are aided by the Sacramento Area Science Project team (SASP), consulting scientists, and teacher leaders.
This program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. ISIM teachers are eligible for a stipend of at least $4,000 ($2,000/year).
For more information contact Arthur Beauchamp at (530) 752-5876
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Science Small Learning Communities
Small Learning Communities in science are now operating in five area high schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District.
For more information contact Arthur Beauchamp.
California Capital Lesson Study Conference - Proceedings meeting
The California Capital Lesson Study Conference united teachers, researchers, administrators, and policy makers interested in the powerful and transformative educational practice of lesson study. The goal of The California Capital Lesson Study Conference was to provide an engaging forum for lesson study teams and researchers to share their work, for administrators and teachers to learn about the process of lesson study, and for policy-makers to think about the possibilities of lesson study as a tool for building collaborative professional communities, improving instruction, and increasing student achievement. Conference strands included: elementary mathematics, elementary science, secondary mathematics, secondary science, other academic subjects, introduction to lesson study, research on lesson study, managing lesson study programs, as well as administrators and lesson study.
For more information contact Rich Hedman at (916) 278-4870.
eSCI : Excellence in Science Instruction
SASP teams up with the Elk Grove Unified School District to offer workshops for 3rd-6th grade teachers. Learn techniques for injecting inquiry and excitement into your classroom and bringing science instruction into focus in elementary school. Some 200 teachers are participating in the three-year research study. The professional development offered by the Sacramento Area Science Project addresses science content instruction and lesson study. The institutes focus on a different content area each year, starting with physical science in 2008, then earth science for 2009, and concluding with life science, 2010.
Our Spring Showcase event occurs at Sacramento State on April 14, 2009
The 2009 Summer Institute will be June 29 - July 2, 2009, also on the Sacramento State campus
For more information contact Rich Hedman at (916) 278-4870.
Science in the River City (SIRC)
Science in the River City is an outstanding professional development program for K-12 teachers, fully aligned with the CA science standards. Participants will deepen their understanding of science, engage in hands-on labs, and acquire innovative ideas and lessons. Sessions cost $40 and are taught by university faculty or SASP teacher leaders. SIRC is held at Sac State (CSUS) from 4 – 7:00 pm. Session strands include 4/5 Science, 7-12 Biology/Life Science, 6-12 Earth Science and 7-12 Physics/Chemistry. There is a dinner and an invited scientist speaker each evening. Workshops may be taken as a series or individually. Hours can be used to meet BTSA or district professional development requirements. Continuing Education Units are available for an additional fee.
