Teacher Workshop: Oklahoma Educators Evolve!

Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 7:45am
 
You have the opportunity to register for one or two FREE professional development workshops through this grant sponsored by Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR.  The first workshop will be held on Saturday, September 17th, 2016 in Bartlesville Oklahoma.  We'll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bartlesville at 7:45am. and caravan to a local fossil collecting site where you will spend the morning learning about geology and paleontology.  You will keep all of the fossils that you collect!  Lunch will be provided at the hotel.  You will spend the afternoon participating in hands-on workshops where we'll delve deeper into geology, paleontology, evolution, and NGSS.  We will wrap up the day at 5:00pm.
 
The second workshop will take place at the Great Salt Plains State Park on Friday, October 14th, 2016.  We will meet at Salt Plains Community Center at 8:00am.  Our morning will consist of an ecology tour with Oklahoma science professionals, along with crystal digging.  A BBQ lunch will be provided.  You'll spend the afternoon participating in hands-on, science-based workshops.  The workshop will end at 5:00pm.
 
What is the Premise of Oklahoma Educators Evolve?

Oklahoma Educators Evolve is a collaborative project undertaken by professional informal science educators and enthusiastic volunteers in the state of Oklahoma. We are students, researchers, educators, museum professionals, and scientists at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College. Based on a year of preliminary qualitative research, we have determined that elementary and middle school educators in Oklahoma are not feeling totally comfortable with or ready for the new Oklahoma Academic Standards. We have heard many stories from teachers who have not had any experience teaching science, are not interested in teaching science, are resistant to teaching science, or face other obstacles in scientific understanding and teaching.

With this project, we aim to provide you with a deeper understanding of various scientific concepts, as well as many activities that you can use to easily convey complicated science concepts to your students. Here are our goals:

  • Engage teachers in the life sciences and earth sciences;
  • Talk with teachers about science experiences;
  • Introduce useful Nature of Science concepts to teachers of all subjects;
  • Work with teachers to create OAS-aligned lesson plans, complete with all materials necessary to take the lessons back to their classrooms;
  • Send teachers back to work feeling confident and excited about doing and teaching science in their classrooms.

How will we achieve these goals?

We have secured funding from EPSCOR to bring Oklahoma educators together for an intensive, FREE workshop in hands-on science teaching. We invite all educators to attend the workshop and become more confident as teachers of science. Even if you are not required to teach science in your classroom, there is much to be learned from using real fossils and other objects in your lesson plans.

How much does it cost to participate in Oklahoma Educators Evolve?

Nothing!  This workshop is absolutely free! You will keep all of the fossils you collect,  as well as all of the materials and supplies we provide for you!  Lunch is provided.

Who may attend Oklahoma Educators Evolve ?

This workshop is free to educators in Oklahoma.  Contact Kristi Carlucci at kristi.l.carlucci@occc.edu if you teach out of state, but would like to attend.

How do I sign up for Oklahoma Educators Evolve?

Click here to register.  We will email you some additional information about fossil collecting, along with more workshop details.

I’ve never been fossil collecting, and it sounds complicated…can a newbie like me be successful in the field? 

Absolutely!  We are taking you to a site with plentiful fossils, and easy collecting conditions.

Will I earn professional development hours for attending these workshops?

Yes!  At the completion of the workshop, we will provide you with a certificate showing how many hours of professional development you have earned. 

What if I have more questions?

You can email Kristi Carlucci at Kristi.l.carlucci@occc.edu, or call her at 405-682-1611 x 7205.  You can also email Janessa Doucette at janessa@ou.edu